The outcast's mate

Stephen's POV

We barely made it out of the warehouse alive. My men and I fought our way to the riverbank, where our vehicles were parked. Alpha Kael had locked the warehouse behind him, keeping Peter's men from following us.

We survived—thanks to him. But without our Alpha, everything felt meaningless. Still, I trusted his judgment. He would make it out. He had to.

We returned to the mansion before dawn, slipping in before anyone could notice. I carried Elyse straight to the clinic across from the main mansion. The doctor got to work immediately.

"The bullet didn't hit any vital organs," he said, but his tone was still tense. "It's silver, though. She won't heal until it's removed."

"Do whatever it takes," I ordered.

The rest of my men were also being treated. Some had deep wounds, others were barely standing, but at least they were alive. Jane, Kael's human friend, sat in a corner, pale and shaken. She had just witnessed the brutality of our world, and she wasn't handling it well.

My mind was in two places—how do I explain this to Luna Elizabeth? And more importantly—can Kael survive alone in that hellhole?

I barely had time to think before a furious voice cut through the air.

"Where is my son?!"

I turned to see Luna Elizabeth storming toward us, her face full of rage. She must have seen us arrive, and now she wanted answers.

Her sharp eyes scanned the group behind me, and the second she realized Kael wasn't with us, her expression changed. Shock. Then fury.

She turned to me, her voice shaking. "Where is Kael?"

I held her gaze, bracing myself. "Luna… Kael didn't make it back with us."

For a moment, she just stared. Then—slap!

Her palm cracked across my face, sharp and stinging.

"You failure!" she spat. "You were supposed to protect him! You swore to stand by his side, and you come back without him?! What kind of right-hand man are you?!"

I clenched my jaw but didn't react. I knew she was hurting.

I kept my voice steady. "Luna, I followed his orders. Alpha Kael told me to get Jane and Elyse out safely. He stayed behind to make sure we escaped. There was no other choice."

Her hands trembled as she glared at me. "And you just left him?! You left my son to die?!"

She raised her hand again, but this time, I caught her wrist. I wasn't going to let her hit me again.

"I would never abandon him. But if I had stayed, we all would have been killed. Kael knew that. That's why he locked the warehouse behind us. He sacrificed himself to make sure we lived."

She yanked her arm free, breathing hard, her nails digging into her palms.

Then, her voice dropped to a cold whisper.

"You don't deserve your position. I should strip you of your title right now."

I held my ground. "And then what? Let the pack fall apart? If they find out Kael is missing, there will be chaos. Enemies will strike. Do you really want to give Peter the chance to take everything?"

She stared at me, her breath shaking. She knew I was right, but that didn't make it easier to accept.

After a long silence, she turned away, fists clenched.

"If Kael doesn't come back… I'll hold you responsible."

With that, she stormed out of the clinic.

I let out a slow breath, running a hand over my face. My cheek burned, but the weight in my chest was heavier.

This wasn't over. Kael was still out there, alone. And I needed to figure out how to get him back.

I was about to rush out of the clinic to gather my men for a rescue mission when Jane's voice stopped me.

"Don't do anything reckless," she said, still shaking. "Kael is going to be fine. Peter can't kill him. That's not how he dies."

Her words made me pause. "What are you saying?" I asked, confused.

She took a deep breath and looked me in the eye. "Right now, your job is to protect Elyse. If anything happens to her, Kael might not survive. But if she stays alive, he's definitely coming back."

I knew Jane was a seer, and Kael trusted her enough to risk his life to save her. If he believed in her, who was I to doubt her now?

Just then, Elyse groaned in pain as the doctor pulled the silver bullet out. She was slowly waking up. I rushed to her side.

As soon as her eyes opened, she looked straight at me. "Where's Alpha Kael? Did he make it back?"

I didn't say anything. Just shook my head.

She exhaled sharply and sank back into the bed. "This is all my fault," she whispered. "I should've just given myself up."

Jane, looking steadier now, walked over to us and placed a hand on Elyse's shoulder.

"You're strong, and this isn't on you," she said firmly. "Kael shouldn't have come for me in the first place. Peter planned everything to capture you. Since he failed, he won't stop until you're dead."

Elyse's expression turned cold. "Why?" she demanded. "Why does he want me dead so badly? He already captured my people, killed some of them… and that still wasn't enough?" Her hands clenched into fists. "Next time I see him, I'll end him myself."

Jane sighed. "You need to heal first. As long as you're alive, Kael will be fine."

As they talked, something felt off. A faint movement above us.

Someone was on the clinic roof, listening.

I moved quickly, trying to climb up, but before I could reach, I heard running footsteps. The spy had already jumped down and vanished.

I only caught a glimpse of his shadow.

My stomach tightened. There's a traitor among us.

But right now, I had bigger priorities—keeping Elyse safe and making sure no one outside this clinic found out about Kael.

I stepped outside to clear my head, taking a deep breath of the cold night air. My wounds from the battle were minor, just a few scratches, and I was healing quickly. But my mind wasn't at ease. I needed to keep watch over the clinic—for Elyse's sake.

As I made my way back, a sinking feeling settled in my gut. Something wasn't right.

Then I saw her.

Selena.

She stood beside Elyse's bed, her head tilted down, her body still. The sight sent a jolt of panic through me. Selena was never to be trusted.

Despite her cheerful smiles and playful demeanor, she was dangerous. Even Alpha Kael had questioned more than once if she had any real human empathy.

Without wasting a second, I ran.

I stormed into the clinic, my heart pounding. As soon as I reached Elyse's bedside, Selena turned to face me—smiling.

But my eyes weren't on her smile.

They were on her hands.

Dripping in blood.

She took a step forward, tilting her head with a sickeningly sweet expression.

"Where is Alpha Kael?" she asked, her voice smooth, almost amused.

I felt my pulse quicken. What had she done?