Claimed After Rejection

Run

The wind howled as we ran deeper into the dense forest.

I had never been this careless, following the man I knew nothing about, or even knew his name or where he was taking me, but one thing was certain, he was the only reason I was still alive.

The forest blurred past us, the scent of blood and pine heavy in the air. My lungs burned, my legs heavy from running nonstop, but I didn’t dare to stop. Not when I could still hear the distant howls of Lucian’s warriors hunting us.

“Faster.” His voice was deep, calm, and authoritative.

I pushed myself harder even though I was exhausted, keeping pace as we tore through the trees, deeper into a place unknown.

Suddenly, he stopped unexpectedly and I nearly crashed into him, but his hands were on me in an instant, steadying my balance and preventing me from falling.

At that, the warmth of his touch sent a jolt through my exhausted body, and that came as a huge surprise to me.

“W…Why are we stopping?” I panted, trying as hard as possible to ignore the jolt.

“We’re safe. For now.” He said, staring at me with a scrutinizing gaze before he let go of me, turning to face the darkness ahead. That was when I saw the hidden entrance to an underground den.

Carved into the mountainside, the entrance was guarded by two massive wolves, their eyes glowing in the dim light.

In a few seconds, I recognized the symbol etched into the stone, it was the sigil of the Midnight Reavers.

A place where rogues, top killers, spies, mercenaries, and the most dangerous kind of wolves gather, it was more like a pack but not the elite type, everyone knows what goes down here and it’s deadly.

I swallowed hard. “This is a Reaver stronghold,” I said.

He glanced at me, a tad bit surprised and with the faintest smirk touching his lips. “Clever girl.” His voice was drowsy and cold, sending a shiver down my spine.

Before I could ask who he really was, he strode forward, and just like that, the guards didn’t stop him, they barely even looked at him.

‘Who the hell is he?’ I hesitated for only a second before following him inside.

Meanwhile, the moment I stepped inside, the scent of smoke, whiskey, and something far darker wrapped around me like a fog.

The den was massive, carved into the stone itself, lit by flickering torches and glowing red lanterns. Wolves gathered around gambling tables, and others lounged on velvet cushions, sipping dark liquor as the air moved with tension and danger.

I shouldn’t be here, I don’t belong here, neither did he. I don’t know why he brought us here, but this is not a good idea.

He moved through the chaos like he owned it, wolves moved out of his way like they were afraid of him and I noticed that no one stopped to challenge him.

I just followed in his stride like a stray puppy, every muscle in my body tight with exhaustion and unease. I needed to rest my head, or I would have a headache at dawn.

Suddenly, he stopped at the bar and turned to face me. “Drink?” He asked.

I hesitated. “Why did you bring me here?” I replied with a question.

He paused and a cold gleam moved in his dark eyes. “running through the woods like a wounded deer is a good way to get yourself killed.” He affirmed as his gaze dragged over me, slow and assessing. Not in a way that made me feel small, but like he was reading me.

I lifted my chin. “I can take care of myself.”

He let out a soft, amused chuckle. “Of course you can.”

I clenched my fists, frustration burning under my skin. ‘Who was this man? Why did he make me feel so unsteady?’

In the next moment, he slid a glass toward me, snapping me out of my daze. “Drink, little wolf.” He said.

I hesitated and at this point, I should have walked away and kept running, but the pain of rejection still lingered like poison in my veins.

Although the mate bond was gone, the scars it left were fresh, and bleeding deep in my core.

I had been broken by Lucian and this time, I didn’t want to feel broken, I wanted to drown my pain and sorrows away, so this was the only way, without much thinking, I grabbed the drink and swallowed it down in one gulp.

Just as it touched my throat, It burned like there was a fire in my throat and through my veins.

Right next to me a low growl of approval came from him. “Good girl.” His deep voice sent a shiver down my spine and for the first time in my life, I wasn’t thinking about Lucian.

I was thinking about him, the man sitting right next to me, the one I knew nothing about.

In no time, the night blurred into heat as the alcohol hummed through my blood, loosening the tight knot in my chest.

On the other hand, the stranger, the man who had saved me, looked at me like I was something fierce and untamed and never left my side.

On the contrary, he kept looking at me that I felt there was something on my face and every time our eyes met, the air between us went stiff.

At the next moment, I didn’t know what happened or how it happened, and wasn’t sure who made the first move.

Perhaps, it was me who was desperate for something other than pain, or it was him who was unable to resist the pull between us.

But the next thing I knew, I was pressed against the cold stone wall of his private chamber, my heart pounding, my breath uneven.

His hands were on me possessively and demanding like he was claiming what belonged to him.

I gasped as his lips brushed against my ear. My core was begging for his bulge even though I hadn’t been touched by any man. I had anticipated this and I think tonight was the day.

“Tell me to stop.” His voice was dark and dangerous, laced with needs and desires.

I should have done that and walked away, but didn’t. I was so heartbroken and shattered that his touch made me feel alive.

Without thinking about the consequences, I whispered, “Don’t stop.”

He smirked and just in a split second, he devoured me, at first it was painful but when my body adjusted and relaxed, a burst of pleasure seared through my very being that I begged him not to ever stop.

Our bodies rammed through the night as the bliss of pleasure laced all over the room with our bodies trembling against each other while entwined with withheld passions.

The next day….

I woke up to a dark, wild, and intoxicating scent, it was so soothing and relaxing that for a moment I didn’t move.

In the next moment, the weight of last night settled over me in waves, the heat, desperation, and the way he touched me like I was something untouchable.

I turned slowly, my heart hammering, expecting to see him lying beside me only to see the bed was empty.

‘He was gone.’ I uttered and a strange pang hit my chest.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to sit up. This is for the best, I told myself.

‘It’s just a one-night stand, nothing special, and one night isn’t enough to feel something other than heartbreak.’ I reminded myself.

Once I leave, I wouldn’t even be able to remember what happened or even remember his name, not like I asked for it.

Even though something told me I should have because whoever he was, I have a great hunch he felt the same way, but there was no need to bother him.