Return of the Alpha's Rejected Mate
t from morning drills. Arya wiped sweat from her brow, the ache in her
na," Lucas teased, walking over
mina. I didn't say I was stupid enoug
ing her a flask of
. There were no awkward silences, no pressure to pretend. Just easy conversation, sh
you," Arya said after a be
cuse me? You could bar
plied with a straight face. "D
an. "Alright then, soldier. Le
ircling each other. Arya moved first-quick, fluid, like the training was second na
It wasn't even about skil
nec
l hard into the dirt, groaning a
to test me
p, eyes twinkl
. "You can't
shoulder as he stood. "Guess I'll
or the first time in a while..
her while she was cleanin
see you," Mir
oked up
ae
rt thudded
ful to hide the
-
walls, high ceilings, too much space for too few people. Ka
she entered. "You're on
kept her posture perfect, head slightly lowered-just e
ally t
nt, he jus
as confused, almost uncertain. His eyes flicked over
amiliar," he
breath
idn't
r a second. As if something buried deep insi
storm passing
gain. "You've been perf
you,
duty during the council me
er head. "Y
her without a
-
by th
utside the barracks, both of them
meet him?"
itated.
. Up
dded. "
over. "What
ack. "He's... not
"He lost a lot. I think that's why he'
idn't
she alre
she had been par
-
ion came
am. Minimal risk, they said. In and out. But Arya knew better-s
something heavier. He hadn't said much since Kael
lent when they ar
patrol leader mutt
se she recognized this stretch of forest. She knew the broken stump near the stream, the jagg
roke the
n c
ws. The cla
fight, not as a soldier, but as an alpha's daughter. Her strength showed too easi
s when sh
ne wa
the
ca
e finished off the last rogue. Bloodied. Breathing
eld for a se
e look
omething in her
-
ached, but her mind was louder. She found herself walking, boots crunching
here
ca
r, elbows on his kn
ut when she stepped closer, s
. Just silent
ide him wit
. Just kept staring at the wat
ong time,
to have
at him but di
nger than me. Everyone thought I was just the i
ice cr
s. Rogue ambush. I
chest t
d never get close to anyone a
. "And now here I a
d down at
moment. A t
ld say
ld give hi
a l
said softly. "Not to death
o her, eyes gl
mat
d. "Somethin
tween them, heavy bu
ever want to talk ab
he soldier or the charming one-liner guy. But the pai
ust maybe...
-