The Rejected Mate (Elaine and Michael) novel Chapter 47

“Elaine!! Tell me it’s true. It’s true, right? Darius is not pulling our leg, right?” Roselyn burst into her room without knocking, her voice carrying down the hall. She nearly tripped over herself in her rush, her face glowing with excitement.

Elaine looked up from where she was folding a blanket, startled but already smiling at the sight of Roselyn’s boundless energy.

“I don’t know if it’s true,” she teased, tilting her head and letting her lips curve mischievously” I don’t know what Darius told you.”

“Oh my God!” Roselyn squealed, practically bouncing onto the bed beside her. “He said you’re together. We are so excited! Elaine, you have no idea how long we’ve been waiting for him to finally admit it. Since you came here, we could all see how much he cares for you. We didn’t say anything because we wanted to give you space, give you time to heal. But we knew. Wie saw it in every little thing he did–making sure you rested, standing guard outside your door like some lovesick wolf, making sure you are comfortable and safe. And now he has finally told you! We are so, so happy.”

Her words came like rapid–fire, a hundred per second, and Elaine couldn’t help but laugh softly.

Roselyn’s enthusiasm was like a storm, sweeping everyone along with it.

“Yes, we are together,” Elaine admitted, her cheeks warming. “But… it’s like on a trial basis. I’m still worried, Roselyn. What if he finds his fated mate?”

The younger woman’s smile softened, her tone shifting from giddy to serious. “I understand. But you have to know something. He’s been searching for a long time. He’s gone to every mating ball, visited countless packs, tried everything. And yet nothing. Then he met you, and wham!”

Roselyn clapped her hands together dramatically, her eyes shining. “You became his world. I know this because he’s my brother, Elaine. I’ve never seen him act this way. The care, the protectiveness, the softness–he only shows that with you. He loves you.”

Elaine swallowed, her heart tightening at those words.

“I know,” she whispered. “I feel the same way. But the mate bond… it’s sacred to me. I can’t pretend it isn’t. I won’t stand in the middle of two wolves the Goddess made for each other. I’ve been there before, Roselyn, and it was not fun. The pain, the jealousy, the constant ache of knowing you’re second choice. I don’t want anyone to feel that way.”

Roselyn’s eyes softened with sympathy, and without hesitation, she pulled Elaine into a warm hug.

“Yeah, I know,” she murmured against her shoulder.

When she pulled back, her face brightened again, though her words carried a playful scold. But three years, Elaine? A three–year trial period? That’s way too long! Mom was over the moon when she heard you both chose each other, but she nearly fainted when Darius told her she had to wait three whole years for the Luna ceremony. She’s disappointed, and honestly, so am I.”

She crossed her arms dramatically, her pout making Elaine laugh again.

“I know,” Elaine admitted. “To be honest, I don’t like waiting either. But I need time, Roselyn. Right now, what I feel for Darius is real, and I know his feelings are too. But fate doesn’t always give us what we want. Sometimes it gives us something entirely different.”

Roselyn sighed, flopping back on the bed, her hair spilling like a dark halo. “Yeah, you’re right. Still… I hope when I find my mate, it won’t be so complicated. I want it to be simple. A smooth ride.”

Elaine smirked, amused by the irony. “How will you ever find him if you refuse to go to mating balls? Every year you skip them. And when visiting packs come, you make sure you’re out‘ exploring‘ somewhere far away.”

Roselyn sat up quickly, eyes wide with mock guilt. “Well, maybe I’m not ready to find him yet! Just like you, I want time for myself. To enjoy being single, to have freedom before the Moon Goddess ties me to someone forever.”

She laughed, brushing off the topic with her usual carefree spirit.

Elaine arched a brow, her tone playful but laced with warning. “Don’t let Darius hear that. Right now, he thinks it’s all a coincidence. He doesn’t know you’re purposely avoiding meeting your mate.”

Roselyn gasped, grabbing her hand in panic. “Don’t say anything! If he finds out, he’ll drag me to the next ball himself and chain me there until I talk to someone. Promise me you won’t tell him!”

Elaine couldn’t help it–she laughed, truly laughed, the sound filling the room with warmth. She laughed more and more these days, she realized. With every passing day, happiness seeped deeper into her heart. She had found not only love but also family for and for her pup here in Crescent Moon. And as she looked at Roselyn, smiling despite her dramatics, Elaine knew she was exactly where she was meant to be.

“I won’t say anything. But your brother is not stupid, Roselyn.” Elaine’s voice carried both amusement and seriousness. She leaned back against the pillows, arms folded across her chest, giving the younger woman a knowing look. “He will eventually figure it out. And when he does, it won’t be me caught in the storm. It’ll be you who has to deal with him.”

Roselyn groaned dramatically, throwing herself back on the bed as if Elaine had just delivered her doom.

“Ugh, don’t remind me,” she muttered, covering her face with her hands. “I know, I know. Darius sees through everyone eventually. He’s like a hawk with those sharp eyes of his. Nothing escapes him for long.”

Elaine chuckled, watching her. “Exactly. And when he puts two and two together, I’m not stepping in to save you. You’ll have to stand your ground.”

Roselyn peeked through her fingers, her expression torn between dread and defiance. “Do you know how hard it is to stand your ground against Darius? He doesn’t even have to raise his voice. He just gives you that look–the alpha look, and suddenly you’re confessing every little secret you ever had.”

Elaine smirked knowingly. “Oh, I know that look all too well. Believe me.”

The two women shared a laugh, though Roselyn’s quickly dissolved into another heavy sigh. She sat up again, shoulders slumping as if the weight of her brother’s inevitable discovery already pressed down on her.

“You’re right,” she admitted softly, almost pouting. “He’ll figure it out sooner or later. He always does.”

Her hands twisted in her lap, betraying her nervous energy. “And when he does… I guess I’ll just have to deal with the hurricane that is my big brother.”

Elaine reached over and squeezed her hand gently, her smile both sympathetic and teasing.” That’s the spirit. At least you’ll survive it. Barely.”

Roselyn gave another dramatic sigh, flopping against Elaine’s shoulder. “Barely,” she echoed, already envisioning the inevitable confrontation