《The Alpha’s Submissive Mate》全部章節：第 11 章 - 第 20 章

Sleep didn't come easily after the council meeting. Every sound in the corridor outside my chamber pulled me awake. Every passing step made my heart race. The memory of hands dragging me into darkness lingered like a bruise on my mind. Someone inside the pack had wanted me dead. And they were still here. Morning training was canceled. Instead, patrol wolves flooded the compound, moving in tense groups as Kael's orders spread through the territory. Wolves who once greeted each other openly now watched with suspicion. Trust was breaking. I found Kael in the strategy hall, leaning over a map spread across a large stone table. Rhen stood beside him, along with two patrol leaders. Their conversation stopped when I entered. "You shouldn't walk alone," Kael said immediately. "I wasn't alone," I replied.

The night didn't settle. It tightened.The howls from the eastern ridge came again, closer than before, threading through the trees like a warning that refused to be ignored. Patrol wolves moved in sharper patterns, their steps quicker, their eyes scanning every shadow.Inside the compound, tension had become something alive. Breathing. Watching. Waiting.I stood in the war room beside Kael as orders were issued one after another. Maps were marked. Routes adjusted. Guards reassigned. Everything pointed east."Seal the lower pass," Kael commanded. "No movement without direct clearance."A commander nodded and left immediately.Rhen remained, arms folded, expression grim. "If Darius is heading for them, he knows the fastest routes.""Then we cut him off before he gets there," Kael replied.My gaze stayed on the map, tracing the lines instinctively. "If he thinks we'll chase him directly, he might double back."Kael glanced at me."He knows how y

The forest didn't feel the same on this side.The deeper they dragged me, the heavier the air became. The scent of pine faded, replaced by something rougher, wilder. No order. No structure. No safety.The net cut into my skin as they carried me across uneven ground. Every step sent sharp pain through my ribs, but I refused to cry out. They were watching for weakness. I wouldn't give it to them."Careful," one of them muttered. "She's worth more alive.""I know," another replied. "That's why we don't damage her."A chill slid down my spine. Not damage. Not kill. That meant one thing, they needed me.The thought steadied me more than fear ever could.The trees opened into a clearing. Not a pack territory. A camp. Rough structures stood scattered across the space. Fires burned low. Wolves moved in controlled silence, their eyes sharp and alert as we entered.Every gaze turned toward me. Curiosity. Suspicion. Hunger.I lifted my chin despite the posit

The nights were the worst.Not because of the cold. Not because of the guards. But because of the silence.It pressed in from all sides, heavy and watchful, broken only by the crackle of distant fires and the occasional shift of wolves outside my enclosure.They'd moved me after the first night. Not to a cell. Something more deliberate.A structure made of rough wood and reinforced bindings, placed at the center of their camp. Not hidden. Not protected. Displayed.Like something important. Or something dangerous.I sat upright despite the ache in my ribs, forcing my breathing steady. The ropes around my wrists were tight but not cruel. Enough to restrain. Not enough to weaken.They still needed me functional. That thought stayed with me. It mattered.Footsteps approached. Measured. Familiar.I didn't look up immediately."Still awake," his voice said.I lifted my gaze slowly. The leader stood at the entrance, shadowed by firelight. His pre

The forest had gone too quiet.Kael slowed his pace, one hand lifting slightly to signal the unit behind him. Instantly, the wolves fell into silence, their movements sharpening, their senses stretching outward.Something was wrong.They'd been tracking for hours. Too easily.Rhen moved up beside him, voice low. "You feel it too.""Yes."Kael's gaze swept the trees ahead. No broken branches. No fresh scent strong enough to follow. Yet the trail had been clear. Too clear."They want us here," Rhen said.Kael didn't respond. Because he already knew.The bond pulsed. Sharp. Sudden.Kael stopped.Pain flared briefly through his chest, not enough to weaken him, but enough to demand attention."Elara."It wasn't just distance anymore. It was pressure. Something was happening to her.Rhen's eyes narrowed. "What is it?"Kael exhaled slowly, forcing control over the surge. "The bond.""Stronger?""Yes.""Closer?"Kae