Alpha King’s Secret Baby (The Runaway Mate #1)

Chapter 29

Casey

We hung back while Bastien’s team ventured further into the commune. I waited with my heart in my throat. I didn’t like that Bastien was putting himself in the line of fire, but his plan was our best option for rescuing Theo. I just hoped I wasn’t trading my mate for my son.

I knew Bastien would shout for Kildaire and bait him into revealing himself, but that didn’t stop my stomach from dropping when his voice echoed through the compound. All eyes had to be on Bastien for this to work, but I hated it all the same.

“Let’s go,” James whispered.

I gathered my strength and focused on the task at hand. Bastien could handle himself. It was Theo I had to think about now.

We crept behind a row of houses, avoiding the main thoroughfares. It was strange being back in Moon Edge. I’d only spent a week in the commune, but my time there was seared into my brain. The emotional intensity of those days heightened everything, from my connection with Bastien to the strangeness of the pack. Bastien’s rejection was only a part of my experience, but I was glad not to feel the sting anymore. Bastien had more than made up for it, and now, he was putting his life on the line for Theo.

James held up his hand, the sharp motion indicating danger and urgency. We paused, standing as still as statues in the shadows of the cabins. Two people emerged from their home ahead, discussing the commotion. They didn’t look our way, their attention fixed on Bastien’s diversion. The plan was working—this part, at least. We hadn’t reached Kildaire’s house yet.

Once they were gone, James waved us forward. It was a short distance to our destination, but every step seemed to take an eternity. I hadn’t seen the Alpha’s home five years ago, so my eyes widened when I spotted it. The building was by far the biggest residence in the commune. It was a testament to his arrogance to live so ostentatiously among the humble log cabins of the pack. It was hardly a surprise, but my stomach churned at the injustice.

“Jules said there weren’t many guards inside, but I’ll check things out first,” James said. Diana caught his arm before he moved. I watched as they had a silent conversation—Diana undoubtedly telling him to be safe. They put their foreheads together for a brief moment, and then she let him go with pride in her eyes.

I held back the yearning that threatened to erupt within me. I wanted that closeness and love with Bastien.

I waited for James to return with bated breath, running my fingers over my necklace. I’d put Theo’s fleur-de-lis on my chain for safekeeping, and I was glad to have my father’s pendant with me for extra protection. My intuition told me this was the right course of action, and now it was time to gather my strength. But there was one part of my father’s mantra I ignored too often. My dual nature.

I hadn’t shifted in years. Living in town made it difficult, and I didn’t have time to get into the country between the shop and Theo, who was still too young to shift. But if I was honest with myself, it was Bastien’s rejection that made me shut out that part of myself. My fated mate had spurned me, so I did the same to my wolf.

But that was behind me now, and if I wanted to be at full strength, I needed to embrace my wolf again.

“There are three guys inside,” James said as he returned to our group. “Two at the front and one at the back.”

“And Theo?” I whispered.

“I couldn’t get eyes on him, but if he’s in there, we’ll get him,” James said with more certainty than I felt. We were taking a considerable risk. I heard raised voices from the town square but couldn’t make out what was said. There was no telling how long Bastien could keep everyone occupied. We needed to act fast.

I scented the air. Theo was nearby, but I couldn’t pinpoint his exact location.

“We should go through the front,” Oscar suggested. He’d been quiet so far, deferring to the knowledge of those who knew the commune. “We have the element of surprise and can catch the first two unawares. Then, only one of them has any warning we’re inside before we take him down, too.”

It was a smart move.

“Good idea,” James said. “I’ll take point and get them to open the door by saying I have a message from Duncan. Then, we strike.”

I closed my fist around my pendant one final time for luck. Everyone but James started to shift. I wasn’t as quick. The years between my last transformation and now made me rusty.

Seeing Oscar’s mountain lion form was jarring, and the scar on my side pulsed with the memory of his attack, but so much had changed since then. I was glad he was on our team.

I took a deep breath and let my wolf take control. The shift felt strange at first, like standing after sitting in an odd position for too long. But as the pins and needles faded, a rush of power swept through me. I took my wolf form, recalling what it was to be a shifter. My senses heightened as we approached the house a few paces behind James, and I smelled the guards at the door. I also recognized Kildaire’s scent—sour and pervasive but not fresh. And beneath the layered odors was Theo. My heart leaped. He was close.

James knocked and called through the wood with a convincing lie. The guards opened the door, not expecting betrayal from one of their own. They let James in, and we pounced.

I darted over the threshold, attacking the first guard before he could react. Instinct drove me. Kildaire’s men stood between me and my son, and I refused to show mercy.

It was remarkably easy to clamp my jaws around his throat and rip. There was no time to hesitate. We only had one chance. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth as the guard took his last gurgling breath. Oscar and Diana took down the second guard a few feet away. They didn’t need my help.

James shifted and stalked toward the back of the house. I followed.

A large brown wolf sprang from around the corner, snapping and snarling. He was on James in a flash, knocking him to the ground with a forceful lunge. I joined the fray, pulling the wolf off James and closing my teeth around fur, muscle, and bone.

James righted himself and backed me up, and we finished him off together. The problem with people like Kildaire was that their arrogance made them sloppy. He’d underestimated us, and it would be his downfall.

We moved through the house, checking Kildaire’s many rooms. Theo’s scent was strongest near the sole locked door.

I shifted back to my human form, no longer embarrassed by nakedness. I had covered myself when I first arrived at the commune five years ago, but all that mattered now was my son.

I twisted the knob, but the deadbolt held fast.

“Theo?” I called through the door.

“Mommy?” he replied, his little voice scared but hopeful.

“I’m here, baby,” I said, “I just need to unlock the door, then I’m taking you home.”

I looked around for a key, praying to the moon goddess it was in the house. If not, I’d break the door down. It was solid wood, and the noise would likely draw attention, but nothing would keep me from my son.

The others shifted back to their human forms.

“We’ll search the place,” Oscar said. “You stay with your boy.”

I nodded and placed my hand on the door.

“Are you okay, Theo?” I asked. Jules claimed Theo was unharmed, but I couldn’t relax until I saw for myself. I wasn’t sure I’d ever feel calm again after this.

“I’m okay,” he murmured.

“You sure?” I asked.

“I’m scared.”

“I know, baby. But everything is going to be all right. Mommy’s here now,” I assured him, even though my heart was breaking.

Diana approached with an armful of clothes.

“Here, I thought you might need these,” she said with a soft smile.

“Thanks.”

“Also, I brought you a cloth for—.” She pointed to my face.

I frowned, realizing I had blood dripping down my chin.

“Thanks,” I muttered, wiping my cheeks. I dressed quickly, as did Diana.

Oscar appeared at the end of the corridor, still naked.

“Here, try this,” he said, holding a key. “I found it on one of the guards.”

I grabbed it and praised the moon goddess when it worked.

The second the door was open, Theo barreled into me, throwing his arms around my waist. I picked him up, holding him so tight I worried I would hurt him. But he didn’t complain as he burrowed closer.

“I’ve got you, baby,” I said. “You’re safe.”

The others quietly slipped away to give us a moment. I breathed in Theo’s scent and told myself he was fine. Now, we just had to get out of the commune.

“We’re ready to leave, but I want you to close your eyes, okay?” I said, remembering the guards’ dead bodies. I’d feel bad about that later, but I was too thankful for my son’s safety to dwell on it long.

“Why?” he asked.

“Because I said so,” I replied.

He nodded, and I tucked his face against my chest, putting my hand on the back of his head for good measure. Diana, James, and Oscar waited at the entrance, dressed and prepared to make our escape.

“Ready to move out?” James asked.

“Let’s go,” I said.

When we were away from the house, I told Theo he could open his eyes. I quickly introduced him to the others, but there was no time for pleasantries. We needed to get out. We’d wasted enough time looking for the key.

We weaved between the cabins, our exit almost in sight. But something nagged at me, deep in my gut. I needed to get to Bastien.

“Diana,” I whispered urgently. She spun around. “Will you take Theo? There’s something I need to do.”

She frowned but nodded.

“Casey, we have to go before they find us,” James warned me.

“Keep going with Theo. I’ll catch up with you soon,” I said. I knew I was being crazy. I needed to stay with my son, but the pull was too strong to ignore. The same urgency I’d felt while saving Theo rose within me.

“Mommy?” Theo tightened his arms around me. He didn’t want to let go, and neither did I.

“It’s all right, baby,” I said soothingly. “Our friends are going to look after you for a few minutes. I’ll be right back.”

“Do you promise?” he asked.

My heart clenched. “I promise.”

He let me hand him over to Diana, and they continued toward freedom. I doubled back, heading for the town square.

As I got close, the sound of a vicious fight filled my ears. I rushed into the crowd, but the gathered pack members blocked my vision. Some watched the battle while others—primarily women—turned away and covered their faces. I pushed through the crush of bodies and found a scene that stopped my heart—Bastien, in bloody combat with Kildaire. Even in his wolf form, I recognized Bastien immediately. They tore at each other with teeth and claws. Bastien was putting up a good fight, but Kildaire was vicious.

“Casey?”

I turned to see Jules staring at me with wide eyes.

“What are you doing here?” he asked. I heard the questions beneath. Did you get Theo? Why aren’t you heading for safety?

“I needed to see Bastien,” I said, my pulse racing. “We should help him!”

I stepped forward, but Jules threw out an arm to stop me.

“We can’t,” he said, more solemn than I’d ever seen him. “Bastien challenged Kildaire for the role of Alpha. If we intervene, the transfer of power won’t be complete. Bastien will die.”

“What?” I shook my head. “We can’t just leave him.”

“We must ,” Jules said, a pained expression on his face. He wasn’t any happier about this than I was.

I turned back to the fight, horrified but unable to look away.

I flinched as Kildaire knocked Bastien to the ground. He landed with a thud that spoke of broken bones. Kildaire stalked toward Bastien like a predator hunting prey.

Bastien spotted me, and a ripple of shock ran through him. We locked eyes, and it was as if I heard his voice in my head.

Did you save Theo?

I nodded.

Kildaire pounced, and Bastien rolled away with renewed vigor. He got to his feet, panting, his eyes bright with determination. Bastien countered the attack with everything he had, a rampage of strength and violence. Kildaire was at a disadvantage, forced to defend himself against Bastien’s incredible power.

In a nimble move, Bastien drove Kildaire into the dirt, his jaws locking around the Alpha’s neck. Bastien had won. But instead of killing Kildaire, Bastien backed off. Kildaire remained breathing—bleeding but alive. Bastien shifted back to his human form and stood tall, his body covered in deep bite marks and scratches.

“Kildaire’s reign of terror ends here,” he said, addressing the pack. “Enough with the bloodshed, pain, and lies. It’s time for all of us to have the freedom we deserve.”

He was every inch the leader he was born to be, and my chest swelled with pride.

A quick movement caught my attention.

“Bastien, watch out!” I shouted. Kildaire lunged toward him in a blur of black fur and white teeth, unwilling to admit defeat.

Bastien dodged at the last second, Kildaire’s fangs missing his neck by mere centimeters. Bastien transformed back into his wolf with incredible speed, lashing out at Kildaire the second he hit the ground. This time, he showed no mercy. A hush fell over the crowd as they held their collective breath.

Like a bomb blast, a wave of energy exploded through the pack, Bastien at the epicenter. I didn’t need someone to explain it to me. I knew in my bones that Bastien was the Alpha now. He shifted to his human form and straightened once more. His blue eyes were bright, nearly glowing with newly transferred power.

“I never wanted it to come to this,” he said. “I didn’t seek out this role, but I will serve this pack with honor. Things will not remain the same, and those who disagree may leave without retaliation.”

A few people shifted uncomfortably. The wolf I recognized as Duncan skulked off with a few of those around him, no doubt unhappy with the turn of events. I was almost disappointed Bastien let him leave after they’d kidnapped Theo, but I trusted Bastien’s judgment.

Bastien’s eyes locked with mine, and he strode over, heedless of his injuries.

“Is Theo okay?” he asked, his hands cupping my face.

“Yes,” I said. “The others took him to safety, but I had to find you.”

I hovered my hands over Bastien, unable to find a wound-free stretch of skin.

“Bastien, I—”

He kissed me. I melted into him, letting my instincts guide me. Bastien was my mate, and I’d never let go of him again. I broke the kiss, needing to tell him the words in my heart, but Bastien beat me to it.

“I love you,” he said, echoing my feelings.

“And I love you,” I stated, holding his gaze so he knew just how much I meant it.

He drew me into another, deeper kiss.