The Rejected Mate by Lhainey Novel

Chapter 22 More Rewards > Darius froze , taken aback . Of all the things she could have asked , this was not what he expected . Shock rippled through him , but he schooled his expression , keeping his voice calm and steady . " Can you tell me the reason behind this decision ? " He asked carefully , not wanting to push too hard but needing to understand . Elaine's gaze remained fixed on the water cascading down the rocks in front of them . Her voice was detached , hollow , as if her spirit had drifted elsewhere . " Because I want to live . I want my sanity intact .

I do not want to feel this pain . I do not want to be alone anymore . So many reasons , just pick one . " Her tone was so absent , so void of life , that it sounded as if she were speaking from outside her own body . Darius's chest tightened at the sight of her . No wolf should ever sound like that - so empty , so utterly drained . " I would love to welcome you into my pack , Elaine , " he said softly , meaning every word . " But the laws are clear . We need your alpha's permission for you to transfer . " Her lips curved into a bitter smile . " Then I will not be able to leave with you .

Because they will not let me go . " She shook her head slowly , resigned . " I was foolish enough to tell them I intended to leave . That was my mistake . Now they'll have time to prepare , to tighten their hold , to make sure I never set foot outside the territory . My only chance ..." She paused , her voice breaking with the weight of the truth , " ... is to go rogue . But to do that , I'd have to cross the border first . Only then could I renounce Silverblade . And you know as well as I do . They'll never let me reach that line . My father , my alpha ...

they'll lock every door , guard every path if they have to . " Darius's jaw clenched . He wanted to tell her he'd fight for her , that he'd take her hand right now and lead her to freedom , but the law stood like an unmovable wall between them . Even as an Alpha , his authority ended at another pack's borders . He could not simply take her without consequence . " You still haven't told me why you want to leave . " He said quietly , almost pleading . Elaine laughed , but the sound was dry , hollow , empty of mirth . " What is there to tell if I cannot leave with you ? No need for you to know .

" O 1/3 Chapter 22 Sony Prewants Her words were laced with sorrow , but underneath them was a fragile shield , one he could see cracking with every heartbeat . " Even so , " Darius said gently , stepping a little closer, " I still want to know . If nothing else , sharing it might lighten your burden ... if only a little . " Elaine didn't answer right away . She stood there , her eyes locked on the waterfall . The endless rush of water seemed to echo the chaos in her mind . She wanted to tell him - part of her was desperate to let the words out . But what good would it do ?

He couldn't change her situation . Even he , the strongest and most respected Alpha , was bound by the same law that chained her here . A wolf could not leave their pack without their Alpha's consent , and that consent was never given lightly . And she ... had more than enough reason . A reason so raw it tore her apart with every breath . But reason would not matter . Not to her Alpha . Not to her father . And certainly not to Michael . Especially Michael . Her chest tightened at the thought of him .

His wolf had grown possessive of her since the bond revealed itself , possessive in ways that trapped her . They would never let her go , not when keeping her near soothed his wolf's guilt . Unless ... unless Michael rejected her fully . If he did , maybe the bond's grip would fade . But she didn't know . No one she had ever heard of had been rejected by their fated . It wasn't supposed to happen . It was unthinkable . Bad luck . That was all it could be . She had been cursed with it from the start .

Her mate , her fated one , had been in her own pack , yet fate had kept them apart until it was already too late . By the time their paths finally crossed, her sister was already carrying his child . If that wasn't cruel , if that wasn't the moon goddess's mistake , then what else could it be ? Darius's voice pulled her back from the spiral . He was watching her , his expression a mixture of patience and deep concern . " Elaine ," he said again , softly but firmly , " tell me the reason . I want to understand . " At last , she turned to him .

Her eyes met his , and in them was a sorrow so deep it seemed endless . A sorrow that stripped away every shield , every wall she had built around herself . His eyes , clear and steady , radiated only kindness and understanding . Her lips trembled , her voice breaking as tears welled in her eyes . 2/3 < Chapter 22 More Rewards > " My mate rejected me... for another . " She drew a shaky breath , the pain spilling into every word . " So I cannot stay here and see them together . See how happy they are ...

while I am dying slowly inside ." The tears slipped free , and with them , the truth she had buried for so long . Comments Get Bonus ( Ad ) >