Chapter 54
"...You might meet someone who was exactly right for you. Not because he was perfect, or because you were, but because your combined flaws were arranged in a way that allowed two separate beings to hinge together.” ― Lisa Kleypas, Blue-Eyed Devil
Rose’s POV
Aiden, who’d been listening to everything with cold fury barreling down our bond, finally shifted with a mighty roar, jumping towards Alistair.
Alistair turned into his wolf as well and I now knew for a fact that Alistair was bigger than Aiden.
He was definitely the wolf that had attacked me when I’d had a flat tire!
Old he may be, but he was a full-grown alpha with decades of training on him.
Aiden was only twenty-two, turning twenty-three tomorrow, and I couldn't help but think how differently tonight would have gone if I’d just stayed home.
Never in my wildest imaginings had I thought Alistair would pull a stunt like this.
He'd operated covertly until now. I'd counted on him being intimidated by the fact that he'd been found out.
When I confronted Lexia, I expected her to beg me to keep it a secret. But I had been so wrong!
The two alphas jumped towards each other.
Alistair’s paw met Aiden’s eye, scratching him effectively.
Aiden opened his jaw, aiming for Alistair’s jugular.
Alistair moved at the last minute and Aiden snapped at air.
I noticed the way Aiden favored his right front leg.
He was still weak; his back leg was suffering from muscle burns which hadn't healed completely yet.
He was still recovering from his previous injuries while Alistair had seemed to be training day and night for the chance to defeat Aiden.
My mind was screaming at me to put a stop to this. But how?
The two alphas pawed each other, Aiden’s silvery gray wolf snarling furiously.
Alistair’s huge brown wolf rammed into Aiden from the side, firmly pummeling Aiden into the ground.
Alistair then scratched down the side of Aiden’s flank with a loud snarl.
Aiden’s canines aimed for Alistair’s neck and missed him by a hairsbreadth as the older alpha feinted to the left before pouncing on top of Aiden, bashing his head into the ground.
My lower lip trembled. No, no, no…. Aiden was younger, he was supposed to be stronger.
And he would have been if he hadn’t recently nearly been burned to death.
What was I supposed to do? What good were my books and education and these damn powers if I couldn’t help my mate now when it really mattered?
When he’d been challenged all because of my stupidity?
Alistair drove Aiden back by sheer force, but Aiden suddenly lunged, successfully digging his claws into Alistair’s snout.
The brown wolf howled in pain, stumbling back as his blood reddened the dirt beneath him.
Aiden circled in on his opponent, waiting for an opening to go straight for the final blow.
But Alistair had his own dirty tricks to rely on.
When Aiden was close enough, Alistair used his paws to kick up the dirt under him, sending it flying into Aiden’s eyes, effectively blinding him.
And in that moment, Alistair saw his opening and tackled Aiden to the ground, paws beating away at Aiden, jaws biting the head of the younger alpha wolf so desperate to protect his mate and pack.
Someone was screaming. I didn’t realize until I stopped to take in big gasping gulps of air that it was me!
The rabid growling of Alistair ceased as Aiden managed to jolt underneath Alistair, shoving him off. I held my breath. Please goddess. Let him win.
Aiden could barely stand and when the two alphas began to circle each other lethally, my heart shattered at the sight of Aiden limping even more than before.
And the way the gray wolf kept shaking his head, it seemed he wasn't entirely lucid anymore either. He was completely drained of energy, stumbling when he tried to lunge. Alistair jumped, smashing Aiden’s head into the tree behind him before retreating smartly since the older wolf knew that fighting Aiden in close quarters wasn’t a good idea.
Aiden stood from the ground on wobbly legs before falling to the floor again in a heap, exhausted.
My alpha’s body twitched in an attempt to stand but he couldn’t move anymore.
Alistair opened his jaws wide, eyes trained on Aiden's neck, finally aiming to kill him. I moved forward at the same time as Dylan. No! He was going to kill Aiden! I struggled against Alistair’s lackeys who had a firm grip on me. I yelled in protest.
“I challenge—” Dylan began but he was cut off by a loud scream.
A scream that did not belong to me.
“NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!” Lexia screeched, running in between her father and throwing herself over Aiden's limp wolf form. “No, Daddy! No! Please!” Lexia begged, her arms thrown across Aiden’s neck. "I'll make sure he never comes back! Please let me have him!!" Alistair stopped, looking at his daughter.
Then Alistair turned to look at me. I looked away and caught the sharp look Lexia gave Dylan.
It was clear, she was telling him to stand down.
I couldn't help but agree. Dylan was poisoned, he was in no position to challenge Alistair.
Tony was lying unconscious in a hospital bed.
Josie and the kids were home, and I…well I did the only thing I could to save Aiden.
I knelt down in front of Alistair's wolf, the men holding me back letting go of me.
“You’ve won. We submit, Alpha of the Bloodfire Phoenix Pack,” I said the words clearly and emphatically, broadcasting the message to my entire pack through the luna mind-link.
A cry of pain escaped my lips when I felt a snapping pain deep in my heart.It felt like the tether that always pulled me to Aiden was breaking.
He was no longer my alpha. No longer my mate.
Utter desolation washed over me and I whimpered.
Aiden. I missed him. Alistair changed back into his human form, a wild grin marring his face etched with deep lines.
Lexia let out a wail.
“Daddy, he’s lost consciousness!” She looked to her pack members. “Help me get him to the doctor!”
I wanted to go, I wanted to follow but couldn’t because Alistair was gripping my wrist, painfully jerking me up to stand. But it was nothing compared to the pain in my heart. Aiden, Aiden , Aiden. My mind was crying out for him.
He hauled me away to his home with unconcealed glee. I only got one last glance back, glimpsing an ambulance at the front of the mansion. Aiden was passed out in his wolf form, beautiful gray-silver fur matted with blood and laid on a stretcher that was being carried towards the ambulance.
Please live Aiden!
“You’ll give me sons all right. You’re young and strong and genetically predisposed to give the alpha sons." He cackled and flung me into his mansion.
A single tear fell from my eyes as Alistair shut the door.
Please come back to me Aiden!