The Alpha’s Forced Mate
Chapter 22

Veronica

Searing pain clouded my vision as the blade n!pped my shoulder. That j3rk had jabbed me right where I’d been stabbed when Melvin had tried to kill Blake. Raymond couldn’t have known that. But then again, there wasn’t a limit to what he could know.

Maybe he already knew about the death of his nephew.

And maybe he already knew about the pregnancy too.

Blake shrieked beside me, an unearthly sound that rocked me to my core. He broke free from the two wolves and darted in front of me, protecting me from another stab that was coming my way.

Gold fluid glistened on the end of the weapon—that didn’t bode well. The kind of potions that Raymond dealt with were typically poison. And they were always effective. There was no doubt about that. I had witnessed him take down fully grown wolves with the same strategy—a quick jab from a spear and the animal went down in seconds.

Now, that animal was me.

Blake bellowed with rage as he snapped at the spear. The wooden pole cracked under his jaws and fell to pieces, inspiring Raymond to howl with fury. Their energy crackled in the air as the wolves loyal to my leader lunged for me.

But Blake was faster.

Whatever cosmic energy had infected him was impressive—and encouraging. Though I could feel the clotted ink working its way through my body, I responded much the same as my mate, snapping at the wolves who threatened to tear us apart.

While the two wolves circled me, I crouched into a fighting position, preparing for their assault. My eyes followed their paws, noticing the slight flicker of anxiety in their movements. For a split second, I allowed my gaze to slide over to Blake and Raymond.

They were locked in a brawl. Raymond attempted to hold Blake at arm’s length, hands wrapped around Blake’s thick throat. Fur littered the ground along with small b***d spatters. But it was nothing as frenzied and alarming as the look in Blake’s eyes.

Wrath had never looked so pure.

The bite on my neck infused me with courage. As I faced my attackers, I revealed my teeth, eyelids fluttering as I tried to cling to consciousness. The first wave of the poison was taking hold—which meant that soon my response time would start to lag.

One wolf lunged at my injured shoulder as the other flew toward my left. They boxed me in, sending me stumbling back into a series of fallen branches. Twigs cracked under my great paws and sent shock waves through my body. That was the second wave of the poison—hypersensitivity.

With a vicious snarl, I darted into the fray, unwilling to allow them the upper hand. It didn’t matter if I was about to collapse. I was going to defend myself and my mate until death. That was the whole point of having a mate, wasn’t it? Life, and defending that life, was the only important thing on my mind.

Raymond howled with pain. My heart shuddered in my chest at the victory of the sound—how wonderful it felt to know that the love of my life was winning.

His voice slithered into my mind, Run.

Nope, I retorted. I’m afraid I can’t do that.

You have to run, Nica. You’re fading fast.

I growled as I sank my canines into the first neck I could replace. I’m not leaving you to fight him by yourself!

Fine, tell me how I can help, he begged. What’s the antidote? Is there an antidote?

My brain spun as my responses became sluggish. Impaired was just the beginning of what was happening. I was about to lose all control of my body and senses. Already, the sounds around me were rattling my eardrums and causing me to recoil.

One of the wolves hopped on top of me and pinned me to the ground.

Nica, no! Blake shouted. I can’t lose you!

An internal sob broke through me. I couldn’t lose him either, but I was too weak to tell him that. Of the things I wanted to tell him, that was the least important considering I was carrying the potential for a family.

With him.

Irritation swallowed me whole. I shoved at my attacker with my paws, a weak throttle that didn’t move him too much. The other wolf marched up to my head and hovered over me, canines exposed in a menacing display of power. Blake was too occupied. His security team hadn’t yet appeared.

It looked like the end for me.

Blake’s voice came again, The antidote, Nica. Tell me!

My chest heaved with a breath. The b***d of my attacker. That’s the antidote. You have to get Raymond’s b***d and feed it to me.

His responding bark told me he was on it. More barks broke through the sound of clashing bodies, appearing much closer than I had anticipated. The weight on my chest was relinquished enough for me to suck air into my lungs.

My head spun. My body ached. The next—and final—phase of the toxin was quickly taking root.

Numbness.

Within a matter of minutes, I wouldn’t be able to fight or respond. I wouldn’t be able to move. I would succumb to the freezing agent that created the base of the golden liquid. Its effectiveness was rooted in the fact that it rendered the animal totally helpless—while leaving the victim conscious long enough to witness and experience their own death.

It was a horrifying end to meet. But it seemed to be mine.

I collapsed to my side as disorder tumbled around me. Wolves meshed with wolves. Colorful trails followed their movements, creating a gorgeous portrait like the ones hanging in the mansion. A sort of quiet calm washed over me as I rested my snout on my paw.

My eyelids weighed heavy. Blake, I whispered into the void. I have to tell you something.

Blake huffed with effort as he tackled Raymond to the ground. The two of them rolled as the other wolves watched on, fixated on the fight between alphas.

Tell me later, Blake urged. When you live through this.

I’m not going to live through this, I argued.

Like hell, Nica. His voice cracked. Even though we were communicating through the rope connecting our souls, I could sense his defeat. Tell me later, sweet rose. I’ve almost got him. I’ve almost—

A sharp yelp cut through the air. Growls echoed along with it and a dog pile ensued, a flash of action that confused my poisoned mind. I couldn’t tell any of the wolves apart. Were the Gilberts or the Haydens winning? At this point, it was a toss up.

Raymond rose from the mess with the blade in his hand. He wielded the gold-tipped spear, holding the broken end of the pole with a triumphant crackle. In his left hand, held by a crazed grip, was my mate.

My eyes widened. The rest of me slumped, resolved to my fate. I knew I had never been meant to have a mate. Even after trading bites and initiating the process, the universe had other plans. There was no happily ever after for me. There was simply death—and defeat.

That was it. That was my life.

A horrifying pain jolted me.

I growled low and long as I struggled to stand. Something shoved me toward the chaotic whirl of bodies as a voice loud and fierce rang through my head.

It screamed a resounding, “No!”

Defeat wasn’t in me. Death, sure, but not defeat. To go down without a proper fight would dishonor my parents and the lessons they had put energy into teaching me. The poison was simply doing its job—trying to convince me to lie down and die.

But I refused.

My growl expanded, shaking through my entire body. Surely the toxin was already taking over my heart. There was no way I could be standing right now, not when I should be completely numb and helpless.

Everything slowed. The blade cut through the air, the tip glinting with liquid honey that resembled the gorgeous wink of the sun on the beach. Blake opened his jaws wide in a terrifying roar that shook the very earth beneath our feet. Three wolves sprang toward the shattered spear that Raymond held in a death grip.

Somehow, I was faster than any of them.

I vaulted into the chaos and snapped Raymond’s hand. Several forms slammed into me while I careened through the air. My front paws hit the ground and sent me into a roll, depositing me several yards from the original fight. Warm liquid soaked my tongue, a salty and thick fluid that dribbled down my jaw.

My heart pounded hard.

Nica!

That was Blake. Spinning around to face him, I dropped what was in my mouth. Several wolves stared at me with equal parts shock and intrigue. A few seconds passed before I realized someone was screeching just beyond the trees.

It was Raymond.

Blake trotted up to me, his tongue hanging out of his mouth from sheer exhaustion. He nuzzled my neck and shoved his nose into my wounded shoulder. I expected searing pain to take me down—but it didn’t. It felt fine.

And the rest of me did too.

What happened? I asked. Did you get him?

No, Nica, Blake replied. You got him.

I stepped back and shook my head. No, I got the blade. See?

I glanced at the ground where a severed hand was clasped around the handle of a blade. The sound that escaped me wasn’t from a wolf—it was from a horrified human.

There’s no way!

Blake nudged me with his nose. Around us, the fight had been reduced to a pale resemblance of its former glory. Raymond had disappeared along with his army of wolves who were all either injured or traumatized from encountering us in the gardens. The heavy metallic sting of b***d carried on the wind.

It was over.

For now.

Nica, Blake whispered. We need to get into the mansion. We have to complete the rest of the ritual.

I nodded. You’re right. That was too close a call.

I’m so proud of you.

Tears flooded my vision. It wasn’t impossible for a wolf to cry, but it was damn near unbearable considering how intensified my emotions were. The poison had left my bloodstream, burned away by Raymond’s b***d that stained my tongue. I smacked my jaw a few times, tasting the remaining tang of it in my mouth.

Gods, I need water, I told Blake. I can still taste Raymond.

You snapped his hand clean off. I’ve never seen a more impressive skill.

I sniffed the air and then trotted toward the rear porch. Well, let’s not dwell on it.

Not dwell on it? he shouted back. I want to scream to the world that my mate just did the most badas*s thing ever!

Seriously, I begged. Don’t mention it.

He cackled while chasing after me, our collective mood shifting instantly. That was such a close call. What would have happened if we hadn’t bitten each other?

I blinked away the thought. There was no way I wanted to think about the alternative. After nearly giving up, all I wanted to do was take the longest and hottest shower I could stand to herald my two-week hibernation period. Because that battle had completely drained me. I wasn’t sure if I had the strength to face anything else.

Especially not the news I needed to share with Blake.

The back door swung open, revealing a worried Shelly. She yelled at us about how Jermaine had practically held her like a prisoner, how she needed to eat a proper meal, how her legs had fallen asleep, etc. None of what she said was a serious complaint. Her teasing tone and her stance rendered her criticisms affectionate.

As we darted up the stairs, she clung to our heels, keeping up with us with surprising grace. The whole mansion seemed to rejoice, servants appearing from their hiding places to applaud us as we raced past them. Once we reached the panic room where Imelda sat on an ancient-looking settee, we skidded to a halt and plopped in the center of the room to catch our breath.

Jermaine stood in the corner near the cabinet where Shelly had pushed me into a miniature tunnel no more than an hour ago.

He pointed at us, appearing more furious than ever. “You were supposed to stay put, Veronica!” His angry gaze slid to his alpha. “And you were supposed to stay safe!”

Blake shifted with a beaming grin. “Come on, brother. Is that any way to greet your victorious leader?”

Jermaine shuddered with a wave of irritation. He grimaced as he marched across the room and then flung himself at his alpha, angry tears streaking his face.

“You selfish as*sh0le,” Jermaine snarled. He peered over Blake’s shoulder. “You’re both selfish and reckless.”

I shifted into my human form. “Well, it got the job done.” I wobbled as I held my forehead. “Alright, I need like twelve thousand baths and a huge painkiller.”

Imelda stepped forward with a robe. She wrapped it around my shoulders and guided me to the couch. “Easy, Veronica. You’re weak.”

“I know,” I sighed. “I just want to—”

“Mamaw, we want you to perform the mating ritual,” Blake blurted.

Shelly gasped in the doorway. Joy sparked in her eyes as she covered her mouth. She was utterly speechless—but that didn’t stop me from feeling her excitement.

It was strange to feel it too, but it wasn’t a terribly unwelcome sensation. The whole room seemed to explode with resonating happiness that lured a smile to my l!ps.

Imelda tearfully held my hands. “Do you mean that?”

I nodded. “Yes, we started the process outside, but—”

“We were ambushed,” Blake explained. “But we want to complete the ritual, Mamaw. Will you do it for us?”

Imelda beamed. “I’ll prepare the ritual chamber. Why don’t you two freshen up? The oils are in my suite.”

I sat up straight. “Oils?”

Blake sank into the cushions next to me. “Don’t worry, Nica. I’ll show you what to do.”

And for the first time in my life, I trusted someone to keep their word.