All Chapters of The Alpha's Forgotten Mate: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Aeliana's POV The heat broke sometime during the night. I wake up feeling... normal. Well, as normal as someone can feel after grueling hours of intense arousal and ice baths. The crushing need that's been clawing at my insides is gone, replaced by something quieter but no less intense... awareness. Of where I am, of the pack bonds humming just beneath my consciousness, of the mate somewhere in this house whose absence feels like a missing limb. Elena left fresh clothes on the dresser. Jeans that fit perfectly, a soft green sweater that brings out my eyes. How does she know my size so well? Four years of living here. Of course she'd know. The thought still feels surreal, but less jarring than it did three days ago. I walked down the hallway, following the scent of coffee and something that smells like heaven... bacon, maybe, and fresh bread. My stomach growls, remi

Aeliana's POVI ran until my lungs burned and my legs shook.The forest was a blur of green and brown, branches whipping past my face as I crashed through underbrush without any sense of direction. I just needed to get away. Away from the training barn, away from Marcus's frightened eyes, away from the reflection that showed a stranger with silver eyes and claws.Away from Caelan, who'd been moving toward me like he knew exactly what was happening to me when I didn't have a clue.My enhanced hearing picked up sounds I'd never noticed before. Birds calling to each other miles away. Small animals scurrying through dead leaves. The distant sound of water running over rocks. Even my own heartbeat seemed impossibly loud, a drum that echoed in my chest. This is what Marcus meant when he talked about my wolf waking up. This overwhelming flood of sensation, this feeling like my skin was too tight, like something was trying to

Caelan's POV The clearing by the creek had always been our sanctuary. Our private paradise where time seemed to slow down, where the world beyond the forest faded to background noise. Seeing Aeliana here again, her white coat gleaming in the dappled sunlight, felt like watching the moon rising. She padded to the water's edge, lowering her head to drink from the crystal-clear stream. The sight was so achingly familiar it made my chest tight with emotion. How many afternoons had we spent here? How many lazy hours swimming and playing and just existing together? Too many to count. And not nearly enough. When she'd had her fill, she looked up at me with those striking silver eyes, and I saw something playful flickering there. Her wolf was feeling more confident now, more at ease in her own skin. Without warning, she bounded into the shallow water with a splash that sent droplets flying everywhere. The joy on her face was infectious. She pounced at the water like it was prey, sending

Caelan's POVThe pack house had settled into its evening rhythm by the time I made my way to my office. Dishes had been cleared, conversations had wound down to comfortable murmurs, and somewhere upstairs, I could hear the soft sound of Aeliana moving around in our room.Our room. The thought still sent a thrill through me.Tonight had been different. The way she'd laughed at David's antics, the easy way she'd joined the conversation, the confidence in her voice when she'd declared herself happy, it... It felt like watching her come alive again. Like seeing the woman I'd fallen in love with emerge from the confused stranger who'd woken up in my bed.She was healing. Finding her place again. And that should have filled me with nothing but relief and gratitude.Instead, I couldn't shake the memory of that scent on the evening breeze.I settled behind my desk and reached out through the pack bond, sending a focused mental call to my Beta and Gamma. Marcus, Liora. My office. Now.The resp

Aeliana's POV The rogue's teeth were inches from my throat when I woke up screaming. My body jerked upright in bed, heart hammering so hard I thought it might burst from my chest. Cold sweat covered my skin, and the metallic taste of fear coated my tongue like I'd been drinking blood. But it hadn't been fear in the dream. It had been rage. Pure, white-hot fury as I tore through rogue wolves like they were made of paper. My claws had been longer then, sharper, designed for killing rather than the careful control I'd learned in training with Marcus. And I'd used them. God, I'd used them. The scent of blood and death still clung to my nostrils, so real I could barely breathe. "Aeliana." Strong arms wrapped around me before I even registered movement, pulling me against a warm chest that smelled like pine and safety. Caelan's voice was rough with sleep and concern, his hands gentle as they stroked my hair. When had he gotten into bed with me? The question should have mattered mo