The Alpha King Rejected Mate

ross the stone walls, watchtowers, and the wild pines encircling the territory

her eyes fixed on the parchment that showed their lands- and the surrounding wild zones where Hol

a mark near the southern border. "Found t

med?" Carley as

." Marek hesitated before tossing a

d it-and immed

ilver and carved with an ancient rune. It was ritualistic

charm," sh

ws furrowed. "Used to sev

just marking the land. They're prep

't just want to kill you, Carley. They want

h fell ove

e continued. "It's the only way they c

ey growled. "And salt the

sent the order

d above the charm, not

his was made with someone'

ou saying?"

t but fierce. "There's a

Day – The M

g known as the Moonfire Arena. The clang of blades, the low growls of con

form as he moved with brutal precision. Every strike, every block was calcu

to focus on his movements. But her s

someone was watching him

orward, insti

en she

ween the pines. A cr

!" she

g happene

ned as the

guards, the world slowi

an was

de, knocking Carley j

oulder-but it struck R

s er

trees. Screams split the air as the would-be assass

s gasping through gritted teeth,

her, eyes wide with f

ds were alr

him," she

nd, pouring raw energy into the inj

und the bolt darkening befor

a swift motion, burning it to

, voice low. "But that

clenched. "And they

Night – L

ispered her

ng with heat. Chains dragged at her limbs-old, ru

ction stared bac

e black pits. The smile cruel.

said softly. "He can'

her head. "I

name, a bond, a role to play-but d

as

uals in a

e bond to Carley sna

her under, whisp

said, "isn't bound by love. It's

rough the mir

scre

asp, heart thunde

y at her side. "Y

la whispered. "And

ng her tight. "Then we'll seal ev

ew something

ry. She was a tether. And someone i

Day – The

cells. Carley and Leila stood waiting, flanked by guards.

d forward. "

iling with a cracked t

e Hollo

return,

forward. "You shot at me.

purpose?" the traitor laughed. "You all cling to

rged, shadows da

e?" she ask

at you wer

en you know I don't nee

beneath t

hand on her shoulder.

watched them

e whispered. "In the

ing. "Lock him away. Deep.

off, Carley turned to he

have a traitor. Maybe more. A

g around the cold stone walls of the dungeon like the lingering residue of a curse. Leila stood

chooses us

hung in the air like a poisoned fog. "He's not wrong about everything," he said quietl

tight. "I need to know what I w

er together through every unraveling moment-and she hated hersel

close. "But Leila-if there's darkness waiting at

elf the comfort of his warmth,

And neither would those

– The Oracl

o the Oracle's chamber. High above the rest of the stronghold, the tower curved inward like a

iral etched into the stone. Her long white hair cascaded around her should

rasped, voice like

owborn are moving. Ther

lted her head. "

ped forward

pulled loose long ago. One that led to your ma

ghtened into fis

lifted a small bowl from beside her and

the inside of her palm and le

chanted in a language that made Carley stiff

rling upward in tight spirals b

st of Ironfang. And across it? A

nhaled

," sh

nched. "One of t

my father's t

he Hollowborn border when I was found," Leil

her. "Sometimes the one who returns t

– Dara'

patch the elite guard and breach

t was

Too

veil of dark magic clung to the space, as if it had b

's wrong,"

through the space-u

beneath the bed. Carley hand

necklace. A Hollowborn sigil gleame

wallowe

for them," she whisper

een under our roof for years. She's seen

owly. "And she'

ounded at

ped in, hi

iver. And Rowan's healing slower than expected

expressio

one leaves the stronghold. Until Da

r – Rowan'

ale on the bed, breathing shallowly. Leila sat at his side, her h

ut the spell was meant to rot him

the wall, watching her

get. He took t

e done the s

n. "What if I can't stop them, Carley? What i

neeling before her. "Then

d and pressed i

my queen. And if the Hollowborn want war

– Unknow

by a crimson fire. Around her, figures in

strand of dark hair

ing," Dara said.

choed from the flames. "Th

him," Dara warned. "Car

ake the one h

r. And in it, the ima