Rejected By The Alpha King On Christmas Night

Chapter 3

Kael’s POV

I shouldn’t have followed her. The moment Aurora walked out of that ballroom, I should have let her leave. Instead, here I was, standing in the freezing snow while my wolf practically tore itself apart inside me. ‘Mate’.

The word echoed violently in my head. ‘Mine’.

Selena’s hand tightened around my arm possessively, but I barely noticed.Because Aurora was looking at me like I was a stranger. No. Worse like I was someone who had broken her. And damn it, maybe I had. “Aren’t you coming back inside?” Selena asked sweetly. I finally looked at her. Beautiful, perfect. Everything the kingdom expected beside a king. Yet my wolf felt nothing for her. Not the way it reacted to Aurora. The silver-eyed girl standing in the snow looked fragile, but there was something dangerous in the way she stared back at me now. Pain, anger, disappointment, I hated it because I had put that look in her eyes. Aurora slowly stepped farther away from us, from me. And my wolf instantly growled. ‘Go after her. Claim her. Don’t let her leave’. I clenched my fists tightly. I needed control. “Aurora,” I called lowly. She stopped walking but didn’t turn around. Snowflakes settled against her dark curls while the cold wind lifted the edge of her dress. For the first time since meeting her years ago she looked truly alone. Something twisted painfully inside my chest. “You should return home,” I said carefully. A soft, humorless laugh escaped her lips. “Home?” She finally turned toward me again, and the tears shining in her silver eyes nearly destroyed my self-control. “I don’t have one anymore.” Selena shifted uncomfortably beside me. Aurora swallowed painfully before lifting her chin again. “I hope your kingdom is happy with its perfect future queen.” Selena immediately smiled proudly. But Aurora’s eyes remained locked on mine. As if she wanted me to deny it, to stop her, to tell her none of this was real. Gods. If only it were that simple.

“Aurora…”

“No.” Her voice cracked. “Don’t.” The mate bond pulsed violently between us again. My wolf became restless instantly. The rejection was hurting her, it was hurting both of us. But it had to happen. Because if the prophecy came true, she would die. And I would rather have Aurora hate me forever than watch her blood spill because of me. Even if it destroyed me in the process. Selena suddenly stepped closer to me and wrapped both arms around mine.

“We should go inside,” she said softly. “Everyone is waiting.” Aurora saw it. The touch, the closeness, the intimacy. Pain flashed across her face so quickly it nearly made me move toward her. Instead, she stepped backward away from me again. Each step felt like a blade sliding deeper into my chest “Aurora,” I growled then she froze and for one dangerous second, her scent changed. Fear.

Not fear of danger, fear of me. The realization hit like a punch to the throat. She was afraid of me now. My mate. The girl who used to smile whenever I entered a room. Something dark stirred violently inside my wolf. ‘Fix this’. But I couldn’t, not yet. Not while enemies watched from the shadows. Not while the prophecy threatened her life. Aurora’s voice came out barely above a whisper. “You broke me tonight, Kael.” Then she turned and walked away into the snowstorm. This time, I didn't stop her.