The Rejected Mate by Lhainey Novel

The last of the afternoon sun sliding through stained glass and painting the floor in bruised colors . Lucius sat with his hands folded on the heavy oak table , his face a map of lines that deepened with each word he spoke . " Rejecting a mate is a taboo with our kind , " he said at last , his voice low and controlled but threaded with a disappointment that made it sharper than any command . " But what you did- marking another when you have a fated mate ... that is something never done . " He let the sentence hang like a verdict . Michael's shoulders sagged .

He had already said little ; now he lowered his head , as if the room itself were pressing on him . " And you said your father commanded you to do it ? " Lucius asked , not unkindly , as if trying to find any misstep that might soften the blow . " Yes ," Michael answered , the single word a brittle admission . It carried with it the echo of obedience , of family orders that cut deeper than loyalty to the pack . Lucius's jaw tightened . " I will have to inform the council about this . It is unwritten law that we do not interfere with fated mates .

What you all did to Elaine is wrong in every aspect - and it will not go unpunished . " The room seemed to shiver at the finality of that statement . " Where is Elaine now ? " he asked , softer . Even anger had limits where Elaine was concerned . " She is with me ," Darius answered before Michael could . He rose a fraction , the movement of a man who was used to standing at the center of storms . " She is my chosen mate . Once this situation with her mating with Michael is resolved , we will return to my pack and announce it officially .

" Lucius studied Darius for a long heartbeat , then turned back to Michael with a grim line to his mouth . " Her mating with Michael is weak because he already marked someone else . It won't cause any pain when they reject each other - it will be a formality ." The word " weak " landed heavily , an insult to Michael's honor . " Alpha Michael , " Lucius said , rising now , the rustle of his cloak loud in the quiet room , " I will inform the council about this , and you will hear from us what your pack's punishment will be . " He paused as if to let the weight of the council's reach sink in .

Disappointment radiated from him in a way that made the room colder . Then he left - his footsteps slow , certain- leaving a draft of authority behind . When the door clicked shut , the silence that followed was not peaceful . It was the thick , uneasy quiet that comes when a verdict has been delivered and everyone is left to reckon with it . Michael watched Lucius's retreating back until the stained - glass light swallowed him , 1/2 < Chapter 86 +25 Points then turned his attention to Darius .

" Alpha Darius , if you could inform Elaine about this - that we will have to officially reject each other ," Michael said , speaking quickly as if to get the request out before the room could remind him of his failures . " I will let her know , " Darius replied . " She will want to do it right away . Especially - we are scheduled to leave tomorrow ." There was a practical finality in his tone , the kind that suggested plans already made and people already packed . Michael swallowed .

" I want to meet Nathan as well ," he said hesitantly , the name tumbling out like something he had rehearsed in private and now had to offer in public . For a moment , Darius's expression did not change . Then the air around him tightened - the alpha aura , barely contained , rose like heat before a storm . His eyes darkened and his voice dropped . " What do you mean , you want to meet my son ? " he asked , incredulous and suddenly dangerous . " There is no reason for you to see my son ," Darius continued , as if answering himself before Michael could .

" He is my son , Alpha ," Michael said , the words spilling in a rush now , as if they had been bottled for too long . " I was not informed that he survived . We were told that Elaine miscarried -so how is Nathan my son ? How does this happen ? " Confusion , anger , and something like grief sharpened each question . Darius's stance hardened ; he rose to his full height . " Again , Alpha . Nathan is my son . You have no claim over him . I will inform Elaine of the need for you to reject each other , but that is it . Our son has nothing to do with you or this pack .

Understand this , Alpha : for my son and my mate , I will go to any war ." The promise in his voice was iron - unquestionable and final . Without another word , he turned and strode out . The door sighed shut behind him , leaving Michael alone with the echo of Darius's vow and the heavy , accusing quiet of a room that had borne witness to something it hoped never to see again . Michael stayed where he was , palms clenched at his sides , a storm gathering behind eyes that had once believed in straightforward loyalties .

Outside , the pack grounds hummed with evening life - distant howls , the soft scuff of paws . 8 Comments LUCK DRAW > Vote 593