The Rejected Mate by Lhainey Novel

Chapter 97 The Aftermath of the Rejection - Silverblade Packhouse The door clicked shut behind Darius and Elaine , and the silence that followed was deafening . - - Michael stood frozen for a heartbeat , his chest rising and falling in shallow , uneven breaths . The walls of his office once symbols of power and order now felt like a cage closing in on him . His knees gave out before he realized it , and he sank into his chair , every ounce of strength drained from his body .

- The rejection was supposed to be just a ritual words uttered to sever a bond that , in the eyes of the pack and the Moon Goddess , no longer existed . Lucius had assured him there would be no pain . No pain , he had said . Just a clean break . But Lucius was wrong . Michael's hands trembled as he pressed them against his chest . The pain was sharp and cold , cutting deeper than any wound he'd ever endured in battle . It wasn't just in his heart - it was in his soul , a raw , tearing ache that burned through every nerve.

He could still feel his wolf's anguish echoing inside him , a feral scream that refused to fade . " You caused this ! " his wolf roared from within , voice trembling with fury and grief . " You caused us our pup and our mate ! Because of you , I lost them both ! " And then - silence . The presence that had been his constant companion , his other half , retreated into the dark recesses of his mind . Michael called for him once , twice , but there was no response . Only a hollow emptiness remained . He leaned back in his chair , staring blankly at the ceiling , and exhaled a shuddering breath .

He had expected relief , maybe even closure . Instead , all he could see - burned behind his eyelids - was Elaine's face as she stood beside Darius . - The way her eyes softened when she looked at the Crescent Moon Alpha . The way their bond shimmered in the air , tangible and powerful , blessed by the Moon Goddess herself . Michael had seen many things in his life - victory , defeat , betrayal - but he had never seen that kind of happiness . That pure , unrestrained joy that radiated between two souls destined for each other .

He and Kathy had chosen each other out of love , or at least what they had believed was love . A quiet , steadfast affection born of shared guilt and duty . But looking at Darius and Elaine , he 1/3 < Chapter 97 realized it had never been the same . There had never been that divine spark - that overwhelming certainty that the universe itself had conspired to bring them together . Their love had been a choice . Elaine and Darius ' was destiny . - +25 Points He stood slowly , feeling decades older than he had that morning .

His wolf was silent , his chest hollow , but he moved as if on instinct down the hall , past the portraits of Alphas before him , toward the one person who had always been by his side despite everything . Their room was dim when he entered . The curtains were drawn , and the faint scent of lavender lingered in the air . Kathy lay on her side , her back to the door , motionless except for the slow rise and fall of her breathing . Michael hesitated for a moment in the doorway . Something about her stillness sent a pang of unease through him .

Then , quietly , he crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed . " It's done , Kathy , " he said softly , his voice hoarse . " We've officially severed our bond . Elaine ... she found her second chance . It's Darius . " For a long moment , Kathy didn't move . The silence stretched between them until she finally spoke , her voice muffled against the pillow . " Did it hurt ? " she asked . " When you said the words ? I know Lucius said you shouldn't feel anything , but ... did you ? " Michael exhaled slowly . There was no point in pretending . " Yes ," he admitted . " It hurt , Kathy .

More than I expected . I had to stay focused just to keep it from showing , but it was real . It still is ." There was a pause - then she shifted . Slowly , she turned to face him . Her eyes were red and glistening , her cheeks streaked with tears . " I know , " she whispered . " I know how much it hurts , Michael . Because I can feel it too . " He frowned , confusion furrowing his brow . " What do you mean , you know ? " Kathy gave a trembling laugh - a sound so fragile it was almost a sob . " I found him , Michael , " she said . " Or ... maybe he found me . " Her lips quivered .

" My fated mate ." Michael froze , the air leaving his lungs . Kathy's eyes glistened as she continued , her voice breaking with every word . " When he realized who I was , he didn't hesitate . He rejected me on the spot . No questions , no chance to explain - just rejection . " A sob escaped her throat . " The pain , Michael ... it was unbearable . It felt like my heart was being ripped out . Is this what Elaine felt ? When we abandoned her ? When we followed your father's orders instead of the Moon Goddess ' will ?

" < Chapter 97 +25 Points Michael's chest tightened as guilt flooded through him . Elaine . The choices . The cost . It all came crashing back like a storm . Kathy wiped at her tears , though more kept falling . " We thought we were protecting the pack , doing what was right . But all we did was destroy what the Moon Goddess had blessed . " He could barely form the words . " Who ... who is he , Kathy ? Who's your mate ? " She shook her head , her shoulders trembling . " Don't ask me that ," she whispered . " Please . Don't make me say it .

Just thinking about him his face , his scent it hurts too much . " - - - Michael wanted to reach for her , to hold her , to share the pain that was breaking them both apart . But all he could do was sit there in silence as the truth settled over them two souls who had defied destiny , now living with its consequences . The room was heavy with sorrow , the air thick with what - ifs . Outside , the night wind howled through Silverblade , carrying with it the faintest whisper of a truth neither of them wanted to face . They had severed one bond ...

but in doing so , they had torn open every old wound the past had tried to bury .