Return of the Alpha's Rejected Mate

ed to being se

cas, it was

tion, quiet company, and the kind of silence that didn't need filling.

with him, and it was sta

That she wasn't just some soldier with a strange past and quick reflexes. She was Arya. She was Kael's rejected

e ghosts caug

uncil. Arya wandered toward the river at the far edge of the compound, the

ded air

at the edge of her uniform. For a moment, she closed her eyes and let her

tsteps. Light and

her breath caug

irl asked, b

er, but Arya would have

i

person who'd held her while she sobbed after

pened, but no

orward, staring harder.

she wh

nd, heart racing.

d forward and threw

a f

gged he

gh

en holding it

-

pulled apart, Mira

d. "No one ever found your body. Damon

Arya murmured.

, trying to steady herself. "Why are you back

me, they never would've let me in. Kael... Da

owly. "What ar

idn't

aw enough

t. "But I won't say a word. I swear it. You were

d then, so

" she said,

careful. Damon's been watching you. He's suspicious

a said. "I'll

-

eaning against the fence near the barr

ay?" sh

her. "I was starting

ce. This place get

. "Yeah.

-comfortable now. Like they di

over at her, exp

he said quietly. "Something

heart s

d thing?" she

is smile tugged at on

migh

k to the sky, swallowing

h had

not everythin

fore

-

the others still slept. The world was quiet then. No barking orders, no clashin

the old willow tree near the east ridge, half-hid

ira handed her a piece of warm bread

e that had once been their secret meeting spot as

at her. "Yo

breath. "It did

ed. "Kael

eremony, blessing, all of it. But... it was weird. Forced. Pe

hing the sunlight drip t

in the Beta's house with some rogue envoy she was 'negot

ow

next morning. No t

ence sit between

ly, she sa

faintly. "Ye

uthern ridge to clear her head. She didn't plan

e riverbank, she heard

n't usually make

yi

nap a twig. And there, under the p

ca

s hunched, fists clenched at his side

til she stepped forward an

y, trying to cover it up. "Ryn-sorry

ing. Just sat beside

ile, and eventually, he exhaled and

lanced

etly. "I lost her two y

ightened. "

r a few months. She was gentle. Not like most wa

still. Letti

ected her. I shou

rson," Arya said. "Th

. "That's what everyone says

ys something steady about him, calm like a deep

ings... don't stop hurting. Yo

a long moment. Whatever he saw there-pain, m

he said, v

r w

retending

d smile. "Pretending

a little longer

ce, something bet

y. Not ro

...

-