The Rejected Mate (Elaine and Michael) novel Chapter 85

By noon, the pack house had fallen into a silence so thick that even the clatter of dishes from the kitchen felt distant, muffled. The long dining table in the meeting hall was set–polished silver, crystal glasses, and steaming trays of food that no one cared to touch. The scent of roasted meat and herbs lingered in the air, but the hunger in the room was not for food–it was for answers.

Michael stood near the tall window that overlooked the training grounds, his hands clasped tightly behind his back. Beyond the glass, warriors sparred in pairs, their precise movements a familiar rhythm of discipline and strength. The sound of fists colliding, of grunts and effort, echoed faintly into the stillness of the hall.

“Alpha Darius has arrived,” Calvin announced from the doorway, his tone respectful but taut with awareness of the tension that hung in the air.

Michael turned, his face unreadable, his authority composed like a shield. “Bring him in.”

The door opened wider, and Darius entered, every movement controlled and deliberate. His mere presence filled the room. He didn’t need to assert dominance–he was power personified, the kind that came from experience, not arrogance. His eyes, a stormy shade of gray, locked onto Michael’s, and for several long seconds, neither man spoke. The silence between them was sharp and heavy, a blade forged from history and regret.

Behind Darius, Council Lucius followed, his calm, steady presence cutting through the tension. The older man’s gaze swept across the room, assessing, weighing. “Shall we sit?” he said, his tone neutral, though his eyes flickered briefly between the two Alphas as if already sensing the gravity of what was to unfold.

Michael gestured toward the table. “Please. Let’s begin.”

They took their seats–Michael at the head, Darius on his left, Lucius directly across. Calvin remained standing by the wall, silent and observant, a loyal Beta ready to intervene if things turned volatile.

Lucius rested his hands lightly on the table. “Let us begin,” he started, his voice even and composed, “Alpha Michael, you said you have things need to discuss that cannot be discussed over the phone”

Michael shake his head. “Yes”

He paused, as though trying to steady his thoughts before voicing them. “Something happened that day–the day I marked Kathy.”

Darius’s gaze hardened, his expression unreadable. “Something happened?” he repeated with a quiet scoff. “That’s one way to put it.”

Michael’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Yes. That day.”

Lucius lifted a hand, gesturing calmly. “Let him speak, Alpha Darius. We need clarity before judgment.”

Michael took a slow, shaky breath. His voice was low, heavy with memory. “When I marked Kathy, I felt… something break inside me. At first, I thought it was just the shock of forming a chosen bond. But it wasn’t. It was deeper. I felt a bond–my bond–being torn apart.”

Lucius’s brows furrowed slightly. “You’re saying you felt your mate bond sever?”

Michael’s throat worked as he swallowed hard. “Yes. I didn’t realize what it was at first. But now, I know. It was Elaine’s.”

The room fell into silence so complete that even the ticking of the old wall clock sounded deafening. Darius’s fingers curled into fists on the table, the muscle in his jaw twitching.

Lucius blinked slowly, his composure steady but his voice more deliberate. “You believe there is–or was–a bond between you and Elaine? But, Michael… I was under the impression that Kathy was your mate.”

Michael nodded weakly, his hands trembling slightly. “She is. Or rather, she became my chosen mate. But… a month before that, I found my fated mate.” His voice cracked slightly.” It was Elaine.”

Darius stiffened. His wolf aura rippled faintly, restrained but threatening to surface.

Michael continued, his tone quiet but filled with remorse. “At that time, I had already chosen Kathy and she was already with pup.”

Lucius’s eyes narrowed slightly. “And you went through with it? You ignored the call of the Moon?”

Michael nodded slowly. “Yes. My father gave a direct alpha command. He ordered me and Kathy to proceed with the mating ceremony.”

The air seemed to shift. The revelation sat heavy between them like a curse.

Lucius leaned forward slightly, his tone carrying quiet judgment. “You mean to tell me that you found your fated mate and still chose to form a chosen bond with another? You do realize how rare–and dangerous–that is? Rejecting or suppressing a fated bond is not just frowned upon, Michael. It’s an affront to the Moon herself.”

Michael’s eyes darkened, shame clouding his features. “I know. I knew it even then. But I followed my father’s command.”

Lucius was silent for a long while, the weight of his disapproval evident in the crease of his brow. “So tell me,” he said finally, “why come forward now? After all these years?”

Michael’s voice trembled slightly as he spoke. “Because when Elaine and Alpha Darius came here yesterday… I felt it. The bond. It’s still there. Weak, distant, but not gone. I thought it broke when I marked Kathy, but it’s still alive.”

Lucius straightened slowly, his expression unreadable. “I see.”

Michael rubbed a hand across his face, frustration and confusion warring in his expression. “ I don’t understand why it hasn’t disappeared. I felt it snap when I marked Kathy. It was like losing a part of myself. But now… it’s like a faint echo still tethered to me.”

Lucius’s gaze sharpened. “Did you and Elaine ever formally reject one another before your marking?”

Michael hesitated, then looked away. “No. My father forbade it. He said rejection before marking would draw attention from the Council, that it would make you question his leadership decisions. So, he ordered the marking first.”

Lucius exhaled slowly, closing his eyes briefly. “Your father was right about one thing–had you rejected her first, the Council would have intervened. But he was catastrophically wrong about everything else.”

Michael’s heart sank. “What do you mean?”

Lucius’s voice grew grim. “Because you marked Kathy without severing your original mate bond, both bonds collided. The fated bond couldn’t properly dissolve. That kind of interference… it leaves scars in the spirit.”

Michael’s gaze fell to the table, guilt etched deep into his features. “Yes. And it cost us everything.”

His voice cracked as he continued, “We didn’t know she was with pup at the time. We didn’t know until the miscarriage. My marking caused the break… the pain… everything.”

Lucius’s face paled slightly, his usual composure wavering for the first time. “The loss of a pup during a live bond rupture…” he murmured, shaking his head. “That is not mere coincidence. That is spiritual backlash–bond disruption at its most severe.”

No one spoke. Even the air seemed to still.

Michael turned his gaze to the window, the soft sunlight now dulled by gathering clouds. His reflection stared back at him–haunted, older than his years, and burdened by choices he could never undo.