The Rejected Mate by Lhainey Novel

Retain 117 Summary In this tense chapter, Michael and Elaine confront each other in a charged courtyard, their unresolved past and deep wounds laid bare. Michael expresses his desire for his son to know the truth about him, but Elaine responds with sharp anger, accusing Michael of abandoning her and their child for the sake of pack politics. She reminds him of the pain he caused by choosing her sister Kathy as his Luna and partner, despite knowing about their bond, and how his decisions led to the loss of her pup.

Elaine's words cut deeply, exposing Michael's regrets and guilt, but she refuses to be comforted by his remorse. She challenges his claim that he had no choice, insisting that he took the easier path, one that destroyed their potential future. Elaine asserts her authority as Luna, declaring that Michael is a guest in her pack and must leave Crescent Moon territory by dawn, setting the stage for an impending Council meeting where truths will be revealed.

Darius, Elaine's mate, steps forward with a commanding presence, backing her orders with the threat of a deadly challenge if Michael does not comply. His protective devotion and alpha dominance create a palpable tension, emphasizing the fierce loyalty within the Crescent Moon pack. Michael, confronted by this united front, realizes the strength and unity he and Kathy lack, underscoring the growing divide between the two sides.

The chapter ends with an intense standoff, filled with raw emotion, authority, and the looming promise of conflict, as Michael faces the consequences of his past choices and the unyielding power of Elaine and Darius's bond. Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below Chapter 117 Michael's jaw clenched tightly, the flickering lantern light casting shifting shadows that deepened the hollows beneath his cheekbones. Around them, the courtyard had fallen into a tense hush-wolves nearby sensed the rising storm, their instincts prickling at the charged atmosphere.

Though faint music drifted from a distance, it felt distant, almost drowned out by the heavy weight pressing between the two Alphas standing face to face. "We'll let the Council decide, Elaine," Michael said, his voice strained, brittle like cracking ice. "All I want is for my son to know the real me. Not... whatever version you plan to paint for him." Elaine exhaled sharply, a cold breath that carried no surprise-only a fierce, cutting anger that felt like a blade unsheathed and ready to strike. But Michael wasn't done. "I lost you as my mate," his voice broke, raw and vulnerable.

"That's my fault. I carry that guilt every day. I did what I did because we were never given a choice. But my son, Elaine-I never chose to abandon him." A heavy silence settled between them, thick and stinging like a wound reopened. Elaine stepped forward, the silver embroidery on her Luna gown catching the lantern's glow and shimmering with every movement. Her voice dropped low, measured and sharp, each word landing with the weight of a blow. "And what would you have done if you'd known about Nathan?" she demanded. "Tell me, Alpha.

You found me as your fated mate but chose my sister as your Luna. Your partner. Your chosen. Would you have brought my son into her arms? Into that home? Into that bond?" Michael flinched visibly, unable to meet her gaze. Elaine held his eyes, refusing to let him look away. "Maybe you've forgotten, Alpha," she continued frostily, "but I begged you to choose our bond. I begged you to choose me.

I told you I would accept the pup Kathy carried-I told you that because she was with you before the Goddess revealed we were fated." Her eyes gleamed-not with tears, but with the reflection of every cut he had inflicted on her heart. "But you still chose her." A muscle twitched in Michael's jaw. Kathy stood rigid beside him, pale and trembling. Elaine's voice hardened further. "Before your mating ceremony, you even told me you wouldn't mark her-because you didn't want to hurt me." Her breath trembled, not from sorrow but from the memory of pain. "But you did it anyway. And your mark...

your choice... cost me my pup." Michael shut his eyes tightly, his face a portrait of hollow regret. But Elaine was beyond being comforted by his remorse. "And now," she whispered, "you have the audacity to stand here and claim you had no choice because your father ordered you to abandon your fated mate for the pack?" Her lips curled in a humorless smile. "Don't make me laugh." Michael's eyes snapped open, startled. "You had a choice," she said, voice steady and cutting. "You simply took the easy path. The path that cost me my child.

The path that destroyed everything we might have had." Her words vibrated with raw truth, not weakness. Darius stepped forward silently, a towering presence radiating heat and fury beside Elaine. But she raised a hand, halting him. This was her moment-her voice alone needed to be heard. "You want Nathan to know the real you?" she asked softly, her tone laced with bitter resolve. "Consider your wish granted, Alpha." Michael drew in a sharp breath. "At the Council meeting in three days, I will reveal to him exactly what kind of Alpha you are.

Exactly what kind of man." Michael's expression twisted, a mix of horror and rage swirling across his features, but Elaine didn't waver. "And then," she lowered her voice to a deadly whisper, "I will step aside and let my mate tear your throat out." Her words crashed through the courtyard like thunder. All around them, the wolves froze in place. Even the distant music fell silent. Michael stared at her, stunned-because she meant every word. Elaine's control slipped just enough for her wolf to flicker beneath her skin, emerald lightning sparking in her eyes.

"I tried," she said quietly, "I truly tried to live in peace. To honor the alliance between our packs. To respect the fragile balance we all cling to." She drew in a steadying breath as her power rippled outward, washing over the courtyard like a tide. "But you make peace impossible, Alpha. And I will not let you destroy my family." The wind shifted, carrying her words with the weight of Luna authority. "This is my pack. This is my celebration. You are here under our roof as a guest-and I expect my guests to honor our laws." Her gaze sharpened, cold and unyielding.

"So you will leave." Michael jerked his head up. "Elaine-" "You may sleep in your guest suite tonight, as planned," she continued, voice calm but absolute. "But at dawn, I want you gone from Crescent Moon territory." Kathy gasped softly. Calvin stiffened beside her. Roselyn's eyes widened, darting nervously between them. Elaine finished with a promise edged in steel. "I will see you at the Council meeting. Just as you wished, Alpha Michael." Before Michael could respond, Darius stepped forward. He didn't raise his voice. He didn't need to.

His presence alone darkened the air, his shadow stretching long across the courtyard, swallowed by a pulse of alpha dominance. "You heard my Luna, Alpha," Darius said, his voice low and commanding. "Betrayal is not tolerated in this pack." Michael swallowed hard. Darius kept his gaze locked on his rival. "Roselyn and Calvin may stay as long as they wish. Roselyn is my sister by blood, and Calvin is her mate. But you..." He leaned in, his breath brushing Michael's cheek. "You must leave." The weight of his authority rippled outward like a shockwave.

Wolves nearby instinctively dropped their eyes. "Before I lose the last of my restraint," Darius murmured, "and issue a challenge to the death. Here. Now." The earth seemed to tremble beneath their feet, as if even the land recognized the fire burning in Darius's soul. "And you know," he added, voice thick with protective power, "exactly who would win." Michael's breath caught in his throat. "I do not doubt your strength," Darius said, eyes blazing with the fierce devotion of a mate, "but you underestimate mine. I will fight for my family.

And I will always win." The air between them crackled, electric and alive, vibrating with the tension between violence and control-until finally, Michael tore his gaze away, unable to withstand the overwhelming force of Crescent Moon's Alpha and Luna united. Something he and Kathy did not possess. Conclusion The confrontation between Michael and Elaine crystallizes the deep wounds and unresolved betrayals that have shaped their fractured relationship. Elaine's unwavering resolve and fierce protection of her family underscore the painful cost of choices made in the name of duty and power.

Her voice, sharp and unyielding, carries the weight of loss and the fierce determination to reclaim what was taken from her, even as the shadows of past mistakes loom heavily over them both. Darius's steadfast loyalty and protective presence further amplify the unbreakable bond within the Crescent Moon pack, contrasting sharply with Michael's isolation and regret. The charged atmosphere, thick with tension and unspoken truths, leaves no room for compromise-only the promise of a reckoning at the Council.

Readers can expect the intricate dynamics between Michael, Elaine, and Darius to become even more charged, revealing the raw vulnerabilities and unspoken resentments that have been simmering beneath the surface. As the confrontation escalates, the bonds of family and loyalty will be tested in unexpected ways. The weight of past choices and sacrifices hangs heavily over the characters, and the coming chapter will explore how each must navigate the consequences of their actions.

With power struggles and emotional stakes intertwined, the next installment will keep readers on edge, wondering who will emerge victorious and what price they will pay for their desires and convictions. 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.