The Rejected Mate (Elaine and Michael) novel Chapter 44

Elaine’s pov

I had been working with Alpha Darius for a month now, and to say this Alpha was busy would be an understatement. His pack, Crescent Moon, was far larger than Silverblade and carried with it a reputation as a warrior pack. Because of that, alliances, requests for warriors, and negotiations seemed to pour in daily.

I quickly realized that handling his schedule was like trying to keep water in cupped hands–it constantly threatened to spill over.

Surprisingly though, I loved it here. Darius was not only easy to work with but also patient in ways that often caught me off guard. He wasn’t the cold, untouchable Alpha that others expected. He listened, he valued opinions, and even if he didn’t always show it outwardly, I knew he cared for his people deeply.

And then there was Roselyn. His sister had easily become my friend, her energy infectious and her laughter impossible to ignore. She, along with Seline, had taken me under their wing, insisting that I needed a “relaxation and shopping day” far more than I needed rest. The first time they dragged me out–a week after I was discharged from the hospital–we had shopped from morning until late at night. I had never been so exhausted in my life.

Darius had not been happy about that outing, though I wasn’t sure if it was because of my health or because his sister had nearly broken me with her relentless energy. Probably both.

Still, I couldn’t deny that being here felt like a second chance at life.

But then there was Darius himself.

I didn’t know what to think about him.

From the moment we met, there had been a connection–something unexplainable and persistent. My wolf felt it too. Around him, we were both at peace, as if we had known him forever. If I relied only on what I felt, I would swear he was my second–chance mate. And yet, no matter how strong that pull was, there was no mate bond. No thread tying us together the way fated mates were bound.

It was… frustrating, to say the least.

I always wanted to see him, to be near him, and I found myself looking forward to even the smallest interactions. But I had no right. His true mate–his fated one–was somewhere out there. And I didn’t know if he even felt anything for me beyond companionship. I couldn’t allow myself to hope.

Besides, my life was complicated enough. I had my pup to think about. Carrying an Alpha pup meant I would likely give birth in just four months instead of the usual term, and every decision I made now had to consider that life growing inside me.

Adding Darius into the equation… he was a complication I couldn’t afford.

Worse, I knew Alpha wolves didn’t easily accept pups that weren’t their own–whether from another Alpha or an ordinary wolf.

I had to protect my child, no matter what.

I didn’t want to be forced to leave Crescent Moon just because of a messy entanglement with its Alpha. I refused to let history repeat itself.

“Elaine, can you come to my office?“Darius’s voice slid into my mind through the mind–link, calm but commanding.

I glanced at the stack of papers on my desk. I was nearly finished for the day, which only made his request more confusing. He rarely called me after hours unless it was important.

“Of course, Alpha,” I replied mentally, and quickly scolded myself for the slip. Darius hated when I called him that.

I smoothed my hair and made my way down the hall. When I reached his office door, I hesitated a moment before knocking.

“Come in,” his voice called from within.

I opened the door, stepping inside. The sight that greeted me instantly put me on edge. Not only was Darius seated behind his desk, but Beta Marcus and Gamma Evan were there as well, both with grim expressions.

“Darius, you asked for me?” I said carefully, closing the door behind me.

“Yes. Have a seat,” he said, gesturing to the chair across from his desk. His tone was calm, but there was a weight to the air that made my stomach twist.

As I sat, I couldn’t help but notice the seriousness etched into all three of their faces. Darius’s eyes lingered on me a moment longer than usual, and I couldn’t decipher what emotion they held. Concern?

Guilt? Anger?

“Is there a problem?” I blurted, anxiety tightening my chest.

Did I make a mistake? Am I about to be dismissed?

Darius shook his head, his expression softening slightly.

“No, not a problem.” He leaned back, folding his hands together. “We received an invitation from the Silverblade pack for their Alpha and Luna ceremony next month. It seems Alpha Efrein is finally retiring.”

My breath caught in my throat.

Silverblade.

Just hearing the name felt like a knife twisting into old wounds.

I had accepted what happened, or at least I thought I had, but the pain was still there–lingering, sharp,

My wolf whimpered softly inside me, echoing my sadness.

“As my assistant, you would normally accompany us to such an event,” Darius continued, his voice steady, though his eyes never left mine. “But given your history with Silverblade, I want to ask what you would prefer.”

Panic began to claw at my chest. The thought of walking back into that place, of seeing those faces again it was overwhelming. My breaths quickened despite my effort to control them, but then I felt a hand rest gently on my shoulder.

I turned slightly to see Evan, his Gamma charm radiating calmness into me.

“Relax, Elaine,” he said with a small, reassuring smile. “Nothing will happen to you. You’re safe here.”

I let out a shaky breath, grateful for his presence. Now I understood why he was here–to help steady me.

“There’s no wrong answer here, Elaine,” Darius added softly. “If it were up to me, I wouldn’t want you to come at all. At first, I considered not telling you, but… that felt wrong. I don’t want to decide this for you.”

His words, his consideration, made something in my chest ache. He wasn’t just being an Alpha in this moment–he was being Darius.

“Will it really be alright if I don’t go?” I asked quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t think I’m ready to see them again. And by that time… I’ll be showing. I don’t want them to know about my pregnancy.

Darius’s gaze softened, his voice firm but kind. “Yes, it’s alright. As I said, I wouldn’t want you to come. Not if it would hurt you.”

I exhaled in relief, though part of me still trembled.