novelxo Chapter CHAPTER 35
-Adira-
After assigning some warriors to begin disposing of the dead rogues and witches along with preparing to do some repairs as well with assisting the injured, Rhys and I made our way to the infirmary to check on Killian and Lucas.
If it weren’t for Natalia’s reassurance that both Beta’s were okay, we both would have been in that infirmary room as soon as possible.
With Rhys going to check up on Killian, I entered Lucas’ room where Selene was sitting by his side clutching his hand in her own.
She offered me a small smile and cleared her throat trying to reign in her emotions. I could tell by her red rimmed eyes that she had been crying. “Hey.”
“Hey.” I replied moving to put a hand on her shoulder as I glanced down at Lucas whose chest was steadily moving up and down. His upper torso was wrapped in a bandage and his eyes would flutter every few seconds. He was fine. I could see that. My beta would be okay.
“Nat says he’s going to be fine.” Selene says with a heavy breath “She recommended I stay by his side to help speed the process along. His wounds weren’t too deep but the blood loss has made him weak.”
“Good.” I squeezed her shoulder “And how are you?”
Sel snorted then sighed deeply “I feel like I just got hit by a train.”
“You aren’t the only one.” Lucas’ raspy voice says suddenly from the bed followed by a groan.
“Lucas!” Selene sprung forward out of my grasp and wrapped her arms around her mate who groaned in pain once again “You’re such an idiot! What were you thinking? Who the fuck jumps in front of two Alpha’s like that? If you weren’t hurt I’d give you the hardest punch of your life.”
Lucas cracked a smile against her neck and pulled her close inhaling her scent “I’m okay Sel.”
She shuddered and held him tightly before pulling back “I love you.”
The beaming smile that came from my beta was as radiant as the sun. I’d seen that smile before from Rhys. It was a smile from a man head over heels in love.
“So all it took was me getting seriously injured for you to finally say it huh?” He waggled his eyebrows making Sel glower at him “I love you too Sel.”
Lucas’ eyes moved from his mate to me and grinned “You look like shit.”
I rolled my eyes biting back the smile that threatened to form on my face. Oh yeah, he definitely was okay. “I could say the same for you asshole.” My gaze softened slightly meeting my best friends “Glad you’re okay Luc.”
“You too, Alpha.”
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Rhys and I left the infirmary hand in hand and took in the events of the past 48 hours as we gazed around the pack grounds. There was a sudden weight lifted off our shoulders but another added right back on with the knowledge that our pack needed a lot of work to get back to where we were.
Somehow I was grateful for that. This time, Rhys and I would build our home together as an Alpha pair.
Our moment of silence was interrupted as Chase and Erica approached us hand in hand. I felt pride swell in me at the sight of my best warrior finally accepting the she-wolf. They both deserved happiness. My smile fell at the sight of his somber expression.
“Chase?” I asked taking a step forward cautiously. Chase glanced over at Erica who gave him a reassuring nod and squeezed his hand letting him know she wasn’t going anywhere.
“Alphas.” He bowed his head with his mate following suit “There’s something I need to tell you.”
Rhys and I exchanged looks of concern. Judging by the guilt radiating off of Chase, we weren’t going to like what we were about to hear.
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Selene, Enzo, and Gio burst through the Wilson home and began searching each and every room for the couple. Rhys and I followed behind. I kept my hand intertwined with his to keep his emotions at bay.
After Chase explained his parent’s plan to get their son the Alpha title, Rhys was out for blood. The Wilsons were the reasons for my attack, both sending assassin’s for their own selfish reasons.
Abraham and Delilah wanted Rhys gone so Chase would become my chosen mate when they discovered that wouldn’t happen, they opted for taking me out all together before Rhys and I would complete the mating bond.
Enzo and Gio confirmed that the Wilson’s were behind this all along. With a bit of the twin’s ‘questioning’, Rodger sang like a canary. I knew their tactics would work. Nothing like two monstrous wolves unafraid to shed some blood to get even the strongest of wolves to break.
The betrayal from Delilah hurt more than anything. My parents helped her get her position as councilwoman and was a friend to them. Never would have thought that she would have done anything like this.
Sensing the hurt no doubt coursing through my body, Rhys squeezed my hand to let me know he was right here and wasn’t going anything. I shot him a grateful look.
“Adira, Rhys. You may want to come in here!” Selene called from one of the back rooms.
As we entered what I assume was Abraham’s office, I stopped dead in my tracks to see the older man laying on the ground in a puddle of his own blood. A suitcase lay at his side and his wide eyes stared lifeless into the ceiling above him.
“Looks like Delilah took care of him before we did.” Selene growls out pointing at the multiple stab wounds in his chest and neck.
A part of me wanted to be thankful that Abraham was finally gone, another part of me was sad that a man, a husband and father was killed at the hands of his soulmate. How the hell was a she-wolf able to do that to her mate without killing herself as well?
Glancing over at Rhys I could see the same question looming in his eyes. What was Delilah’s endgame? Would there ever be one?
“Cugnia take a look at this, your name is on it.” Enzo says, pulling out a small cream colored envelope from under Abraham’s arm.
True to my cousin’s word, my name was written in a delicate script on the front. Terrified to even open it, I continued to just stare at the parchment in my hands.
“Adira?” Rhys asks gently, bringing back from where my head just wandered off to.
“I’m fine.” I reassure, I wasn’t sure if I was speaking to him or myself, before ripping open the letter. I needed to know what it said.
My eyes scanned through each word, through each promise of revenge and accusations. Delilah had one agenda towards me and from now on, I would have to be prepared for whatever she threw my way.
Rhys took the letter from my hands after my lack of response. His face scrunched up in anger as he began to rip the paper into a hundred tiny pieces “Sel, get someone in here to help bury Abraham’s body and break the news to Chase. I don’t think he’ll handle this very well. I want every warrior searching the woods for Delilah, we need to make sure she’s truly gone.”
This wasn’t Rhys making the orders but an Alpha, he was doing the thing I wasn’t strong enough to do at the moment. Sharing our title would be easier than I thought. Selene and my cousins exited the Wilson home heeding to my mate’s command,
“She won’t hurt you Adira. That I promise you.” Rhys vowed taking me into his arms reminding me that with him around, nothing could possibly harm me.
For that, I was eternally grateful.
---
That night Rhys and I laid in our bed holding each other like it was our last night on earth. We both nearly died today and neither of us were willing to let each other go just yet. The two of us let ourselves be entangled with each other, not knowing where one began and the other ended.
We allowed ourselves to be swallowed in an inferno of passion, unwilling to extinguish the flames until we both were riding a high I wasn’t sure we wanted to come down from.
I traced the skin on my mate’s chest and listened to the steady thumping of his heart as my thoughts wandered finally taking in what exactly could have occurred today.. What would have I done if I lost him? Would I have ended up like my father, utterly heartbroken and unable to carry on without the love of my life? The thought of Rhys dying sent a wave of sadness through me making it difficult to breathe. I knew the answer to my question.
“What are you thinking about beautiful?” Rhys asks quietly as he runs a hand up and down my bare arm soothingly.
“I could have lost you today.” I admit feeling my throat close up from the sudden rush of emotions I was feeling.
Rhys moved a hand to lift my chin, his intense gaze meeting my own “But you didn’t. I’m right here, in our bed with you. It would take a lot more than a vengeful wolf to ever take me away from you Adira.”
“But-”
“Stop with the worrying.” Rhys chides tucking a piece of my hair behind my ear lovingly “Nothing is going to tear us apart Adira Carson. No evil councilwoman, no pack members, not even a fucking rogue. I am right here and I’m not going anywhere.”
I felt the tears streaming down my cheeks before I could even realize that I was crying. Suddenly all the emotions from the past year came crashing down like a tidal wave. All the mourning and worry I avoided made its appearance and Rhys held on for the ride whispering sweet nothings in my ear and running his fingers up and down my spine.
He held me for what seemed like hours until I was calm once again. I felt lighter now. More free than I’ve ever been in my entire life and it was thanks to the Alpha that had his large arms wrapped around me. “I love you Rhys Carson.”
“And I adore you, my treasure.”
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This is the final chapter of Alpha! The next upload will be an epilogue!
Thank you to everyone who has liked, commented and reviewed this story! It's been a long journey and I'm grateful to everyone who has stuck around for the entire thing! I would have never been able to complete this story without you all!
I truly hope you enjoyed this story and I cannot wait to write more for the Alpha Series! Thank you, thank you, thank you again! (I will probably say thank you in the epilogue as well so be prepared)
Until next time readers!