The Alpha King Rejected Mate

the hearth burning low, casting long shadows across the stone floor. The pendant Leila had given them- their i

adn't mo

he hadn't realized he still carried. Her scent- it had ignited something in him, something he had buried deep

ad ch

earning her place in the pack. But now? She moved like a soldier. S

resence rattled

rejection. But tonight, under the rising blood moon, he'd felt the unmistakable pull return- sh

ir sigil. The Hollowborn. He'd heard whispers of the name, mostly rumors from rog

een his fi

ting the only woman fate

weapons, family crests, and relics of past battles. A heavy oak desk sat near the window, papers strewn across i

he poured

fore lifting the glass to his lips and let

remembered it so clearly-her standing in the clearing behind the training grounds, hair wind-tangled

il had whispe

had no notable strength or magic. There had been doubts- fears that their bond would weaken t

d tried t

allies- those who still clung to the outdated belief that bloodline and status were more importa

eakness... he'd told Lei

it too-like tearing out his own soul- but he had let her walk away, had wat

he was he

aken her, bearing warnings an

orst

ed her.

eement, pacing in his c

scotch in one

k. K

w people dared to interrupt

," he ca

yes watchful. He was tall, lean, and loyal-Carley's closest confidant

d, closing the door behind him. "Didn't

ded but sa

l, arms crossed. "She's not

kno

ronger. A

w that

what's the plan? Let her he

real. That much is clear. If she has know

look. "That's n

ere the moon glowed red above the treetops. "I don't know, Rowan. I tho

n wa

," Carley

ject a mate, Carley. You rejected your soul.

his teeth. "I

hey both knew that wa

he window, voice low

se she

one. Because she knows things she shouldn

"Maybe she became one

y fli

t stung more t

said finally. "But don't

d, then nodded

nged to visiting diplomats and occasional wandering warriors. She hadn't

ld not co

ng him again had felt like opening a half-healed wound and shoving her fingers insid

part of her s

eaned back against the

under a rainstorm, the way his hands used to cradle her hips like she was p

ess in his voice wh

ver meant to

those words a tho

n't died. It had only been buried-wrapped in pain and bet

lood

deserted territories and silent villages. She had warned other packs, but none had

cause this was her territory too. This pack had been her home. And s

ially

t her door bro

nsed. "W

came the mu

rl

to send him away. But her wolf... her dam

ened t

ds at his sides, ex

to talk,"

ed aside

ifted, crackling with the l

around the room like it was a battlef

her arms. "I

houldn't have said those things to you. B

ffed. "

ing you would

ned. "So you threw

y. "And I've regrette

retched be

d, "It doesn't c

kno

reak the bond, Car

o hers. "I want t

. There's only the threat coming for your people.

w step forwar

ped back

like wildfire. Her wolf rose to meet his, snarling

he desire.

led in the ai

n't to

n't ha

ood under skin. They were still bound. And th

suffocation, the weight of their past pressing into every breath she drew. Her heart raced

adn't left her, hadn't softened. He had always been good at restraint. Good at making her

n't let him use those

y. I'm not here for apologies, or explanations, or-gods help me-closure. I'm here to

nd steady, meeting

ritory is

w tightened

ed a brow.

wind. Dreams-visions-that aren't mine. My people are on edge, but they don'

d her eyes. "

ated, just f

eila

fe

the Hollowborn. But of w

oman's voice. Not yours. Not anyone I recognize. She... she says th

stif

kind o

owed. "Old. Ancien

ila finished. "Like wind

ce was he

isted. "They'v

not m

on't need to mark you. Not if

s clenched. "

ce, didn't argue. "No. But y

between them hung l

bo

realms. When Carley had rejected her, it hadn't killed the bond-it had fractured

't spirits. They weren't demons. They were the echo of wolves who had died in agony and

cted the

ness in the m

se broken bonds to cra

" she asked softly. "Mom

tensed. He di

eliberate steps, her boots whispering over the st

you done du

know," he

he tension in his shoulders, the faint shimmer

be cleansed,"

a little. "What the

Moonbinding. Whatever it

g to let some rogue witch burn me to

you do, the Hollowborn won't just take you-they'll use you

aring, pushing against her like a

power coiling in the air

s curling-not into a smile, but into

same girl I left

"And you're not the

lence. Their

't wanted to say since she'd st

l belong to

eath c

reach her. To mend what had been broken. Her own wolf rose to me

hrobbed be

hat-it snapped

lly. N

en

step, his hand flying

se stuttering. "The bond ne

th a strange mix of fea

's waki

away, her

ndle this soon, it'

atching the blood moon bleed red into the sky. The wind carried scents of

nd her drew h

wa

ed, his expression unreadable.

ok at him. "Nei

the borders. Stran

rcling. Testing the war

ally believe what's co

e said. "But not by pretending i

"Carley said y

urned to face h

then asked, "Do y

it harder than

ord anymore. It wasn't

d with memories of what they could've had. It was a ghost t

," she said honestly. "Bu

ope you're ready. Because if th

, voice steel. "Even if I

just nodded once and disa

hing the red moon sink and the shad