Alpha Xander's Undoing Chasing my Unknown Mate Back novel Chapter 60

Chapter 60

Chapter 60

*Rory*

I skimmed the first chapter, lips moving silently over words.

E55 vouchers.

Pretty phrases for binding, sorting and testing. It seemed similar to what I saw in Vallin’s office with the testings, but more… formal.

A sidenote referenced the Solstice as “a welcome of the moon’s favor.”

It seemed like it was one big circle broken down into three rings. The circle was big enough to hold all the academy’s student population.

I turned a page. The diagram of the circle stretched across both pages: outer ring marked with runes for Air, Earth, Water, Fire. There was also an inner ring marked with runes for accuracy and truth.

So there goes my plan B of trying to trick the damn circle.

Then the center of ring of the circle was a blank, unmarked space. I assumed this ring would be filled with the students who were unmarked, like Mona and Xander.

A paragraph beneath it read, “The center is intentionally neutral to receive the moon’s measure without interference.’

I stared at it until the white of the paper looked like snow. The center might be neutral, but nothing about me

was.

But then there was the middle ring-and I already knew what it was for before even reading it.

This ring was for wolves who weren’t touched with the four elements, but aren’t unmarked either. Another footnote explained, almost apologetically, that “rare anomalies” might cause the circle to appear “inconclusive,” and that in such cases students should be referred for “further observation.”

Inconclusive.

I could already hear it on my name.

Zerina pressed her muzzle against the entrance of my mind with a soft huff.

‘We do not cower because men draw chalk on stone,’ she huffed.

“Then we don’t, with a short laugh’ I said. ‘We learn where to step so we can save our asses.

She chuffed. ‘Cowards’

I decided to ignore her.

Xander pulled a stool beside me and opened his own book to a chapter that looked older than all my ancestors combined. He tapped a section halfway down the page.

13:11 Wed, Sep 17

Chapter 60

40

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“Here,” he said. “The circle responds most strongly to what you offer it. You don’t have to empty yourself to stand there. You can choose the energy it follows.”

“So if I offer it… what?” I asked. “Something small?”

“Something true and tame… almost natural,” he said, and the word settled in my stomach. “Something that will satisfy the measure without… inviting it to meet you where you burn.” He hesitated, then added, “We train for a controlled resonance. Nothing flashy. Nothing that screams gifted, let alone-”

“Chaos,” I finished when he didn’t. I glanced down at the Codex again to avoid the way his jaw flexed. “Do they ever write that word in here?”

“No.” He turned another page. “They prefer parables. Easier to deny what you fear when you don’t understand it.”

I snorted. “Vallin must’ve written one of them.”

The door creaked behind us. We both looked up fast, books closing on reflex. For a heartbeat my chest went hollow-but it was only Mona, sliding through the gap with the kind of practiced stealth that said she’d followed us from the corridor on purpose.

“Well?” she asked, hands on hips, black hair in a loose knot and her glasses perched on her nose that made her look like a witch and a judge all at once. “Are we panicking or planning?”

“Planning,” Xander said.

“How did you-”

“She’s from my pack and I know she’s your best friend. We share a mindlink so I told her what we were up to. It makes searching and planning easier, plus Azrien says we can trust her.”

Mona snorted. “Azrien couldn’t keep me away from helping Rory even if he didn’t trust me. Just so you know, in the beginning, neither you or your wolf was there for Rory. I was.”

“I’m still your alpha. You will respect me.”

Mona smiled a sweet smile that told us she was going to do anything but that.

“Respect is gained. And you’re not the alpha… yet.”

Xander opened his mouth to respond, but I beat I’m to it. We didn’t have time for this.

“Planning,” I said again. “We’re planning.”

“Good,” she replied, shooting another innocent smile at Xander before striding over to us. “Because the panicking is very loud in the dining hall. You can probably hear the second-years vibrating through the floorboards.”

“Only second-years? I saw some seniors today who were practically sweating.”

Xander snorted but said nothing as he flipped another page.

13:11 Wed, Sep 17

Chapter 60

40

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“How do you know if you’re gifted? What if I’m gifted?” she asked, but then burst into laughter after.”But seriously, I had no idea so many people were gifted. They haven’t said it out loud but the energy is wild. I’m pretty sure there’s a wild fire outside because of one of the student’s panic.”

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