Rejected By The Alpha King On Christmas Night

Chapter 2

Aurora’s POV

The snowstorm grew heavier as I ran through the palace gates. Cold wind lashed against my skin, but it was nothing compared to the pain tearing through my chest. Mate rejection. I had heard stories about it before. Some wolves survived it and others didn’t. Right now, I wasn’t sure which category I belonged to. My breathing became uneven as I stumbled down the empty stone path leading away from the palace. The sounds of music and laughter from the Winter Moon Ball faded behind me until only silence remained. Good. Let them celebrate. Let them laugh at the pathetic orphan girl who thought the Alpha King could ever love her. A broken laugh escaped my lips before another wave of pain hit me. I gasped, clutching my chest tightly. My wolf whimpered weakly inside me. “He didn’t mean it…” she cried. But we both knew he did. Kael had looked me directly in the eyes when he rejected me. Like I meant absolutely nothing to him. Fresh tears blurred my vision and I quickly wiped them away angrily. “No more crying,” I whispered to myself. I had already humiliated myself enough tonight. The icy road ahead was nearly empty except for flickering lanterns glowing through the snowstorm. Most wolves were still inside celebrating Christmas. Lucky them. I hugged my arms tightly around myself and continued walking. I didn’t know where I was going I just knew I couldn’t stay here. Not after tonight. Not after what had happened, not after…

“Aurora!”

My entire body froze, that voice, that deep, angerous and familiar voice.Kael. My heart betrayed me instantly. Even after everything, my stupid heart still reacted to him. Slowly, I turned around. There he stood beneath the falling snow.

Alpha King Kael Draven.

His black coat moved violently in the wind while snowflakes melted against his dark hair. His icy blue eyes locked onto mine with terrifying intensity. He looked angry. No desperate. Why?

Was humiliating me publicly not enough for him? “What do you want?” I asked quietly. Kael took a step forward, then another. The closer he came, the stronger the mate bond became.

Painful, burning. My wolf stirred restlessly. Mate. No. I forced myself to step back. Something dangerous flashed across Kael’s face at the distance I created between us.

“Aurora,” he said roughly, “you shouldn’t be out here alone.” I stared at him in disbelief. Was he serious? A bitter laugh escaped my lips. “You rejected me less than ten minutes ago, Your Majesty.” The title sounded sharp and cold between us. Kael’s jaw clenched. “I had my reasons.” he said

“Then keep them.” I turned to leave, but suddenly his hand wrapped around my wrist. The moment he touched me, electricity exploded through my body. A soft gasp escaped my lips before I could stop it. Kael inhaled sharply too. His grip tightened slightly. The air between us changed instantly. Dangerous, intimate. My pulse quickened as his thumb brushed lightly against my skin. And for one terrifying second, I saw regret in his eyes. Real regret. “You’re trembling,” he murmured. Because of you. But I refused to say those words aloud. Instead, I pulled my wrist away from him. “You lost the right to care.” The words hit him hard. I saw it. Kael’s expression darkened painfully, but before he could speak, asharp voice interrupted us. “Kael! Selena voiced as she emerged from the palace entrance wearing her sparkling silver gown, her face filled with annoyance the moment she saw us standing together. Her eyes immediately dropped to my wrist. To where Kael had touched me. Jealousy flashed across her beautiful face. “There you are,” she said sweetly while walking toward him. “The guests are waiting for the future king and queen’s dance.” Queen. The word sliced through me. Selena slipped her arm around Kael possessively, but his eyes never left mine.

Not even once. And somehow, that hurt even more. Because if he truly didn’t want me then why was he looking at me like that?