The Rejected Mate (Elaine and Michael) novel Chapter 50

Morning came with a soft knock at his door, a measured sound that pulled Darius fully from the quiet focus he had held since waking. The faint golden glow of dawn seeped through the curtains, brushing over the floorboards in slender lines. He had been awake long before the sun’s rise, instincts sharpened to the subtle changes in the air, the movements of those outside his quarters.

“Alpha Darius,” a voice called respectfully from the hall. “I’ve been sent by Alpha Michael. He requests your presence in his office.”

Darius stood, his movements smooth and deliberate. There was no rush, no hint of unease in him, only the steady discipline of an Alpha who knew every eye was watching. He dressed in dark trousers and a crisp white shirt, plain but commanding. The ceremonial garb of the night before remained untouched; today, authority came not from ornament, but from presence.

When he opened the door, the young omega waiting outside bowed quickly, eyes lowered, posture drawn tight with nervous respect.

“Lead the way,” Darius said evenly, his voice carrying quiet power.

Just down the corridor, Marcus leaned against the wall, straightening the moment Darius appeared. He fell into step beside him easily, though his words were low, meant only for Darius. “You sure about this? An invitation to another Alpha’s office isn’t exactly… customary.”

Darius’s expression was unreadable, though his wolf stirred with keen alertness. “Curiosity outweighs caution this time. But stay sharp, Marcus. Invitations like these rarely come without strings.”

The omega led them through the winding heart of the Silverblade pack house. Tall windows spilled pale morning light across hallways lined with portraits of former Alphas, eyes stern and proud as though judging each step taken under their gaze. The deeper they went, the heavier the air became, charged with the gravity of lineage and tradition.

Finally, they stopped at a tall wooden door, polished until it gleamed.

The omega bowed low, his voice hushed. “Alpha Michael awaits you inside.”

Then, as though grateful to be released from the tension, he retreated quickly down the corridor.

Darius and Marcus exchanged a glance, sharp and wordless. A flicker of acknowledgment passed between them before Darius pushed the door open.

The office was wide, yet stark in its arrangement. Heavy oak furniture dominated the space, but there was little else–no ornaments, no frivolities. A place meant to project power through restraint.

Behind the desk stood Alpha Michael, his posture rigid. To his right, Luna Kathy sat with her hands folded tightly, knuckles pale, while Calvin, Michael’s beta, stood at the corner, his stance steady but watchful.

As Darius entered, all three turned toward him, their guarded politeness almost too practiced.

“Alpha Darius,” Michael said, gesturing toward the chair opposite him. “Thank you for coming.

”

Darius inclined his head slightly, his sharp gaze cutting across each of them before he sat. You asked for this meeting. I’m listening.”

For a moment, silence thickened the air. Kathy’s hand trembled faintly where it rested against the desk, and Darius’s wolf stirred at the sight.

This was not politics. This was personal.

Michael cleared his throat, speaking with the careful cadence of someone measuring each word. “Yes, Alpha. My Luna and I–as well as our families–have been trying to reach Elaine. Every call, every attempt… we are told she is well. But we want more than secondhand reassurances. We wanted to hear it from her. To see her.”

Kathy’s voice followed, softer, tinged with a plea. “We had hoped she might come with you. When we heard you would attend our ceremony.”

Darius’s eyes narrowed, one brow lifting.

“And because she is not here, you imagine I withheld the invitation from her? You believe I would keep her ignorant of your ceremony?” His voice was low, dangerous. “Are you accusing me of deception, Luna?”

Kathy paled, shaking her head quickly. “No, Alpha. That is not what I meant. Only… we wished to see her. To speak with her, even briefly.”

Darius’s wolf surged forward, a protective growl rumbling just beneath the surface of his tone. “Luna, how could you possibly think Elaine would set foot here? This place is nothing but pain for her. A reminder of what she lost, of how she was treated. Do you truly not understand the cruelty of such an expectation?”

He caught the faintest flicker of discomfort across Michael’s face, the quick shift of Kathy’s eyes downward. Darius’s jaw tightened, his thoughts sharp.

Is this how they approached her every time she was summoned to this office before? With no regard for how their words cut? With no understanding of her suffering?

Michael leaned forward, his voice pitched low with what he must have believed was sincerity. “Alpha, that is not our intent. We know we hurt her. We regret what happened. All we want now is to know if she is truly alright.”

Darius’s aura pulsed outward, his voice firm as steel. “And again, I ask–what right do you believe you have to inquire about her at all? Elaine is my pack. My responsibility. At Crescent Moon, we do not abandon or reject our own. Her well–being is not yours to demand, nor to soothe your guilty feelings.”

The weight of his dominance filled the room, pressing Kathy and Calvin to bow their heads. Calvin’s stance faltered slightly before he gathered himself.

“Alpha,” Calvin interjected respectfully, his voice steady but careful. “No disrespect intended. Elaine is family. Whatever has happened, that truth cannot be erased. We only wish to know how she fares.”

Darius turned his piercing gaze on him. “And where was this concern when she was rejected? When she was left alone, abandoned by those who should have stood at her side? Spare me your concern now. If Elaine wanted you to know of her well–being, nothing in my pack–not even I would prevent her from reaching out to you. She has that freedom. And she has chosen silence.”

The air in the office seemed to grow colder.

“If that is all you wished to know,” Darius continued, his voice a finality, “then our meeting is done. And Alpha Michael, since you mentioned your attempts to reach her, I’ll be clear. Stop. If Elaine wants to contact you, she will. She owes you nothing.”

Michael’s face hardened, a flicker of pride flaring before being dampened by something closer to frustration.

“My father never should have approved her transfer,” he said, his tone slipping from diplomatic to personal. “The only reason he did was because you threatened council involvement. You meddled in our pack affairs, Darius. And all we ask in return is simple- news of Elaine. Is that truly so much? Her family, my Luna’s family–they are worried for her. Especially given how unwell she seemed when you took her.”

Darius’s wolf snarled, his aura spiking sharply. His voice came out low, controlled, but edged with lethal truth. “What you want is not born of love. It is born of guilt. You want her well–being confirmed to ease your consciences. But Elaine does not exist for you to cleanse yourselves. You already have your chosen mate at your side, Michael, and your heir growing in her womb. What more do you think you’re owed?”

Michael’s jaw clenched, shame and anger warring in his eyes. Kathy’s lips trembled, tears gathering but unshed.

Darius rose, the finality of his movement impossible to mistake. “I did what I promised Elaine I would do. I took her from here because she asked me to, and because I swore to protect her. I would do it all again without hesitation. What you did to her was cruel, and I will never excuse cruelty against the Goddess’s will. Remember that.”

He paused at the door, his gaze locking briefly on Michael. “You got what you wanted, Alpha -your chosen mate, your future heir. Be content with that. And leave Elaine out of your mind.”

Then, without waiting for dismissal or reply, Darius left the room, Marcus falling into step beside him. The echo of his footsteps down the corridor carried the weight of his fury, but beneath it pulsed something deeper–relief.

He had stood for Elaine. He had drawn a line no one would be permitted to cross.

And he would draw it again and again if he had to.