All Chapters of The Guardian's Mate: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

POV: EthanThe moment Nathan’s transmission cut off, my world narrowed to a single desperate focus: Sophia.“Back to the estate!” I roared, already shifting mid-stride. My bones cracked and reformed as my wolf surged forward, power flooding every muscle. The Guardians raced behind me, a thundering pack cutting through the darkness of the forest. Every second felt like a lifetime. Branches whipped past my face, but I barely felt them. My heart hammered with raw fear. If anything had happened to her while I was chasing shadows in the woods, I would never forgive myself.The Blackwood Estate came into view, its lights now ominous beacons against the night sky. We burst from the tree line and the sight that greeted us stopped me cold for a fraction of a second before I pushed forward.Chaos. The front doors had been forced open, one hanging crookedly from broken hinges. Broken glass glittered across the marble foyer like scattered diamonds. Several guards lay unconscious but alive, their

Sophia Pov Sophia’s eyes snapped open before the alarm could even think about ringing. Pale morning light filtered through the curtains of the guest room, casting long shadows across the floor. She lay still for a moment, heart already thumping with the residue of half-remembered dreams—flashes of blood on concrete, Mia’s empty stare, and the low growl of something that wasn’t quite human.Ethan’s words from last night kept looping in her head.*“I’ll teach you how to survive one.”*She pressed the heels of her hands against her eyes. The promise should have made her feel stronger. Instead it only reminded her how fragile she still was. How much she didn’t know. How much she was relying on other people to keep her alive.With a heavy sigh, she swung her legs out of bed and padded toward the bathroom. Monday. School. Normal life, or whatever was left of it.---Downstairs, the kitchen smelled like coffee and toast. Ethan stood at the counter in a dark button-down, sleeves rolled to hi

Ethan Pov The courtyard erupted into excited chatter the moment Mr. Larry finished speaking. Students surged forward, surrounding the history teacher and already arguing over who would come out on top tomorrow. Shouts of “Damien!” clashed with confident cheers for me. The news spread across campus like lightning—by the end of lunch, the entire school would know.Tomorrow. Lunch break. A series of competitions to decide the new Prince of Blackwood University.Damien folded his arms, that smug smile never leaving his face as he soaked in the attention. “So…” he said, looking straight at me. “Do we have a deal?”I held his gaze steadily. “If this ends the unnecessary fighting at school, then yes.”A loud cheer rose from the students. Phones were still out, recording every second. Before Mr. Larry could formalize anything, Damien raised his hand.“One more condition.”The courtyard fell silent. A bad feeling settled heavy in my chest.Damien’s eyes drifted slowly toward Sophia, who stood

Sophia Pov Dinner ended earlier than usual. The attack on the estate, the looming competition tomorrow, and the constant undercurrent of fear had drained every bit of warmth from the dining table. Conversations were short and subdued—mostly practical exchanges about security rotations and patrol routes—before everyone drifted off to their own responsibilities.I wasn’t hungry. I forced down a few bites only because the housekeeper kept giving me that concerned look and insisted I needed my strength. *Strength.* The word almost made me laugh bitterly. What good had my strength done for Mia?After excusing myself, I wandered through the silent hallways of the Blackwood Estate until I reached the library. It had become my favorite refuge here. Tall shelves stretched from floor to ceiling, lined with books far older than I could imagine. The comforting scent of aged paper and polished wood wrapped around me like a blanket. For a little while, at least, it felt peaceful.Peace was somethi

Ethan Pov The terrified students stumbled toward us, some barely able to stay on their feet. One young woman collapsed right in front of Nathan, sobbing uncontrollably. Another boy gripped his friend’s arm so tightly his knuckles had turned white. Their faces were ghostly pale, eyes wide with the kind of horror no one their age should ever witness.“They’re coming!” one of the boys shouted, gasping for breath. “Please… don’t let them come back!”Nathan knelt in front of him, voice firm but steady. “Look at me. You’re safe now.”The boy shook his head violently. “No… no, we’re not! They killed him! They tore him apart!” His voice cracked as fresh tears streamed down his dirt-streaked face.I turned to the Guardians. “Form a defensive line.”They moved without hesitation, creating a protective circle around the frightened students.“Connor,” I ordered. “Get them back to the estate.”“Yes, Guardian Ethan.”Another Guardian stepped forward. “They’re too shaken to move quickly.”I looked