The Rejected Mate (Elaine and Michael) novel Chapter 59

“I do not understand why they cannot see what kind of pain their choices caused,” Calvin muttered, his voice low but sharp with resentment. His jaw was clenched so tightly that Michael could hear the faint grind of his teeth.

Since Elaine’s departure from the pack, Calvin’s relationship with his parents had been nothing short of shattered. There were nights when he would lie awake, staring at the ceiling of his quarters, replaying every moment that had led to her leaving. The memory that stung the most was the day he returned from his beta training–proud, eager to serve his alpha and his family–only to be summoned into the alpha’s office and informed of the mess surrounding Michael, and both of his sister, Kathy, and Elaine.

He had been furious. Furious at his parents, who had stood silently by while Elaine was abandoned. Furious at Michael, who had been his closest friend, for bedding his sister only to betray her the very next day. The betrayal cut deeper because Calvin had trusted Michael with everything–even his family.

”

And when Calvin stood before the previous alpha, demanding to stand by Elaine’s side, to defend her honor as both her brother and as the future beta, he had been shut down. Ordered to step aside. Reminded that he was not the one in charge, merely a tool of the alpha’s will.‘ Do not meddle with the alpha’s decision,” he was told, as though his sister’s life and heart were nothing but collateral damage in a political choice. His parents had said nothing in his defense, simply nodding in quiet obedience, agreeing to every decree laid down by the alpha couple.

That day, Calvin had lost more than his voice in the pack. He lost the right to be called brother.

He had been forced to watch Elaine suffer in silence, powerless to intervene. Every cry, every hollow look in her eyes carved itself into his soul, and he carried that guilt like a chain around his neck. It had taken years for his relationship with Michael and Kathy to find any kind of stability again. For the longest time, he blamed them entirely for Elaine’s downfall. He hated them for the pain they brought into her life.

But eventually, he began to see the truth–that Michael and Kathy, too, had been bound by the decisions of the previous alpha. Their hands had been tied, their choices twisted until there was no real choice at all. That realization had softened his anger toward them, but not toward his parents. No, his parents had stood there willingly, watching their daughter wither away, and had done nothing. That betrayal, Calvin knew, could never be forgiven.

The last time he saw Elaine still haunted him. She had been utterly broken, her spirit stripped bare. Gone was the sister he had known–the vibrant, teasing, full–of–life young woman who had once been the heart of their family. In her place stood a hollow shell, her eyes vacant, her laughter gone, her shoulders hunched as though carrying the weight of the world. It was like watching a corpse walk, and the memory still made his chest ache. No wonder he could not forgive his parents, or the alpha couple who had just stood and watched. He was not even sure how they explained what happened to council Lucius that day. But he bet they just told him about the miscarriage not the reason why it happened.

Michael’s voice broke into his thoughts, carrying a quiet sorrow. “He was an alpha. He was used to making decisions for the good of the pack, without ever considering the consequences.” His tone was heavy, every word lined with regret.

Calvin turned to look at him, seeing the weariness etched into Michael’s face.

“I just hope I can be a better alpha,” Michael said softly, “and a better father to Leo. How will I ever tell my son to honor the Goddess’s will, to respect the mate bond, when I myself disrespected it? How can I guide him when I failed so completely?”

For once, Calvin had no answer. He had seen the guilt Michael carried these past three years, and he knew Kathy carried it too. The weight of their union was heavy, and neither of them bore their marks with pride. Calvin had noticed, time and again, that at every gathering, Kathy’s neck was always covered–a scarf, a high collar, a necklace–anything to hide what should have been a badge of honor. Even Michael rarely bared his mark. They could not, because the scars of their choices lingered, visible or not.

“You will be a better alpha and a better father,” Calvin said firmly after a long silence. “You’re already proving it. You listen to your pack members. You put them above your pride. When the rogue attacks grew worse, you didn’t hesitate to call Crescent Moon for help. That humility, that willingness to put the pack first–that is the sign of a true leader.”

He paused, his voice softening. “As for Leo, he’s still too young to understand. But when the time comes, tell him the truth. Be honest with him about what happened. Let him see that every action–every choice–comes with consequences. That will be the greatest lesson you can give him.”

Michael’s shoulders sagged as he released a slow breath, some of the tension easing from his frame.

“And as for Elaine,” Calvin continued, his voice almost a whisper now, “in time… she will forgive us. The Goddess willing, there will come a day when she can look at us without pain in her eyes. Until then, all we can do is wait, and pray that we will be given the chance to make it up to her.”

Calvin lifted his eyes toward the night sky, silently sending his prayer to the Goddess. He prayed with everything in him that his words would come true–that one day, Elaine would find it in her heart to forgive. But deep inside, he feared that some wounds never healed, and some broken bonds could never be restored.