The Rejected Mate (Elaine and Michael) novel Chapter 125

The council chamber had quieted to a delicate, trembling silence—one that felt as if even a single breath might shatter it like thin ice. The tension clung to every surface, to every heartbeat, to every inhale. Somewhere in that silence, fate seemed to hold its breath too.

Michael knelt at the center of the hall, shoulders hunched, head bowed. His hands lay open on his thighs—empty hands, stripped of authority, stripped of the strength he once wielded with certainty. His wolf lay quiet inside him, curled into itself like a wounded pup. No snarl left. No righteous justification. Only shame. Only regret. Only the aching sting of consequences he could no longer outrun.

Across the chamber, little Nathan wriggled in his mother’s arms, his big, dark eyes darting between the towering adults who surrounded him, their faces etched with seriousness. Darius’s hand rested gently on Nathan’s back, a steadying presence that grounded the child amidst the palpable tension. Finally, Nathan’s gaze settled on Michael—soft, curious, and surprisingly unafraid.

In that charged atmosphere, something began to shift.

With a determined little wiggle, Nathan slipped from his mother’s embrace, lowering himself to the ground with careful, deliberate steps. Elaine gasped slightly, instinctively reaching out to guide him, but Darius gave a subtle nod, encouraging their son to walk forward on his own.

Each tiny footfall echoed in the chamber—soft yet resolute—until Nathan stood before Michael.

And then, in a moment that made even the most seasoned council members hold their breath, Nathan reached out.

His small fingers—warm, inquisitive, and impossibly gentle—pressed against Michael’s cheek. The touch was light, yet it landed like a sacred blow, breaking open a part of Michael that he had thought long dead. The man froze, overwhelmed, for this was the first time… the very first time his son had ventured so close. The first time Nathan’s scent enveloped him without fear, without hesitation, without being pushed away.

Nathan tilted his head, studying Michael with the profound and disarming honesty that only children possess.

“My mommy and daddy said they will tell me the whole story when I get bigger and understand more,” Nathan spoke softly, yet his words resonated throughout the chamber. “When that time comes, I want to hear your story too. So get better, Alpha Michael.”

It wasn’t a demand. It wasn’t an act of forgiveness. It was something deeper—an offering of permission.

A glimpse of a future.

A bridge built by a child who, in his innocence, didn’t fully grasp the weight of what he was giving, yet understood its significance in a way that adults often fail to.

A trembling sound escaped Michael’s throat—a sob that wasn’t born from despair, but rather from an unexpected light that pierced through the darkness.

Tears flowed freely from his eyes, cascading onto Nathan’s small hand. He didn’t dare to move—not even to wipe them away—because Nathan was touching him. Because Nathan was looking at him. Because Nathan was speaking to him about tomorrow.

Within Michael’s chest, his wolf, though silent, lifted its head. Not fully, not with strength, but with a flicker of hope in its eyes.

A hope it had believed would never return.

A hope that perhaps, one day, his pup would hear his side of the story too.

Nathan beamed—a small, wobbly smile that somehow radiated more strength than any alpha roar.

Then, he withdrew his hand and turned back, walking toward his parents with steps that seemed lighter, more assured.

Elaine knelt down to embrace him, pulling him close and planting a gentle kiss on the top of his head. Darius ruffled Nathan’s hair, pride softening the edges of his alpha demeanor.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Nathan reached out to both of them—Luna Elaine and Alpha Darius—taking one hand in each of his tiny palms, as if linking them together completed something essential within him.

Behind them, Calvin and Roselyn stood near the council seats, their presence heavy with the weight of responsibility. They exchanged a glance—a silent communication filled with understanding, worry, and determination.

The moment had arrived.

Darius turned toward them, his expression a mix of solemnity and warmth. “Will you be alright with the responsibilities that have been entrusted to you?” His voice carried a quiet authority that commanded respect. “If you ever need assistance… any assistance… do not hesitate to reach out.”

Calvin squared his shoulders, determination etched on his face. Roselyn stood proudly beside him, her presence a beacon of strength.

“We will definitely let you know, brother,” Roselyn replied, her voice unwavering.

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