The Rejected Mate (Elaine and Michael) novel Chapter 143

(Nathan)

Hearing my mother’s story broke something in me. Not a clean break—but a long crack, jagged and deep, like glass under pressure. Every word she spoke carried a weight I wasn’t prepared for. The heartache she endured—alone, bleeding, terrified—was carved into every breath she took while telling it. And when she finally admitted that I was supposed to be a twin, that my twin did not survive the suffering she went through… the air in the room turned sharp, unforgiving.

A scream pulsed behind my ribs.

My wolf paced inside me, a storm made of teeth and fury.

We were supposed to be two, he growled. They hurt us. They hurt mother.

The urge to rage was overwhelming. I wanted to tear down walls, to hunt down every shadow of those who had inflicted pain upon her. My mother—the warmest soul I had ever known, the Luna who spoke with kindness, who touched others with gentle grace, who forgave when anger would have been the easier path—how dare they hurt her? How dare fate snatch away the other half of my soul before we even drew breath?

But I had made a promise to her.

I vowed to listen with an open heart, to set aside my anger for the moment.

This was part of my alpha training, something my father had ingrained in me from the moment my voice deepened and my aura began to manifest.

“A true Alpha thinks with clarity, not emotion. Emotions make you reckless. Facts carve your path.”

So I sat there, spine straight, fists clenched, heart trembling, and I listened.

Every part of me howled in protest—but I listened.

And when my father—my father—looked me squarely in the eyes and said:

“You are my son. My heir. Our bond is more than blood.”

Something within me crumbled—not from pain, but from a profound sense of relief.

If the Moon Goddess had appeared before me at that moment, I would have knelt and offered my gratitude. My father didn’t hesitate. He didn’t flinch. He claimed me with pride—not obligation. The way my wolf settled, the way his breath synchronized with mine without any conscious effort—it was undeniable proof. Divine proof.

Our bond transcended mere blood.

It was a choice. It was forged in fire. It was blessed by fate.

In the heart of my wolf, Alpha Darius is our father.

In my heart, he has always been.

Now, as I sit in the car on our annual visit to the Silverblade Pack, my mind is a tumultuous battlefield. My wolf cannot find peace—he shifts restlessly beneath my skin, claws scraping against the insides of my ribs. It feels as though we are embarking on our first journey to Silverblade. Yet this time, everything is different.

Silverblade is not merely an allied pack.

It is a fracture in my lineage.

It is the very place where my past was buried alive, and now it claws its way back to the surface.

I know that Alpha Calvin will be waiting for us—the man I have just learned is not only my mother’s brother but my biological uncle. Aunt Roselyn will be by his side, her warm smile and crinkling eyes filled with affection. Their son, Liam, will likely be bouncing on his heels with excitement.

And then there’s Leo.

My best friend.

The one who knows every insecurity I have harbored about stepping into the role of Alpha.

The one who laughed with me when the weight of leadership felt unbearably heavy.

The wolf with whom I shared every secret.

And now…

I am painfully aware that his father is my biological father.

The air in the car grows heavier with every passing mile.

My palms grow clammy.

My wolf continues to pace, repeating the same thought like a mantra:

*This changes everything. This changes nothing. This changes everything.*

Stella hums softly beside me, her head resting against the cool window. Uncle Evan and Aunt Veronica sit in the back seat, quietly discussing pack matters. My father’s hand rests on my mother’s knee, his thumb stroking gently, a silent anchor in the storm of my thoughts.

“Are you okay, Nathan? Why are you so quiet?” Stella asks suddenly, tilting her head toward me with concern.

I blink, forcing my voice to steady itself.

“Nothing is wrong. I’m just thinking about our visit to Silverblade,” I reply, trying for a casual tone but missing the mark by a mile.

Stella’s face lights up, her excitement infectious.

“I’m so excited! Especially to see Aunt Roselyn. She said we’ll have a girls’ day out and buy new clothes. She said now that I’m seven, I should change my wardrobe!”

My father snorts, a sound that blends disbelief with dread.

“I hope your aunt meant clothes suitable for a seven-year-old,” Darius interjects, cutting into the sisters’ conversation.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify