Alpha Xander's Undoing Chasing my Unknown Mate Back novel Chapter 14

*Rory*

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I waited until the effects of the weariness fully left my body before attempting to stand. My legs felt stronger, steadier than they had in hours, but I could still feel the difference. The tea Xander had brewed had helped, but it wasn’t as strong as the medicine my father had sent me in vials.

Still, I was stable enough to make it till morning.

Xander sat on the edge of the table, arms crossed, his injured shoulder still taut with tension. His jaw was clenched, and I could see the way his fingers twitched, as if he was barely restraining himself.

“I still don’t understand why the fuck your father has been feeding you wolfsbane,” he finally muttered, voice dark with lingering frustration. “But at least you’re stable for the night.” His blue eyes flicked to mine, intense and unyielding. “We can stay here until morning, but the second the sun rises, I’m shifting and you’re riding me back. No arguments.”

I sighed. Wolves hated the idea of being ‘ridden.‘ They kill for less than that and Xander’s wolf didn’t know I was his mate. Still, I had no choice but to relent, knowing there was no point in arguing. I guess he had to work it out with Azrien himself.

“Fine,” I mumbled. “But first, let me see your shoulder.”

Xander’s brows furrowed, but I could tell he was reluctantly amused at my persistence. “It’ll heal,” he said dismissively.

I rolled my eyes. “And what if it gets infected? Who knows what kind of diseases that rogue had?”

He exhaled sharply, clearly annoyed but not entirely disagreeing.

Relief flooded me when I saw he had already treated the wound himself–he’d crushed and applied nightshade berries onto it. A lethal poison if consumed, but highly effective in drawing out toxins from wounds. It was incredible, honestly. His instincts were sharp, but I still needed to clean it

properly.

“That’s actually… impressive,” I admitted.

Xander gave me a look. “You sound surprised.”

“I am.”

His lips twitched, but I was already moving, grabbing the sterilized water I had boiled earlier.

While he was gone, I had taken the chance to use the tiny washroom to clean the blood and sweat from my body. The clothes were still the same, but I felt better, refreshed. I told Xander to do the same, and when he returned, I wasted no time getting to work.

The tension in the air skyrocketed the second I pressed a damp cloth against his bare skin.

Xander didn’t flinch, but I felt his muscles tighten beneath my hands.

My breath hitched as carefully wrapped the wound, my fingers brushing over the defined ridges of his abdomen in the dim candlelight. His breathing was steady, controlled, but when I glanced up at him, he was already watching me–expression unreadable.

We were too close

The only sound was the crackling of the remaining lamp, revealing a perfect glow of his perfect face, making him look even more unapproachable, yet dangerously magnetic. Gosh, I hated that he was so handsome.

I swallowed hard and Zander’s eyes darkened.

“You’re shaking,” he murmured, voice quieter now.

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11:10 Sun, 31 Aug

Chapter 14

“I thought you were going to die.”

“I don’t die that easily.” There was a teasing edge to his tone, but I was far from amused. Not when he was this… close.

His lips were so close to mine now.

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For a second, I didn’t think. I couldn’t think. The warmth of his body, the way his breath tickled my skin–it was too much. Something inside me stirred, something foreign but familiar, something primal.

His eyes flicked down to my lips and they parted on instinct, like a silent invitation to do whatever he pleased.

And then my stomach growled.

Xander blinked, then exhaled sharply through his nose, his lips twitching into a reluctant chuckle.

I groaned, burying my face in my hands. Of all the times…

“I take it you’re still hungry?” he teased, amusement flickering across his face.

I peered at him through my fingers. “You mean you forgot I haven’t eaten since forever ago?”

His smirk faded, replaced with guilt. He stood, rolling his shoulders before heading toward the pile of food he’d brought earlier. “That’s on me. I should’ve stopped sooner.”

I sighed, watching as he made quick work of preparing the meal. The rabbit and birds were already plucked and gutted, so it wasn’t long before the rich scent of cooked meat filled the air. My stomach grumbled again, and Xander shot me a knowing look.

We ate in silence, the tension from earlier still lingering but different now.

My body felt stronger, but exhaustion tugged at me. My eyelids drooped, and I barely managed to stifle a yawn after I finished eating.

“You’re feeling weak again?” Xander asked suddenly, eyes narrowing.

I shook my head, stifling another yawn. “No. Just sleepy.”

He gave me a long look before nodding. “You should get to bed.”

Thesitated, glancing toward the one–bedroom door.

Xander immediately caught my hesitation. “I’ll sleep out here,” he said gruffly, nodding toward the rickety wooden sofa.

frowned, “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re far too big for that chair. You take the bed. You’re injured anyway.”

“No,” the stubborn ass said, his expression hardened. “I’m not letting you sleep out here alone. I’ll sleep on the floor in the bedroom. You take the bed.”

I gave a look but soon realized that he was serious.

I threw my hands up. “Screw it. We’ll both sleep in the bed. And don’t argue.”

Surprisingly, he didn’t argue.

Xander secured every possible entrance–blocking the windows, locking the doors, and extinguishing the candles to avoid attracting attention.

Then, he finally joined me in the bed.

We laid face to face, a small space between us, but it felt smaller than it actually was.

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