Chapter 473 - Fated To The Alpha (Complete Fated Series collection)

Katya

The air is thick with the scent of death, the ground having turned to mud beneath our feet, a heavy silence punctuated by labored breaths and the occasional groan of pain from the were-bears. Ezra stirs beside me, my thumbs caressing the side of his face. I thought I lost him, that I was too late by the time Mateo got him to me. His eyes flutter open, tears streaking my face in relief. The Reaper Wolves lie motionless around us, their threat extinguished, while Sage leans wearily against Andrei, who managed to revive her.

"I wonder where Lucas took Casey?" Sage's voice is barely a whisper, her gaze distant and troubled as she stares around dazed.

Lucas, still unconscious, is cradled in Mateo's arms, his dark hair falling across his brow and his face pale. Lucas looks battered and bruised, splotchy patches of black and yellow cover his body like a rash, but is okay. Mateo gives him a little jostle and suddenly he gasps, jolting awake, his small hands clutching at Mateo's shirt, eyes wide with fear and confusion.

"Dad?!" he murmurs.

"Right here kiddo," Kaif growls, and we all turn, looking toward the mine that is crumbling behind them as they walk out. Kaif settles beside me with Eziah's assistance.

I lean toward him, seeing the wound bleeding in his chest, his lungs wheezing with each ragged breath he takes. His dismissal of help is both stubborn and endearing.

"No! You're not healing me; I can heal myself. It's just a punctured lung," he rasps.

I eye him skeptically, knowing his pride often masks his pain.

"Casen?!" Eziah asks, peering around, and I watch him subtly do a head count.

"Here!" Casen's voice is strained as he sits up, having collapsed in a heap after helping us out here. Eziah steps forward, helping Temperance the last few steps before embracing her tightly.

"You're okay!" he breathes into her hair before stepping back and surveying her closely. Temperance nods, yet I can feel energy rippling around her, I can feel that she has changed, her eye color changed, yet I do not question, too exhausted both mentally and physically.

Dominic clears his throat and I turn my attention and cringe at what he's holding, he tosses a severed head at Chief, who is drenched in blood. Chief catches it with a grimace.

"I wasn't digging out the rest of her, but better safe than sorry," Dominic states matter-of-factly. "Chomp away!" he tells Chief who glares at the severed head of Lorelei.

Suddenly, Lucas's voice cuts through, "What happened?!" I turn my attention to Lucas, who is curled protectively in Mateo’s arms, and I lean toward him. Kaif then gently reaches out with one arm, settling it around Lucas' shoulders as he gives a few comforting pats to his back before dragging him out of Mateo's lap into his. Lucas leans into his father, his voice soft, filled with exhaustion and confusion.

"Where's Casey?!" Lucas's question hangs heavy in the air and a sinking feeling settles in my chest

Sage pulls out of Andrei’s arms and looks at him, her expression a mix of confusion and fear. "You got her out?!" she says, but Lucas shakes his head.

"I couldn't find her!" he whispers before looking at me.

My gaze shifts to the old collapsing mine, and my heart near stops in my chest at his words. Casen is already sprinting towards it when I force open the mind link with Casey, despite the pain I know it will bring her, since she hasn't received her wolf yet.

She whimpers the moment I force myself into her head.

"Casey baby, where are you?" I ask, my voice a mix of urgency and dread.

"With Daddy" she replies, and my heart skips a beat.

"And where is Daddy?!" I press on, looking at her father running toward the mine tunnels. Everyone is on their feet, rushing toward the mining warehouses.

"We are on the bridge. Aunty Kat, I'm scared! It's cold here, and Daddy is being strange!" Casey's sob echoes in my mind.

"Which bridge, sweetie?! What does it look like?!" I urge.

"The one on the way to the mines, near Pop's pack!" she answers, her voice trembling.

I break out of the mindlink turning to Casen, my voice echoing through the air.

"Vince has her at the bridge leading to Andrei's pack!" I yell out, the fear in my voice unmistakable. Everyone around us stops and stares, understanding the gravity of this information.

Casen halts, his face draining of color as if his blood has turned to ice. His eyes are wide with fear and anguish, and I can feel the pain radiating off him in waves. For a moment he stands frozen, then he takes a deep breath and starts running for the bridge and his body starts to contort. But before Casen can go any further and shift, Eziah moves.

He doesn't say a word but moves swiftly towards Casen and touches him. The moment he does, they both disappear from our sight into a portal Eziah opens.

My heart stutters and beats frantically, how did we not see him take her?! As the portal closes behind them, I notice Dominic's silence and when I look up at him, his face is etched with worry. Dominic's eyes are glazed over and he pales.

"Wh…What did you see?!" I choke out, knowing that look on his face all too well.

"Death!" Dominic murmurs, and Sage is on her feet instantly.

"Casey?!" she gasps, and Dominic's eyes move to Lucas.

"Get me to the bridge!" Dominic seizes my arm when Kaif gasps. We all turn to see Kaif clutching air.

"Lucas?!" Kaif's frantic voice has everyone on their feet. Chief and everyone jump up alert looking for the threat.

"The bridge!" Dominic says, hands fumbling blindly as his eyes turn white. Kaif grabs his father. "What did you see?!" he growls.

"Vince jumps .... with Casey!" Dominic urges, grabbing Kaif's arms.

"Lucas?!" Dominic shakes his head. "I can't see, I… I…. Get to the bridge! You have to get to the bridge!!" Dominic urges as blood slips from his tear ducts as he searches for a future I hope doesn't come true. Within seconds, Kaif is gone, and I try to portal out, but I can't, having used all my energy to bring Ezra back.

"What's going on?!" Temperance stutters.