Taking a Chance with the Crippled Alpha のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 51 - チャプター 60

Elara’s POVMorning light filtered through the crimson fabric of the tent, casting everything in a warm, rosy glow. I blinked against the brightness, momentarily disoriented.Then the memories came flooding back.The snare. The torture. The rogue woman. Kael. The scent. The impossible, terrifying pull I felt towards a man who should have been a stranger.I sat up slowly, testing my body. The pain was still there—a dull ache in my leg, a throbbing in my head, countless bruises and cuts that made themselves known with every movement. But the weakness was gone. The fog that had clouded my mind had lifted.I felt like myself again.For the first time in what felt like an eternity, I could think clearly. Could breathe. Could feel the strength returning to my limbs.Where is Dustan? The thought surfaced immediately, followed by a wave of guilt. I'd been unconscious for days. He must be frantic. Searching for me. Well, also angry at me. But there was nothing I could do about that now. I was

Elara’s POVThe horn blared again, longer this time, more insistent. The sound echoed across the settlement, and I watched as the training field erupted into controlled chaos.Men scattered in every direction, grabbing weapons, buckling armor, shouting orders. The easy camaraderie of moments before had vanished, replaced by a sharp, focused urgency that spoke of years of preparation."The Northern patrol," Kael said, his voice clipped. "They're at the eastern border. Five miles out. Moving fast.Don't engage. Just practice distraction. Routine drill. "I stared at him, my mind struggling to catch up. "Dustan. He came for me.""Maybe." Kael's jaw tightened. "Maybe he just sent an army."My heart soared even as my stomach dropped. Dustan was here. He'd found me. He was coming to get me.But looking at the rogues around me—the way they moved with practiced precision, the steel in their eyes—I realized this wasn't going to be a simple rescue. This was going to be a battle. “Let me go!”

Elara's POVThe words hung between us, fragile as glass. Kael's hand was still cupping my cheek, his golden eyes searching mine with desperate hope. The fireflies danced around us, indifferent to the weight of the moment.I thought about Dustan. About the way he'd looked at me when we first met—like I was nothing…and this man... But the bond that had snapped into place between us… And I thought about Kael. About the way he'd carried me through the forest, the way his touch set my skin ablaze, the way he looked at me like I was the only person in the world.But I couldn't have both. And I couldn't keep running.I took a breath, steadying myself, and met his gaze."Reject me."Kael's hand froze against my cheek. His expression didn't change at first—just a flicker in his eyes, a tightening of his jaw."What?""Reject me," I repeated, my voice stronger this time. "If you're my mate too, if this bond is real, then reject me. Sever it. Let me go back to him."The silence that followed w

Dustan's POVI had been roaming these cursed rogue lands for what felt like an eternity. My Rage wolf form consumed me completely. A beast of pure fury, driven by a singular purpose…find mate. Find Elara.The forest blurred past me as I ran, my massive paws devouring the ground. Trees became shadows, the night air filled with the scent of pine and earth and blood. I had already torn through two rogue patrols that had been foolish enough to cross my path. They had paid for their insolence with their lives.But none of them had given me what I wanted. None of them had told me where she was.Or perhaps the Rage wolf wasn't patient enough for interrogation. And the dead didn't talk. My heart pounded against my ribs, a relentless drumbeat of desperation. The bond between us was faint—muffled, as if something was deliberately blocking it. I had felt it flicker once, a surge of fear so intense it had nearly brought me to my knees. And then nothing.She was alive. I knew that much. I could

Dustan's POVThe All Alpha meet had been a disaster.Three hours of arguing, posturing, and thinly veiled insults. Alphas from every territory had gathered in the great hall, their egos filling the space more than their efforts.They'd talked in circles, each one more concerned with protecting their own borders than with the larger threat."Your security is lax, Cassian. That's why they got through.""Our patrols are stretched thin. Maybe if the western packs contributed more—""We've already given more than our share. It's not our fault your wolves can't handle a few rogues."On and on it went. Accusations. Deflections. Blame shifting.And through it all, I sat in my wheelchair, gritting my teeth, trying not to lose my temper. They looked at me with pity or contempt—I couldn't decide which was worse. The crippled Alpha. The broken wolf. The man who couldn't even protect his own mate.I'd tried to contribute. Tried to share what I'd learned from the files Cassian had given me. But my