Accidentally Mated To Four Alphas-Chapter 280: _ Beyond The Borders

The taxi slows long before it stops.

Darien feels it in his bones first — that subtle resistance in the air, like the land itself is pushing back. Pack borders always do that. Even to those born inside them. The magic hums low and territorial, vibrating through the soles of his boots as the vehicle rolls toward the boundary line carved invisibly into the earth.

The driver clears his throat for the third time in five minutes. "This is as far as I go."

No one argues. They all knew this was coming.

The taxi eases to a halt beside a weathered stone marker half-buried in grass, etched with old runes that glows a faint blue in the early morning light. Beyond it, the trees thicken. The forest waits.

Darien steps out first.

The air smells different immediately. No pack wards smoothing the edges. No protective enchantments muting danger. Just earth, bark, damp moss, and the distant promise of teeth.

Behind him, the others follow.

Morgan hops out with exaggerated flair, stretching his arms overhead. "Well," he says cheerfully, "if anyone had ’exiled Alpha heirs hiking into the wilderness with luggage’ on their life bingo card, congratulations."

Grayson chuckles as he lifts one of the heavier bags from the trunk. Heidi steps down last, clutching the strap of her pack like it might float away if she lets go.

Darien turns and freezes at what is before him. They’ve drawn a crowd.

Pack members line the road on both sides now, spilling out from between houses and trees, drawn by rumor and instinct. Some are familiar faces. Some are strangers. Some stare openly. Others whisper behind their hands. The sound is low, buzzing, like a nest is being disturbed.

A woman near the front lifts her hand hesitantly and waves.

"Be safe," she calls.

Someone else shouts, "You didn’t deserve this!"

A man farther back sneers. "Traitors."

Another voice, louder, sharper: "Good riddance."

Darien doesn’t flinch at the criticism. He doesn’t expect anyone to understand.

He stands tall, spine straight, shoulders squared — every inch the Alpha heir he was raised to be. Morgan mirrors him instinctively, grin gone now. Grayson sets his jaw, silent and watchful.

Heidi is skeptical and Darien notices immediately.

He steps closer, subtly blocking her from the worst of the crowd’s gaze. His hand brushes her back encouragingly. She exhales shakily.

A young boy breaks free from the line and runs forward, stopping just short of the border marker. He can’t be more than eight.

"Will you come back?" he asks.

The question is burning in everyone’s minds.

Darien meets his eyes. "Maybe."

It’s the truth. It’s all he can offer. The boy nods solemnly, like he understands more than he should, and runs back to his mother.

The driver shuts the trunk, avoiding their eyes. "Good luck, Alphas," he mutters.

Darien nods. "Drive safe."

The man climbs back into the taxi and pulls away without looking back. Silence rushes in to fill the space.

The four of them stand at the border, the invisible line humming between their feet. Darien feels it tug, reluctant to let him go. He hesitates for only a bit of a second before stepping forward.

The magic snaps at his legs but it’s not painful. Morgan crosses next, then Grayson. Heidi lingers, glancing back once, eyes shining. She hadn’t gotten to properly say goodbye to her friends.

Darien internally vows to organize a befitting reunion for them as soon as they settle down in the human world.

He doesn’t let Heidi linger long. "Come on," he says gently.

She nods and steps over. Just like that, they’re out. The forest swallows them whole.

Tall trees close in on either side, their branches knitting together overhead until sunlight filters down in fractured beams. The air smells richer here. Wilder. Damp earth and moss and something faintly animal.

Darien adjusts the strap of his bag and sets the pace. Not too fast. Not too slow. He knows better than to rush into unfamiliar territory. Morgan hums tunelessly behind him.

Heidi glances around, eyes wide. "So," she says, attempting casualness and not quite managing it, "this is... freedom?"

"Depends," Morgan replies. "Do you like bugs?"

She grimaces. "I tolerate them."

Grayson reaches up and plucks a dark berry from a low-hanging branch, rolls it between his fingers, then hands it to her. "These are edible. Sweet. High water content."

She brightens immediately. "You’re like a walking survival guide."

"I have many talents," he deadpans.

They walk for hours.

At first, the novelty carries them. Morgan tells increasingly ridiculous stories—some true, some definitely not—about his first rogue days. Heidi laughs, real laughter, surprising all of them. Darien feels something ease in his chest at the sound.

Grayson points out landmarks. Tracks. A stream they can follow if they need water. He moves with effortless familiarity, like the forest is an old friend rather than an obstacle.

At one point, Morgan trips over a root and nearly faceplants.

"I meant to do that," he says from the ground. "Tactical fall."

Darien chuckles before he can stop himself.

They eat berries and dried rations as they walk. The sun dips lower, light turning gold and then amber. Shadows stretch and the forest cools. By the time twilight settles fully, their feet ache and their shoulders burn from the weight of their bags.

Darien slows. "We stop here."

A small clearing opens up ahead, sheltered by thick trees on three sides. Good visibility. Natural windbreak. He nods approvingly. They drop their bags with collective groans.

Heidi collapses onto a fallen log. "I am never complaining about beds again."

Morgan stretches, arms over his head. "Give it two days. You’ll miss pillows."

They work quickly, instinctively. Grayson gathers wood. Morgan sets up a basic perimeter—nothing fancy, just enough to warn them if something approaches. Darien starts the fire, coaxing sparks into flame with ease.

The fire crackles to life, warmth spreading through the clearing. For a moment, it almost feels peaceful. They sit around the fire, backs against logs and packs, faces lit in flickering orange.

"So," Heidi begins, staring into the flames. "What now?"

Darien considers the question.

"We keep going," he answers. "We reach the human express by morning if we keep a steady pace. From there, we get transportation and disappear."

Morgan tilts his head. "Disappear where?"

"The city," Darien replies. "We buy a house. Something small. Get jobs. Live."

Grayson arches a brow. "Humans are going to have questions."

Darien shrugs. "Let them."

"Like," Grayson continues mildly, "why three grown men and one woman live together."

Darien grins immediately, staring lovingly at Heidi. "Easy. She’s my wife."

Morgan chokes on nothing. "Excuse me?"

Grayson looks between them, amused. "Logically, that would track."

Morgan sits up straighter. "No. Actually. She should be my wife."

Darien stares at him. "You cannot be serious."

"I absolutely am," Morgan barks. "It makes more sense."

"In what universe?"

"In the one where I’m more charming."

Heidi groans, burying her face in her hands. "I hate all of you."

Darien pinches the bridge of his nose. "We are not doing this."

Morgan leans back, smirking. "Relax. I’m kidding."

Darien doesn’t believe him for a second. The fire pops loudly and so does something else. Darien’s head snaps up.

"Did you hear that?"

Morgan frowns. "The fire?"

"No." Darien rises slowly to his feet. "Listen."

They go silent. At first, there’s only the forest. Wind through leaves. The distant hoot of an owl.

Then, they can hear the crunch and the footsteps.

Darien’s muscles tense instantly. "How many?"

Grayson closes his eyes, focusing. His expression darkens. "Too many."

Another crunch. Then another. From multiple directions.

Morgan’s grin vanishes. "That’s not animals."

Darien doesn’t hesitate. "Stay here and be ready."

He moves to the nearest tree and climbs, fast and silent, fingers and boots finding holds with ease. Branches sway as he ascends, heart pounding with fury. They’ve barely traveled for a day and their peace is already being threatened? Darien can’t hold back his anger.

From above, the forest opens and what he sees makes his blood run cold.