Alpha Xander's Undoing Chasing my Unknown Mate Back novel Chapter 18

‘Rory‘

Mona was grinding on some guy- her plan evidently still in motion–when I found her, and I had to physically drag her away while she protested loudly.

“Rory! I was this close!” she whined, stumbling slightly as I pulled her toward the edge of the party.

“You’ll live,” I muttered. “Besides, I need your full attention.”

Then we found Dhara at the edge of the clearning.

Mediating.

Of course.

Mona groaned. “Our roommate is so weird. Even more than you.”

I snorted.

“I know,” I said, watching as Dhara sat cross–legged on the ground, eyes closed, completely oblivious to the chaos of the party behind her.

Still, I pulled her away from whatever spiritual awakening she was having and led them both out of earshot from everyone else.

Once we were far enough, I took a deep breath, steadying myself before finally saying it.

“How would you guys feel about going to my home pack?”

Mona’s eyes widened, her mouth parting slightly. “Rory… that’s-”

“Dangerous? Probably.” I crossed my arms, my heartbeat pounding as I finally voiced the plan I had been turning over in my head all night. “But it’s the best chance we have to find out the truth about what happened to Eden. And I need you both with me.”

Mona blinked, then grinned. “I was going to say brilliant! Murder mystery is still on the checklist of first year. Getting laid tonight will just have to wait.”

She sighed dramatically, and I rolled my eyes.

Dhara tilted her head slightly.

“The truth always has a way of revealing itself at the right time,”

Mona frowned. “What does that even mean?”

Dhara just smirked.

Texhaled sharply. “So, what do you say? Are you in?”

“Of course!” Mona squealed.

“Sure, whatever”

I grinned.

“I admit, I was a little drunk, but yay! We’re here!” Mona chirped, gripping the steering wheel as she pulled onto the long dirt road leading into Snow Pack territory.

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The drive from the academy to my home pack had taken an hour and a half. Emerald Pack–Xander’s pack–was right next to mine, but Mona had been to my pack only a few times.

We were barely allowed to see each other growing up.

I had already told them the plan–get in, find what we need, get out. Any chance at avoiding a confrontation with my dad was on the A–plus list. So that meant we couldn’t get caught.

Wolves weren’t prohibited from going home on the weekends. But it would be evident to anyone that we weren’t just here for a friendly coming back home visit. One mindlink to my dad and we’d be in his office like kids being caught off packlands within minutes.

Since it was already late, passed midnight, I decided that we’d sleep at Xander’s private home in Emerald Pack once we were done since, technically, it was my home too, and prayed Xander didn’t feel homely this weekend.

The air felt colder the closer we got to the place where I had found Eden’s body that night.

The forest stretched around us, dense and eerily silent.

I walked ahead of them, my shoes crunching softly against the dried leaves. It had been weeks, but the memory was still vivid.

Too vivid.

I was so lost in thought that I didn’t see the root sticking out of the ground.

I stumbled.

Mona’s hand shot out, grabbing my arm before I could fall, and I let out a shaky breath, steadying myself.

That was when it hit me.

Eden was dead.

My sister was… dead.

She was never coming back, was she? She wasn’t on some trip for a few weeks or even months. She was just… gone.

A sharp, agonizing grief tore through me so suddenly that I almost doubled over.

1 had spent years hating her–resenting every moment, every insult, every calculated move she had made against me. But now, standing here, on the path to the place where thad found her lifeless body, the reality finally sank in.

She was gone.

Forever.

My chest tightened and my throat burned.

Flashes of memory hit me all at once.

Not the fights. Not the hatred. But the small moments–

Like when she had shoved me out of the way of a running boy who would have definitely crushed me when I was younger, even if she had insulted me for being weak right after.

Or the time when she forced me out of the rain when I was once sick, and though she had pretended not to care, she had stood in the corner and

watched the entire time.

Eden had been cruel.

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Chapter 18

But she had been my sister.

And now she was dead. She was really, truly… dead.

A strangled sob escaped before I could stop it.

I clamped a hand over my mouth, my body shaking. All the weeks where I pushed it under the rug, telling myself that it didn’t hurt much because we weren’t close. All the nights I’d force myself to sleep instead of focusing on the guilt.

It all came in waves of grief. All at once.

Mona was there immediately, pulling me into a hug as I broke down completely.

“She’s dead,” I choked out. “She’s actually dead.”

Mona held me tighter. “I know, Rory. I know.” She sat with me against the cold, hard ground. “It’s okay. You can finally let it all out. Finally let go.”

And that I did.

I cried until I had no tears left, until I had no strength to heave another sob, until I was just hiccupping, feeling guilty for ruining Mona’s blouse. But she didn’t seem to care.

I was heartbroken.

My sister had been murdered.

A cold breeze swept through the trees, making me shiver.

I wiped my face, inhaling shakily, before straightening.

“We have to find out who did this,” I whispered, voice raw.

Mona nodded solemnly.

Dhara, who had been silent on my right side, rubbing comforting circles in my back, finally spoke, her voice calm, steady.

“Grief is like a storm over the ocean,” she mumbled. “But the ground beneath us remains unshaken. It reminds us that when we get to shore, it will

steady us.”

Mona blinked, “Dhara, I swear to the moon goddess-”

*No, it’s okay.” I managed a smile in Dhara’s direction, knowing this was as supportive as she could get. And I appreciated it. “Thank you, guys, I’m sorry for breaking down on you like this!”

it’s okay, Rory Mona mumbled, giving me another soft smile. “We’re here for you. Even Dhara and her vague ass parables,”

I could have sworn i caught a twitch of a smile on Dhara’s lips before her solemn expression returned.

And just like that, I knew I’d be okay

We finally reached the spot after another fifteen minutes of walking, and phare was the first to react before even said anything

She fell to one knee, her hand pressed to the earth where I found Eden’s body blinked away another wave of tears as Dhara mumbled something under

her breath

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