The Alpha King Rejected Mate

of Black Hollow, the land she'd once called home. The scent of pine, earth, and distant wolves tugged at

return, not after Alpha Carley Nightpaw had broken their bond with nothing more than

ere s

eveal truths long buried. And the Nightpaw Pack was in danger. She didn't need the summons that arrived at her cabin deep in rogue territory

d quietly over frost-laced leaves. Each step was heavier than the last, memories clawing up from the rec

, but hers still burned beneath the skin,

ned to survive without a pack, and even grown stronger than she'd ever imagined possible. But no matter how far

ame eyes wai

energy buzzed through her veins. The magic of the

d from the shadows-their postures tense, eyes alert. They hadn't yet shifted bac

d into pack territor

ept

cling. Leila lowered her hood and

n atmosphere

ed back into his human form with a snap of bones and a ripple of fur, reve

breathed, almo

e a tig

Leila Stone had returned. The rejected mate. The

further, a ripple of powerful e

pull, sharp and undenia

as c

n he ap

er of a powerful pack. His midnight hair was longer than she remembered, brushed back from

ld fell

t move. Nei

and burdens carried, was etched into every line of his face. But she

low and rough with emoti

er tone sharp and cold. "So here

. "I didn't summon

thout humor. "

omfortably behind him, unsur

k alone," Carle

d. Isn't that how a

. Satisfaction bloomed briefly in her chest.

the territory without another word. Aft

est landscape-fortified homes, training yards, guard towers. But it still held

the peak of a ridge. He opened the door and motioned f

hut behind them, sile

to face her,

fferent," he

n you're rejected and exiled. Turns

oked

His frame was broader, his expression colder. But beneat

t terri

I here,

with powers we don't understand. Our scouts have been disappe

frowne

hecy. Like a warning. And last night, duri

eath h

ere standing in fir

ons of fire, of shadows in the forest, of wolves with glowin

something to do wi

think you're the k

retched be

straight. You reject me, leave me to rot in

r. "I know what I di

nd dangerous. "You didn't just re

m surged, pulsing li

it," he said quietly. "No

ds," she murmured. "They don't br

is voice dropping. "Then stay. Jus

e should say no. Sh

er outside the window, and somet

asn't done w

lly, her voice hard. "But

, though something in

ticed the shadow outside the cabin-a p

d moon h

, so had th

old healer's hut, a quiet cottage on the far edge of the Nightpaw compound. She hadn't set foot here in years, but everything wa

hat could withstand a storm. Because that was exactly what she e

e passed, whispering behind hands and raising eyebrows. Some looked at her with open

e training fields. He'd been Beta once, an

arms crossed, but there

r n

.. strong.

ife as a rogue wi

voice. "I know what Carley

though she appre

where Carley had called a meeting of the top warriors a

versation fell silent. Leila lifted her

by his inner circle. Maps and scrolls were spread before h

the gathered wolves. "Former membe

pled throug

emands it. And because she may be the only

dn't come here to relive the past," she said. "I came to figh

le

rward and placed his hand over

y one, until the entir

ething passed through his eyes. The blood moon had brou

from three years ago. Her spine stayed straight, her chin held high despite the war raging within her. She wou

gazes with suspicion. She could feel the weight of their thoughts pressing against

r judgment matte

nd what she could only assume were his inner council. Even from this distance, she could feel the shift in the air around him. It was like walk

et her pass. The tension between them was palpable, an invisible thread stretched taut by time

o, not older, she

owers and whisper promises under the stars, was gone. In his pla

inally said, voice low, ro

stopping just out of arm's r

n-guilt, perhaps, or regret. Bu

and this time, his voice was stead

And yet here I am. Isn't that what you Alphas

pack is under threat. I c

a distrac

lways

, but she refused to flinch. If he wan

tly, "then consider

see the golden flecks in his gray eyes, the storm al

something's coming for your pack. A

Around them, the warriors exchanged uneasy

his eyes off her.

s edges burned, the sigil of an ancient rogue coven etched in blood at its center. She

e been raiding packs in the north, absorbing magic, breaking bonds, spreading

th sharp blue eyes, stepped forward to ex

him. Her eyes were s

leave behind. Rotting packlands. Empty eyes. Wolves turned feral,

"And what? You thought you'd come

I came back because I won't let more inno

in his jaw. "You

napped. "Don't twist the

hat followed

uncomfortably. Rowan stepped bet

nside. Discuss what th

contact with Leila. "Prepare the

e leading the others toward the stone

sent a jolt up her spine. Her wolf stirred, claws scratching beneath her skin, de

quieter now. "Why a

saw the flicker of the girl he'd loved-the on

they destroyed. I told them I wouldn't let it happen aga

answer, leaving him standing a

with ancient runes, remnants of the pack's long lineage. A circular table dominated the ce

ront of the scroll she'd provided. The room was filled with murmurs, unc

"This group... the Hollo

om the land, from the wolves, and leave nothing behind. And they're looki

ing like that," Carl

en why did a Hollowborn seer mark

-a clawed pendant crusted with dried bl

up slowly. "Where

ral. He was chanting you

hat followed

council members muttered. "We

ey come like disease. Quiet. Slow. Corrupting from the inside

o Carley. "Y

aze-something she couldn't place. "We'll investigate your claim

t's not?"

ou leave before t

You'd really thr

have

the guts to face what you did. Rejecting me didn't bre

nsion humming between

n patrol expansions tonight. Double the perimeter watch. Leila, you'll wo

a short nod.

nd left withou

e forest in a strange crimson hue. Leila walked alone through the dark, the weight of

ome she had once known-before betrayal, before rej

memories. She'd come for

ot because they deserved her,

pretend he didn't still feel the

pill, he'd see the truth: She wasn't the broken girl h