MATED TO THE SECRET ALPHA-Chapter 235: Astra’s End

Luna Reana’s warrior...

At once, Kael knew who Astra was referring to — that servant.

Reana’s boy toy.

Kael had seen firsthand what the man was capable of. If there was anyone strong enough to take down the masked man, it would be him.

Kael didn’t come to this conclusion out of assumption. No. It was because of that day at the pack’s cemetery – the day the servant had grabbed him by the throat. The way he moved, the raw strength in his grip. Kael had felt it. And more than that, he’d felt fear.

A fleeting exchange, yes, but Kael had never forgotten the terror that gripped him in that moment. The way his life had flashed before his eyes. The way the man looked at him... cold, unwavering, as if peering straight into his soul. That man had threatened him without a single word, and Kael had known: this was no ordinary servant.

And now... he’d killed the masked man.

What now?

Kael clenched his fists, heart pounding. What was he supposed to do with half-baked power and a crumbling command? The moment anyone found out their leader was dead, no one would respect Kael. No one would follow him.

His mind churned with desperate calculations.

The last time he’d allegedly summoned that man... It was a year and half ago, during his travels, searching for his mate.

Kael had been exhausted, collapsed beneath an ancient oak tree. When he opened his eyes, the man was standing there—silent, cloaked in black, his robe fluttering even in the stillness. The air had changed around him, like the forest itself held its breath.

He didn’t speak at first. Just looked at Kael. That unreadable stare that made Kael feel like a child standing before a god. Stripped of his lies. His pride. His illusions.

Kael was terrified but manned up and asked, already knowing that running or not, could get him killed. "What do you want?"

"You summoned me," the man replied simply. His voice—low, emotionless—carried weight Kael didn’t understand.

Kael hadn’t summoned him. Not intentionally. But maybe the call had come from something deeper—his desperation, his grief, the unbearable ache of losing his mate.

From that moment, the man stayed with Kael through his search. He seemed to know the entire Southern region, teleporting them across packs, temples, deserts, forests. The only place he refused to go was the Southern Islands. No matter how Kael begged, he wouldn’t step foot there.

And Kael, knowing who ruled those islands, hadn’t pushed. He’d doubted the person who took his mate would hide there anyway.

After failing to find her, and seeing Kael’s pain, the man made a promise—to raise him an army. That was why he didn’t return to Black Moon Pack. He joined the rogues, vowing to build Kael a force that could crush every pack in his path.

Kael had believed him. Because there was something in the man’s eyes—something incapable of lying. He carried power like he owned the world.

And now... he was dead.

And Kael was expected to let go of everything?

He was the rightful heir to Black Moon Pack. Not Reana. Not her father. It should have been his father. And then him.

He would not be robbed again. Never.

His gaze moved back to Astra, and he reached out to her.

She was still trembling. The kind of fight she witnessed at the sacred ground, from a hidden distance, she’d never seen such a thing in her entire life. Astra was brave, even in the face of death, but that...coupled with the fact that the man she loved was dead, the rogue couldn’t take the blow.

Kael gave her a soft smile. Too calm. Too composed.

"You were right," he murmured, brushing her knuckles with his thumb. "It was him. Reana’s boy toy."

Astra gritted her teeth. "Then, let’s attack them and seek vengeance for the Alpha."

Earlier, she was scared, thinking that ’Beta’ Kael wouldn’t believe her, considering she was the reason he went to the sacred grounds.

Lies.

Astra had told him about the Alphas’ council meeting, saying leaders of all packs in the Mainland would be there. She wanted him to give her some rogues or better still, the newly mutated monsters to lay wait for Alpha Dren. But to her surprise and great joy, the masked ’Alpha’ decided to go in person.

Unbeknownst to her, he went because of Ryder and Reana.

"Should we?" Kael asked calmly and she nodded.

"Yes, we should attack now that Luna Reana is not— aaa..."

Her words cut off with a strangled sound as Kael’s hand snapped up and wrapped around her throat.

Her eyes bulged in shock. She clawed at his arm, mouth opening, gasping. But his hand only tightened like an iron grip.

"You led him into this," Kael whispered, voice like poison. "He went there for your stupid revenge." He snarled through gritted teeth.

Astra shook her head violently, trying to speak, but no sound came out. Her nails elongated out of desperation, sinking weakly into his chest.

But Kael didn’t loosen his grip. Instead, his own nails shoot out, slicing into her skin like razors.

Astra’s eyes widened with pain, horror, confusion, and betrayal. Her body jerked as Kael’s claws dug deeper. Blood welled beneath his fingers, soaking into her clothes.

"You think I can survive this humiliation?" he hissed. "You think I can crawl back with nothing? That thing was the only leverage I had. And now he’s gone. Because of you."

Tears streamed down Astra’s cheeks as he lifted her like she weighed nothing. Her feet left the ground, kicking.

Kael’s eyes burned with fury, but beneath it, it was desperation. The kind that cracked men’s minds. That turned leaders into monsters.

"I’ll send you to him." He said. "If you find him anywhere in the underworld, tell him to bring his ass back here. He’s not done with his promise." With a final, violent squeeze, Astra’s body went limp.

Kael let her drop to the floor like a broken doll, fury burning in his eyes.