Deceiving My Mate

Chapter 16

***Nova***

I stirred awake, a heavy sensation weighing me down. My entire body was sore, each muscle aching as if I'd been trampled by a herd of stampeding horses. As my eyes fluttered open, I was greeted by a dazzling yet harsh beam of light. It took a moment for my surroundings to come into focus—familiar and yet foreign—my room where I had always felt safe, now felt like a cage.

The events from the challenge flooded back to me in vivid nightmares: the looming bear, teeth bared, and my desperate fight for survival. I shivered at the memory of pain coursing through my body, a sharp contrast to the calm that enveloped me now. I touched my abdomen gingerly, where the bear had clawed me, and was astonished to find my skin smooth and healed. Even the ache in my limbs had dulled significantly, though the exhaustion remained.

“I knew you’d wake up,” a soft voice cut through the stillness, and I turned my head to find Dante by my side, his presence a warm safety net in the chaos of my thoughts. His eyes were bright but tinged with worry.

“Dante…” I managed to croak, my throat dry and scratchy. “What happened? Did I win the challenge?” The last thing I remembered was falling to the ground, darkness swallowing me whole.

“You really gave it to that bear,” Chase replied, walking over to my bed from the window side. A hint of pride in his voice mixed with concern. “But you collapsed afterward. We were so worried. The Alphas managed to push the remaining bears away, but you took quite a hit. They had to carry you back… well Alpha Ceaser carried you away until I took you from him.”

Her words struck a chord deep within me, blending relief with anxiety. I tried to sit up, but the exhaustion weighed heavy on my chest. “How long have I been out?”

“Just over a day,” Dante said, brushing his hair back from his face. “You need to rest. You did something incredible, but you need to let your body heal.”

Memories from the challenge flickered in my mind—my fight with the bear, the rush of adrenaline, the moment I felt powerful and unstoppable. Yet that power came with a cost. I was reminded that I still had a long way to go, living in this world of Alphas, where strength was everything.

“Is... is Ceaser okay?” I asked, searching her face for an answer.

He hesitated for a moment, and my heart sank. “He’s worried sick about you. He wanted to come see you, but…”

“But?”

“We can’t let him in, not without him finding out you’re not a man. We just told him the King's quarters are off-limits unless you're summoned. And right now, things are tense. The council is gathering for… discussions regarding what happened.”

I felt my heart pound painfully in my chest. I attempted to sit up again, this time with more determination. I could feel the strength I had garnered in that battle, but it still felt misplaced. “Why would they discuss what happened?.”

Chase hesitated, biting his lip. “Nova, you just woke up. You need to focus on yourself. There are many things we need to discuss regarding the challenge and…”

“And?” I cut him off, my voice firmer now. “I’m not going to sit here without knowing what you’re not telling me.”

Before Chase could respond, I swung my legs off the bed and stood, only to stumble slightly as I found my balance. My body protested, but I pushed through the discomfort. “I’m fine. I fought a bear, for heaven’s sake.”

“Fine is not the same as okay!” Chase exclaimed suddenly, panic flickering on his face. “Just listen to me, please.”

“No!” I snapped, frustration spilling over. “You’re not understanding. If you won’t tell me, I’ll find out from the one person who what’s to see me right now.”

He took a deep breath, clearly wrestling with himself. “You’re right. But you have to think about the political situation as well. Most of the Alpha’s is worried about the repercussions of what happened, and they’re trying to prevent any more chaos.”

His explanation hit me like a punch, reminding me that we weren’t just any pack. We were part of an intricate tapestry of power, alliances, and survival.

Chase’s expression softened as he continued, “The bears were not apart of the challenge, we believe someone had arranged for the attack to be solely on you.”

“What?,” I replied, kissing my balance but Dante managed to grab me and help he sit on my bed. Chase looked at me with a worried expression, same as Dante.

“The challenge was only for Alphas to fight each other and draw blood to be called out. That’s the other part that is concerning, the two announcer was all found dead.” Dante said.

My eyes went wide. I looked around, taking in my room and began to feel like I was suffocating in contrast to the discovery. The walls were draped with heavy fabrics, glimmering with history and tradition. I battled against the curling anxiety in my gut, reminding myself that I had faced my fears, yet every minute I spent alone felt like a lifetime.

“Why would someone do that?”

“I think that it’s the same person who took your brother.” Dante said. “I believe.. they had us look elsewhere where for him when they were here all along.” I turned my attention to Dante.

“You think the person responsible never left? As in my brother could still be within the walls?” I asked.

“We aren’t sure about that yet.” Chase interjected. “But it would explain why not one seen anything g and how we have tracked outside the walls for the whereabouts of the stable boy we thought could have something to do with it.”

“We found him.. dead an hour ago we found the stable boy.” Dante added. “It looked like someone killed him, he must have known something.”

“It’s been a week, is Axel still alive?” I had to ask the most terrifying question.

“We don’t know.” Chase sighs. “But Nova, you need to understand-if he isn’t, you are going to be a priority to protect.” My heart raced at Chases words.

I felt like I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t bare to hear about my brother not coming back. He was all the family I had left.

A soft knock broke the silence as a familiar voice called. “King Noah?”

“Oh my goddess.” I said, frustration flaring again. “What is Ceaser doing here.

“He must have found a way around the guards.” Chase grumbled.

“He can’t see me like this.” I gestured to the clothing that clearly showed my feminine parts. “Who even took my clothes off?” I asked the moment I realised I had only a shirt that was nothing more than a rag.

“I had to remove the top of your armour and over shirt to make sure your were healing right.” Dante raised his hands up in surrender.

“Dante, hide her in the bathroom, I’ll get rid of the Alpha.” Chase said.

“I know you’re there, I know you can hear me,” he replied coolly, from the other side of the door. “Open the door or I’ll break it down, respectfully.”

“Great,” I muttered under my breath, sarcastically.

I couldn’t deny the underlying edge of curiosity. Why the heck did I almost like the fact that he would break down my door just to see me? Gods damned mate bond.

As I stood and Dante held me for support we scurried away to hide in the bathroom. The click of the door seemed to echo in the room as Chase opened the door.

“Alpha Ceaser,” Chase said, his voice steady despite my trepidation.

“Where is he?” Ceaser asked, a low growl in his voice.

“He’s alive, he is fine. You shouldn’t be up here.” Chase growled back.

“Let me see him.” Ceaser growled again a challenge in his voice.

But we all knew that mates were protective of their mates. It was no doubt that his wolf was being possessive, I wouldn’t blame him not when he had to watch me get injured. Hell, even my own Lycan was passing around in my mind, urging me to go to him.

I was so lost in my thoughts that the bathroom door burst open. Dante stepped in front of me to shelf me and Chase was in the bathroom so fast, I almost didn’t see a thing. Up against the wall, was my mate.

Chase had him pinned but in the wrong spot. The second his eyes landed on me I knew just by his look. He knew. His eyes wide with shock as he trailed me from head to toe. The look of surprise soon followed.

“Your-you’re a female?” Ceaser asked and the silence that came was concerning.