All Chapters of Too Late, Alpha: The Mate He Never Wanted: Chapter 271 - Chapter 280

Rowan’s POV“We need to move quickly,” I murmured as we moved further away from the King’s study. “But we have to be subtle about it. If the Alpha King finds out we’re defying his orders, he’ll stop us before we can even leave the palace.”“Agreed,” Marcus said. “We need to slip out without drawing attention.”“How do we do that?” Shane asked. “There are guards everywhere. And everyone knows we’re investigating Iris’s disappearance. If we suddenly leave, people will notice.”“We tell them we’re following a lead,” Derek suggested. “Something vague that won’t raise immediate suspicion.”“And we go now,” I added. “Before anyone has a chance to question us further.”We made our way through the hallways, keeping our faces neutral. Several guests passed us, offering condolences about Iris. I nodded politely but didn’t stop to talk.We were almost at the exit when three familiar figures stepped out from around a corner, blocking our path.Jasmine, Vivian, and Claire.All three of them had de

Iris's POVThe witch raised her hands, and I heard her begin speaking in a language I didn't recognize. The other people in robes joined in, their voices merging together in harmony.Before I could react, two large men stepped forward from behind the group. They weren't wearing robes like the witches. They were werewolves, probably guards or warriors from Maximus's pack.“No,” I said, backing up against the wall. “No, don't touch me.”But there was nowhere to go.The men grabbed my arms firmly.“Let me go!” I screamed, struggling against them. “Let me go!”I kicked and twisted, trying to break free. But I was weak from lack of food and water. My body was exhausted from stress, and these men were trained warriors.They lifted me off the ground easily, ignoring my struggles.“Stop fighting,” one of them muttered. “You're just making this harder on yourself.”“I don't care!” I screamed. “Put me down! Let me go!”But they didn't listen. The witches were still chanting from behind us.The

Iris’s POVWhen I opened my eyes, I was no longer in that ritual chamber.I was back in the first underground room. The one where Maximus had first told me his plans.My entire body hurt. Every muscle ached like I had been thrown down a flight of stairs. My head was pounding so hard I could barely think straight. My throat was raw from dehydration and all the screaming.I tried to sit up, but pain shot through my arms and legs. I looked down and saw angry red marks around my wrists and ankles where the chains had cut into my skin.The memories came flooding back. The ritual. The witches. The chanting. That cold presence trying to force its way into my mind.And then that nightmare with Rowan and Elena.I shuddered, pushing the memory away.“You’re awake.”I turned my head slowly, wincing at the movement.Maximus was sitting on the wooden bench against the wall. He was holding a tray of food.I didn’t respond. I just stared at him, trying to figure out what was happening.“How do you f

Rowan’s POVI stopped the car about five miles away from Maximus’s territory. The last thing we needed was to alert his patrol guards to our arrival.We gathered around the front of the vehicle as I pulled out a map of the region.“Maximus’s pack house is about ten miles northeast from here,” I explained, pointing at the map. “Stay quiet, stay alert, and stay together.”“What’s the plan when we get there?” Derek asked.“We find Iris,” I said flatly. “We get her out. Everything else is secondary.”“And if anyone tries to stop us?” Marcus asked.My eyes flashed, and I snarled. “Then they'll regret it.”Jasmine nodded. “I’m ready. Let’s go.”Claire and Vivian nodded in agreement.We entered the forest, using our enhanced senses to guide us. The night was dark, but our vision allowed us to see clearly. I was in front with Shane beside me. The others followed behind.The forest was too quiet.“Something feels off,” Shane muttered after about an hour of walking.“I know,” I agreed. “Keep mo

Iris's POVHours passed in that underground room.Or maybe it was days. I couldn’t tell anymore. There were no windows, no clocks, nothing to mark the passage of time except those torches that never seemed to burn out.It was driving me insane.The isolation was overwhelming. The only sounds were my own breathing and the drip of water somewhere in the room. There were no voices. Nothing.An omega would come occasionally with food. She never spoke or made eye contact. She would just set the tray down and leave.And I ate it all.I hated myself for it. I knew each bite was filled with suppressants that were keeping my wolf buried deeper. But I didn’t have a choice. The baby needed nutrition and I needed strength.So I ate, even though it felt like I was signing my own death certificate with each spoon.The floor was unbearable.The hard stone pressed against my bones, causing everything to ache. My hips hurt. My shoulders were stiff. My back felt like it was being stabbed with knives ev