Rejected By The Alpha King On Christmas Night

Chapter 4

Aurora’s POV

The cold was unbearable. Not because of the snowstorm raging across Moonshade Kingdom, but because something inside me had gone numb the moment Kael rejected me. I walked aimlessly through the quiet streets, my heels sinking into fresh snow while Christmas lanterns flickered softly outside the homes around me. There was warmth, laughter, and families celebrating together. Everything I no longer had. My chest tightened painfully. I lowered my head and forced myself to keep moving, even though every step hurt more than the last. The mate bond rejection was destroying me slowly.bI had read about it before. When a mate bond is broken, the weaker wolf suffers the most. And compared to Kael? I was nothing. Just an orphan girl with a weak wolf and no family name. A girl foolish enough to believe the Alpha King could ever truly love her. A bitter laugh escaped my lips. God, I was pathetic. The image of Kael standing beside Selena replayed endlessly in my mind. Her hand on his arm. The way the nobles smiled approvingly at them. The way he looked at me while rejecting me. Like he had rehearsed those words long before tonight. My vision blurred again. “No,” I whispered fiercely to myself. “Stop crying.” I was tired of crying over a man who didn’t choose me. Suddenly, another sharp pain tore through my chest. I gasped and stumbled against a nearby wall, breathing hard. My wolf whimpered softly inside me. The rejection was affecting her too. I squeezed my eyes shut as dizziness washed over me. Why did it hurt this much? Even now,

even after humiliating me publicly Kael’s scent still lingered on my skin from where he grabbed my wrist earlier. The memory sent another painful ache through me. “You’re trembling.” His voice echoed in my head. The concern in his eyes had looked real and that was the worst part because if Kael truly hated me, moving on would have been easier. But he didn’t look like a man who hated me. He looked like a man forcing himself to destroy something he wanted. And I didn’t understand why. “Aurora?”

I froze instantly. That voice pulled me from my thoughts it was familia, warm and somehow safe. Slowly, I looked up. Liam Nightbane stood several feet away beneath the falling snow.

Relief flashed across his face the moment he saw me, but it disappeared quickly when he noticed my tears. “Aurora,” he said carefully, stepping closer. “What happened?” I quickly looked away. “Nothing.” Liam stared at me for a long moment. Then his eyes narrowed slightly.

“You’re lying.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re crying in the middle of a snowstorm wearing half a dress,” he deadpanned. “You’re clearly not fine.” Despite everything, a tiny laugh almost escaped me. Typical Liam. Always trying to lighten the mood. But tonight even smiling felt impossible. Liam’s expression softened when he noticed my silence. Then suddenly, realization crossed his face slowly.

“No,” he muttered. I felt my stomach twist.

“Aurora…” His voice lowered. “Tell me Kael didn’t reject you.” The pain in my chest exploded all over again. I couldn’t answer. I didn’t need to. Because Liam’s face darkened instantly. “That bastard.” “Don’t call him that,” I whispered automatically. Liam blinked in disbelief. “He publicly humiliated you and you’re still defending him?” I looked down silently. Because the truth was humiliating even after tonight, even after Kael shattered my heart before the entire kingdom part of me still loved him. My silence only made Liam angrier.

His fists clenched tightly at his sides. “I swear to the Moon Goddess,” he growled, “if I see him tonight…”

“Please don’t.” My voice cracked painfully. Liam stopped immediately and for a moment, the only sound between us was the wind howling through the empty street. Then his expression softened again. “You shouldn’t be alone right now,” he said quietly. A lump formed in my throat. “I don’t have anywhere else to go.” The words slipped out before I could stop them. And suddenly, everything felt real. I truly had nowhere, no family, no home, no mate Liam’s face changed instantly he looked concerned “You can stay with me,” he said immediately. I blinked in surprise. “What?”

“My cabin,” he explained. “Outside the eastern forest.” I hesitated. Liam noticed immediately.

“Aurora,” he said gently, “I’m not going to let you wander around alone tonight.”

“I don’t want to burden you.”

“You never could.” The sincerity in his voice almost broke me again. Liam had always been like this.Protective, patients, and kind in a way most wolves weren’t. Especially powerful wolves. He slowly removed his coat and wrapped it carefully around my shoulders before I could protest. Warmth instantly surrounded me. His scent, pinewood and smoke felt comforting and safe. “You’re freezing,” he muttered. “Thank you,” I whispered weakly. Liam studied my face quietly for a few seconds before speaking again. “Did Kael say why?” The question hurt. Because no

Kael never explained anything. One moment I thought I would become his Luna and the next moment he destroyed me. “He just rejected me,” I whispered. “In front of everyone.” Liam cursed under his breath. “That’s cruel even for him.” I swallowed painfully. “But why did he look hurt too?” I asked quietly before I could stop myself. Liam frowned slightly. “What do you mean?” “When he rejected me…” I looked away. “He looked angry. Almost…desperate.”

Confusion twisted inside me all over again.

“I don’t understand any of this.” Liam was quiet for a moment. Then he sighed softly. “Kael’s always been complicated.” Complicated. That was one word for it. Another gust of freezing wind swept through the street, making me shiver harder. Liam immediately noticed. “Come on,” he said gently. “Let’s get you somewhere warm.” I nodded weakly. And for the first time since leaving the palace, i finally felt like maybe I wouldn’t completely fall apart tonight. We began walking through the snowy streets together. But after only a few steps, Liam suddenly stopped. His body became tense instantly. Protective. My heartbeat quickened. “What’s wrong?” I whispered. Liam slowly stepped in front of me. Shielding me then I heard it too. A low growl. Deep, terrifying

My blood ran cold. At the end of the empty street, hidden between shadows and falling snow a massive black wolf emerged slowly from the darkness. Blue eyes glowing violently in the night. My breath caught instantly. Because I recognized those eyes.

Kael.