The Rejected Mate by Lhainey Novel

Retain 110 Summary The chapter opens with the peaceful yet charged atmosphere of the Luna Ceremony at the Crescent Moon territory. The pack house is alive with quiet anticipation as the wolves prepare for the important ritual that crowns their Luna, the vital counterpart to the Alpha's strength. Michael stands apart, tense and focused, aware that beneath the celebration lies a subtle but fierce contest of power among the Alphas. Inside a guest suite, Kathy, Calvin, Roselyn, and Marcus await their escort to the ceremony grounds.

Roselyn shares that Nathan, the future Alpha pup and a symbol of past conflicts, is eager to join the event alongside his family. The mood shifts when Evan, Roselyn's childhood friend and Darius's Gamma, arrives unexpectedly, bringing warmth but also underlying tension. Calvin's protective jealousy surfaces immediately, signaling old rivalries and complex relationships. Roselyn introduces Evan to her mate, Kathy, whose calm exterior hides a flicker of unease triggered by Evan's presence.

Evan's brief, controlled interaction with Kathy hints at a painful shared history, deepening the emotional undercurrent. Despite the tension, Evan's role is clear: he is there to escort them to the garden where the ceremony will take place, and he shares insights about the pack's politics and freedoms, revealing the layered dynamics within the pack. As Roselyn and Calvin leave to see her parents, Evan stays behind with Kathy. Their silent exchange is heavy with unspoken emotions and a complicated past that neither can openly confront.

The chapter closes with them walking together toward the ceremony, carrying the weight of lost bonds and the duties they must uphold, setting the stage for a poignant and emotionally charged event. Chapter 110 The dawn of the Luna Ceremony arrived with a gentle, golden glow, sunlight cascading like liquid amber over the Crescent Moon territory. The pack house remained serene yet alive with a quiet buzz of preparation; every hallway seemed woven with whispered anticipation.

This was far more than a simple ritual-it was the solemn crowning of their Luna, the steady heartbeat anchoring the Alpha's strength. And every Alpha present understood that even amid celebration, power never truly rested. Not when wolves gathered together. Not when the air was thick with unspoken dominance, hanging like the calm before a storm. Michael stood silently by the window of the guest suite, his jaw clenched tight, thoughts sharper than the crisp mountain breeze slipping through the cracked pane.

When Beta Marcus arrived to escort him to a private meeting exclusive to Alphas, no words were exchanged; only a brief nod passed between them. Michael followed with measured steps, shoulders squared, eyes fixed unwaveringly ahead. Today, as always, Alphas would quietly assess one another. Inside the suite, the stillness felt heavy, almost suffocating. Kathy exhaled slowly, the tension lingering in her spine from the moment her mate had left, his eyes smoldering with that familiar, simmering intensity.

Calvin leaned against the table, every muscle taut and alert, while Roselyn fussed with her dress, brushing away invisible dust as if perfection could mask her nerves. Marcus had informed them that someone would arrive later to escort them to the ceremony grounds-a verdant garden destined to host the festivities from afternoon well into the evening. Roselyn had explained the early start with a proud sparkle lighting her eyes. "Nathan wanted to be out there with Darius and Elaine," she said softly, a gentle smile touching her lips.

"He's eager to stand beside his mother on this important day." That simple statement carried a profound warmth and weight. Nathan-the future Alpha pup, the living embodiment of a bond Michael had once refused to accept. A constant reminder, delicate and ever-present. A sharp knock shattered the quiet. Roselyn sprang up instantly, her footsteps light and quick across the polished marble floor. She opened the door, and her face blossomed into pure, unrestrained joy. "Evan!" she exclaimed, and before anyone could react, she enfolded him in a fierce hug, her laughter bright and full of emotion.

"I didn't see you at all when you went to Silverblade Pack with Elaine-you vanished the moment you arrived!" Evan chuckled, returning the hug briefly before stepping back with a playful grin. "How are you, beautiful? Has your mate had enough of you yet? No complaints? No desperate calls for rescue?" He teased her in the way only someone who had known her since childhood could-the one who had once trailed behind her on shopping trips, pulled her away from trouble, and reported every misadventure to Darius with a smug sense of loyalty.

Their friendship was forged in youth, tempered by discipline, and strengthened through pack duty. Suddenly, a low growl sliced through the room like a blade scraping stone. Roselyn froze mid-laugh and slowly turned. Calvin stood by the window, his eyes glowing fiercely, his stance coiled with dangerous tension. His wolf had emerged, jealousy radiating from him in thick waves that seemed to vibrate the very air. His nostrils flared, veins pulsing beneath taut skin.

Evan raised a brow, a flicker of amused satisfaction in his gaze, as though he had anticipated this exact reaction the moment Roselyn had thrown herself into his arms. Roselyn stepped back from Evan immediately, her fingers brushing against Calvin's chest in a soothing, possessive gesture. "Evan. Behave," she warned softly, glancing over her shoulder. "Come in. Let me introduce you to my mate." Evan complied, entering with a casual confidence. Yet the instant his eyes met Kathy's, his expression shifted-just for a heartbeat.

His gaze hardened, revealing a flash of something raw, concealed, and unbearably painful, before he forced himself to look away. Calvin didn't notice. Roselyn didn't see. But Kathy did. Her breath caught, her palm clenched at her side. "Calvin," Roselyn said brightly, "this is Evan-Darius's Gamma, and my best friend since childhood." Calvin's rigid posture softened a little, pride settling in where jealousy had flared moments before. He extended his hand, and Evan accepted it firmly and politely. Two dominant wolves sizing each other up without a single word.

"And this is Luna Kathy," Roselyn added. Evan did not offer his hand. Instead, his voice became neutral-controlled, perhaps overly so. "We've met briefly at Silverblade," he said. "When Darius requested to speak with Alpha Michael... after Elaine decided to finalize the rejection." "Oh-I didn't know," Roselyn murmured, glancing at Kathy. Kathy returned a thin smile, her composure flawless, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of unease, a subtle shadow of past wounds and unspoken truths pressing against her chest. Calvin cleared his throat. "So, Evan.

What brings you here?" "Right," Evan replied, placing his hands behind his back. "I'm here to escort you to the garden. Roselyn Blaine and Seline are waiting. They're eager to meet your mate." Roselyn's face immediately brightened. "Gods, I miss Mom and Dad. Where are they?" "In Darius's office. Same floor," Evan answered. "Feel free to go anytime. Bring your mate-they've been impatient to see him." Roselyn blinked, surprised. "Really? I thought since I'm from Silverblade now, I'd need an escort everywhere, and could only walk freely outside the Alpha wing." Evan rolled his eyes.

"Rosie, don't ever say something that ridiculous near your brother or Elaine. You know how they are. As long as you're here under pack alliance, you can go anywhere except the Alpha's private chambers. It's all politics, nothing more. The moment you visit as family instead of Silverblade's Beta mate, you'll roam this house like before. Don't insult them by thinking otherwise." Her cheeks flushed a soft pink. She stuck out her tongue playfully, like a child caught in a minor mischief. "Fine. Fine. I won't say it again.

But you better not tell them I did." "Your secret's safe with me," Evan smirked. She exhaled deeply and tugged on Calvin's hand. "Let's go see my parents. Evan-could you please escort Luna Kathy for us?" Evan's jaw tightened just slightly but he nodded. "Of course. Go ahead. They'll be relieved." Roselyn embraced him once more, just as fiercely as before, then pulled Calvin toward the door, her excitement trailing behind her like a shaft of sunlight. The suite door closed, leaving silence in its wake. Evan took a steadying breath, then spoke quietly. "Luna, are you ready?

I'll take you to your Alpha." His tone was respectful, yet beneath it lay frustration, resignation, and a deep, aching grief-like someone forced to stand beside the one they could never truly touch again. Kathy's voice trembled as she whispered, barely able to contain the flood of emotion. "Evan." He halted. Neither met the other's gaze. Two wolves. Two hearts. One unspoken truth sealed beneath mating vows and bound by duty-an unbreakable chain. For a single, fragile second-the air between them held everything they had never dared to say. Then Evan stepped back, straightening his spine.

"Luna," he murmured, his voice returning to formal steel, "the garden awaits." Kathy swallowed hard, smoothed her dress, and nodded. Together, silently, they began to walk toward a ceremony crafted for love, while dragging behind them the lingering ghosts of a bond fate had cruelly denied. Sara Lili Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland's breathtaking cold.