Semua Bab The Alpha’s Debt: Bab 11 - Bab 20

Sage sat on the edge of Kade’s couch and tried to figure out where to start with a story that haunted her for fifteen years.Kade was in the chair across from her. Far enough that they were not touching but close enough that the mate bond eased slightly. The constant pain in her chest had dulled to an ache.“My father’s name was Thomas Monroe,” she said. “He was from a pack in Montana originally. My mother was human. They met when she was hiking and got lost in pack territory. He helped her find her way back and they fell in love.”Kade did not say anything, he just watched her with those dark eyes that gave nothing away.“The pack did not approve. Half-human children are rare and most packs see them as weak. His Alpha told him to end it or leave. He chose her.” Sage wrapped her arms around herself. “They moved around a lot, never stayed anywhere long. I was born in Oregon. We lived in Nevada for a while, then California. My mother died when I was ten of cancer.”“And your father ra

The pack den was carved into the hillside twenty miles outside Seattle and it looked like something from another time with stone walls and torches burning in iron brackets.Sage had never been here before. Kade had kept her away from pack business saying it would cause problems. But today she stood at his side as 200 wolves filed into the main chamber and she felt every single eye on her.Most of the looks weren’t friendly.Kade was pale and sweating from the treatment but he stood straight with his shoulders back. Alpha posture. No weakness showing even though Sage knew he could barely stand.The wolves arranged themselves in a loose circle around the center of the chamber. Older wolves near the front. Younger ones in the back. Marcus stood directly across from Kade with Vanessa beside him looking smug.Cole and Riley and the others they had freed from the cells stood near Sage. Her small group of allies in a room full of hostility.“I’ve called this meeting to present evidence of

The last undecided wolves were visited by noon the next day and the final count came in at ninety-eight for Kade and ninety-seven for Marcus with five refusing to pick sides.One vote difference.Sage sat on the couch in the penthouse and stared at the numbers written on paper. One single vote separated Kade from having clear pack support.“It doesn’t matter,” Kade said. He was doing pushups in the middle of the living room. Testing his strength. “The challenge is not decided by votes. It’s decided by who’s still standing at the end.”“But if the pack does not support you…”“They will after I win.” He stood and his shirt was soaked with sweat. “The pack follows strength, I beat Marcus and they will fall in line.”Sage wanted to argue but she was too tired. They had been campaigning for two days straight with barely any sleep. The challenge was tomorrow at dawn, they had less than twenty hours away.“You should rest,” she said. “Save your strength.”“I have been resting for two days wh

The fight was brutal from the first moment.Marcus lunged immediately going for Kade’s throat. Kade dodged and countered with claws raking down Marcus’s side. Blood sprayed across the dirt.Sage watched from the edge of the clearing with her hands clenched so tight her nails cut into her palms. Riley stood beside her. Beth on the other side, both ready to pull her back if she tried to interfere.The two wolves circled each other. Marcus was younger and his movements were faster but Kade was bigger and stronger. More experienced.They clashed again. Teeth and claws. Marcus went for Kade’s injured ribs from the warehouse fight. Kade blocked and threw Marcus backward.Around them the pack watched in silence. Two hundred wolves holding their breath.Marcus recovered and attacked again. This time he got his teeth into Kade’s shoulder. Kade howled and shook him off. Retaliated by catching Marcus’s leg and biting down until bone cracked.Marcus limped when they separated. Blood running from

“I’m asking if you want to complete a real mate bond, not a contract, not a business arrangement. The real thing.” His hand tightened on hers. “I know it is complicated. I know the pack will have opinions. I know we still have things to work through but I want you to stay. Permanently.”“Are you sure?”“I have never been more sure of anything.” He touched her face. “I love you. I almost died today and all I could think about was that I never told you enough. That I wasted time being angry about things that don’t matter.”“Your father’s death matters.”“It does but it’s not your fault and punishing you for someone else’s crimes won’t bring him back.” He kissed her gently. “I want a future with you. I want to figure out this mess together. I want to complete the mate bond the right way.”Sage felt tears again. “Yes.”“Yes?”“Yes I want to stay. Yes I want the real mate bond. Yes to all of it.” She kissed him back. “I love you too. Even when you’re being an idiot.”He laughed and then w