Alpha Xander's Undoing Chasing my Unknown Mate Back novel Chapter 126

Imperial 126 Summary

Rory awakens in an unusual stillness, different from the silence following battle or loss. She finds herself in Vallin’s old cabin, lying on a narrow bed near the window, with the Solstice circle gone and a fire crackling softly nearby. Though her body still aches from the light that had seared her, the pain has transformed into a sensation of life slowly returning. Xander is by her side, sitting quietly until she stirs, at which point he reaches out to her with a trembling urgency, relieved and deeply emotional.

Their connection feels changed—calmer and less consuming than before—yet the bond between them remains strong. Xander reassures Rory that she has always been whole to him, regardless of the bond. This moment of vulnerability breaks through Rory’s guilt and fear, leading her to pull him close. They share a slow, tender kiss that grows into a passionate reclamation of their love and connection, as the golden bond flares between them with warmth and light.

Their intimacy is deliberate and deeply emotional, each touch and movement infused with the renewed bond’s energy. They communicate through whispered words and shared breath, rediscovering each other in a moment filled with both physical and spiritual communion. Rory feels the bond pulsing beneath her skin, syncing with Xander’s heartbeat, as they find solace and strength in their closeness.

After their union, they lie together, trembling in the aftermath, the golden glow fading but leaving warmth behind. Xander expresses his love simply, and Rory responds with a smile, feeling whole and no longer hollow. As they settle into a peaceful rest, Rory reflects on the calm she now feels, a calm earned despite the shadows that may lie ahead.

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Chapter 126

Rory

When my eyes finally fluttered open, the world around me was wrapped in an unusual stillness. This wasn’t the hollow silence that follows a fierce battle or a crushing loss—it was something altogether different. It was the kind of quiet that settles only when every part of you has ceased its struggle, when the relentless fight inside has come to a peaceful end.

The Solstice circle had vanished, replaced by the gentle crackle and soft hum of the fire burning steadily in Vallin’s old cabin. I lay on the narrow bed by the window, the curtains drawn back just enough to let the silver moonlight spill across the rumpled sheets. My body still ached where the light had seared through me, but the sensation had shifted—it no longer felt like pain. Instead, it was as if life was slowly reclaiming the bones that had briefly belonged to death.

Xander was there.

He sat close beside me, elbows resting on his knees, his head bowed low in quiet contemplation. The instant I stirred, his eyes lifted and whatever careful restraint he’d been holding onto crumbled completely. It was as though he’d been waiting his entire life for this moment, reaching out to me with a trembling urgency.

“Hey,” I whispered, my voice rough but steady.

His hand found mine, warm and reassuring. “You scared the hell out of me,” he admitted, his voice thick with relief.

I gave a small, tired smile. “Sometimes, I scare myself more.”

His thumb traced gentle circles over my knuckles, following the faint golden veins that still glimmered beneath my skin. “You feel it too, don’t you?”

I nodded slowly. “It’s different now. The bond— it doesn’t burn like before. It’s calmer. Like she’s here, but not consuming me.”

His gaze softened, and a slow breath escaped him. “You’re my wife, Rory. Bond or no bond, you were never half of anything to me.”

Those words cracked open something inside me. The weight I’d carried since the Solstice—the guilt, the fear of being incomplete—it all began to fracture at the edges. Without thinking, I reached for him, my fingers curling into the front of his shirt as I pulled him down beside me.

He came willingly, his hand sliding to the back of my neck, his forehead resting against mine. “You’re warm again,” he murmured.

“So are you.”

Before I could say more, his lips found mine. The kiss was slow, tentative at first, as if we were both afraid to disturb the fragile peace we’d just rebuilt. Then the bond flared between us—golden and fierce—and all hesitation melted away.

Every inch of him felt both familiar and new, every touch threaded with a depth that went beyond memory. His mouth moved with a hunger that wasn’t rushed but certain, a reclamation of everything we’d lost. The residual energy from the ritual pulsed beneath our skin, filling every empty space with warmth and light.

When he pulled back to look at me, his breath came uneven. “Tell me you’re sure.”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything,” I said, my voice trembling—not with fear, but with the sheer weight of conviction.

He kissed me again, deeper this time. His hand slid to my waist, tracing the curve of my hip, and the contact sent a shiver rippling through me. I arched closer, capturing his bottom lip between mine, tasting the faint salt of his skin.

The golden threads beneath my flesh pulsed brighter, syncing with the steady beat of his heart pressed against my chest. Each movement felt heightened, as if the bond itself was breathing alongside us. When his hand left my skin, it left a trail of warmth blooming in its wake.

“Xander,” I whispered, the word slipping out more like a plea than a name.

He lifted his head just enough to meet my gaze. “Say it again.”

I traced lazy circles over his heart until his breathing slowed, until the fire’s glow dimmed to glowing embers.

“I don’t feel hollow anymore,” I whispered.

He tilted his head just enough to press a gentle kiss to my forehead. “That’s because you never were.”

When sleep finally came, it wasn’t heavy or haunted. It was the kind of rest that felt earned—the calm before the next storm, even if the horizon held shadows waiting to fall.

Conclusion

In this chapter, Rory and Xander find a profound sense of healing and reconnection after the turmoil that has defined their recent past. The quiet stillness that surrounds them is not emptiness, but a gentle peace born from acceptance and renewed love. Their bond, once fierce and consuming, has transformed into something calmer and more enduring, symbolizing the growth they have both undergone. Through their tender reunion, they rediscover not only each other but also the strength within themselves to face whatever lies ahead.

The intimate moments they share are infused with both vulnerability and certainty, highlighting the depth of their commitment and the unspoken promises between them. As they surrender to the warmth of their connection, the chapter closes on a note of quiet hope and belonging. Though challenges remain on the horizon, Rory’s final words and Xander’s reassuring presence affirm that they are no longer defined by fear or loss, but by the unbreakable bond of love that sustains them.

What to Expect in Next Chapter?

The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the fragile peace Rory and Xander have just reclaimed. As their bond settles into this new, calmer rhythm, subtle tensions beneath the surface may begin to stir, challenging the serenity they so desperately need. The quiet moments shared by the fire hint at a tenderness that could soon be tested by the outside forces still lurking beyond Vallin’s cabin walls.

Emotions will run high as Rory confronts the lingering shadows of her past struggles and the evolving nature of her connection with Xander. Their intimacy, both physical and emotional, opens a door to vulnerability that might invite unforeseen complications. Readers can expect a delicate balance between hope and uncertainty, where every whispered word and stolen glance carries the weight of what’s been lost—and what might still be at risk.