Semua Bab THE ALPHA CAPTIVE MATE: Bab 11 - Bab 20

Nyssa’s PovDay 4 – just before dawn, 23 days leftThe key has been burning in my head for two days.Mira hid it inside the bandage on my left ankle two nights ago. It is a tiny piece of steel, shorter than my thumb nail, wrapped in soft cloth so it would not make noise. She never said anything. She just pushed it in while she acted like she was checking my burns. Her eyes looked quick at the guards outside the glass.I have thought about it a thousand times.It only opens one cuff, the left ankle one. The other three locks are different on purpose. Raiden made sure of that. But one is enough. One loose chain gives me extra room. Extra room lets me reach farther. Farther means I can grab a throat.I wait until the darkest part of night, when even the owls are quiet. The new guards are lazy after what happened yesterday at bath time. They are far away, passing a bottle and laughing about their Alpha finishing in his pants like a young boy.I sit up slow. The blanket falls off my should

Nyssa’s PovDay 5 – dawn, 22 days leftI wake up because glass breaks super loud.The first spear flies through the east wall like lightning. The silver tip shines and sticks in the stone two inches from my head. Broken glass falls like rain and cuts my cheek, my shoulder, and the thin blanket I am hiding under.The second spear comes right after, lower, trying to pin me to the bed.I roll off fast. The chains pull my arms hard. My heart bangs loud. The third spear breaks more glass and spins on the floor until it stops against my bare foot.Outside, three young wolves, maybe twenty years old, faces I saw laughing in the training yard, stand super still. Their eyes are big because they know what they just did.One of them whispers, voice shaking: “Witch.”That word makes something explode inside me.I jump up before I feel the hurt. Blood runs warm down my arm. Glass crunches under my feet. I pull the chains tight and scream, loud, angry, no words, at the wolves who just tried to kill

Raiden’s PovDay 6 – early morning, 21 days leftI wake up before the sun.The room is still dark. The fire is only red embers now. The air smells like warm skin and almost-sex. Nyssa is curled against my chest. One of her legs is over mine. The silver chain is wrapped around us both like we tied it while we slept.She is breathing slow and deep. Her face looks soft in a way I have never seen. No mad. No scared. Just peaceful.I never want to move.But the cuts on her face and arms from the glass are red and angry in the little light. The silver burns around her ankle look even worse than yesterday. She needs Mira.I slide out from under her super careful. She makes a small grumpy sound and tries to follow me even while sleeping. I kiss her forehead, just a tiny touch, and she calms down again.The chain is long enough for me to reach the door. I pull on pants, leave my shirt off, and step outside barefoot. The village is super quiet. Frost shines on the grass. I send a fast mind call

Raiden’s PovDay 6 – morning into late afternoon, 21 days leftI wake up because her teeth are making a loud chattering sound.Nyssa is curled against my chest just like when I fell asleep, but something is really wrong. Her skin feels super hot, like a fire, but she is shaking like she is freezing. The bond feels far away, like someone put a big thick blanket over it. I can still feel her heart, but it is going way too fast and skipping beats like a scared little bird.I sit up fast and the chain makes a loud clink sound.“Nyssa.”She makes a small hurt sound and tries to get closer to me, like she wants to steal my warm. Sweat is on her forehead and lip. Her mouth looks white.I touch her cheek. My hand gets wet.“Hey. Look at me.”Her eyes open a little. They are green but look cloudy and not focused.“Raiden?” Her voice is rough. “Cold.”“You are super hot.”She tries to laugh, but it turns into a cough. “Feels like ice inside me.”Scary feelings climb up my back.I get out of bed

Raiden’s Pov Day 7 – pre-dawn to sunrise, 20 days leftShe is dying in my arms and I can’t stop it.I carry her from the bed to the big rug by the fire. I lay her down soft and make her drink the stuff that will make her throw up. My hands shake bad. She coughs and fights, then pukes hard into the bowl I hold. I hold her hair and say sorry against her head. Every time she throws up it hurts me too.When it is over she falls against me. She is white like the moon. Her lips have no color.I rock her like a baby. Tears I didn’t know I had run down my face.“Stay with me,” I beg. “Please stay.”Her eyes open a little. They are green and clear for the first time in almost two days.“Raiden,” she whispers. Her voice is rough. “Poison.”“I know.” My voice breaks. “I tasted it. I am so sorry.”She lifts her shaky hand and touches my face.“Blood Oath,” she says. “Now.”I don’t fight her.I make one claw long and cut my left hand deep. Blood comes fast and bright. I take her hand, turn it o