Page 48 of Kidnapped By the Alpha

Aiden was silent again, as if I had brought up another painful memory for him. Jasper and I had only briefly discussedhis relationship with his old alpha. I wondered if Aiden was recalling some past shared trauma or if something else was on his mind.

“Thank you for telling us all of this,” Grace said.

“We will take it into consideration as we make our plans for the future of our packs,” Lex agreed.

With that, I was dismissed back to my room, but I wasn’t quite ready to leave. I had realized what I needed to do and wanted to get the words out before I lost my nerve. I stood up, wanting them all to see me as the luna I had become.

“I agreed to come back here so that I could prevent any bloodshed from happening in those woods,” I said.

They all looked up at me, and I was about to ask them for their permission—no, to demand my release—so that I could return to Jasper and the Dark Moon Pack when a sudden commotion from outside drew our attention.

“Halt!” a voice shouted.

“Kneel down with your hands in the air immediately!” another voice yelled.

“AIDEN MOONSTONE, COME OUT NOW!”

It was Jasper’s voice.

My mate had come to Sparkle Hollow.

Chapter 25 - Jasper

I had done my best to put on a brave face for the pack and help them get ready to move into our new homes, but I felt as though I was slowly losing my mind without my mate.

There was nowhere I could go without being reminded of her. I had tried to go to sleep the night she left, but hadn’t even been able to go inside our cabin. The smell of her as I’d come through the open door had been too much to bear, and I had ultimately decided to sleep on the ground outside.

The nights following, Killian had taken pity on me and allowed me to sleep in his cabin, but the empty feeling in my heart remained.

Everyone had packed up their meager belongings and moved into the houses on the hill in Pinedale. Everyone except for me.

I sat outside on the picnic bench and wondered if I would survive. Finally, I couldn’t take it any longer. I needed to see her.

Without telling anyone where I was going, I shifted and ran to Sparkle Hollow. I did my best to go unnoticed, but speed was my main objective. If I was going to be killed by their pack, I at least wanted to see her face one more time.

I slowed when I reached the edge of town, shifting back into human form and making my way quickly to the pack house. No one stopped me until I reached the courtyard. As soon as I entered it, two guards hurried forward, blocking my path to the door.

“Halt!” one man shouted, moving close to me.

“Kneel down with your hands in the air immediately!” added the second.

I could see they were moments away from shifting, but I couldn’t allow a fight to happen now. Not until I had seen my mate.

“AIDEN MOONSTONE, COME OUT NOW!” I bellowed at the top of my lungs.

I knew he was still here, plotting with Alpha Lex about how to handle their joint problem: me. Well, I had plenty of ideas about that.

The two alphas came outside. They were doing their best to appear nonchalant, but I could see the tension behind their eyes.

“I’m surprised to see you here, Jasper,” Aiden said. “I think our business was concluded a week ago.”

“No, it isn’t. I’m here for my mate,” I said.

“You can’t have her,” Lex replied. “She doesn’t belong to you.”

“She doesn’t belong to anyone,” I growled. “But I intend to fight for her, anyway. Just you and me, Aiden. If you win, I’ll leave and never return. If I win, April will be allowed to come back with me.”

Aiden shook his head in disagreement with my terms while Lex ordered his wolves to vacate the courtyard. He could tell that I was beyond reason and wanted to keep his pack safe. I would commend him for that, if I weren’t so furious.

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