Semua Bab The Alpha’s claimed mate : Bab 101 - Bab 110

The first light of morning crept through the trees, casting long shadows across the cabin. I stirred in the warmth of the blankets, the soft light flickering across my skin. Kael was still beside me, his chest rising and falling with slow, steady breaths, his arm wrapped around me protectively. The night felt like a distant memory, yet my body still hummed with the aftermath, the faint ache reminding me of how close we had been—how connected we had become. I turned slightly to watch him, his features softened in sleep, the weight of the world seeming to lift off him in these quiet moments. But even in sleep, I could feel the tension in him—the constant, underlying strain that never fully left his body. I gently extricated myself from his hold, trying not to wake him. The room was quiet, save for the soft crackle of the dying fire and the distant sounds of nature outside. My heart fluttered as I adjusted to the stillness, but the dream from last night still clung to me, its shadows h

Ruby stirred again, her soft whimper pulling me back to the present. I took a deep breath, trying to ground myself in the here and now. My mother—Lira—had been here. Her words still echoed in my mind, heavy with meaning and unanswered questions. More than ever, I felt the weight of what lay ahead. Lira’s cryptic warnings were enough to confirm what I already suspected: time was running out, and the battle we were bracing for would test us in ways we hadn’t even begun to imagine. I turned to Ruby, crouching beside her and brushing a strand of hair from her face. Her expression was peaceful, her breathing steady, but my mother’s words echoed in my mind: She’s important. More than you know.What did that mean? Ruby had already been through so much, and she was only beginning to adjust to her new reality. Was she part of this prophecy Lira hinted at? Or was she simply caught in the web of chaos because of me? Ruby’s eyes fluttered open, and she blinked up at me groggily. “Astrid?”

I pushed through the dense trees, my feet barely touching the ground as I ran, the cold night air slicing against my skin. The forest seemed endless, the shadows playing tricks on my mind. But I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. The thought of Ruby, alone and terrified, spurred me forward. Ezra’s wolf was ahead of me, a streak of gold and fury weaving through the underbrush. His growls echoed in the night, guiding me toward our quarry. “Ezra!” I shouted, my voice hoarse from running and the lump of panic lodged in my throat. “Do you see them?” A low howl was his only response. It sent a chill through me—not one of despair, but of determination. He was closing in. The trail wasn’t hard to follow. Broken branches and the scent of blood painted a clear path through the forest. But it felt wrong, too easy, as if they wanted us to follow. I slowed for a moment, my senses on high alert. Something was off. The rogues were vicious, but this level of coordination wasn’t their style. They

The world spun around me, a whirl of colors and sounds that felt distant, like echoes of a life I couldn’t quite grasp. I drifted between the edge of consciousness and darkness, the pain from my labor pulling me back every time I threatened to slip away completely. The next thing I felt was a jolt, a sensation like being pulled through the fabric of reality itself. It was disorienting but oddly calming, as if I were floating through a dream. Then, just as quickly, the sensation ended, and I felt the solid ground beneath me again. “She’s here!” Megan’s voice broke through the haze, urgent and filled with relief. “Get her inside, now!” I blinked, trying to focus, but my vision was blurred. I felt hands on me—familiar, steady hands—lifting me gently and carrying me somewhere warmer, safer. “She’s burning up,” Maya’s voice came next, panicked but controlled. “Get her on the bed. Quickly!” I was placed onto a soft surface, the familiar scent of herbs and wood filling my senses. My

The peaceful moment shattered like glass, my heart dropping as Ezra’s words pierced the air. My grip tightened around my babies instinctively, their tiny, delicate bodies cradled protectively against my chest. Kael was on his feet in an instant, his powerful presence taking command of the room. “How far?” he demanded, his voice cold and sharp, the calm before the storm. Ezra swayed slightly, blood dripping from a wound on his side. “Not far. Maybe minutes. They’ve got rogues, warriors, and... mages. Lavinia’s not playing games.” Maya moved swiftly to Ezra’s side, inspecting his injuries. “You’re hurt.” “I’m fine,” Ezra growled, pulling away. “They sent a scouting party ahead. I dealt with them, but they know where we are now. She’ll be here soon.” Alice stepped forward, her face pale but composed. “We don’t have time to move Astrid or the babies. Not like this.” Kael’s gaze flicked to me, his eyes narrowing with determination. “We’re not moving them. We’ll hold the line he