The Warrior's Broken Mate

CHAPTER 5

ALPHA ELIAS POV

The next morning, I woke up to the most mouthwatering scent imaginable — a full, hearty breakfast clearly prepared just for us. I didn’t waste time getting dressed and headed toward the kitchen, eager to dig in.

I was just about to step in when Luke entered the room and clapped a hand on my shoulder. He grabbed himself a mug of coffee, and we both settled near the window, taking a moment to observe the other guests trickle in. I wanted to discuss what we'd overheard last night, but waited for Luke to bring it up.

Luke leaned in, voice low. "Thorne locked himself in the attic last night—with a silver chain."

"That would burn him," I growled, frowning.

"Not with gloves," Luke snapped. "He was shouting. If someone was in there, they stayed silent."

I clenched my jaw. “That bastard. He’s probably conditioned her into silence.”

Luke narrowed his eyes. “How do you know it’s a girl?”

"I spoke to her last night. She’s there. I’m sure," I said, meeting his eyes, rage simmering.

Luke nodded. "Keep quiet. Training’s this morning—then we check the attic."

"Distract Thorne this afternoon," I ordered. "If she’s in danger, she’s leaving with us. I won’t support him."

“You got it,” Luke agreed.

After breakfast, we joined Crystal River Pack's warriors on the field. The problem was obvious: Thorne’s fighters were out of shape and struggled with even basic combat.

My headache worsened with every sloppy move, my team outpacing theirs easily. I excused myself, seeking relief, when the alluring scent returned—stronger than before. She was here.

I glanced at the bathroom door. It was shut. But I hadn’t closed it that morning. And I could just barely see the shadow of her feet beneath the door. I approached, gently trying the handle. Locked.

Once again, I spoke to her through the door, pleading for her to come out. Her response was the same — a firm refusal. This time I nearly forced the door open. But then she said something that froze me in place.

“If you break this door, you’ll never see me again.”

It was the only time her voice didn’t tremble. She meant it — every word. And I wasn’t willing to risk losing her. Not now.

Just then, Luna Seraphina entered the room. She immediately sensed something was off and started eyeing the closed bathroom door with suspicion. She wanted to open it, but I knew that couldn’t happen. It wasn’t safe for the girl.

Kael, my wolf, began scratching at the inside of my head — agitated, on edge. There was danger near. I blurted out some excuse, just enough to get Seraphina to leave the room with me.

Back at the field, Crystal River's warriors dragged themselves through exhausted motions. I called lunch, shaking my head in disbelief as they limped away.

We headed back to the packhouse and into the ballroom. The smell hit me again — that unmistakable, addictive scent. But there was no food in sight. I was about to head into the kitchen when Alpha Thorne stepped into my path.

“Please. Just take a seat,” he said,"Sit," he said, gesturing to the chairs. "Lunch is coming."at down next to Luke, who was already frowning.

"Weird," Luke muttered, as Thorne en"That’s weird," Luke muttered as Thorne entered the kitchen and locked the door.fore finally emerging. He ordered the servers to bring out the food, and they scurried into the kitchen to retrieve it.

I ate quickly, knowing I had a narrow window of opportunity. As planned, Luke went to join Thorne and Seraphina for lunch to distract them. I was determined to search the house undisturbed, and this gave me the perfect cover to slip away.

Back in my room, I waited, listening. As soon as the commotion downstairs faded and people started heading back to the training field, I crept out and returned to the attic door.

I could hear movement behind it — soft creaks on the stairs, muffled steps. Then suddenly the door opened. I barely had time to move aside and stay hidden.

As it swung open, that scent — her scent — wrapped around me like a drug. She was the one. No doubt remained in my mind or in Kael’s restless energy. She stepped out and quietly closed the door behind her.

I reached out and grabbed her arm.

Sparks exploded across my skin, traveling up my arm like fire. I froze, stunned.

She was small, painfully thin. Her hair hung in messy strands, and her skin was pale. One eye was badly bruised, her lip swollen. She wore a shapeless gray dress far too large for her. But what truly caught my attention were the fresh, open wounds on her arm — angry welts that refused to heal.

Silver.

Just like Luke had warned.

"So there was someone in the attic,""So there was someone in the attic," I said, voice cold.ood utterly still, like a statue carved from fear and disbelief. Her wide blue eyes were locked on mine, and I wasn’t sure if she was seeing me or just some ghost of her past. I had turned her around so fast she nearly lost her balance—I caught her, hands on both arms, and the instant my second hand touched her, the same electric jolt surged through me.

Again, sparks.

She was still staring at me, as if trying to understand something that didn’t make sense. I didn’t know what to make of it either. Was it recognition? Fear? The bond calling to her like it was to me? Or was she terrified out of her mind?

Her face told a thousand stories, all tangled together—none of them good. Then, suddenly, she blinked, lowered her head like she’d remembered her place, and stared at the floor with the practiced submission of someone who’d spent her life beneath others’ feet.

"I’m Alpha Elias," I said quietly. "Your name?"

"No one," she whispered.

The words "No one," she breathed. Hit me like a wave of shock and disbelief surging through me.

How could someone believe that about themselves? No one. Like she didn’t even think she deserved to exist.

Before I could say anything else, a sharp voice cut through the hallway.

“What the hell is going on?” Alpha Thorne was marching toward us, all righteous fury and false authority.

The girl—Lyra—instantly tensed. I could feel the panic rolling off her. Her heartbeat spiked, breaths turning shallow. She was on the edge of a breakdown just from the sound of his voice.

"Who is she?" I demanded, stepping in front of her.

"No one," Thorne said coldly.

"She said that too. I want the truth—who is she to you?" My voice dropped. Kael bristled inside me, already angry.

Thorne sneered. “A mistake.”

The growl that escaped me wasn’t voluntary. It came from somewhere deeper than instinct, something primal. I looked at Lyra—and the way her face twisted in silent pain shattered something in me. She didn’t flinch. Didn’t react. Like she’d heard that word her entire life.

I stepped forward.

"The only mistake here is you," I snarled, "and that venom you mated with."

Thorne bared his teeth. “Watch your mouth, Elias.”

He moved toward us. Without hesitation, I pulled Lyra behind me, wrapping my arm around her waist and shielding her with my body. I wasn’t about to let him hurt her again—not while I was breathing.

Why was he even pretending to care? He’d treated her worse than dirt, like someone who didn’t exist.

But she did. She was mine. My mate. And I had every right to be furious about how she’d been treated—like trash, like a prisoner, like something shameful.

Silence fell around us. My claim was unspoken, but clear.

I turned to her. She was still staring at the ground, her face pale, lips parted in disbelief, the weight of everything crashing down on her.

“I’m an Alpha,” I said gently. “That means you answer my questions, don’t you?”

“Yes, sir,” she murmured, her voice barely audible.

“What’s your name?”

“…Lyra.”

I nodded. “And Alpha Thorne. What is he to you?”

She hesitated. I could feel her struggling with the answer, but she forced the words out anyway.

“He’s my father.”

I stared at her, stunned. Then whipped around to glare at Thorne. “Didn’t you say your daughter and your mate died in childbirth?”

“She did die,” Thorne growled. “That thing killed my mate when it was born.”

“You actually believe a newborn is responsible for that?” I shouted.

He flinched but stood firm. “She killed her.”

“No,” I snapped, stepping forward. “You’ve had fifteen years to convince yourself of that—and to punish her for it. To make her believe it too. Fifteen years of torture.

I grabbed Lyra’s hand and turned toward the stairs, resolved to get her out of that place and to safety, driven by the need to protect her from further harm.

“You’re not taking her anywhere!” Thorne barked, storming after us with Seraphina behind him.

I caught the motion from the corner of my eye—Thorne reaching for her again—and instantly shifted her to my other side, my arm wrapped tight around her, keeping her out of his reach.

"She’s coming with me. The Council will hear what you’ve done. You won’t get away with this."

I pulled her with me, down the stairs and out into the training field, where my men were still sparring with warriors from the Vanguards Pack. Everything stopped when they saw us. Lyra flinched in the sunlight, her arms instinctively raising like she wanted to shield her face. She was too pale. She looked like she hadn’t stepped outside in years.

“Elias?” Luke jogged over, confusion on his face. “What’s going on?”

“This is Lyra,” I said loudly. “Alpha Thorne’s daughter. Not dead. Fifteen. And locked away like a prisoner her entire life.”

A ripple of shock ran through the warriors around us.

“You’re not taking her!” Thorne’s voice roared from behind. I turned and saw him mid-shift—fur sprouting, claws extending, teeth elongating.

“Luke, take Lyra,” I commanded, my voice sharp. I could feel Kael rising under my skin, my own teeth beginning to lengthen.