The Rejected Mate (Elaine and Michael) novel Chapter 41

Elaine’s head snapped toward the door, and sure enough, Darius stood there, broad–shouldered and imposing in the frame. His sharp gaze flicked immediately to his sister, who froze mid–sentence like a pup caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

“Oh no,” Roselyn muttered under her breath before pasting on a bright smile. “Brother! What a surprise. Fancy seeing you here.”

“Don’t ‘brother‘ me,” Darius said, stepping into the room. His presence filled the space instantly, and Elaine felt the subtle shift in the air–his Alpha aura brushing against her wolf. His expression was calm, but his eyes… his eyes told another story. Controlled irritation. Protective concern. And beneath that, a heat he couldn’t quite mask when his gaze lingered on Elaine.

Roselyn, however, seemed unfazed. She straightened her shoulders, lifting her chin as if daring him to scold her.

“Before you start, let me explain. I’ve been extremely patient. A whole week! Do you know how many times I’ve come here only for Dr. Grey to turn me away because of you? It’s not fair. She’s practically family already, and you’ve been keeping us apart.”

Darius pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling slowly. “Roselyn-”

“No,” she interrupted, wagging a finger at him. “You don’t get to keep her locked away from everyone like some hidden treasure. She needs people. She needs friends. She needs–me!”

She turned toward Elaine with a dazzling grin, as though her argument was now officially won.

Elaine didn’t know whether to laugh or shrink into the pillows. She glanced uncertainly between the two siblings.

Darius’s jaw was tight, but there was also a glimmer of something softer in his expression when his gaze fell back on her.

“Roselyn,” he said again, firmer this time.

His sister crossed her arms. “What? She likes me. Don’t you?”

The directness of the question made Elaine’s cheeks warm. Still, she found herself nodding.

“Yes… I do,” she admitted softly.

Roselyn’s triumphant grin widened, and she turned to Darius with a smug little tilt of her chin. “See? She wants me here. You can’t argue with that.”

For a moment, the room was thick with tension–brotherly protectiveness clashing with sisterly stubbornness. Then Darius sighed, a sound that seemed to rumble all the way through his chest.

“You could have just waited for me to introduce you properly,” he muttered.

“I did wait,” Roselyn shot back. “For a week. That’s practically a lifetime.”

Darius ran a hand through his dark hair, clearly fighting between exasperation and amusement. Finally, he glanced back at Elaine, his features softening.

“Did she exhaust you?”

Elaine shook her head quickly. “No… actually, she’s been wonderful company.”

Something in his shoulders eased at her words, though his eyes still lingered protectively on his sister.

“Fine,” he said at last, voice edged with reluctant surrender. “But keep it brief. She still needs rest.”

Roselyn clapped her hands together.

“Victory!” she declared, earning herself a sharp look from her brother. She only winked at him in return.

Elaine couldn’t help it–she laughed. A small, gentle sound at first, but it bubbled out of her before she could stop it. Both siblings turned to look at her, though in very different ways: Roselyn grinning proudly as if she’d achieved her goal, and Darius staring at her like she had just lit a flame in the darkest part of his world.

For the first time since her arrival, Elaine felt something shift in her chest. Warmth. Belonging. Maybe–just maybe–Crescent Moon could be home.

Roselyn leaned back against the chair beside Elaine’s bed, crossing her legs with the smugness of someone who had just won a battle. “See, brother? I’m not the villain here. You’re the overprotective one.”

Darius arched a brow, folding his arms across his chest. “Overprotective? You sneaked past Dr. Grey and ignored my instructions.”

“Because your instructions are boring,” Roselyn shot back without hesitation. “If I followed all your rules, my life would be dreadfully dull. Besides, it’s not like I broke anything.”

She glanced at Elaine, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “He’s always like this. Bossy, grumpy, and convinced he knows best.”

Elaine tried–and failed–to stifle a laugh behind her hand.

Darius narrowed his eyes at his sister.

“You think this is amusing?” He asked Elaine, but his voice was softer, tinged with something almost like disbelief that she was laughing.

Roselyn beamed at Elaine’s reaction. “Oh, I like her already. She has taste.”

Elaine felt her cheeks warm again.

“You two… remind me of pups bickering,” she said carefully, hoping she wasn’t overstepping.

Roselyn gasped dramatically, pressing a hand to her chest. “Did you hear that? She called us pups. I love her even more!”

Darius shook his head, a reluctant smile tugging at the corner of his lips before he smothered it. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet, completely lovable,” Roselyn countered, tossing her hair with exaggerated grace. “Which is why Elaine invited me back. Isn’t that right?”

Elaine hesitated, caught between the siblings‘ playful standoff, then gave Roselyn a small smile. “Yes… I did say she could visit.”

“Ha!” Roselyn pointed a triumphant finger at her brother. “You can’t argue with that.”

Darius exhaled slowly, muttering something under his breath that Elaine couldn’t quite catch. Finally, he gave up, rubbing the back of his neck. “Fine. But keep it reasonable. She needs rest, not your endless chatter.”

Roselyn smirked. “Endless chatter is healing. You should try it sometime, Mister Brooding Alpha.”

Elaine burst into another quiet laugh, and this time Darius didn’t bother to hide the way he looked at her- like her laughter was something rare and precious. Roselyn, of course, noticed immediately.

“Ohhh,” she drawled, eyes sparkling with mischief. “I see what’s going on here.”

“Roselyn,” Darius warned, his tone sharp enough to silence most wolves. But Roselyn only grinned wider.

“Don’t worry, brother. Your secret’s safe with me.” She winked at Elaine before standing, dusting off her hands as if she had accomplished a great mission. “Alright, I’ll give you your rest–for now. But tomorrow, we’re planning our ladies‘ day. Deal?”

Elaine nodded, smiling despite herself. “Deal.”

Roselyn clapped her hands once in satisfaction. “Perfect. Try not to let him scare you too much. He means well, but he’s a grump.”

Darius growled low in his throat, but Roselyn skipped toward the door unfazed, tossing a cheeky wave over her shoulder. “Bye, new best friend! See you tomorrow!”

The door closed behind her, leaving the room unusually quiet. Darius stood there for a moment, staring at the door as though debating whether to chase after her or let her win this round. Finally, he shook his head, a sigh escaping him.

“She’s trouble,” he muttered,

Elaine smiled softly. “She’s… wonderful.”

He glanced at her then, eyes softening in a way that made her heart skip. “That’s one word for it.”