Alpha Xander's Undoing Chasing my Unknown Mate Back novel Chapter 7

Chapter 7

*Rory‘

It was Sunday at Azure Crest Academy. Which meant it was the day for The Run.

Last week was the first time I saw this happening, but today I was prepared for the hollowness it left in me knowing I couldn’t participate.

Apparently, every Sunday morning, if a wolf doesn’t go home for the weekend, they are welcome to join The Run. It wasn’t mandatory, but most, if not all, students went. Sure, they were free to run between classes anytime they wanted, but today was the only day where they ran together. Like a pack.

But I couldn’t. Because I couldn’t shift.

The wind was strong this morning, carrying the scent of the woods and the sound of wolves howling in the distance.

1 sat on the edge of the turret near the top of the academy, legs dangling as I gazed out over the treetops. Below, the students ran, a blur of movement and energy, their howls echoing through the trees.

I felt empty. Hollow.

Matt had brought my medicine earlier, mixed into a cup of coffee. I hadn’t even noticed the bitter taste anymore, which should’ve been concerning. Zerina, was absent once again, buried beneath the medicine in my system. I could feel her, but she was muffled, like a dream I couldn’t quite grasp. And now, knowing she was there but unable to reach her–it was unbearable.

My wild curls, free for the first time in days, whipped around my face as the wind picked up. I didn’t bother taming them. I just sat there, watching, waiting, longing.

I had never shifted. Never run. Never felt what it was like to let go. I had always been different, the wolfless wolf, the broken Steele daughter.

A part of me wondered–what would happen if l… I let go?

Would it even be so bad?

1

I knew the inevitable was coming. One day, I’d just… stop caring. Stop… feeling. And I knew I would have gone into a hole then.

One I probably would never be able to get out of.

Footsteps echoed behind me. I blinked, startled from my thoughts, and turned to see Lilith approaching. She wore a small, gentle smile, the picture of

concern.

“What are you doing up here?” she asked, her voice soft, careful. A pit formed in my stomach from what Mona implied two weeks ago about Xander and Lilith, but I quickly got rid of it. Lilith was sweet. She would never.

Jsighed. “Just watching, I can’t run, so… this is the next best thing.”

Lilith came closer, glancing over the edge. Her brows shot up as she took in the height. “Damn, Rory. That’s a long way down. You’re not afraid you might

fall?”

I let out a small, humorless laugh.

“I have impeccable balance? I shook my head. “Don’t worry, I won’t fall unless someone pushes me.”

I meant it as a joke. Lilith, however, didn’t laugh right away

Instead, she moved behind me, rubbing my back in slow, firm circles. It was meant to be comforting, but something about the pressure felt… too much. My body swayed slightly under her touch

“One day,” she murmured, “you’ll get to go on runs too”

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Chapter 7

Her voice was soothing, but something in her tone made my skin prickle.

I frowned. “Lilith, I think-”

The sound of boots filled the space.

Lilith’s hand vanished as if it burned, and I turned to see Xander approaching.

His expression was unreadable, but his eyes were ablaze.

He stopped in front of me, gaze flicking from me to Lilith, then back again before he reached out and yanked me down from the wall.

“Are you out of your damn mind?” he growled. “You could’ve fallen to your death.”

I barely reacted, turning back to the sight of the pack running. I sighed, not even bothering to dull the ache in my chest anymore. It was no use.

If I thought Zerina was mad at me before, she’d hate me now.

Knowing that I knew her, yet still… suppressed her.

Another wolf howled in the distance, its cry one of sheer exhilaration, and I felt my chest tighten.

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My eyes stung, but I refused to let the tears fall. Lilith mumbled something before taking her leave, and when I looked back at Xander, the fire in his eyes

had dimmed. And for the first time, I swore I saw something else.

Sympathy.

The wind howled between us, sending my hair whipping around my face again. I shivered, wrapping my arms around myself, and caught the way his eyes darkened.

Then something else flashed in his gaze–something unreadable, almost… frustrated.

Uneasy, I reached up and hastily pulled my hair into a bun. His stare lingered on me as I finished pulling up my hair, his expression shifting into something almost… disappointed.

Weid

Who was this person, and what had they done with the real Xander?

A sharp how! rang through the air, and my attention snapped back to the forest. I stared longingly at the wolves running free, their bodies sleek, the movements effortless

Without Banking, I spoke “Do you ever long for something you’ve never had before? You shouldn’t want it, but you damn well need it? Like, if you don’t fest it at least once, just for a single second, you don’t think you’ll be able to live?”

The words were barely strive a whisper. When I turned back to Xander, my breath caught

His flue eyes tuned into mine with an intensity that made my chest Ughten

“You have no fucking idea he mentaled

1 exhaled sharply, not understanding etial in mear Maybe i didn’t want to wider skard was too sash, to prd, to think about it.

I sighed. “I know not taking my medicine and grdsasting my wolf will be

but can’t help but tracked off, pressing a hand to my chest. “I can’t death as long as I could shit once. Bun unce

help but think that one time–just once weld both it it ould be

I closed my eyes briefly, trying to reach thaugh the chaudes bond to Zerina But it was useless I was too far gone, too drowned in medicine to reach her.

When I met Xander’s gaze again, his eyes were troubled it looked at me like he wanted to say something but didn’t know how

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Chapter 7

Instead, I asked without thinking, “What’s your wolf’s name?”

He seemed stunned by the question, like no one had ever asked him that before. A long pause stretched between us before he finally answered.

“Azrien.”

I smiled softly at the name. “Mine is Zerina. Beautiful, isn’t it?”

I might’ve imagined it. But for a second, I thought I saw his lips twitch.

“It means golden,” he said.

“Beg your pardon?”

He glanced at the setting sun before returning his gaze to me.

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“Your wolf’s name,” he mumbled. “It means golden. The meaning is quite similar to Aurora actually, which means dawn. Both basically typify some kind of light, dawn or… newness, I don’t know,” he added with a shrug.

A short laugh escaped me. “Like my mother already knew what my wolf would be called.”

He nodded curtly.

For a minute, I just stared at him. Did he just randomly know the meaning of names? Or just mine? But he couldn’t have known my wolf’s name.

Before I could say anything else, the alarm signaling the end of The Run blared through the school grounds.

“Don’t get back up on that wall again,” Xander said as he turned to leave.

“I can keep my balance,” I called after him.

But he didn’t respond. He didn’t even turn around.

Still, I couldn’t help the small smile tugging at my lips.

Did I just have a civil conversation with