TITLE:FURY OF THE BROKEN MATE GENRE: WEREWOLF ROMANCE TROPE: REJECTED MATE THEMES: REDEMPTION, RESILIENCE, EQUALITY SETTINGS: MY

"You don't belong here, Liliah. You didn't. The words went straight through me like a blade. I kept my head down even as the cool training yard stone pressed against my knees. It didn't matter that my body ached from hours of drilling and that I could feel the critical stares piercing my back. I knew that they were right. I didn't belong, and I wasn't intended to be here. For the Silver Ridge Pack to succeed, strength was crucial. All wolves, regardless of rank, were expected to train, fight, and prove themselves worthy of the pack's protection. I, Liliah Monroe, the weakest link in the chain, came next. Everyone murmured about it when they thought I wasn't listening. "Get up, Liliah," Maya shouted, her voice cutting through the stagnant morning air. "Or are you going to sit there and pout all day?" I pushed myself off the ground, my arms trembling from the strain. Maya was standing across from me, her golden eyes gleaming with annoyance. She was everything I wasn't: large, powerful, and confident. She had been Robert 's second-in-command ever since he had taken over as Alpha six months earlier. I was just another member of the pack in her eyes. I said, barely raising my voice above a whisper, "I'm ready." Maya chuckled. "For what are you prepared? And to embarrass yourself again? She threw a wooden rod at my feet. "Take it. Let's see if you can hold it for more than a minute before you lose your footing. Heat still crawled up my neck as I swallowed down the response that was on the tip of my mouth. I couldn't afford to lose it—not here, not right now. Instead, I bent over and grasped the stick with both hands. As the other wolves gathered around us, their muttering became louder.She is without hope. Why does Robert even let her train? She is wasteful of our time. "She will never have the strength to help." I forced myself to ignore the hurtful statements. I couldn't afford to look weak because I was already on thin ice with the pack. Maya leaped to her feet and swung her staff at me in a flurry of motion. I barely deflected the hit, and it jolted my arms. Her movements were sharp and precise as she propelled me across the garden without hesitation. "Lilah, take care of yourself!" She screamed and accelerated her strikes. "Or do you intend to let all of the rival packs and rogues walk all over you as well?" "I'm making an effort!" I snapped after deflecting another blow. "Make a greater effort!" She feinted left, then kicked quickly, sweeping my legs out from under me. I hit the ground hard and the air poured out of my lungs. As the staff rolled out of my hands, I lay there gazing up at the overcast sky. "That's enough." The voices surrounding us were abruptly silenced by the strong, commanding voice. Robert Stone, Alpha of the Silver Ridge Pack, came onto the training yard. He was unavoidable with his enormous shoulders, sharp blue eyes, and a sense of strength that made even the strongest wolves stoop their heads. I staggered to my feet, my heart pounding in my chest. Robert looked at Maya and said, "She's not ready." She'll never be ready. With his eyes fixed on my, Robert remarked, "She's trying." "For some, that's more than I can say." Maya winced but made no objections. Robert 's word was law, and no one, not even her, dared to dispute it. "Today's training is over," Robert stated, his voice resonating around the yard. "Resume your responsibilities." Robert and I were left alone as the group reluctantly dispersed. He put his arms across his chest and watched me, but I couldn't make out what he was looking at. Finally, he said, "You have to stop hesitating." "You will be killed if you hesitate out there." "I understand," I said softly as I lowered my gaze to the ground. "Do you?" He stepped closer, his voice lowering. Because right now, you're more than just a liability to yourself. As a collective, you are a liability to the pack. His remarks hurt, but I forced myself to look him in the eye. I vowed, "I'll perform better," "Make sure you do." He turned on his heel and walked away, leaving me standing in the middle of the yard with my fists clenched at my sides. I wanted to scream, cry, and run away without looking back. However, I couldn't. This was my home, whether they liked it or not. As the sun began to drop, the forest was enveloped in lengthy shadows by the time I made it back to my cabin. Ignoring the pain in my muscles from that day's training, I slipped into my bed. Although it was the only room I could call my own, the dresser and cot it contained were too small for it. I stared at the ceiling, my mind whirling. No matter how hard I tried, it was never enough. I was not the kind of wolf this pack needed, not with the power, speed, or courage. A knock on the door jolted me out of my trance. I sat up, my heart thumping. I hesitated before saying, "Come in." The creaking door opened and Darren, Robert 's Beta, came in. His brown hair was dishevelled, and his appearance was very melancholy. "Darren?" I asked, my voice tinged with confusion. "Why are you in this place?" "We need to talk." He closed the door. "There's something you must understand." "What is it?" He stopped, his jaw tightening. "Tomorrow night is the Moon Festival." "I understand," was my response. Everyone knew. The most significant occasion of the year was the Moon Goddess feast and the mate reveal night. With a whispery voice, Darren muttered, "You don't understand." "You have been selected by the Moon Goddess." With every breath, my throat constricted. "What are you discussing?" "You have been selected as Robert 's mate by her." The world spun around me, and I clung to the side of the bed for balance. I said, "That isn't feasible," "It isn't," said Darren. "And I'm not sure what Robert will do if he finds out." My heart pounded in my chest as his words took hold. The Moon Goddess had chosen me to be the mate of the strongest wolf in the pack, the one that barely tolerated me. And tomorrow night, the entire pack would be aware.