Alpha Xander's Undoing Chasing my Unknown Mate Back novel Chapter 97

Chapter 97

I didn’t know if the shout came from me or Azrien, but it didn’t matter. We hit the camp like a blade tearing cloth.

The treeline spat me out first. Azrien was clawing at me so hard I thought my ribs would split, but I didn’t care. My body blurred at the edge of shift–hands cracked half into claws, spine rippling. I wanted blood. I wanted her.

The firelight carved the camp in ugly strokes–men yelling, crates scattered, chains rattling as Rory stumbled against the pull. My world narrowed to her, but bodies filled the space between, Venatorum scouts with blades out and eyes already fixed on us.

I went through them anyway.

The first scout lunged fast, steel slashing for my chest. I caught his wrist mid–air, twisted until bone snapped like kindling, and smashed his face into the dirt. He didn’t get up.

Dhara tore past me, claws out, golden eyes glowing. She was silent, precise, slicing another scout open in one motion. Blood sprayed dark against the torchlight. Mona stayed low and sharp, her knife slipping under ribs like she’d been born with it in her hand.

Matt was at my side, his blade flashing, voice steady even as the camp broke apart around us.

“Eyes up, Xander!”

I snarled as steel whistled close enough to cut hair. The scout’s blade would’ve opened me if Matt hadn’t caught it with his own. Sparks flew as he shoved back.

Azrien raged against the distraction. ‘Forward! She’s there!‘

I see her!‘ I snapped back, breath tearing hot in my throat.

The car engine roared.

My blood iced.

Rory.

Her chains clanged as they dragged her to the door. Her knees buckled, but they hauled her anyway, shoving her like she was cargo instead of blood and bone and breath.

“No.” The word broke raw from my throat. “No!”

I shoved past everything–Matt’s blade, Mona’s knife, Dhara’s claws, Scouts lunged, but I didn’t stop. My boots pounded earth, every step the phantom thread jerking harder through my chest like barbed wire.

The car lurched forward, headlights carving the night.

I didn’t think. I ran.

Azrien surged so close my skin burned. My hands cracked into claws, ripping as I leapt, slamming metal with enough force to dent the door. My fingers hooked deep. The car swerved, men inside shouting. I pulled myself up, glass shattering under

my fist.

1/3

Chapter 97

And then-

Her face.

Through the crack of glass and chaos, her eyes found me.

“Rory!”

Her lips shaped my name, silent under the roar.

The phantom thread nearly broke me in half.

Then a shadow moved beside her.

Durnham.

55 voucher

Calm. Always calm. He didn’t look rattled. He didn’t even look surprised. He moved like this was routine. His hand came up, silver flashing in the light. A rune burned across the steel, faint but cruel.

The blow hit me square in the chest. Fire exploded under my skin as the rune bit deep, searing into bone. My claws slipped, tearing sparks down the door.

“NO!”

Azrien howled, ripping through me. My body gave way. The car lurched harder, wheels spitting mud as it jolted forward. My grip tore free.

The ground swallowed me.

I hit hard, air cracking out of my lungs. Mud and blood filled my mouth. I rolled, coughing, clawing earth until my nails split. The phantom thread burned hotter, yanking forward as the car tore away, dragging her with it.

She was gone again.

Rage hit before grief.

I slammed my fists into the ground, bark and dirt splitting under the force. Blood smeared my knuckles raw, but I didn’t feel it. Azrien roared inside me, begging to break free, begging to chase. My skin rippled, bones threatening to snap.

“Xander!”

Matt’s grip caught my shoulder, dragging me back from the edge. His voice was sharp enough to cut through Azrien’s roar. “Not now! You’ll lose her if you shift blind!”

“I already lost her!” My voice cracked into something wild. “I had her! She was right there, and he-“I bit the words off, chest heaving so hard it hurt.

Matt shook me hard, teeth gritted. “Do you want to be dead when she needs you alive?”

The words gutted me. Azrien snarled, furious, but even he pulled back a fraction.

Dhara stepped in, claws dripping with someone else’s blood, her face unreadable. “Then we track. He can’t hide forever.”

Mona wiped her blade against her thigh, lips pressed thin. Her voice shook, but she forced it out steady. “She’s alive. That’s

what matters. You saw her.”

2/3

3/3

7:08 pm PM

Chapter 97

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify