The Designated Mate novel Chapter 83

"Where's my mate?" I demanded.

"Your uncle..." Grace panted as tears streamed down her face. I'd never seen Grace look so distraught ever before. "Alpha Williams got to him before we could. He told him all about Poppy and you..." she cried out. I felt like someone had just shot me right in the chest.

How did I not account for that fucking bastard? My God, this is all my fault. I sent my mate on a fucking suicide mission.

"He was just waiting for us to make a wrong move. Poppy had a bad feeling about him from the start. She knew it all seemed too easy," she sobbed while clutching Jason's t-shirt as he rubbed a soothing hand up and down her back.

"I'm going in," I determined, beginning to undress so I could shift into my wolf.

"Wait!" Grace hissed, finally getting her bearings. "This is what he wants Knox. You have to think rationally about this. He purposely let me go so I would run back to you and "tattle". He's expecting you to lose all control and come running to him without a solid plan. I heard the men who discarded me across the border joking about the Alpha keeping Poppy for himself once he was done with you - which means she'll be safe for now, at least. I don't know exactly where he took her, but I'm assuming the same place he's holding your parents," she revealed. I fought against my wolf - who was desperately trying to shift and charge into my uncle's territory, consequences be damned.

I took a few deep, calming breaths. Grace was right; I needed to think rationally about this or a lot of people were going to get hurt; more importantly, my whole world was going to get hurt. I couldn't let that happen.

I looked up at the sky and determined that it was about five a.m. - time for us to get up and begin our invasion. I went around, waking up anyone I saw and ordering them to begin masking their smell. They all gathered around once the initial task was done, waiting for me to speak.

"It's time," I began, my voice just above a whisper. "Go in pairs of two, but make sure you spread out. No one is to make a sound; I want you as quiet as you can be. Do whatever needed to survive, but women and children are to be spared. Does everyone know the coordinates of the pack house?" I asked, pausing to read their responses. Once satisfied, I continued. "That's our end position. I have a strong feeling that by the time we arrive, there will be a few men there waiting for us. These men have spent the last year pillaging small and large packs alike, killing anyone who gets in their way in the name of power and greed; it's about time someone showed them the same treatment," I hissed, seeing how strongly some of the warriors agreed with my statement. "Alright. We head out now. Remember: stay low, stay quiet, and stay safe," I said with finality before turning and leading us forward until we were just a mere few feet away from the border.

"Oh, and one last thing," I murmured, "the Alpha is mine, no one touches him," I growled before taking the first step into my uncle's land. A wave of adrenaline washed over my body as my partner, Zane, and I rapidly but stealthily maneuvered our way through the woods. We got about five minutes in - approximately halfway to our destination at the pace we were going - when we stumbled upon a group of five teenage boys. They looked scared shitless as they backed a few steps away from us.