Chapter 95 Not My Name
Chapter 95 Not My Name
CADE
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I can’t believe she’s my mate. Not just a woman I’d die for, not just the one I love so deeply it hurts. She’s my mate.
The world had been spinning on its head the past few days. Everything that came before- the expulsion, the campaigns, the exposure of my family–none of it mattered. It didn’t compare to this. To her.
To the way her lips found mine in the maze gardens, making everything else feel trivial in comparison.
Meeting her was a blessing. Being her mate was a godsend.
Arden.
She made me feel like I was on top of the damn world.
We kissed like the world was ending, desperate to savor one last taste before everything burned to ashes. I had my arms around her waist, pulling her against me. Her hands tangled in my hair, fingers twitching with excitement. Her scent intensified the moment she uttered the word, “mate.”
I wanted to drown in her essence.
My lips were swollen; hers were too, but I didn’t care. I tilted my head to chase after her when she pulled back, groaning at the absence of her mouth on mine.
“Stay good, puppy,” she chuckled against my lips before pressing a light kiss.
She laughed at my reaction. “I love you.”
I shook my head, unable to suppress the smile that appeared on my lips. Still, I felt myself losing it right there in the middle of this garden.
I tried to catch my breath while still clinging to her waist. “That’s dangerous. You say things like that, and I’ll do something stupid.”
Her smile dimmed just slightly. “We still have a lot to figure out, Cade. Control your urges.”
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I pursed my lips and sighed. I hoped it would just work out for us. However, Winters was complicating matters significantly at the moment.
“I heard what happened when Mr. Winters visited,” she said softly, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I froze in my spot. Thinking it over, I suspected she already knew. I had tried my best to shield her from the truth because I didn’t want her to suffer, but I realized it was inevitable.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she murmured.
knees, my
hands I sat down on the edge of the wooden bench, resting my elbows on my interlocked. “It’s not like I tried to keep it from you. I just… I’m sorry.” It was all I could say because no excuse could suffice.
Arden sat beside me, folding one leg beneath her. “I’m sorry. He used it against you. You can’t attend the school anymore.”
“I don’t care about the school,” I cut in. “I never wanted to be here. My parents-” I shook my head. “I was only here to investigate Winters. His grip on Elite runs deeper than anyone expected.”
She fell silent beside me, but I could feel her listening intently.
“My parents and I were racking our brains last week, wondering who could go against him. Someone strong enough, neutral enough, without ties to the royal bloodline.”
“Because your parents can’t run.”
I nodded. “They’re not eligible. The Praetor must be neutral. At least, that’s how it’s supposed to work.”
“But Winters isn’t,” Arden murmured.
“Exactly. The whole system is rigged. Everyone’s scared of him. The other candidates are either plants or too weak to matter. Plus, he has so many sponsors in the United Factions.”
“So what were you planning to do?”
I turned to her, unable to answer because, frankly, we had a lot on our list, but none of it was certain. We didn’t want to move without being a hundred percent sure.
Just then, Arden’s phone buzzed, and she glanced down. Her lips parted slightly, her
eyes
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Chapter 95 Not My Name
widening.
“What?” I asked.
She stayed quiet, staring at the screen.
Her brows furrowed, and she muttered, “What if I told you… not all hope is lost?”
I leaned in closer. “Arden-”
Her head lifted, and she locked her gaze
with mine.
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[A]
“We have someone to help us,” she said. “Someone Winters doesn’t know about. Someone he can’t touch.”
I frowned, my brows unconsciously drawing together. No matter how much I searched my mind, not a single name surfaced. At least, not someone I thought would actually be able to help us.
And then, a single face appeared in my mind, deepening my frown.
There was one person who could do just that. But the question lingered–why would she be willing to help us?
***
I kept my head high as I unlocked my locker and began pulling things out one by one: my books, a photo of the soccer team, some torn clothes I hadn’t bothered to mend. My Beta, Bruno, leaned against the wall beside me, arms crossed tightly, brows furrowed.
“You don’t have to do this alone,” he said, his voice calm but firm.
I offered him a small smile. “I know. But I kind of have to.”
“Is it true?” he asked quietly, his tone heavy with what sounded like guilt. “What they said about the adoption.”
I paused and looked down at the old crest ring in my palm. It wasn’t my family heirloom; it was just a symbol–that’s all it had ever been.
“Yes,” I finally said.. “It’s true.”
Bruno’s
gaze hardened, but he held my stare.
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I turned to him with a teasing smile. “How do you feel about me now?”
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He frowned, as though I had insulted him. “Nothing’s changed,” he said firmly. “I still respect you, Alpha.”
I wasn’t going to lie; that was surprisingly reassuring.
H
“I’m sure plenty of people will, too. Because you’re capable. You’ve done so much—more than you’ll ever understand. And you’re still the best. No matter what anyone says, that’s not tied to a name or a bloodline. That’s simply who you are.”
For a brief moment, I found myself at a loss for words.
So, I did the only thing I could think of. I reached out and hugged him tightly. He didn’t hesitate to return the embrace.
“Take care of everyone while I’m gone,” I murmured into his shoulder.
“You act like you’re dying.”
I chuckled, pulling away. “Feels a little like it.”
“Is this… really the end?” another one of my guys asked from behind.
I surveyed the room–taking in the friends I’d trained with, laughed with, and fought beside. The brothers who didn’t just follow me because of a last name.
I grinned. “No,” I said, slinging my bag over my shoulder. “It’s just the beginning.”
Their expressions brightened, shoulders loosening as hope flickered back to life.
I walked out with nothing but a duffel bag and my name. It felt good and strangely clean.
I couldn’t wait to see Arden again. The moment this mess was over, I’d take her away
for a while–maybe someplace by the water. A place where no one knew us, just me and her, with no campaigns, no schools, no bloodlines or expectations. I’d plan it all out and surprise her with it. Somewhere under the stars, because she liked the stars. –
Maybe we’d even stay there for a while.
I smirked to myself, my steps lighter than they’d been in days.
That is, until I heard it.
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“Alpha Cade,” someone called. “Or… simply Cade.”
I stopped cold. My spine straightened.
I turned slowly.
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Mr. Winters stood near the edge of the courtyard, gloved hands clasped behind him, a pleasant little smile on his face.
He was alone, but that just made it worse.
“What do you want?” I asked, my voice void of any respect.
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