The Rejected Mate (Elaine and Michael) novel Chapter 78

The car slowed as it entered the familiar stretch of forest leading into Silverblade territory. The late afternoon sun filtered through the canopy, painting streaks of gold across the windshield. Shafts of light pierced through the mist that hung low between the trees, curling like ghostly ribbons over the path. Each twist of the road seemed to breathe life into old memories–some warm, some raw.

Elaine’s chest tightened as she watched the scenery blur past. This was home once… and yet, it felt like a lifetime ago.

Her fingers curled over her lap, nails lightly digging into the fabric of her jeans. She had left this place to survive–to heal–but now fate was pulling her back, forcing her to face everything she had buried. Every heartbeat brought her closer to the ghosts she’d tried so hard to outrun.

“Nathan, sweetheart,” she said softly, her voice trembling only slightly, “we’re almost there.”

The boy perked up immediately, pressing his small nose and palms against the cool glass.

“Really? Mommy, look! It’s so big!” His bright eyes sparkled with wonder as towering pines and distant rooftops began to emerge through the mist. “Is Daddy already waiting for us?”

From the driver’s seat, Evan smiled in the rearview mirror. “He’s waiting, little man. Probably pacing already, knowing him.”

Elaine’s lips curved, a quiet laugh escaping her despite the storm inside her chest. She could picture Darius exactly as Evan described–standing at the packhouse entrance, arms crossed, jaw tight, pretending he wasn’t worried when in truth he’d been restless since the moment she called. That was Darius–Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack, her mate… her protector… the man who had helped her rebuild herself piece by fragile piece.

And yet, as the familiar scent of pine and earth filled her lungs, another faces flickered in her mind–Michael and Kathy.

Her pulse skipped. She forced herself to breathe.

When the car finally rolled to a stop in front of the packhouse, her heart stuttered. The grand stone steps rose before her, flanked by tall lanterns and blooming ivy. The air here was charged–familiar yet foreign. As the engine went quiet, she spotted him.

Darius.

He stood at the top of the steps, tall and commanding, the kind of presence that made everyone around him stand a little straighter. His hair ruffled slightly in the breeze, his sharp eyes locked on her car with that unshakable focus that always made her feel seen- protected. But the moment his gaze softened, her chest constricted. Her chosen mate is waiting for his family.

“Daddy!”

Nathan’s small voice pierced the stillness as the door opened. Without hesitation, he bolted out, his laughter echoing through the courtyard as he ran full speed toward Darius, arms wide open.

A smile broke across Darius’s face as he knelt and scooped the boy up into his arms, holding him close.

“Hello, my little alpha,” he murmured, his deep voice warm and tender. “I’ve missed you.”

Nathan giggled, wrapping his arms tightly around Darius’s neck. “I missed you too, Daddy! Did you fight any bad wolves while you were here?”

Darius chuckled, kissing the top of his son’s head. “Only in training. But none were as fierce as you.”

He rose to his full height, still holding Nathan, and walked toward Elaine. The sound of his

boots against the gravel echoed in her ears. When he reached her, he leaned down and brushed his lips against hers–soft, familiar, grounding. The kind of kiss that told her she was safe again.

“How I missed you, love,” he murmured.

Elaine smiled faintly, her fingers brushing his arm.

How I missed this man, she thought. The warmth of him, the scent of pine and cedar that clung to his skin–it all felt right.

“I missed you too, mate,” she said aloud, the word leaving her lips like a promise.

The joy that flickered in Darius’s eyes was unmistakable. For the first time in days, he looked completely at peace.

But that peace was shattered in the very next heartbeat.

“Mate?”

The single word cut through the air like a blade. It came from above–from the top of the steps. Elaine froze. Her eyes darted upward, and there he was.

Michael.

He stood motionless, his expression caught between disbelief and anguish. His golden–brown eyes, once so full of warmth, were wide and burning now. The world seemed to tilt, the sound of wind and birds vanishing into a ringing silence.

“No,” Elaine whispered, her throat tightening. “How can this be?”

Her pulse thundered as an invisible pull stirred deep within her chest–a spark, faint but undeniable. The bond. It was still there. Faint, dormant, but alive.

“Mommy, what’s wrong?” Nathan’s small hand tugged at her sleeve, his voice trembling.

“Elaine, what is it?” Darius asked, his tone shifting, wary now.

“The mate bond,” she managed, voice trembling. “It’s still there, Darius. How can that be possible?”

Darius’s jaw clenched. He turned slowly toward Michael, whose gaze flicked between Elaine and the boy in Darius’s arms. Beside him stood Kathy, tears glistening on her cheeks. She covered her mouth, unable to speak.

Darius’s expression darkened, the protective Alpha in him rising to the surface. His hold on Nathan tightened slightly as if shielding both him and Elaine from what was coming. Michael’s eyes, however, never left Elaine. Or Nathan.

“Elaine…” Michael’s voice cracked. “Who is this pup? Why does he call you Mommy? Why does-” He stopped himself, unable to finish. His throat worked as he swallowed hard. He didn’t need to say it–he could feel it. The connection, faint but real, pulsing through the air between him and the boy. Like an invisible thread tying them together.

Elaine’s lips parted. “He is my and Darius’s son,” she said firmly, but her voice softened at the end. Because in her heart and mind she spoke the truth, she knew what Michael meant. The connection to Nathan that he unmistakably feels.

But all Elaine could feel was confusion, pain, and raw disbelief. The mate bond shouldn’t still exist… not after all this time.

“Mommy, who is he?” Nathan asked quietly, his wide eyes darting between the men.

Elaine crouched beside him, her hand gently smoothing his hair. “He is the Alpha of this pack, Nathan. Alpha Michael. Say hello.”

Nathan straightened, his little chest puffing out proudly. “Hello, Alpha Michael. My name is Nathan. It’s nice to meet you! When I grow up, I’ll be an Alpha too–just like my daddy.”

He grinned, hugging Darius’s leg.

Both Elaine and Darius couldn’t help but smile softly at their son’s innocence. The moment was heartbreakingly pure amid the tension thickening around them.

Darius’s gaze lifted, meeting Michael’s squarely.

“Alpha Michael,” he said evenly, voice steady and commanding. “As I’ve said before, Elaine is here for Roselyn. Nothing else.”

Michael’s jaw tightened. “But-”

“But nothing,” Darius interrupted, his tone hardening. The Alpha aura in him flared subtly, the air around them pulsing with power. “I know this is your pack, but if you cannot respect Elaine’s wish to be left alone, we will leave right now.”

The two Alphas stared at each other–silent, locked in a battle of dominance that went far deeper than territory. Between them stood Elaine, her heart torn between the life she built… and the one she left behind.

And as the wind whispered through the pines, the forest seemed to hold its breath.