An Alpha's Forbidden Mate-Chapter 26: Dylan Demise

Chapter TWENTY-SIX

A few days had passed since Philip’s visit.

Few days of forced calm.

Few days of pretending nothing had changed.

Mayor Liam told no one.

Not his wife.

Not his daughter.

Not even himself—at least not aloud.

He buried it beneath paperwork, meetings, smiles for the public, and the dull routine of governance. If he kept moving, kept talking, kept breathing—then perhaps the danger would remain distant. Perhaps the past would stay buried where it belonged.

By the time the sun dipped low, bleeding orange and gold across the horizon, Liam was done for the day.

His car rolled through tall iron gates and into the private driveway of his home.

The house stood quietly behind layers of hedges and security fencing—large but not extravagant. Two stories of pale stone and dark wood, with wide glass windows that reflected the dying light. It wasn’t the kind of mansion that screamed wealth. It was the kind that whispered stability.

A place built for family.

The tires crunched softly against gravel as Liam stepped out, loosening his tie. The weight of the day slid from his shoulders the moment he crossed the threshold.

Inside, the scent of home greeted him—clean wood, warm spices, and faint lavender.

"Welcome back," a gentle voice said.

Bella greeted him softly from the kitchen.

"Where’s Stephanie?" Liam asked as he shrugged off his coat.

"She’s in her room," Bella said, appearing moments later.

She was beautiful—effortlessly so. Her dark hair was tied loosely, a towel resting over her shoulders as though she’d just been drying her hands. Her eyes carried a tired warmth, the kind only mothers possessed.

"She’s still a little heartbroken," Bella added. "About the death of her friend Luna and her dad."

Liam waved it off dismissively.

"She’s sixteen," he said. "She’ll get over it."

Bella didn’t raise her voice.

She simply smacked him lightly with the handkerchief in her hand.

Liam blinked.

"What?"

"You’re so insensitive," Bella said flatly.

Liam sighed, loosening his tie further as he headed toward the living room.

"Yeah, I know," he muttered. "Please just get me my food. I haven’t eaten all day."

"It’s almost ready," Bella replied as she turned back toward the kitchen.

Liam sank into the sofa with a deep sigh, the cushions swallowing him whole.

For a brief moment, peace returned.

Then his thoughts betrayed him.

Once, he had been a hunter.

Not just any hunter—but a gifted one.

There were rumors back then. Whispers in underground circles. They said Liam could’ve reached Level Seven as a Ki user if he’d continued. They said his instincts were unnatural, his adaptability frightening , the most amazing part was Liam could fight supernaturals way above his level.

But fate had other plans.

Bella had been six months pregnant.

And so Liam tried to do the impossible—balance both worlds. A protector in the shadows. A father in the light.

Until the night everything nearly ended.

A vampire.

Fast.

Cruel.

Almost successful.

Bella and Stephanie had nearly died , luckily the vampire was too fast for Bella to see so he lied that it must have been a robber.

That was the night Liam decided to call quit.

He burned his weapons. Severed ties. Walked away from a world that only took and never gave. He chose peace. He chose family.

And now Philip wanted to drag his child back to the world of darkness he escaped from.

Asking for my child...

Liam clenched his fists.

No way.

Luckily—by sheer chance—Stephanie had looked like a boy when she was younger. Short hair. Sharp features. Philip had never questioned it.

He thought Stephanie was a boy.

Let’s see how you plan to find my son, Liam thought grimly, a bitter laugh escaping him.

A presence approached.

Bella appeared in the doorway again, her expression unreadable.

"Someone’s here to see you."

Liam frowned.

"Who?"

"I don’t know him," Bella said. "But he said he’s a close friend of yours."

The glass of water in Liam’s hand trembled.

Then shattered.

Water splashed across the floor as Liam stood abruptly, his heart slamming against his ribs. He didn’t even acknowledge the mess as he rushed toward the door.

He opened it.

Philip stood there, smiling.

Liam’s gaze darted instantly around him—scanning the street, the rooftops, the shadows.

"How did you find this place?" Liam demanded.

Philip laughed lightly.

"Come on Liam. You’re the mayor, you’re famous. It wasn’t really that hard to track you?"

Liam’s jaw tightened.

"What do you want, Philip?"

"Since we last met," Philip replied smoothly, "you never got back to me."

"So you want a reply?" Liam snapped. "Here it is—I’m not giving you mykid. For anything. I don’t trust you or your witches."

Philip laughed again.

"Relax. I’m not here to fight, and I’m not here to take your kid away. I just want us to talk... like friends. Like we used to."

Liam glanced behind him—toward the kitchen, toward Bella.

"We can’t talk here."

He grabbed a pair of flip-flops and stepped outside, closing the door behind him.

"I’ll be out for a second," he called back.

"Okay Honey," Bella replied.

They walked along the side of the quiet road, streetlights humming softly above them.

"So," Liam said. "What do you want to talk about?"

Philip slowed, then spoke gently.

"I just wanted to apologize. For disappearing eight years ago... and then showing up suddenly asking for your son."

"It’s fine," Liam said coldly. "I love my kid. I won’t give her to you."

Philip paused.

Her?

The word echoed in his mind—but he said nothing.

"I just want to solve the issue between us," Philip said.

"There is no issue," Liam replied.

Philip chuckled.

"Uh... I need to pee. Wait here."

He walked toward a nearby tree.

The moment his back turned, Philip pressed a finger to his ear.

"Do we have visual, Ghost-Six?"

"Yes, sir," a voice replied. "Visual confirmed. A woman in her thirties and a teenage girl. Do I engage?"

Philip smiled.

So that’s it...

"No wonder Liam said ’her.’ Turns out the child was a girl all along. Cunning bastard."

He laughed softly.

"Do not kill," Philip ordered. "Sedate only. Extract the girl."

"Yes, sir."

A suppressed thump echoed.

In the kitchen, Bella collapsed instantly—an advanced military dart embedded in her neck.

Stephanie heard the noise.

She barely had time to sit up before another dart struck her. Her body fell back onto the bed, consciousness fading.

Seconds later, dark-clad figures descended from the rooftop via zipline. They moved with military precision—silent, efficient.

Stephanie’s body was secured and loaded into a vehicle.

Gone.

"Mission successful," Ghost-Six reported. "Why lure the man away?"

Philip smiled.

"He’s Level Five Ki user. We couldn’t risk a public fight."

He removed his hand from his ear and walked back toward Liam.

"See you at the base."

Liam frowned as Philip approached.

"Seems you were holding it in."

Philip laughed it off.

"Since we’ve reconciled, I won’t deprive you of time with your wonderful family."

They waved goodbye.

Minutes later, Liam returned home.

Too quiet.

"Bella?" he called.

No answer.

He rushed into the kitchen.

Bella lay on the floor—unmoving. A dart protruded from her neck.

Liam’s blood turned cold.

"Son of a—"

He ran upstairs.

Stephanie’s room was empty. The window open.

"No... no... NO!"

His fist slammed into the wall creating cracks on it.

Later that night, after Bella woke, they reported a kidnap to the police—though Liam knew it was useless.

Then he made a call.

"This is Liam," he said.

"Protocol Ashfall," he whispered.

Silence stretched—then a single word came through the line.

"Confirmed."

Far away—

Dylan was dying.

Wolfsbane burned through his system, preventing healing. Blood soaked his clothes and the dungeon floor. His pulse weakened. Blackened veins crawled along his neck as he coughed up dark blood.

The dungeon door opened.

Luna entered.

Amelia followed behind her.

"Well, well," Luna said coldly. "Tell me, Dylan, isn’t this poetic? The blade you tried to kill me with... now it’s the one I use to make you suffer."

She leaned closer.

"Tell me how to find Klaus and I promise to spare from this suffering."

Dylan laughed weakly.

"Even if I told you, you still couldn’t reach him—unless he wanted you to.

"Luna stepped onto the blade lodged in his stomach.

"Then just tell me anyway."

"There’s a red gem," Dylan gasped. "In our hideout. I use it to contact him."

"Thank you Dylan."

She drew the blade to his throat.

"You promised—" Dylan whispered.

"It seems you misunderstood me," Luna said calmly. "I promised to end your suffering. When you’re dead, the pain won’t exist anymore."

She leaned in and whispered.

"Trust me. I died once."

Dylan screamed in terror.

Then silence.

Luna turned away.

"Clean this up."

Amelia watched her, impressed.

"Raven," she said softly. "We have a surprise guest."

Luna turned.

"Who?"

"We don’t know her," Amelia replied, "But from the way she handled our men, I’d say she’s a powerful witch."

The dungeon air shifted.