Alpha Xander's Undoing Chasing my Unknown Mate Back novel Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

‘Rory‘

An hour passed. Then another.

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This was getting old. It was well after midnight, based on the position of the moon, and it became very much clear that we wouldn’t make it back in time, even if Xander shifted into his wolf and made me ride him–which he insisted on multiple times–we still wouldn’t make it in time.

I was going to die out here.

My breath hitched as that reality settled in. My body was already weakening. I could feel the sluggishness in my limbs, the way my mind felt too light, like I wasn’t fully grounded in my own body anymore.

“Rory-“Xander started, his voice edged with frustration.

“Don’t,” I cut him off, already knowing what he was going to say. There was no point in him telling me to stop panicking.

We needed to keep moving.

The trees thinned slightly ahead, and that was when I saw it–an old, abandoned cabin nestled in the clearing, barely visible under the thick canopy of leaves. The wooden exterior was cracked, the windows dark and empty, but it was shelter.

“There,” I pointed, breaking into a weak jog toward the cabin.

Xander followed without hesitation, his eyes scanning the area as if expecting another attack. And I couldn’t blame him.

Because just as we reached the cabin’s edge, the scent hit me.

Rot. Decay. Death.

Not from inside.

From around the area. That scent, even without a wolf, was distinctly what we knew as rogues.

I gagged, covering my nose. “Xander-‘

He stiffened immediately, his nostrils flaring as he inhaled deeply. His entire demeanor changed.

We weren’t alone.

Now this was definitely getting old. Again? Twice in one night?

A low growl rumbled in his chest as his body went rigid, his head snapping toward the right. I turned just in time to see movement in the trees.

A second rogue.

And this one wasn’t alone.

More shapes emerged from the shadows, four in total, their yellowed eyes gleaming in the moonlight. My stomach dropped.

This wasn’t just a random rogue attack.

This was an ambush.

Xander didn’t shift this time, but he took a defensive stance, making sure to cover my body with his. His lips pulled back in a snarl so feral it made me shiver, as he extended his claws from his fingertips.

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11:09 Sun, 31 Aug

Chapter 12

“Well, well,” one of the rogues rasped, stepping forward, his gaze locked onto me. “What do we have here?”

I took a step back.

“This one’s different,” another muttered, tilting his head as he sniffed the air.

There it was again.

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And it was then that I knew this was very much intentional. Sending me here. Someone–whether the headmistress or not–sent me out here to die.

Xander was just collateral damage.

Xander’s wolf growled, fur bristling from within his chest, but the rogue just chuckled, his expression unreadable.

“Careful, Alpha boy. You might not want to kill us before hearing what we know.”

But Xander was the kill first, ask questions later kind of guy, and he lunged at them.

The fight was immediate, brutal–skin tearing, bones snapping, claws tearing. Xander took on two at once, but the others went for me.

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I ducked just in time, narrowly missing the swipe of a clawed hand. I felt useless just being here. I had never felt the impact of being a wolfless wolf until

now. I needed a weapon. My eyes darted around, landing on a sharp, broken tree branch nearby.

I dove for it, rolling onto my back just as a rogue pounced.

Xander wasn’t fast enough this time.

I heard his hiss of pain before I saw it.

A rogue had gotten its teeth into him.

“Xander!” I screamed, but there was no time.

Another rogue came for me, and I had no choice but to fight.

Life–or–death moment. I had no wolf, no powers, and Xander was weakened.

I shielded Xander’s body with my own when another rogue lunged. Call it stupidity or instinct. But they wouldn’t hurt him again.

With everything I had, I thrust the branch upward, straight into the rogue’s chest. He was the only one in wolf form, the one who injured Xander. But the others fought ferociously in half–shifted or human form.

He let out a strangled sound, his body convulsing before slumping on top of me.

I screamed, shoving him off, my hands soaked in his blood.

Xander finished the last rogue with a violent slash of his claw across his fur neck, his chest slick with crimson. He searched for me instantly, chest heaving, his eyes wild when they landed on me.

I was still shaking, staring at the dead rogue at my feet.

I killed him.

I killed someone.

I stared at my hands like they were abominations. I had done it to protect my mate, even as obnoxious and cruel as he was.

I hadn’t done it in vain.

But that didn’t mean it did nothing to me. My soul was now… stained.

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11:09 Sun, 31 Aug

Chapter 12

My first kill.

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I shuddered as I viciously wiped the blood on my clothes, trying to get it off my hands. But nothing would actually take that man’s blood off my hands,

wouldn’t it?

I stared at him, now shifted back to human form and laying curled against the dry grass.

I was going to puke.

Xander grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to look at him. For once, he looked at me with something apart from agitation.

“Rory-”

“I’m okay,” I lied, and I shook my head, taking in the nasty bite on his shoulder. “We need to get that wound cleaned up.”

For once, he didn’t argue.

He pulled me to my feet, gripping my wrist as we moved toward the cabin.

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Despite being injured, Xander insisted on going in first to ensure it was safe. When he finally gave the all–clear, I followed him in, shutting the door behind

1. us.

It was dark, dust floating in the air, but we managed to find an old oil lamp. The faint glow illuminated the cramped space, revealing a few scattered items—a worn–out robe, a pile of broken furniture, and shelves filled with old supplies.

Xander grabbed the robe and draped it over his bare shoulders, tying it loosely over his pants. “Ten minutes,” he muttered. “Then we move.”

I swallowed, taking in his injuries. “You’re hurt. Let me ”

“We don’t have time. The rest is for you, not me.”

“Xander, we won’t make it back before morning,” I snapped, voice shaking. “And more rogues are probably out there, especially at night. We’re staying here tonight. You have to live–even if I don’t.”

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