All Chapters of The Alpha’s Obsession with the Rejected Mate: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

HelenaThe phone rings sharp against the quiet tension in the room. But Graven doesn't lower his gun. If anything, his grip on it tightens just slightly.I kept my composure as I glance at the screen, already knowing that it was the Elder calling.I answer the phone casually. "Speak.""Helena..." the Elder's voice comes through. "I've reached the location you sent. Your car is here. I–"My eyes remained locked on Graven as I interrupt him."That's good," I say evenly. "Then proceed."There's a pause on the other end, a bit of confusion flickering through his breathing."Pro–proceed?""Yes," I continue. "Come up the hill. You'd see a marked path. It isn't obvious though, but you'll need to look for it as you ascend."Graven cocks his gun just then. It is loud enough to be heard through the line if I let silence linger."Follow the trail upward," I continue, as though we we're discussing something mundane. "You'll encounter a man wearing a hat. He's got a foreign language."Corvin exhal

Helena Corvin exhales again, longer this time. It is as though he is trying to steady himself against something he cannot yet name. His fingers curl slightly against his knees, and there is a restless tension in the way his shoulders sit."What exactly is going on here, Helena?" he asks, his voice tightening despite the effort to keep it level.Just as he asks this, I turn and give a signal to Graven–nothing more than a slight tilt of my chin. Graven gets the message and responds immediately by lifting his gun, the barrel aligning perfectly with Corvin's head.At this, Corvin stiffens as though already struck. His breath catches sharply in his throat, and his eyes widen. It darts first to the weapon, back to me, then back again to the weapon as reality slowly settles into place around him."Wha–what is this?" he stammers, his voice suddenly thin and brittle.Graven chuckles, then adjust his grip on the gun. He steadies it with a quiet precision that makes the threat feel all the mo

SeraThe heavy doors swing open before me, and I step into the corridor with a bit of a relief settled into my chest.I know I stretched my luck back with Aeron. But I am glad he didn't completely cancel my request of joining the healing academy. Walking slowly at first, my steps are measured as I try to steady my thoughts."It should be enough," I mutter to myself. He could have denied me outrightly, but he didn't.Even as I console myself with this, another truth lingers beneath it all. I know I wanted distance from the pack because of Kellan's presence. The thought surfaces uninvited, and I press my lips aside, pushing it aside.But Aeron needs me here. That much is clear at least. His reasons may be wrapped in pack's politics, but I can see the clear threads beneath it. If I am within reach, then I remain part of his strength. That's what he claims, at east.But how true is that? Who am I to offer strength to the Alpha of a pack?I mean, he has Aspyn. She is the daughter of a p

Helena"It isn't?" Aspyn asked.I let her question hang for a moment, watching the impatience simmer just beneath her skin. She does not look like one who is good with waiting. She surely wants results she can see, and consequences she can measure. But my plan isn’t something that can be rushed without collapsing in on itself.“It isn’t simple,” I say again, my tone still even. “Not if it is to last.”She frowns just slightly, the lines on her face tightening with a kind of restless dissatisfaction. I smile lightly as I take a slow step toward her, folding my hands lightly in front of me.“The plan was never meant to be rushed,” I continue. “It is meant to unfold piece by piece. Quietly. I pause, then add subtly. "By the time anyone realizes what is happening, it will already be too late to stop it.”Her gaze searches mine, and I can see that she is not fully convinced.The smile on my lips widen just a little.“Patience, Aspyn,” I murmur. “That is what make things like this work.”

Helena"Midnight?" I repeat immediately. "What?"My grip tightens around the phone as something sharp cuts through my composure. I am surprised at first, then I feel just a tiny flicker of hope. But hope isn't logical.“Graven—” I begin, but he doesn’t let me finish.“You shouldn’t miss this,” he goes on, his tone lowering just slightly. “Everything’s been arranged carefully. The Nightbane patrols won’t catch wind of it if you move right as I give the command."I am already pacing around the room faster than before.Midnight? That's the same hour with the council meeting.“Graven,” I say again, more firmly this time. "Please, there needs to be a way to...shift this arrangments to some other time."There is a pause.“What?” Graven fired.The word comes out sharp and incredulous, and I close my eyes briefly as I force my voice to be steadier."You must understand what I'm about to tell you," I say, lowering my tone. "There is an emergency council meeting by midnight–same time. I've got