Page 50 of Brutal Alpha's Sold Mate
At some point, I turn to ask her opinion about a store sign that’s peeling, but she’s not beside me. My heart lurches, and a cold dread rips through my gut. She was just here a second ago, wasn’t she? I spin around, scanning the crowd. My pulse skyrockets. Did she wander off? Was she pulled away?
“Kai?” I bark. Heads turn, curious or alarmed. No response from her. I drop the bags at my feet and push through the throng, calling her name again. Nothing. It’s like she vanished into thin air.
Panic blazes through me. Could she have been snatched by some lurking threat? Malcolm and Wiley’s allies? Or one of Jacob’s men, striking where I’d least expect? My wolf roars, demanding I chase down every potential lead. With adrenaline pounding, I question anyone who might have seen her. A middle-aged shifter shakes his head, clueless. An elderly woman says she saw a figure slip between two buildings, but wasn’t sure who.
I dash to the alleyway with my heart in my throat. Empty. No footprints, no sign of a struggle. My mind reels. She’s strong—someone would need a lot of muscle or cunning to abduct her. Unless they ambushed her with potions again. The idea sends a white-hot fury through my veins.
I comb the streets, shouting her name, ignoring the stares of onlookers. My watchers, whom I deliberately left behindtoday, are nowhere to help. The afternoon sun beats down on me, and sweat is pouring down my back, but I barely notice. My entire focus is on finding Kai.
After a frantic search that feels like an eternity, I come across a younger wolf who claims to have seen a figure matching her description heading out of town. Not carried—just walking fast. Confusion floods me. Why would she leave me behind? Unless she was threatened or blackmailed. Either way, I’m not letting her go.
I race to the truck and peel out of the parking area. My only clue is that she was spotted on the road leading north. That route eventually connects to River Valley’s territory. My wolf snarls, half convinced someone from there seized the chance to snag her.
The drive is a blur of angry suspicion. By the time I reach the next town over, sweat slicks my brow. I slow the truck, eyeing the sidewalks as I drive. Then I see her familiar silhouette near the entrance to a tidy building. And she’s not alone.
Damien Lucas stands beside her. Alpha of River Valley, wealthy, influential, and the man I’m supposed to have an understanding with. My anger flares. The sight of him with Kai, standing so casually, is like a punch in the gut. My wolf demands I confront them. So I do.
I park the truck haphazardly and leap out. “Kai!” My voice cracks with a mix of fury and relief.
She spins, eyes wide. Damien glances my way, and a few bystanders shuffle away, obviously sensing tension.
I stride up to them with my chest pounding. “What the hell is going on? Were you kidnapped? Did he lure you here?”
Damien lifts an eyebrow. “If I kidnapped her, we wouldn’t be standing out in the open, would we?”
“Shut it,” I snap, focusing on Kai. “Why did you run? I tore the whole town apart looking for you.”
She presses her lips together, and something like guilt flashes across her face. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t let you stop me. It was now or never.”
“Stop you from what?” My voice cracks again.
Damien positions himself half a step forward, like he’s ready to shield her if I lose my temper. “She’s not your prisoner, Theo.”
I glare. “She’s my—” The wordmatehovers on my tongue, but I can’t bring myself to say it. Sheismy mate, in a twisted, forced sense, but more than that, she’s someone I care about. And she left me. “Kai, talk to me,” I plead.
She takes a slow breath. “I asked Damien to help me get to East Hills. He’s an ally. And to clarify… I belong to East Hills.” Her gaze holds firm, though I see her heartbreak behind it. “I’m one of their best warriors, in case you didn’t guess. My brother Quincey is their beta.”
The revelation slams into me. Sure, I knew she was skilled. She even told me at some point that she was important, but I never fully pieced it together. “You’re… what?”
Damien crosses his arms, stepping aside to let her speak for herself. She keeps her focus on me. “I was part of the top fighters, a name people whispered about. That’s who I am. Not just some random rogue you found.”
My mind races. “Then why hide it?”
She flinches. “Would you have treated me the same if I told you from day one that I’m East Hills royalty? Or would youhave locked me in a nice cage, hoping to leverage me for some political gain?”
A strangled growl rumbles in my throat. “I’m not that cruel.”
Her face falls a notch. “I never said you were. But I couldn’t risk it. Not after everything that happened with Malcolm and Wiley.”
I look at Damien, seething. “And you’re helping her. I thought we had a truce. That potion is for my cooperation with the slavers. Why meddle with my… my mate?”
He lifts a shoulder. “She asked for safe passage, and I have a longstanding history with her brother. My territory is neutral ground for travelers headed to East Hills. Besides, I’m no fan of kidnapping or forced arrangements, so I would’ve agreed, anyway. The rest is her choice.”
Kai glances at him in gratitude, then back at me. “I ran because I can’t stand by while you risk your life in a war with your brothers. I need to see my pack. I have to let them know I’m alive, and maybe they can help. Help you, if you’d just let them.”
I’m too stunned to respond right away. The swirl of revelations—her true identity, her alliance with River Valley, her plan to possibly bring East Hills into my family feud—makes my head spin. My wolf bristles, torn between rage that she left me and relief that she isn’t lying unconscious somewhere.
“You should’ve told me,” I whisper. “I might’ve understood.”
