Alpha Xander's Undoing Chasing my Unknown Mate Back novel Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

‘Rory‘

Xander’s entire body tensed.

His jaw tightened, his nostrils flaring as he processed what I had just said.

“Wolfsbane?” His voice was low, dangerous. “That’s… not possible.”

But it was. I knew it in my bones. I don’t know how I didn’t realize before.

“It is if it’s given in the right dose,” I said, voice barely above a whisper. “Not enough to kill me, but enough to keep my wolf dormant.”

+48)

Xander cursed under his breath, pacing the small living room of the cabin. The floorboards creaked under his weight, his movements restless, agitated.

“You’ve been being poisoned this entire time?” His voice rose, frustration clear as he ran a hand through his already disheveled hair. “What is this illness that you have?”

Thesitated. I wished I had an answer.

“I don’t know,” I admitted softly. “All my father told me was that if I don’t take the medicine, I’ll die just like my mother.” I swallowed hard, the weight of my own words settling deep in my chest. “And after what happened on the first day at school… I believe him.”

Xander let out a sharp exhale, pinching the bridge of his nose. His expression was one of pure anger, but I could tell it wasn’t directed at me. At my father, maybe. At this whole damn situation.

“Okay,” he muttered, shaking his head. “I’ll go out and find the herbs.”

I snapped my head up. “What? No! You’re injured! And more rogues are probably still out there!”

But Xander wasn’t having it.

“You won’t last much longer, Rory,” he said, his tone firm. “I won’t sit here and watch you get worse.”

“At least let me take care of the wound first,” I pleaded, desperate to make him see reason.

“When I get back,” he said, already making his way toward the door.

And just like that, he was gone.

The waiting was unbearable.

I paced the small cabin, my arms wrapped around myself, trying to distract my mind from the worst–case scenarios playing in my head. What if he didn’t come back? What if he got attacked? What if he was already lying somewhere in the forest, bleeding out-?

I didn’t doubt his skill. I knew he was strong and he could fight. But I knew not even Xander Grayson can take on five rouges at once without getting a few injuries, if not worse. And since the last ambush was four, I wouldn’t assume that more weren’t out there.

I shut the thought down.

Instead, I forced myself to do something. I found two other lamps and four candles, lighting them to chase away the lingering eeriness of the space. The dim glow made the room feel less suffocating, though it did nothing to ease the pit in my stomach

The old stove still worked, miraculously, and though there was no food, I set about boiling some water to sterilize it, preparing to clean Xander’s wound

when he returned.

If he returned.

1/3

11:09 Sun, 31 Aug

Chapter 13

That thought crawled back into my mind, wrapping around me like a vice.

I avoided it as I gripped the edge of the squeaky counter when my legs grew weak.

My vision blurred for a second; my body swaying.

I tried to tell myself it was exhaustion. That it had to be at least two in the morning, and I was just sleepy. But I knew better.

It was withdrawal from the medicine–or poison.

8 .,38%

+48)

Zerina shifted slightly in my head, a presence I had longed for yet dreaded. My wolf was weak, but she was there, and though I missed her with everything in me, I knew what this meant.

I was going to die.

My breathing shallowed, and I clenched my hands into fists, fighting the dizziness. I wouldn’t let this be the end. I couldn’t.

And then-

The door burst open.

Xander stood there, shirtless and wild–eyed, his chest rising and falling sharply. Relief flooded me so violently that my knees nearly gave out.

But he wasn’t just holding the herbs.

One hand carried a bundle of edible plants, three dead birds and a rabbit, already plucked and cleaned. His jeans were streaked with blood and dirt, and

I realized why he took so long.

He had been hunting.

“You… were gone forever,” I breathed.

Xander grunted, setting everything down on the small wooden table. “Needed to get food too.”

I had forgotten I was hungry. I was too damn worried and scared shitless to remember the ache in my empty stomach.

I jumped up too fast, stumbling, but Xander was there in an instant, catching me before I hit the floor.

“Damn it, Rory,” he muttered, lowering me onto the chair, his grip/tight.

His gaze swept over me, and for the first time, I saw worry, I clung onto the feeling that it caused in the pit of my stomach, although I knew it was only for the alliance and not me.

“How bad is it?” he asked, voice low.

“Bad,” I admitted.

Xander ran a hand down his face, his frustration palpable. “I don’t know the portions. I don’t even know if this will work.”

I lifted my eyes to him.

“You found it?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said as his gaze darkened. “Even the

yolfsbane.”

Zerina let out a soft, mournful howl in my head.

Xander stiffened like he had heard it too.

2/3

11:10 Sun, 31 Aug

Chapter 13

But he shook it off, moving toward the small kitchen space, his movements rigid, tense.

Minutes later, he returned with a rusted metal cup, steam wafting from the tea he had brewed.

“Drink it slow,” he warned, watching me carefully. “If anything feels wrong, stop.”

38%

+48

I took the cup, my hands shaking. It smelled awful–like my medicine, and though I could tell a few things were different in the scent, perhaps missing a herb or two, I realized that it was mostly familiar.

This would either kill me now, or I die later anyhow. I didn’t really have many options.

“If I die from an overdose of wolfsbane, it’s on you,” I joked weakly.

Xander didn’t laugh. He just… hovered–watching me, his entire body coiled with tension.

The tea was bitter, but ! forced it down, sip by sip. And then…

Relief.

It was slow, but noticeable. The dizziness ebbed, my body steadied, and I could breathe again.

A breath shuddered out of me. I tried not to cry at the evident ebb of Zerina in my mind, followed by a pang of hurt and betrayal that I knew came from

her.

I gave him a nod and a soft smile, and Xander let out a slow exhale, shoulders relaxing.

“You’re safe,” he murmured.

He took a step back, dragging a hand through his hair.

Then, softer this time, “You’re safe.”

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Chapter 13

Chapter 13

‘Rory‘

Xander’s entire body tensed.

His jaw tightened, his nostrils flaring as he processed what I had just said.

“Wolfsbane?” His voice was low, dangerous. “That’s… not possible.”

But it was. I knew it in my bones. I don’t know how I didn’t realize before.

“It is if it’s given in the right dose,” I said, voice barely above a whisper. “Not enough to kill me, but enough to keep my wolf dormant.”

+48)

Xander cursed under his breath, pacing the small living room of the cabin. The floorboards creaked under his weight, his movements restless, agitated.

“You’ve been being poisoned this entire time?” His voice rose, frustration clear as he ran a hand through his already disheveled hair. “What is this illness that you have?”

Thesitated. I wished I had an answer.

“I don’t know,” I admitted softly. “All my father told me was that if I don’t take the medicine, I’ll die just like my mother.” I swallowed hard, the weight of my own words settling deep in my chest. “And after what happened on the first day at school… I believe him.”

Xander let out a sharp exhale, pinching the bridge of his nose. His expression was one of pure anger, but I could tell it wasn’t directed at me. At my father, maybe. At this whole damn situation.

“Okay,” he muttered, shaking his head. “I’ll go out and find the herbs.”

I snapped my head up. “What? No! You’re injured! And more rogues are probably still out there!”

But Xander wasn’t having it.

“You won’t last much longer, Rory,” he said, his tone firm. “I won’t sit here and watch you get worse.”

“At least let me take care of the wound first,” I pleaded, desperate to make him see reason.

“When I get back,” he said, already making his way toward the door.

And just like that, he was gone.

The waiting was unbearable.

I paced the small cabin, my arms wrapped around myself, trying to distract my mind from the worst–case scenarios playing in my head. What if he didn’t come back? What if he got attacked? What if he was already lying somewhere in the forest, bleeding out-?

I didn’t doubt his skill. I knew he was strong and he could fight. But I knew not even Xander Grayson can take on five rouges at once without getting a few injuries, if not worse. And since the last ambush was four, I wouldn’t assume that more weren’t out there.

I shut the thought down.

Instead, I forced myself to do something. I found two other lamps and four candles, lighting them to chase away the lingering eeriness of the space. The dim glow made the room feel less suffocating, though it did nothing to ease the pit in my stomach

The old stove still worked, miraculously, and though there was no food, I set about boiling some water to sterilize it, preparing to clean Xander’s wound

when he returned.

If he returned.

1/3

11:09 Sun, 31 Aug

Chapter 13

That thought crawled back into my mind, wrapping around me like a vice.

I avoided it as I gripped the edge of the squeaky counter when my legs grew weak.

My vision blurred for a second; my body swaying.

I tried to tell myself it was exhaustion. That it had to be at least two in the morning, and I was just sleepy. But I knew better.

It was withdrawal from the medicine–or poison.

8 .,38%

+48)

Zerina shifted slightly in my head, a presence I had longed for yet dreaded. My wolf was weak, but she was there, and though I missed her with everything in me, I knew what this meant.

I was going to die.

My breathing shallowed, and I clenched my hands into fists, fighting the dizziness. I wouldn’t let this be the end. I couldn’t.

And then-