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Chapter 146
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2025-03-10 00:27:53
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THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN MATE Â Â Â Chapter 147
Darius' POVI have seen men die before. In countless different ways.Some went out screaming until their voice was raw and their throat burned. Others went out silent, their eyes were lifeless before their body even hit the ground. I have seen warriors break, the light of hope dimming from their eyes as the shadows took over.And yet, through it all, I remained by Zerathos' side, unflinching and loyal to the cause. I always obeyed.I had killed innocent people both young and old because I thought it was right. It was just.Now, sitting at my parentsâ dinner table, surrounded by the family I had abandoned long ago, I realized something.I had never been more afraid in my life than I was at this very moment.I wasn't afraid of zerathos not the war. I was afraid of them. My family.I was scared of their judgement and hatred.But worst of all? Their disappointment.****After the Silverclaw alpha and warriors left, the house fell silent. We were back at the dining table. My father sat acr
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-11THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN MATE Â Â Â Chapter 148
Ava's povThe cold was harsh as it bit through my skin and down to my bones,but I barely felt it. I was on a walk because I needed to clear my head with everything that was happening.I had spent my childhood in this land. I would spend hours walking through these woods with frostbitten, stiff fingers and toes due to my weak cloak and an empty stomach. I would dream about a life where I didn't have to worry about my next meal, the selection or werewolves in general.Now, here I was again. Not as the weak girl who had been dragged away from her family during the selection but as the mate to the alpha king, the queen Luna, a warrior and direct descendant of the moon goddess.I inhaled deeply, letting the cold fill my lungs and settle there. The sound of snow crunching underneath my boots was soothing as a sneeze of nostalgia washed over me.It was peaceful. But it was a facade, the war was nearing and one day, this may all be burnt down to the ground. I welcomed the peace even though I
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-11THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN MATE Â Â Â Chapter 149
Xander's povAva didn't really talk much after coming back from her walk but I could tell that she was angry about something.The entire family was still trying to deal with everything that had been thrown their way so I decided to give them space by going on a walk in the evening.The cold night air bit into my skin as I walked further into Silverclaw. I wore a cloak to cover my head so that I wouldn't get recognized and to combat the cold.The village was alive with the sound of singers, merchants closing their shops, people having conversations and the occasional sound of fire burning wood.As I got closer to the pack house, something felt off.The air here held a tension different from the one at the market. It made me uneasy and the hair at the back of my neck stood up.Then I heard it.A firm commanding voice.I ducked behind a pillar, my footsteps silent against the snow covered ground. In front of the pack house stood warriors, armed to the teeth in front of Gregor.I ducked f
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-12THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN MATE Â Â Â Chapter 150
Xander's povMy muscles tensed instantly, ready to attack. I saw Ava's father grab a kitchen knife from the counter, Darius finally got up from his pity corner and stood protectively in front of his mother.Ava and I exchanged a glance.Slowly, I moved to the door and pulled it openâjust enough to see who stood there.Sylvia.I clenched my jaw and sighed in relief at the same time. Gregor hadn't arrived but I dreaded seeing Sylvia.She stood on the little porch, her arms wrapped around herself, shifting nervously from foot to foot. Her eyes flickered to be, she swallowed before it moved behind me, to Ava.Eyes locked on Ava, she said. âI need to come with you.âAva scoffed, crossing her arms. âNot a chance.âSylvia scowled. âI donât think you understand, Ava. If Gregor finds out I used to be your friend, Iâll be in danger too.âAva let out a bitter laugh. âUsed to be my friend? You mean before you spat in my face and threw me out of your life like I want nothing? Before you slept with
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-12THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN MATE Â Â Â Chapter 151
Xander's povThe stable was quiet as we slipped in, no one was in sight beside the animals. The only sound that could be heard occasionally was the neighing of the horses.We moved quickly and quietly, making sure not to make a sound. Ava gently placed a hand on one of the horses and whispered softly to it, the animal who had initially tensed upon her touch, immediately realized and exhaled gently through its nose.Darius and Thomasâ Ava's fatherâworked quickly in loosening the reins and adjusting the saddles.âMove faster.â I muttered.Ava had already mounted the horse she had whispered to, her movement was effortless despite the obvious exhaustion on her face from the cloaking spell she held over all of us.Darius helped Ava's mom mount another horse and then a mouse echoed through the stable making us freeze.A soft thud on snow.I turned sharply and watched as the stable door opened. I looked back at Ava. âXanderââThere was no time, I swung onto the horse nearest to me. âGo! Now!
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-13THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN MATE Â Â Â Chapter 152
Ava's povBy the time we entered Xanderâs chambers, my legs felt like lead. I collapsed onto the bed, sighing loudly as I buried my face in the pillows.Xander chuckled, it didn't sound like his usual one, this one carried so much exhaustion in it. âI thought you might want to take a bath first._âI do,â I mumbled. âJustâĶ let me lay here for a second.âI felt the bed dip beside me as he sat down. His fingers brushed against my arm, sending tingles through my body. I missed this.âI know today was a lot. In fact, this past week.â he murmured.I turned my head to look at him. âItâs only going to get worse, isnât it?âHis lips pressed into a thin line. âProbably.âI sighed, rolling onto my back. âThen letâs enjoy this moment while it lasts.âHis expression softened. He leaned down and planted a kiss on my forehead. âI agree.âFor a few minutes, we just laid there. No talking. No strategizing. Just existing. Enjoying each other's presence.But the world wasn't going to wait for us to be r
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-13THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN MATE Â Â Â 153
Xander's povThe chants outside grew louder as their anger echoed through the kingdom."Execute the traitor!"The words drilled itself into my brain like a hammer hitting a nail. I needed to think fast. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to do so.I looked at Ava who stood frozen by the window, her hands clenched into fists. I could feel the panic in her through the bond. This wasn't easy on her, she knew that my people's reactions were valid, given what Darius had done to them but she couldn't turn her back on her own blood.Rowan was the first to break the silence. âWellâĶ this is a big mess.ââNo shit.â Kael muttered.Lyra cursed under her breath, walking away from the window and back to the table. âHow did word spread so fast? It's barely even an hour, that's more than half of the pack out there right now.âKaida signed something quickly, her expression unreadable.âShe said someone must have leaked it,â Rowan translated. âWhich meansâââIt must have been the guards and warriors
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-14THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN MATE Â Â Â Chapter 154
Ava's povI wasnât sure how to feel about this.I had seen the destruction he had caused. The lives he had taken. And yet, I knew him. I could see the regret and torment in his eyes.But would that be enough? Would it ever be enough?****The next day..The morning was beautiful but it did nothing to soothe me as we walked to the training ground. There were a lot more warriors there than usual, their cold, I forgiven eyes locked on Darius as we walked in.He walked and stood in the center of the field, his shoulders tense, jaw clenched. He had always been a skilled fighter before he joined the rebellion so I wasn't scared about him not knowing how to fight, however, I wasn't sure how good his skills were when up against werewolves.The rest of us stood by the edge of the ring. Rowan crossed his arms as he stared at Darius. âI slept over it and I still don't trust him.âLyra smiled.âThat makes two of us.âKael cracked his knuckles. âThree.âVanessa scoffed. âFour.âKaida signed somethi
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-14
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THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN MATE Â Â Â Chapter 229
Ava's povI always thought pregnancy would feel magical. Glowing skin, cute bump, a sense of purpose, maybe even that mythical "pregnancy glow" everyone swore existed.Instead, it felt like I was being huntedâĶ by my own body.âMove,â I growled at Xander, who stood directly between me and the basket of moonberry tarts Iâd been craving since sunrise and asked the cooks to make.He turned slowly, blinking. âYouâve already had three.âI narrowed my eyes. âAnd?ââAndâĶ I love you,â he said quickly, stepping aside and lifting both hands like I was some scary creature.Which I kind of was.Pregnancy had changed me. It was like I had become Ava 2.0âcrying over songs with puppies, getting irrationally upset when Xander didnât refill the honey jar, then five minutes later curling against him like nothing ever happened. The mood swings werenât just real. They were ruthless.The moonberry tart was cold by the time I got to it, but I didnât care. I devoured it with all the speed of a starved animal
THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN MATE Â Â Â Chapter 228
Xanderâs POVThe moonlight spilled through the open balcony, casting soft silver over the sheets tangled at the foot of the bed. The fire in the hearth had died a while back, quiet and tired like the rest of the castle.The day has taken an unexpected turn which I loved so much. A twist that made my heart race and a smile light up my face.She was asleep.Ava.My mate. My Luna. My light.Her hair was fanned across the pillow, her face relaxed and peacefulâsomething I never took for granted anymore. I didnât move, just sat at the edge of the bed, eyes watching the delicate rise and fall of her chest.Her unexpected words echoed in my head like a metal being hit by something.Sheâs pregnant.It should have been a simple announcement. But for me, it cracked something wide open.For weeks, Iâd noticed something different in her scent. Not wrongâjust new. I hadnât placed it, not until she stood before me and told me herself. There had been no grand preparation. No expectations. Just her an
THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN MATE Â Â Â Chapter 227
Ava's povSunlight spilled through the high windows of the grand hall, gleaming on the silver fixtures and dishware. For the first time in months, the hall wasn't empty. Laughter echoed all around me, mingling with the clinking of cutlery and the smell of warm bread and honeyed meats.I sat between Xander and Vanessa, my fingers curled around a steaming cup of tea. My stomach flutteredânot from nerves, but from something far newer. Something growing.The thought never failed to pull a smile to my face.I glanced around at the faces gathered at the table. Rowan was teasing Kael over a burnt piece of toast, Kaida sat beside him, her hand resting lightly on his wrist. Lyra was at the far end, wrapped in a thick shawl, her expression quiet but calm, a faint smile playing on her lips as she watched them. There was no tension in her shoulders.They were all here.All of them.And that meant more to me than any feast ever could.âGods,â Vanessa said, stretching back in her seat. âItâs been f
THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN MATE Â Â Â Chapter 226
Ava's povThe morning sunlight filtered in through the tall windows, casting soft golden glow across the stone walls of our chambers. The fire from last night had burned down to glowing embers, but I still felt warmâsafe in the memory of the stars and the enormity of the secret Iâd carried all night.I smiled, rubbing my tummy even though it didn't have a bump. It all still felt like a dream to me. I couldn't believe that I was carrying my childâ out childâ and would soon be able to hold him or her in my arms.This was like a reward from the gods for taking down zerathos. It was the most perfect gift.Xanderâs scent hit me before I heard his footsteps. Woodsy. Earthy and a hint of citrus.He pushed the door open with ease, stridijg in, he was already halfway out of his ceremonial coat, his black shirt clinging to his chest beneath it. His eyes found me immediatelyâstill seated at the edge of the bed, half-dressed, barefoot, lost in my thoughts.âThere you are,â he said, his voice soft
THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN MATE Â Â Â Chapter 225
Ava's povPregnant.The word sat on my tongue like a secret not yet ready for the world to know. Heavy and new. Sacred. My hands trembled as I exited the healerâs wing, the soft glow of lanterns lining the path doing little to light the darkness within me.It wasn't a bad darkness, it was just confusion.The corridor behind me felt like it belonged to another worldâa place of certainty and whispered truths. Healers always knew things, some that we wanted to hear and the ones that we didn't want to hear. Out here, beneath the dark sky things felt more real.Too real.I walked slowly, aimlessly, not ready to return to the castle after what I had just learned. Not ready to face anyone. Especially not Xander.Not yet.The gardens were quiet this time of night. Peaceful. A hush had settled over the grounds, as though the very earth was holding its breath. The petals of Kaidaâs cherry blossom tree glowed pale pink in the moonlight, and I found myself drawn toward it. Toward the spot we alwa
THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN MATE Â Â Â Chapter 224
Ava's povSunlight streamed through the tall windows of the Blackthorn castle, warm and golden as it spilled across the newly polished floors. I stood at the balcony just outside the council chamber, my eyes tracing the distant tree lines. Smoke no longer rose from the hills. Screams no longer echoed through the valley.Peace.It was strange how something we fought so long and hard for could feel soâĶ quiet.I placed a hand over my stomach. That now familiar queasiness cane again, subtle but persistent. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, grounding myself the way Iâd been practicing since taking on the Luna title. Calm. Poise. Grace.âLuna Ava?â A voice called gently from behind. One of the omegas.âYes?ââLady Vanessa and the others are waiting in the courtyard. You said you wanted to walk with them today?ââYes. Thank you.âI smiled and nodded, but the moment I turned my back, the nausea returnedâlike it never left. I gritted my teeth and blinked back the faint dizziness. I've been
THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN MATE Â Â Â Chapter 223
Xander's povThe night was quiet, save for the faint crackling of the fire still burning at the center of camp.But AvaâĶ she had curled up beside me, her head on my shoulder, her fingers gently tucked against my arm. Her breathing slowed sometime between Rowanâs quiet jokes, Vanessa blushing with Kael teasing her and Lyra sitting in silence after her brief confession.She fell asleep there, in the circle of firelight and friends and whispered memories.I couldnât bear to wake her.So I carried her.Her warmth pressed against my chest as I walked us to the chambers weâd been assigned in the temporary Ashville pack house. The bed was a bit small but clean, sheets tucked in and blankets folded. I laid her down carefully, brushing a stray strand of hair from her cheek before covering her with the blanket.I wanted to stay awake and watch over her. Zerathos may be gone but he has left a lasting trauma and fear of the shadows. I was scared that if I closed my eyes and opened it I would real
THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN MATE Â Â Â Chapter 222
Rowan's POVLyraâs breathing had finally evened out beside me, a soft, steady rhythm that showed that she was finally at ease and I was glad. She didnât say another word after I wrapped the blanket around her and sat by her side. She didnât need to.I looked at her, really looked.Her face had lost weight in the past months, the edges sharper nowâgrief had carved out the softness she once had so effortlessly. The dark, sunken circles beneath her eyes told me she hadnât been sleeping much. And even now, in the calm after the war, her body was tense beneath the blanket, like she was ready to spring awake at any given time if someone so much as touched her. .But she had opened up.That alone made something in my chest unclench for the first time in weeks.I tilted my head back, let my eyes gaze up to the stars, but even their beauty felt muted tonight. Everything feltâĶ dulled. Like weâd survived the fire, only to emerge into the ashes.But she talked. She talked.And Iâd take that over
THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN MATE Â Â Â Chapter 221
Lyraâs POVThe fire had burned down to little fire, and one by one, they drifted off to sleep. Ava had fallen asleep curled against Xanderâs chest. Vanessa and Kael were tangled up on a blanket near the edge of the camp, whispering and grinning like the war had never happened and they were in some sort of fairytale. Like theyâd known peace all their lives.I was happy and envious of them so I forced myself to look away.Rowan had stayed with me.He always did.By the time the last bit of fire was snuffed and silence had settled over the camp, he rose, wordless, and offered me his hand. I took it, letting him guide me away from the others, deeper into the shadows where the weight of their stares couldnât follow.We walked to a place in Ashville that we liked. It was a little hill above the camp where the entire land could be seen and the sky felt so close. The stars were particularly bright on that night, I just stood there and took a deep breath.The night air was cold, crisp, almost
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