The Rejected Mate (Elaine and Michael) novel Chapter 25

She was here again, standing in front of the Alpha’s office door. It was becoming routine now -this slow walk down the long corridor, the tightening of her chest as she reached the heavy wooden door, and the weight pressing down on her shoulders.

For the past few days, it felt like her life had been reduced to this single hallway, this single door, this single room where every time she entered, she left more broken than before.

The walls of the pack house seemed to close in on her, suffocating her with whispers and judgment she could never escape.

Elaine’s fingers hovered over the door for a moment before she finally knocked, her knuckles brushing the wood with more force than she intended.

“Come in,” Alpha Efrein’s voice called from within, calm, steady, as if nothing in the world were amiss.

Elaine pushed the door open and stepped inside. Her eyes scanned the room automatically, taking in the familiar faces. Michael sat near the window, stiff–backed but avoiding her gaze. Alpha Efrein sat at his desk, with Luna Beatrice seated elegantly beside him, her expression carefully composed. And then–her father, Beta Richard, standing a step behind them, as though he were a wall of support for everyone but his own daughter.

Where were her mother and her sister? Perhaps they were too occupied with preparations for tomorrow. Of course they would be. Tomorrow was the ceremony that would change everything.

“Alpha, you wanted to see me,” Elaine greeted, her voice polite but hollow.

“Yes,” Alpha Efrein said, folding his hands as though this were nothing more than routine business. “We want to discuss what will happen tomorrow at the ceremony.”

Elaine frowned but said nothing. Her hands curled into fists at her sides, nails biting into her palms.

Discuss? What was there left to discuss?

“At the ceremony tomorrow,” Alpha Efrein continued, his voice steady, almost detached, “it has been decided that Michael will not mark Kathy. They will wait until after you and Michael reject each other to spare you unnecessary pain.”

The words were delivered so matter–of–factly, so casually, it was almost comical. He could have been announcing a shift in the weather or reminding her of a pack duty. All of them looked at her expectantly, as if waiting for her gratitude.

How laughable.

Elaine kept her face blank, her emotions locked behind a wall she refused to let them breach. They didn’t deserve her pain. They didn’t deserve anything from her.

Alpha Efrein inhaled slowly, then added, “After the ceremony tomorrow, you and Michael will have to reject each other.”

“Ok,” Elaine said at once, her tone flat. “Is that all?”

The room shifted. Surprise flickered in their expressions, like they hadn’t expected her calmness.

She had thought this meeting was to deliver some heavy revelation, something of importance. But it was just this–confirmation of what she already knew. That the bond she never asked for, never wanted to break, would be cut by force. She had already accepted that much. What she hadn’t expected was their so–called mercy in delaying Michael and Kathy’s marking.

Beneath the emptiness in her chest, bitterness stirred. Was it truly concern for her… or was there something more?

“What do you mean ‘is that all‘?” Michael demanded, finally speaking, his tone sharp, defensive.

Elaine turned to him, her gaze steady. “I already know about the ceremony. And I already know we’ll have to reject each other. What I don’t understand is why we need to sit here and discuss it. Was there something new I was meant to learn?”

Her lips pressed into a thin line. “Although, I admit, I’m surprised you won’t mark each other right away, just to avoid hurting me.”

For a moment, she thought she saw a flicker of shame in Michael’s eyes. He lowered his gaze, his voice quieter when he finally spoke.

“If I marked Kathy at the ceremony,” he said, “we don’t know what my wolf would do. And the pain… it would draw too much attention. The council would notice. They’d know something was wrong.”

“Ah,” Elaine breathed, her eyes narrowing. “Now I understand.”

Michael’s head snapped up. “What do you mean by that?”

She gave a humorless laugh, shaking her head.

“The Alpha said you wouldn’t mark her to spare me pain. That was unbelievable. You, of all people, are concerned about hurting me?” She tilted her head, her voice calm, almost cold.” But if the reason is to hide things from the council, to protect your reputation, now that is believable.”

The room went silent. The words hung heavy in the air, cutting deeper than any blade. Elaine’s face betrayed nothing–no anger, no tears, just a flat truth spoken aloud. The silence was almost suffocating, until finally Luna Beatrice soft voice broke it.

“Elaine,” the Luna said gently, though her eyes betrayed discomfort, “we also wanted to avoid causing you more pain. That much is true.”

Elaine inclined her head politely.

“Of course, Luna.” Her voice was respectful, but distant, as though she were reciting lines in a play. “If there is nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

They all knew she didn’t believe them. She never would. Whatever masks they wore, whatever excuses they crafted, the truth was always the same–her feelings had never mattered, and they never would.

She turned and walked toward the door, her steps slow but steady. With each one, she buried the pain deeper inside herself, building the walls higher.

Let them keep their lies. Let them choke on their hypocrisy.

Tomorrow, everything would end.