Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by the Mafia Vampire Boss

branches, painting the pack below in ethereal tones. My fingers gripped the ivory hem of my gown, the embroidery scratch

rong. Terribly, bon

and metallic, my fear, echoed and magnified in the faces around me. Rylan had been distant for weeks, his usual warmth replaced by a war

phi

face-too pale, too delicate. Her blue eyes, usually bright with mischief, were wet with tears a

cheeks. Her thumbs wiped away tears I hadn't realized we

ld only last so long. "What if he doesn't want me, Liana? Wh

m, for just a moment. "Rylan would be a fool to let you go. You're everything

's respect. But Alpha Donovan liked Aeliana better-the younger sister who embrac

s one last time before she vanished into the night. I walked forward. The icy dirt cracked beneath my bare feet.

s stolid under his robe, his dark hair shading his

eyes

in? Regret? My heart thumped. Did he feel it too? The mate bo

" I whi

ened. "Saphir

my stomach drop. The pack quieted, the drum

as my mate. But the Moon Goddess tells the truth, not lies. She looks into our h

yed there, sh

n't real. It

clenching into an agonizing knot. "Ry

t you, S

spers came around me, but all I heard was a crack, like bones snapping. My legs were swaying

ore from my throa

ha must be strong and unyielding. You

him, bled for it. One of the best trackers. But when I loo

, plea

lent. "You are exiled. By morning's ligh

appening. The bond... it was gone.

top this

mbling around her legs as she threw herself between us. Her tiny frame trembled

st was gone from his eyes. He cleared his throat. "Ae

me, tears falling. "Saph, get up. Fight him!

legs though were like lead. I slumped down against he

t around me. "I won't let him hurt you

ed and for a second I thought I saw something in his ey

gently, "too gently, "you

n't ask me to choo

rship." His voice lowered, became pleading. "It needs

impered, shaking her head. "I don't want this!

made her choice." He came up to us, tall

. "I'm so sorry, Saph. I didn't want this.

rowd

!" someo

the wea

d, blocking the rock with her body. "Stop it! She's still

her's name - was a

ed, "Silence! Donovan Vandermere, c

e face, Alpha, the man I'd always lo

ted me. You are no longer my daughter. You are no longer a part of this

, pushing air out of my lungs. His words carried the disappointment that'd hung over me my entire life, unspoken but always there. Aelia

r blood-my blood. Rylan stood, his

ng!" she screamed,

ersation going on between them that was too quick, t

ell silent

ed a note of danger. "Before I lose my te

"I'll go with her! You can't send

You stay here, where you bel

hands digging into my shoulders. "Sa

d pulled me out of the room. My siste

make it up to you! I

was in Rylan's arms–his grip

bond i

't just

pletely dead. And in its p