Alpha Xander's Undoing Chasing my Unknown Mate Back novel Chapter 87

Chapter 87

Chapter 87

*Xander*

The mouth of the cave gaped like a throat waiting to swallow us whole.

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We stood at the edge a moment longer than necessary, all of us listening to the quiet that pressed from inside. Even the forest outside seemed to hush, like it wanted no part of what lived underground.

Azrien bristled at the back of my mind, hackles up, claws pacing.

‘Stone,’ he growled. ‘Wrong stone.’ I agreed with him. It was colder here, oppressive, as if the air itself wanted

us out.

Mona blew out a breath and tried for levity. “Lovely vacation spot,” she muttered, tucking her knife tighter against her belt. “Ten out of ten. Would recommend.”

Dhara didn’t even look at her. “Save it,” she said flatly, already ducking under the lip of the cave.

We followed suit. The shift in air was instant. Damp air pressed at my clothes like the walls were sweating. Every sound carried too far, bouncing back to us with a warped echo.

No one spoke until Dhara paused, one hand on the wall. She lowered the torch so the light skimmed over the stone. There were scratch marks cut jagged and deep into the surface, too deliberate to be natural.

“There are Venatorum markings,” she said, her voice low. “They used this place before.”

The silence that followed sat heavy.

Mona broke it first. “What if she’s in here?” Her voice was quieter now, the joke stripped away.

“Don’t ask what if,” I snapped before I could stop myself. “We just find her.”

Mona’s mouth pressed tight, like she wanted to spit something back but thought better of it.

Matt’s voice cut between us, calm and steady. “Snapping at us won’t get her back, Xander. We’re all here for her. Don’t make us forget that.”

The words stung more than I’d like to admit. I didn’t apologize, but I didn’t snap again either. I couldn’t blame Azrien either, because it was all me. I blamed myself for losing her-for not feeling her. And I was taking it out on everyone else.

They didn’t deserve it. So I needed to keep a reign on my emotions.

Silence followed as we pressed deeper. The walls narrowed, forcing us into single file. The torchlight pushed shadows ahead of us, and of course, Mona was making animal shapes.

Then, as fast as lighting, something hit me in my chest.

Not the bond. It wasn’t the steady warmth I knew. This was different. It was a raw tug deep in my chest, like a

13:20 Wed, Sep 17

Chapter 87

thin wire had been hooked there and pulled taut.

My knees buckled and I caught myself against the wall, breath leaving in a hiss.

Azrien snarled, heat flashing through my spine. ‘Mate.’

Dhara stopped first, eyes narrowing at me. “What is it?”

“She’s here,” I forced out, voice rough. “I don’t know how I know it. But I do.”

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Mona’s eyes flicked to Matt, then back to me. Doubt and hope tangled sharp on her face. She blew out a shaky laugh. “Then we follow where it pulls.”

No one argued.

We moved with more purpose now. Every step deeper made the pull sharper, and the thread dug into me until my chest ached. Azrien pressed hard against it, urging me forward.

That was when we heard footsteps and voices. We couldn’t hear what they were saying, but it sounded intentional.

Dhara jerked her head and we slid against the wall, torches outed in one breath until shadows swallowed us. Two figures came into view at the bend-lean men, blades drawn, ash smeared over their faces.

Venatorum scouts. At least they weren’t the assassins.

If it were, I didn’t know if Dhara would have made it out of here.

We held still until one of them angled his head and his nostrils flared. He had caught wolf-scent and they knew we were there.

There was no waiting after that.

The first lunged and his blade flashed. I met him head-on and Azrien’s rage flooded my limbs as steel cut the air close enough to split hair. I grabbed his wrist and twisted, then I slammed him into the wall hard enough to hear bone crack. He snarled and snapped his teeth, and I drove my fist into his jaw until blood sprayed.

The second went for Mona as the first dropped. She ducked low and slid her knife up under his ribs, and she twisted with a sharp cry that made him gasp. He staggered back but she pushed harder, eyes wild. “Not so funny now, huh?” she spat.

Another shout split the air as Matt intercepted. The first scout had recovered and his blade arced for my side, but Matt caught it with his own steel and shoved the man back. “Eyes up, Xander!” he barked.

I gritted my teeth and rage threatened to choke me. If Matt hadn’t stepped in, I would have been bleeding. He shoved the scout toward Dhara and she met him with claws that raked deep across his chest. The man screamed, but the sound cut off as she threw him down limp.

The chamber rang with our breaths and they came harsh and uneven. The Venatorum lay still.

“They were close,” Dhara murmured. “Too close.”

13:20 Wed, Sep 17

Chapter 87

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