Rejected By The Alpha King On Christmas Night

Chapter 12

Kael’s POV

Something was wrong. I stood alone in the middle of the empty street long after Aurora disappeared into the snow with Liam. The cold no longer bothered me. Neither did the blood staining my hands from the rogue attack. All I could think about was her. The look in her eyes before she left. Every part of me wanted to run after her, but I stayed where I was. Because forcing Aurora to remain near me after tonight would only push her farther away. Still, letting her walk away with Liam felt unbearable. My wolf paced violently inside my head. ‘Go after her. Protect her. She’s ours’. I clenched my fists harder. “She needs space,” I muttered aloud.

My wolf snarled in disagreement.

L he mate bond between us still pulsed painfully despite the distance growing between us. I could feel fragments of her emotions through it. Fear, confusion, sadness. Each feeling cut deeper than any blade ever could. A shadow suddenly moved behind me. “Your Majesty.” I turned sharply. Beta Ronan emerged from the snowy street with several royal guards behind him, all covered lightly in blood from fighting rogues across the kingdom borders. Ronan’s expression darkened immediately when he saw me alone.

“The rogues retreated,” he reported quickly. “But something felt off.” Because it was. This wasn’t a normal attack.

“They weren’t here for the kingdom,” I said coldly. Ronan frowned. “Then what did they want?” My jaw tightened instantly. Aurora.

The thought alone sent another dangerous wave of protectiveness through my wolf. I couldn’t tell Ronan everything yet. Not until I understood how much the enemy already knew. “The rogues mentioned the Shadow Order,” I said carefully. Ronan’s face lost color instantly. “That’s impossible.”

“I heard it myself.” A tense silence followed.

The Shadow Order wasn’t just dangerous. They were a nightmare whispered about in old royal records. An organization obsessed with ancient wolf bloodlines and forbidden magic.

Most believed they disappeared years ago.

Apparently not. Ronan lowered his voice.

“If they truly found the Moon Heir…”

“They haven’t,” I snapped instantly. Too fast and defensive. Ronan stared at me carefully.

Then realization slowly crossed his face. Oh no. “Your Majesty…” he whispered carefully. “The girl tonight…” I said nothing. I didn’t need to. Ronan exhaled sharply. “The Moon Goddess help us.” The fear in his voice irritated me immediately. Aurora wasn’t some weapon.

Some curse. She was still Aurora. The same girl who smiled shyly whenever I entered a room. The same girl who secretly left food outside for injured palace wolves during winter.

The same girl who looked at me tonight like I had destroyed her soul. Guilt twisted violently inside my chest again. Ronan studied me carefully. “You rejected her because of the prophecy.” it wasn't a question but a realization

I looked away silently. For a moment, the only sound around us was the wind moving through the kingdom streets. Then Ronan sighed heavily. “With respect, Your Majesty…” he muttered, “that may have been the stupidest decision you’ve ever made.” I shot him a dangerous glare. He didn’t back down. Interesting. “Do you think I wanted to hurt her?” I asked coldly. “No,” Ronan admitted quietly. “But I think you underestimated how much she loves you.” Pain tightened my chest instantly

because that was true too. Aurora loved deeply, completely. And I had used that love against her tonight. My wolf became restless again. ‘Find her. Now’. I barely ignored it. Ronan suddenly frowned slightly. “Where is she now?”

“With Liam.” The words tasted bitter. Ronan blinked once. Then immediately looked concerned. “Liam Nightbane?” My expression darkened. “Yes.”

“That could become… complicated.” Complicated. That was one word for it. Liam had always challenged me more than anyone else. Strong, loyal. And worst of all Aurora trusted him. The thought alone made jealousy flare violently inside me again. I rejected her so why did the idea of another man comforting her make me want to rip something apart? ‘Because she’s your mate’. My wolf sounded furious now. Every instinct inside me screamed that letting Aurora leave tonight had been a mistake. A dangerous one. Suddenly, the mate bond pulsed sharply. Pain, fear. I froze instantly. Aurora. Something was wrong. I felt it clearly this time. Her fear crashed through the bond so violently my wolf nearly forced a shift.

Ronan noticed my expression immediately. “What happened?” I was already moving fast

“Aurora’s in danger.” The snow exploded beneath my feet as I shifted mid-run, my massive black wolf bursting into the storm. Trees blurred past me as I raced toward the eastern forest. Toward her. The mate bond grew stronger with every second. Fear, adrenaline and something else, the scent of unfamiliar wolves. Rogues. Damn it. They followed her. A growl ripped from my throat as I pushed faster through the forest. No one touches her, no one. The trees suddenly opened ahead. And what I saw made murderous rage explode through me instantly.

Aurora stood trapped between Liam and three rogue wolves emerging slowly from the darkness. One rogue smiled cruelly when he saw her silver eyes glowing faintly beneath the moonlight. Then he whispered the words that made my blood run cold.

“Take the Moon Heir alive.”