The Alpha's Rejected Vessel

of my enemies and

what had been done to me-claw marks crisscrossed my skin in delibera

y skin, worked deep into my pores.

cracked mirror, a stranger stared back-lip spl

hours. My mixed blood meant the

enough to be a hunter, not pure enough to be respe

ilver-streaked hair pulled tight like her perpetually pinched expression.

resence," she snapped, toss

lowed me to the

like a comm

finally showing

id she'd brin

As a half-human, I'd spent my life on the

her to let me stay. He became my protector, my anchor in a world that despised my mixed

fool I'

stone platform. Jason stood n

lf, his voice low but sharp: "Silver Creek doe

"You were found unconscious beyond our territory, bearing

was gathering herbs, and then..."

ving into what almost looked like pleasure, "as h

otection were now cold, calculating. When he spoke, his voice car

. "A marked half-blood has no place as my mate. I need someone pure for

ed meaningfull

on my feet, the betrayal c

whispered,

n waited. Their fingers intertwined with practiced

r and shot me a triumphan

his bed. Countless promises that he would always

break or regret, but something closer to... disappointment? Frustration

h he were mentally discarding something that had

ides. For five years, I had molded myself to fit his world, swallowed the pack's cont

e realization that I had never truly mattered to him consumed me like acid,

wine. Their satisfaction was palpable-the half-blood finally getting what she deserve

"Lia Dorman, your blood was already impure. Now marked by enemy wolves,

ai

k Damsi approached, raw power emanating from his massive frame. H

ed on me, assessing. I stoo

rs across his jaw and throat-battle marks

e silenced pups' cries, who had

ng. Utterly wit

ated, his voice betraying no emotion whatsoe

l? Me? After Jason had just d

gan, "this doesn't conc

k," he interrupted. "We can

ake her a

ted in disbelief, a flicker of something like posses

that useles

be something we

he possibly wan

had transformed in seconds-from despised but ignorable h

in. I was being bartered like livestock, my worth

rking-" anoth

," Derek stated flatly. "My c

y shock. "Don't I ha

spoken. His scent hit me then-pine and steel, sharp as a blade, but beneath

intimidation, but an intensity that seemed to peel back my skin and examine what lay beneath

the moment gone so quickly I

s murmur that only I could hear. "Winter approaches. The Silver Creek wolve

m against my ear. "At least with

hysical blow. He wasn't wrong-he was just the first per

arrangement or die alone in the wilderness.

ut beneath that hatred burned something more painful-shameful grat

oonrise in seven days," Derek announced, a

ngle hint of hesitation or doubt. His back straight, his steps measu

," I whispered, the word

ning. His voice dropped to a chilling murmur, ba

fate awaited me when the moon rea