Alpha Xander's Undoing Chasing my Unknown Mate Back novel Chapter 135

Imperial 135 Summary

The chapter opens in the aftermath of a fierce battle, with Zander observing the fragile calm that has settled over the ruined courtyard. Rory lies in his arms, exhausted and vulnerable but glowing faintly with a soft light. Despite her weakened state, a faint smile and her attempt to reach out reveal her resilient spirit. However, she confesses she can no longer feel Zerina, a name laden with pain and loss, underscoring the heavy emotional burden she carries.

Around them, the survivors gather—Dhara, Castor, Mona, Matt, and the students who fought alongside them. Vallin announces that the fracture is sealed and the academy’s door closed, signaling the end of the immediate threat. Though there is no celebration, a quiet relief settles over the group, marking a hard-won survival rather than a joyous victory. Rory, reassured that the others are safe, expresses her hope that they finally deserve peace.

Zander and Rory share a tender moment, their bond reaffirmed as she feels whole and present for the first time in a long while. Their brief exchange brings warmth and lightness to the heavy atmosphere. Dhara and Castor approach, battle-worn but determined, prompting Vallin to declare that now is the time to rebuild, acknowledging that the world they knew may never return to what it was but must move forward nonetheless.

As the survivors begin to disperse, Rory leans on Zander, uncertain but hopeful about the future. The chapter closes with Zander reflecting on the battlefield where so much was lost and yet a new beginning has emerged. The silence that once felt oppressive now feels alive, signaling a world ready to breathe and heal again.

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Chapter 135

Zander

The air hung heavy with the remnants of battle, the courtyard bathed in a fragile, fading light that seemed to struggle against the shadows creeping in from the edges. The ruins around us whispered of destruction and survival, a testament to the storm we had just weathered. Amidst this fragile calm, my gaze settled on Rory.

She still glowed faintly, a soft radiance clinging to her skin like a fragile ember. Her hair, damp and tangled, framed her face with a wild grace, strands sticking to her sweat-slicked skin. Both her body and soul trembled, not from cold but from the fierce heat of what had just passed. She lay there, vulnerable yet somehow divine, as if the very essence of her being had been stretched to its limits and then gently pulled back from the edge.

I was there the moment she hit the ground. My arms had caught her, though the strength in them faltered under the weight of her fragile form. She felt lighter than air, almost unreal—as if she were less flesh and bone and more a fleeting dream slipping through my fingers. The sensation was disorienting, but I held on, desperate not to let go.

Her eyes fluttered open, unfocused and distant, as if she were peering through a veil only she could see. Her breathing was shallow, each rise and fall of her chest a quiet struggle. I brushed the damp hair away from her face, my fingers trembling as I cradled her cheek, feeling the faint warmth beneath her skin. Softly, I whispered her name, “Rory.”

A faint smile curved her lips, fragile but unmistakable, a flicker of the fierce spirit I knew so well. She tried to raise her hand toward me, but I gently pressed it down, caution in my voice. “Don’t push yourself. Not yet.”

Her lashes lowered again, heavy with exhaustion. “Can’t… feel her anymore,” she murmured, voice barely audible.

I understood immediately. Zerina. The name hung between us, heavy and painful. For a moment, the weight of it threatened to crush me, a reminder of the loss we had endured and the impossible burden Rory carried. To admit that she could no longer feel Zerina was to accept how close we had come to losing her once more—and that was a truth I wasn’t ready to face.

Instead, I tightened my hold, steadying her fragile frame.

In the distance, Dhara and Castor stood as dark silhouettes against the ruins of the academy. The fractured sky above them still shimmered faintly, the last traces of the rift’s light dissolving into the dawn. They stood hand in hand, their presence radiating a fierce, wild power that seemed to tame the chaos around us. Castor’s boots were scorched black from the battle, and Dhara’s roots wove through the cracked stone beneath them, anchoring what little remained of our shattered world.

Mona and Matt had joined them, heads bowed in quiet reflection as they surveyed the devastation. Around the edges of the courtyard, students who had fought and survived gathered, their faces pale but unbroken. For the first time in months, none of them looked defeated.

Vallin’s voice cut through the silence, rough and resolute. “The fracture is sealed,” he declared, voice carrying over the broken stones. “The academy’s door is closed. What remains of their forces has withered.”

There was no applause, no cheers—only the heavy stillness of hard-won relief. There was nothing left to celebrate, only the raw truth of survival.

Rory shifted slightly in my arms. “They’re safe,” she whispered.

“They are,” I confirmed, my voice steady. “You made sure of that.”

Her gaze drifted past me to the others standing strong together. A softness softened her features. “Good,” she breathed. “They deserve peace.”

The bond between us pulsed again, steady and sure, the rhythm of her heart brushing against mine—alive, whole, unbroken. For the first time since the Solstice, I could feel her fully, not shattered or fading, but present and real.

I lowered my forehead to hers, the contact grounding us both. “You’re my balance,” I murmured.

A weak smile tugged at her lips. “You’re terrible at poetry.”

“Maybe,” I replied quietly, “but I’m right.”

She laughed then—a soft, tired sound, genuine and warm. It broke the silence in a way no light could, filling the space between us with something fragile and beautiful.

Behind us, Dhara and Castor approached slowly but with purpose. Dhara’s braid was half-undone, streaked with blood along her jaw, yet her eyes burned with fierce determination. Castor’s usual half-cocked smirk lingered, even beneath the exhaustion. Together, they looked like something ancient—storm and soil forged into living form.

She hummed quietly in agreement. The bond pulsed once more—strong, steady—before settling into a warm, calm rhythm.

I took one last look over the battlefield—the place where everything nearly ended, and somehow, began anew.

For the first time in what felt like forever, the silence didn’t weigh heavy. It felt alive.

And somewhere deep within that stillness, the world began to breathe again.

Conclusion

In the fragile quiet that followed the storm, the characters find themselves suspended between the weight of loss and the fragile hope of renewal. Rory’s vulnerability and strength intertwine, embodying the delicate balance between sacrifice and survival, while Zander’s unwavering support anchors her in this uncertain moment. Together, they embody the resilience that has carried them through devastation, their shared bond a testament to endurance and the possibility of healing.

As the dawn breaks over the shattered academy, the survivors stand united, their resolve tempered by hardship but unbroken. The closing of the fracture symbolizes not just an end, but a beginning—an opportunity to rebuild and redefine what was lost. Though scars remain, there is a quiet promise in the air: that from the ruins, life will grow again, and peace, however tentative, has finally been earned.

What to Expect in Next Chapter?

The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the fragile aftermath of the battle, exploring how the characters grapple with the heavy cost of their victory. As the dust settles, tensions may simmer beneath the surface, with unresolved emotions and lingering doubts challenging the newfound peace. Rory and Zander’s bond, now rekindled and stronger, will likely face new tests as they confront the uncertain path ahead—one where hope and fear intertwine.

Meanwhile, the presence of Dhara, Castor, and Vallin hints at the difficult choices and responsibilities that come with rebuilding what was lost. The question of what the future holds for the academy and its inhabitants lingers, casting a shadow over the tentative calm. Readers can expect a poignant exploration of healing, resilience, and the delicate balance between holding on and letting go, all set against the backdrop of a world forever changed.