The Rejected Mate (Elaine and Michael) novel Chapter 13

When Elaine looked around, her breath caught in her throat.

Just a few feet away stood a massive black wolf, its fur glistening under the faint rays of sunlight that filtered through the canopy of trees. Its eyes–dark and intense–locked with hers, and in that moment she knew without a doubt: this was no ordinary wolf. This was an alpha. His size, the power radiating off him, the quiet authority in his gaze. It was undeniable.

Her mind raced. What is he doing here? No one is supposed to be here. This is my place. My escape.

A flicker of panic surged through her chest, and instinct told her to run, to hide herself before he got too close. But something in his stare stopped her. It wasn’t threatening, not the way she expected from an alpha who stumbled upon someone trespassing.

Instead, his eyes seemed to say, Stay.

Then, without warning, the black wolf padded gracefully behind a tree.

Elaine’s heart hammered as she heard the faint rustle of shifting bones and the soft crack of transformation. She quickly looked away, but not before catching the glimpse of a tall man slipping into his clothes.

Heat flooded her cheeks at the sight of his toned, muscular frame, and she forced herself to turn toward the waterfall, pretending to admire the rushing water instead of staring.

When he stepped back into view, fully dressed, he wore an easy smile that softened the strength of his features. His eyes–warm now, no longer shadowed by the wolf–found hers.

“Hello,” he greeted, his voice smooth but carrying that undeniable alpha weight. “I hope I am not disturbing you. I was told no one comes here.”

Elaine swallowed, trying to steady her voice. “Yes, no one’s coming here, Alpha Darius.”

“Except you,” the alpha replied lightly.

She blinked, confused. “Huh?”

“No one comes here,” he clarified, his smile deepening, “except you.”

“Oh.” She shifted slightly, feeling strangely caught off guard. “Yes, Alpha. I… I like being alone.

”

His eyes studied her, curious yet gentle.

“Am I disturbing you?” He asked, still smiling as though teasing her.

Elaine’s lips parted, caught between irritation and disbelief. Is he teasing me? Alphas weren’t usually playful–at least not with her.

“No, Alpha Darius,” she managed. “I was just shocked someone came here.”

“Yeah,” he nodded, his voice calm. “My wolf needed to run. When I told Alpha Efrein, he said this was a good place since no one usually comes here.”

Elaine nodded, fiddling with her hands. “Well, I’ll leave you to it, Alpha.”

She stood, intending to slip away and give him his space.

But his hand lifted slightly, stopping her. “No, stay. Really. I’m the one intruding in your place. I’m sorry, I didn’t know anyone came here.”

The sincerity in his tone caught her off guard. She hesitated. Something about the way he looked at her–without judgment, without expectation made her chest tighten. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had spoken to her with such kindness.

Why do I feel… connected to him? Like he’s someone I’ve known before, someone I lost a long time ago.

The thought was overwhelming.

“Anyway,” Darius continued, tilting his head slightly, “it seems you know me, but I don’t know you.”

“My name is Elaine, Alpha.” She hesitated, the words catching in her throat. “I am Beta Richard’s assistant.”

She almost said daughter, but the word burned too much. She wasn’t Beta Richard’s daughter anymore. She didn’t have parents anymore. She was just… alone.

“Ah, yes.” Darius’s expression softened. “That’s why you look familiar. But tell me, what are you doing here all by yourself?”

Elaine looked away, toward the falls. “I like being alone. Away from other wolves.”

Away from the whispers, the prying eyes, the endless judgment. But she didn’t say that part aloud.

“And here I am disturbing you!” Darius exclaimed, his tone exaggerated in mock offense.

The sound made Elaine laugh before she realized it. A short, genuine laugh escaped her lips, and the moment it did, her hand rose to cover her mouth. It had been so long since laughter had come to her freely. She couldn’t help it, though. He had drawn it out of her.

“It’s okay,” she said softly, still smiling. “I can share–for now, Alpha.”

Darius’s gaze lingered on her, unexpectedly struck.

She’s beautiful.

He had seen her last night at the gathering, but now he realized he hadn’t really seen her. Back then she wore smiles like masks–polite, empty, doll–like. The kind of smile that never reached the eyes. But this one… this smile, born from laughter, lit her face in a way that made her seem entirely different.

How could I have missed this? he wondered.

Elaine, meanwhile, felt his gaze and grew self–conscious.

She quickly added, “And you’re not disturbing me. As Alpha Efrein said, no one usually comes here.”

Darius looked around, his eyes sweeping over the trees, the waterfall, the soft glow of sunlight glimmering off the water.

“That’s hard to believe,” he said thoughtfully. “This place is beautiful.”

“Yes,” Elaine agreed quietly, her eyes fixed on the falls. “But it’s on the edge of the pack.”

He nodded, letting the quiet stretch between them. It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence, though. It felt strangely balanced, as though both were content to let the moment settle without needing to fill it.

For Elaine, that was rare. Usually, silence around others felt heavy, loaded with judgment. But here, with him, it simply… was.