Possessive Alpha Kaden ✔️

Chapter 23

Unedited

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I returned to the party with blood running down my brand new dress. My arms from the elbow down are coloured scarlett, the warm liquid dripping from my trembling fingertips. I'm trying not to think about the vast amount of blood that isn't mine that is currently touching my skin, drying against my chin and chest.

The screaming has finally stopped, my ears finally no longer ringing with the sound of upset, and the small whimpers of the pups that were present have dulled inside my head. I push open the gate to see Carrick is no longer lying on the floor, the large pool of blood left behind saturating into my lawn.

Brett is holding a small pup tightly in his arms, brushing the little boy's hair as he sobs into his chest. Olivia is also holding another little boy, her eyes flitting worriedly between Brett and the pup in her arms. Despite the seriousness of the situation, I can't help but smile at how much they look like a family. The smile drops from my face the second I see the mess Kaden is. His hair is wild, like he's ran his hands through it multiple times. His hands, like mine, are stained with blood, the thick red liquid staining the lips of his shirt collar and cuffs. His eyes are rimmed with red, his usually plump lips pressed into a thin line.

"Kaden." I call out, his eyes snapping straight up at the sound of my voice. I can see that underneath all of the relief swimming in his icy blue eyes is fury. I don't blame him. I walked out in the middle of a dangerous situation, met three rogues that could've potentially killed me, and blocked him out of my head. I would be annoyed if it was the other way round.

"I'm sorry." I say, falling into his embrace, nestling my head into his body and inhaling his endearing scent. It calms my muscles, clear my head and removes the last of the adrenaline from my veins. I can feel the rapid beating of his heart hammering against his chest as his strong arms tighten around me. "I know I should've gone with someone, but I just got so angry when I saw them..."

"Them?" Kaden interrupts, pulling me from his chest and looking in my eyes. "There was more than one?"

"Three." I nod, watching as his eyes darken. "But I killed one of them before he got away."

I watch as my mate's jaw clench, as his eyes dart out towards the park behind us where the rogue's body still lays cold and unmoving. His eyes flit back to me before hazing over and I know that he's talking to the pack. It frustrates me that tonight was the night I was supposed to finally be connected to the pack, the whole pack, only for rogues to ruin it and nearly take a pack members life.

Albeit the life of a dick, but still he's Kaden's third.

"We have to do this now." Kaden's deep voice brings me back from deep within my thoughts. His eyes are dark and his face serious, but the gentle squeezing of his hand in mine has me reassured that he has everything under control. Using my hand, he drags me in the direction of the stage, where a freaked out Viola is stood with a deep frown on her face.

He half has to carry me across the garden to stand upon the stage, my legs feeling wobbly as the adrenaline wears off. The old siphon stands to my left, wringing her hands behind her back, relief on her face when she sees I'm okay. Kaden walks towards the microphone, smoothing down the stray rebellious hairs and taps against it.

"Ladies and gentlemen." He begins, straightening his stance and holding his hands behind his back. "I'm not going to stand up here and lie to all of you about what just happened, nor am I going to coddle you with sugar coated words."

A ripple of murmurs break out amongst the pack members situated in my garden. I know that not all of the pack could make it tonight, because they live in the human half of pack territory and couldn't get time off work, or because they're posted on patrol tonight and they know their responsibilities to Kaden and the pack come before the ceremony.