The Rejected Mate (Elaine and Michael) novel Chapter 33

“We are almost there, Alpha,” Marcus, his beta and most trusted friend, said. His voice carried a weight of concern as he glanced at the rearview mirror. His eyes lingered on Elaine, lying silently in the backseat. She hasn’t stirred once since we left… not even during the flight.”

Darius tightened his jaw, forcing his emotions under control.

“Thank you, Marcus. Drive straight to the pack hospital. She needs to be looked at immediately.” His voice was calm, but the tension beneath it was impossible to miss.

Marcus gave a sharp nod. “I’ll mind–link the pack doctor right away. Still, I can’t believe what she endured back at Silverblade, Darius. No one should have to go through that.”

Darius exhaled heavily, his hands curling into fists.

“No wonder she smelled of loneliness when I found her. Alone, broken, abandoned by the very people who should’ve protected her.” His eyes flickered to the sleeping figure. “Even now, my wolf burns with rage over what that pack did to her. They should be grateful I didn’t tear their territory apart.”

Elaine hadn’t woken once since they carried her out of her old pack’s borders. Even on the private jet, she remained lifeless, curled into herself as though her very spirit had withdrawn.

At first, she smelled of loneliness and sorrow. Now… she smelled of death. It terrified Darius. His wolf had tried again and again to reach hers, to coax even the faintest response–but there was nothing. Silence.

That silence was worse than any wound.

As they passed through the border into his territory, Darius felt the surge of energy ripple through the pack bond. His wolves rejoiced at their Alpha’s return, their howls of welcome echoing through the forest and reaching the convoy. Their joy would usually warm him, but tonight his heart was too heavy.

He glanced at Elaine again, whispering so softly that Marcus almost didn’t catch it. “Hold on, little one.

You’re safe now.”

“The doctor is waiting,” Marcus said after a moment. “He’ll have everything ready as soon as we arrive.

Darius reached back, brushing a stray strand of hair from Elaine’s face. She didn’t move, didn’t flinch.

“Elaine,” he murmured. “We’re here now, in my pack. You’re safe. I’ll take you to the hospital and have you checked, all right? Just… stay with me.”

No answer, Just the shallow rise and fall of her chest.

When they arrived, Darius himself lifted her from the car, his arms cradling her as though she were the most fragile thing in the world. The pack doctor, Dr. Grey, met them at the entrance, bowing respectfully.

“This way, Alpha,” he said, quickly leading them down the hall. He opened a door to a private room, the air inside already prepared with medical equipment.

“Alpha, may we have the room to examine her properly?” Dr. Grey asked, his tone both professional and cautious.

“Yes,” Darius said after a beat, though every fiber of him resisted. With deliberate slowness, he laid Elaine on the bed and stepped back. “Take care of her, Doctor. She’s… she’s been through enough.”

He left the room and sank into a chair in the waiting hall. His mind should have been on the pack–on the decisions piling up during his week–long absence. Borders to secure, alliances to maintain, disputes to settle. All the weight of an Alpha waited for him in his office. Yet none of it mattered. Not now.

Because Elaine was lying behind that door, drifting further and further away.

He raked a hand through his hair in frustration. What was she to him? Not his mate. His wolf had felt no bond, no spark of fated connection. And yet… from the moment he met her, he had been drawn to her pain, to her loneliness.

It was infuriating. He shouldn’t care this much. And still, he couldn’t walk away.

The door opened at last, and Dr. Grey stepped out, his expression grave.

“Alpha,” he said softly.

Darius shot to his feet. “Doctor, what’s wrong with her? Why won’t she wake?”

The physician hesitated. “That is what concerns me, Alpha. Her body is weak, yes, but that is not the greatest danger. Neither she nor her wolf are responding to treatment. It is as if… they have both lost the will to live.”

Darius’s chest tightened painfully.

“What happened to her, Alpha?” Dr. Grey pressed, his voice careful, almost reluctant. “Without understanding the trauma she endured, I cannot treat her properly.”

For a long moment, Darius said nothing. He wasn’t supposed to share Elaine’s suffering without her consent. But if keeping silent meant losing her completely… then he had no choice.

“Her fated mate rejected her,” he finally said, voice low and edged with fury. “Not only that, he chose her own sister instead. Marked her in front of Elaine. The pain of betrayal caused her to lose her pup.”

Dr. Grey froze, his face paling.

“By the Moon… that is…” His voice trailed off, words failing him. At last he shook his head. “No wonder her soul has withdrawn. No wonder her wolf has gone silent. That kind of betrayal… it cuts deeper than any wound.”

Darius’s hands clenched at his sides, his wolf snarling within.

The doctor looked back toward the room.

“There is… another matter, Alpha,” he said slowly.