The Rejected Mate by Lhainey Novel

Retain 126 Summary In Chapter 126, Kathy follows the council's healers as they bring the injured Michael to the infirmary, where he is barely conscious and appears to have lost the essence of his former self. Once a powerful alpha, he is now a shadow of his former self, his spirit seemingly retreating into darkness. The atmosphere is heavy with antiseptic scents, and Kathy's heart aches at the sight of Michael being placed on the examination bed. The stark contrast between his current state and his previous strength is palpable, evoking deep feelings of sorrow and helplessness within her.

The healer, Aramis, assesses Michael's condition, noting that while his wolf is present, it is muted and withdrawn. Kathy feels the weight of Michael's emotional and physical suffering, understanding that the trauma he has experienced has fractured his spirit. The moment when Darius forced Michael to submit has left a lasting impact, shattering something vital within him. Kathy's own grief surfaces as she reflects on the chain of events that led to this moment, including the loss of her sister Elaine, which has deeply affected both her and Michael.

As Kathy watches over Michael, she recalls a brief moment of hope when Nathan, Darius's son, approached him with innocent honesty, momentarily sparking a flicker of emotion in Michael's eyes. However, that spark quickly fades, leaving Kathy feeling the weight of despair once more. She grapples with the realization that the consequences of denying one's wolf its mate have led to Michael's current state, as the loss and regret he carries have taken a toll on his spirit.

Kathy's older brother, Calvin, arrives, now acting as the alpha of Silverblade, which adds another layer of complexity to their situation. She requests a private meeting with Elaine, hoping to address the tangled past between them, despite knowing Elaine might refuse. Calvin's acknowledgment of her request reveals the unspoken tension that exists within their family dynamics. As they discuss Michael's condition, Kathy expresses her frustration and despair over his slow healing, but Calvin reassures her that Michael will eventually rise again, whether as an alpha or simply as himself.

Kathy clings to Calvin's words, though doubt lingers in her heart as she watches Michael struggle. She takes his hand, whispering a plea for him to return to them, to their son Leo, and to whatever future lies ahead. Despite the uncertainty, Kathy holds onto the faint hope that somewhere within the darkness, Michael's wolf is stirring, and she remains steadfast in her belief that he will find his way back.

Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below **Chapter 126** +25 Points Kathy trailed closely behind the council's healers as they carefully maneuvered Michael down the lengthy corridor, his weight sagging heavily against their supportive arms. The once-mighty alpha, who had commanded respect and authority, now appeared barely aware of his surroundings. His eyes, which had once sparkled with intensity and purpose, were now dull and unfocused, as if some vital part of him had retreated into an unreachable abyss.

His wolf, that fierce and proud spirit which had defined him, seemed to have curled inward, much like a wounded animal seeking refuge in the shadows. As the door to the council infirmary creaked open, a soft groan echoed in the stillness. Pale moonlight streamed through the high windows, casting delicate ribbons of silver across the cold floor. The air was thick with the scent of antiseptic herbs-mugwort and wolfsbane mingling in a heady concoction that felt almost suffocating.

Kathy stepped inside, her heart tightening painfully at the sight of Michael being lowered onto the examination bed, a place that felt too clinical for someone who had once stood at the helm of their pack. The healer, a stern older wolf named Aramis, moved with purpose to Michael's side. His hands glowed faintly with a soft green aura, illuminating the darkened room. He paused momentarily, a frown creasing his brow as he pressed his fingers lightly against Michael's chest, where deep gashes had already begun to close, though not without effort.

Kathy could see it-the struggle of Michael's wolf attempting to heal him, albeit slowly and with excruciating effort. The strain of forcing that healing while the spirit behind it remained fractured was evident in every tremor that coursed through Michael's body. "We need to evaluate him before you return to Silverblade," Aramis murmured, his voice low and serious. "His wolf is present, but only just. It feels... muted." He exhaled slowly, as if the weight of his words hung heavily in the air.

"Withdrawn." Kathy nodded, her throat constricted with emotion, rendering her unable to articulate her thoughts. She understood all too well. The moment Darius's wolf had forced Michael to submit in the council hall, she had felt the shift in the atmosphere-a moment that had reverberated through the entire room. It was a moment that had shattered something within Michael, something far deeper than mere bones or pride. She stepped closer to the bedside, gently brushing a stray strand of hair from Michael's forehead.

There was no reaction from him-not a flinch, not a blink-just an unsettling stillness that filled the air with an oppressive weight. Eventually, they would have to return to their pack. They needed to explain to their son, Leo, what had transpired here, though Kathy knew that burden would fall squarely on her shoulders. Michael had barely uttered more than a handful of words since the submission, and even those had been quiet whispers, lost to the world around him.

Earlier, there had been a flicker of hope-a tiny spark-when Nathan, Elaine and Darius's son, had approached Michael with that innocent, gentle honesty that only a child could muster. In that fleeting moment, Michael's eyes had sharpened, tears glistening as they revealed a raw wave of emotion he had long kept buried. But once Nathan had walked away, that spark had dimmed, leaving Michael's gaze to retreat back into the dull, distant haze. The council elders had spoken of the consequences of denying one's wolf its destined mate.

Michael's wolf had been slowly fracturing long before Elaine had taken her place beside Darius. The night she had rejected him, his wolf had cracked. And when their son began to call another alpha "father," that fracture had deepened. When Elaine had left him-his mate-the final thread had snapped. Too much grief. Too much guilt. Too much regret. It was not merely a broken heart; it was a wolf spirit collapsing under the weight of a lifetime's worth of choices. And Kathy... Kathy felt her own grief pressing down on her chest like a heavy stone.

She placed her palm over her sternum, breathing through the ache that threatened to suffocate her. As Elaine's sister, she was connected by blood. Yet, she had lost her sister long before this moment. She had lost her when she and Michael had chosen to follow orders. She had lost her when Elaine had walked away from Silverblade, severing ties with their parents, leaving the pack that had betrayed her so cruelly. Years had passed since she had last seen her parents, not since that fateful day when Elaine had chosen her own path. How could she face them?

They had stood side by side with Alpha Efrein, insisting that Kathy and Michael obey the command to continue their mating. Her parents had driven the final nail into the coffin. If only they-Elaine and Kathy's own mother and father-had defied Efrein's order, perhaps Michael would never have marked her. Perhaps Elaine and Michael would still be together. Perhaps Kathy would still have a sister. A family. The loss carved deeper with every memory that surfaced. She glanced toward the infirmary door as it creaked open, revealing a tall figure stepping inside-her older brother, Calvin.

His posture was rigid, shoulders squared under the heavy mantle of leadership that had been thrust upon him unexpectedly. As the acting alpha of Silverblade, he bore a weight she wished he never had to carry. "Alpha," Kathy murmured instinctively, lowering her head in a gesture of respect. Even though it was temporary, the title still held significance. Calvin blinked, taken aback by her formality. Yet, he nodded, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. Today, he was Alpha.

Today, both Michael and Kathy had been stripped of their titles until the council deemed Michael stable enough to reclaim his leadership-or if he ever would. Calvin approached the bedside, his nostrils flaring as he took in Michael's scent-one of pain, exhaustion, and a wolf so deeply hidden that even another alpha could barely sense its presence. Kathy swallowed hard, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. "Is it possible for me to speak with Luna Elaine privately?" she asked, her voice barely rising above a whisper.

"Could you arrange a meeting?" She forced herself to meet his gaze, determination mingling with fear. "I understand she may refuse." The shock on Calvin's face was unmistakable. Kathy requesting an audience with Elaine-Luna Elaine-was something he had not anticipated. But slowly, understanding settled into his expression. There was an unspoken weight between the sisters, too many tangled threads of past and future left pulled taut. "I will ask her," Calvin replied, his voice steady. "I cannot guarantee she'll agree.

But I will try." "That's all I ask," Kathy murmured, a flicker of hope igniting within her. A heavy silence enveloped them, broken only by Michael's slow, uneven breathing. The healer continued his work in the background, murmuring incantations under his breath, weaving healing energy in gentle pulses. "How is he?" Calvin finally inquired, his voice softening as he looked at Michael. Kathy's gaze dropped to Michael's face-pale, strained, etched with grief. "Still the same," she replied quietly. "His wolf is healing him, but... not quickly enough. And he's still withdrawn.

The healer can't even feel him right now." She shook her head, frustration mixing with despair. "The only proof he's still there is the healing itself. Nothing more." Calvin's jaw tightened, his eyes glistening with sorrow that he rarely allowed himself to show. "He will survive this, Kathy." He placed a firm, steadying hand on her shoulder, grounding her in the moment. "We must give him time. Confronting the consequences of his choices-of all the choices made for him-was never going to be easy. Not for his wolf. Not for Michael." Kathy exhaled shakily, a wave of uncertainty washing over her.

"I know." "But he will rise again," Calvin asserted, his voice quiet yet resolute. "Whether as alpha or simply as Michael... he will rise." Kathy wished she could embrace his belief wholeheartedly. But as she looked at Michael-the man who had once stood at the helm of Silverblade with unwavering strength-all she saw was a soul on the brink of collapse. Still, she nodded. Because hope, however fragile, was still better than nothing. Calvin squeezed her shoulder once more before turning to leave. As the door clicked softly behind him, Kathy settled into the chair beside Michael's bed.

She took his cold hand in hers, bringing it to her forehead, seeking a connection. "Michael," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Come back to us. Come back to yourself. To Leo." To whatever future awaited them. She didn't know if he could hear her. But she was certain his wolf did. Somewhere deep within the darkness, the wounded creature stirred-just a fraction. And Kathy held onto that flicker of movement like a lifeline. Conclusion In the quiet aftermath of turmoil, Kathy found herself enveloped in a profound sense of uncertainty and longing.

The weight of loss pressed heavily upon her, a constant reminder of the choices made and the paths taken that had led them to this moment. Michael lay before her, a shell of the alpha he once was, and yet, beneath the surface, there was a flicker of resilience-a whisper of the spirit that had defined him. The pain of their shared history, the fractures that had splintered their lives, echoed through the sterile room, but within that darkness, hope began to weave its delicate threads.

Kathy's whispered plea to Michael was not just a call for his return; it was a promise to confront the ghosts of their past and to seek a future that could mend the wounds they had both endured. As the healer continued his work, Kathy clung to the fragile spark of connection she felt with Michael, her heart resolute in its desire to see him rise again. The journey ahead would be fraught with challenges, but with each breath she took, she felt the stirrings of courage and determination within her.

The stakes are high, and the dynamics of their relationships are poised to shift dramatically, potentially altering the fate of Silverblade forever. Moreover, the healing process for Michael will take center stage as the council's healers employ ancient rituals and potent remedies to coax his wolf back to the surface. The struggle between Michael's fractured spirit and the remnants of his once-proud alpha persona will be palpable, raising questions about identity, leadership, and redemption.

Can Michael reclaim his strength, or will the shadows of his past continue to haunt him, leaving him forever altered? As Kathy clings to hope, the chapter will explore whether the bonds of family and love can truly mend what has been broken, setting the stage for a dramatic and heart-wrenching journey towards healing and self-discovery. 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.