All Chapters of ALCHEMY OF MATES - ALPHA AND LUNA REBORN : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

"They are coming."Drake's warning came seconds before I heard it—the thunder of dozens of paws hitting earth, moving fast through the forest. Not three wolves this time. An entire hunting party."How many?" I asked, my heart already racing."Twenty. Maybe more." Drake's jaw clenched as he scanned the treeline. "Marcus is not taking chances this time. He sent an execution squad."Seven days. Seven days of brutal training, pushing my body and powers to their limits. I could control the silver energy now, could hold it longer, direct it with more precision. But against twenty trained warriors?"We need to run," I said, already backing toward Drake's camp."We will not make it." Drake's ice-blue eyes met mine with grim certainty. "They have already surrounded us. We are trapped."The first wolves burst through the trees, and my blood turned to ice. Leading them was Zack himself, in his massive black wolf form, golden eyes blazing with Alpha authority. Behind him came Marcus in human form

Iris's power erupted like a tidal wave, pure silver Luna energy that sent Marcus's corrupted warriors flying backward. The chains binding Zack and me shattered instantly, the wolfsbane burns on our skin beginning to heal as her ancient magic washed over us."Grandmother!" I tried to run to her, but my legs gave out. Zack caught me despite his own weakness, his arms surprisingly steady as he held me against his chest."I have you," he murmured, and through the bond, I felt his fierce protectiveness surge.Iris moved with impossible speed for her age, her wolves forming a defensive circle around the platform. Marcus tried to summon his dark magic, but Iris simply flicked her wrist, and he collapsed, screaming as silver light burned through his corruption."You dare harm my granddaughter?" Iris's voice resonated with centuries of Luna authority. "You dare chain an Alpha and his mate like common criminals?""She is a false Luna!" Marcus choked out, still writhing on the ground. "A threat

"Drake!" Relief flooded through me, but it died instantly when guards poured into the corridor behind him."Going somewhere?" Darius Coldwater appeared through the smoke, his face twisted with rage. He was a massive man, scarred and brutal-looking, with cold gray eyes that promised death. "You attack my facility, rogue? You will die screaming for that."Drake's smile was feral. "I have died before. It did not take."He lunged at Darius, and chaos erupted. More guards flooded in, dragging Drake away from us even as he fought like a demon. In the confusion, rough hands grabbed me and Zack, hauling us from the cell."No!" I screamed, trying to fight, but the chains made me helpless."Move them to secure holding!" Darius barked. "I am not losing my prize because of one stupid rogue's rescue attempt!"They dragged us down twisting corridors, Ria stumbling behind us, also recaptured. Drake's roars of fury echoed through the building, along with sounds of brutal combat. He was outnumbered, o

The Council dungeons were worse than anything I had experienced before. They separated Zack from us immediately, dragging him to a different section while Drake, Ria, and I were thrown into a cell carved from black stone that seemed to absorb all hope."Special prisoners require special containment," the guard had said with a cruel smile before locking us in darkness.Hours passed. Maybe days. Time lost meaning in the absolute blackness.Then they came for Drake."No!" I lunged forward as guards hauled him out, but the suppression cuffs made me clumsy and weak. One guard backhanded me casually, sending me sprawling."Aria, do not fight them," Drake said, his voice strangely calm despite what awaited him. "Save your strength."They dragged him away, and soon his screams echoed through the dungeon. Methodical, calculated torture designed to break him completely. Each scream felt like a knife through my chest."Why are they doing this to him?" Ria whispered beside me, her face pale in th

The shadow beast's claws tore through the air where my head had been a second before. I rolled, feeling Zack's presence through the bond as he moved in perfect synchronization with me. Three years of fighting together in our first life—muscle memory transcended death itself."Drake, left flank!" Zack roared, his Alpha command cutting through the chaos.Drake was already moving, his rebirth energy manifesting as ice-blue blades of pure power. He slashed through one beast's torso, but the creature simply reformed, its shadow-flesh knitting back together instantly."They are regenerating!" I shouted, throwing up a silver shield as another beast lunged. The impact drove me to my knees. "How do we kill them?""You do not!" Malachar laughed from his protected position behind the Council platform. "Shadow beasts are bound to the cult's collective consciousness. As long as one cult member lives, they cannot die. You will exhaust yourselves fighting immortal enemies while we prepare the ritual