Alpha Xander's Undoing Chasing my Unknown Mate Back novel Chapter 10

*Rory‘

38%

+48)

The ride to our designated drop off point was silent, save for the hum of the academy vehicle beneath us and the distant howls in the night. I sat stiffly beside Xander, my arms crossed, while his gaze remained locked on the window as if he were counting the trees passing by. Not that it did either of us any good.

The trees were fake, as they were trying their best to ensure we had no idea where we were going. It took me about ten minutes to realize that it seemed like we were going in circles–the trees‘ pattern was the same, but I knew we weren’t actually going in circles.

Texhaled sharply, shifting in my seat.

“You could at least pretend to be bothered by this,” I managed to say to Xander after working up the courage.

His head turned slightly, eyes cold. “Why? It’s a test. We pass, we move on.”

I huffed, staring straight ahead. Of course, it was that simple for him.

The vehicle jerked to a stop, and a recording of Headmistress Varra’s voice crackled through the speaker.

“You have twenty–four hours. Failure isn’t an option. There will be no vehicle returning to take you back.”

I swallowed hard. No pressure, then.

The doors unlocked the frigid night air blasted against my skin. Xander was already stepping out before I could process what was happening. I

scrambled after him, my boots sinking into damp earth. The academy vehicle didn’t wait. The moment I shut the door, it sped off, leaving nothing but a cloud of dust and an unsettling silence.

I turned in a slow circle, taking in the dense trees, the jagged mountains in the distance, and the barely–there moonlight filtering through the thick canopy above. The shadows between the trees were too dark, too deep.

I hated this already.

Xander, however, looked utterly unbothered. He surveyed the area with calculating eyes, inhaling deeply.

“We head east,” he said. “The academy is that way.”

Mrowned. “How do you even know that?”

“Because…” His lips twitched, almost like he wanted to smirk. “I have a wolf.”

I scowled, clenching my fists. “Screw you.”

That burt and he knew it. Still, I was surprised those words left my mouth to him of all people. Did I want him to leave me out here all alone and die?

Thank goodness he seemed too focused on whatever conversation he and his wolf were having to pay me any attention.

“What now?” I asked, hoping my comment earlier was long forgotten

He didn’t respond, just started walking thad no choice but to follow

We walked for what felt like hours, until the moon was shining through the thick trees.

The night air had turned sharper, my fingers slightly numb but I knew better than to complain. Xander moved through the forest like he belonged here, avoiding twisted roots and navigating effortlessly through the undergrowth. 1, on the other hand, tripped more than once.

I was exhausted, my body already protesting, and we had barely even begun.

1/4

Chapter 10

31 Aug

“You’re slow,” Xander commented, barely out of breath.

“Wow,” I panted, pushing a branch out of my way. “Thanks for the pep talk, coach.”

He sighed, stopping abruptly and I almost collided with him. “We’ll rest for a few minutes. But don’t slow us down.”

“Is this a bad time to mention that I’m starving?”

Xander leveled me with a glare.

“We’ll find shelter first, then eat later. I’ll hunt while you’re… I mean while we’re safe.”

I muttered something under my breath but didn’t argue. We found a fallen log, and I dropped onto it, flexing my aching calves.

38%

+48)

Xander stood nearby, scanning the area like he expected something to jump out at us. I was surprised we hadn’t come across another pair as yet. I thought a part of this exercise was to engage in combat for whatever resources our classmates may have found.

But something about this side of the forest felt… eerie. Like we were somewhere where we weren’t supposed to.

And I was just realizing.

Xander’s muscles were tense beneath his fitted black shirt, his shoulders squared as if he was ready to attack at any moment. He noticed too, maybe long ago, but wouldn’t dare tell me.

The silence stretched.

I exhaled slowly, leaning forward.

“So… do we talk? Or just continue being miserable in silence?”

He barely looked at me. “You have nothing I want to hear.”

1 scoffed. “Gosh, you are impossible.”

“And yet, you keep trying to talk to me.”

opened my mouth to snap back when a rustling noise cut through the trees. My breath hitched. Something was moving nearby.

Xander’s entire body went rigid. His eyes flashed dangerously as He motioned for me to stay still. He crouched low, sniffing the air before slowly rising.

I whispered, “What is it?”

“Something’s watching us.”

gripped the edge of the log, my heartbeat slamming against my ribs. The shadows around us seemed deeper now, stretching unnaturally between the trees, I didn’t like this.

Xander took a slow step forward, his stance guarded.

“Show yourself,” he demanded, and I stared at him like he had grown another head because WHAT!? Who invites the creepy, lurking unknown thing to ‘show themselves!? My husband and mate! That’s/freaking who

For a long moment, nothing happened, and I almost took a breath. But then, a shape moved a large, hunched figure stepping out from between the

trees.

A wolf. But not our classmates. A rogue.

Freaking lovely..

2/4

11:09 Sun, 31 Aug

Chapter 10

His clothes were torn, his eyes glowed a sickly yellow, and his lips peeled back in a sharp–toothed grin.

“Didn’t expect to find academy wolves out here,” the rogue rasped. “A fun surprise.”

My blood went cold.

Xander’s expression darkened. “Keep moving.”

The rogue chuckled, stepping closer. “No, no… I think I’ll stay. You both smell… interesting.”

He inhaled deeply, and his gaze snapped to me, his grin widening.

“But you smell more like them.”

My stomach dropped. “What? Like who?”

Xander growled, moving in front of me. “Keep talking, and I’ll rip your throat out.”

38%

The rogue tilted his head. “Haven’t figured it out yet, have you?” He laughed lowly. “The academy. They don’t just train you. They keep you. They hide you. But you–” he gestured toward me, “–they’ll never be able to hide you forever.”

Before I could react, Xander moved.

It happened fast–Xander dragged off his pants in one swift movement, and I almost wondered why until he jumped and shifted mid–air, his massive wolf slamming into the rogue. The force of impact sent them rolling across the ground, snarls tearing through the night.

I stumbled back, my breathing sharp. I needed to hide just in case there were more.

But I couldn’t move.

Xander was a blur of black fur and fangs, his wolf–Azrien–larger and stronger than the rogue. The fight was vicious, brutal, but it didn’t last long.

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify