Rejected By The Alpha King On Christmas Night

Chapter 8

Kael’s POV

The Moon Heir. The words slammed into me like a physical blow. My wolf went completely still inside my head. Impossible. Snow continued falling around us, but suddenly I couldn’t feel the cold anymore. All I could see was Aurora. Standing in the middle of the destroyed street with fear shining in her silver eyes while faint traces of silver energy still flickered around her trembling hands. The rogues stared at her like they had found something priceless. Something they had been searching for. Dread twisted violently in my chest. No. No, no, no. The prophecy. The memory of the royal seer’s warning flashed through my mind instantly. “When the Moon Heir awakens, kingdoms will burn for her power.” My blood ran cold. That was why the rogues came. Not for the kingdom, not for me.

For Aurora. The lead rogue grinned darkly as he watched my reaction. “So the great Alpha King didn’t know?” he mocked softly. I stepped in front of Aurora instantly. Protective instinct took over before I could stop it. “Touch her,” I growled, “and I’ll rip your throat out.” The rogue only smiled wider. “You can’t protect her forever.” Behind me, Aurora whispered shakily:

“Kael… what’s happening?” Hearing the fear in her voice nearly destroyed me because she had no idea, no idea what she truly was. And if the wrong people discovered the truth every kingdom would come hunting her. Liam shifted back into human form nearby, breathing heavily from the fight. “What the hell is a Moon Heir?” he demanded but no one answered. Because saying it aloud would make everything real. The rogue suddenly laughed. “You really kept her in the dark this entire time?” My jaw clenched violently. “How do you know about her?” I asked coldly. The rogue tilted his head mockingly. “The Shadow Order has searched for the silver-eyed girl for years.” Aurora stiffened behind me. “Then what?” My heart sank further. Damn it this was worse than I thought. The Shadow Order. A secret organization obsessed with ancient wolf magic merciless and power hungry and now they knew Aurora existed. The rogue’s red eyes gleamed cruelly. “Our masters will be very interested to know the Moon Heir has awakened.” Before I could react, the rogue suddenly pulled a black blade from his side and slashed it across his own palm. Blood hit the snow and dark energy exploded violently around him. “MOVE!” I roared. I grabbed Aurora instantly and threw both of us sideways as black smoke erupted through the street. The explosion shook the ground beneath us. Aurora cried out as we hit the snow hard. I pulled her tightly against my chest, shielding her from flying debris while my wolf snarled violently inside me. The remaining rogues used the smoke to retreat quickly into the darkness. Cowards.

Liam lunged forward to chase them, but I stopped him immediately. “Don’t.” He turned sharply toward me. “They know something about Aurora!”

“I know.” The words came out harsher than intended, heavy silence followed. Aurora slowly pushed herself upright beside me, her breathing uneven. Snowflakes clung to her dark curls while confusion filled her silver eyes.

She looked overwhelmed, terrified and somehow still heartbreakingly beautiful. My chest tightened painfully, I did this. I tried so hard to protect her from this world that I ended up throwing her directly into it. “Aurora,” I said quietly. She looked at me instantly and gods did the hurt in her eyes nearly destroyed me.

“You knew,” she whispered. The accusation hit like a knife. “You knew there was something different about me.” I stayed silent. Pain flashed across her face immediately. “You did,” she breathed. Liam looked between us sharply.

“Kael,” he said darkly, “start explaining.” I ignored him completely, my focus remained on Aurora. She deserved the truth. At least part of it. But how could I tell her? How could I explain that the moment she was born, powerful wolves began hunting her? That the silver eyes she hated made her the most valuable wolf alive? That I rejected her because I thought distancing myself would keep her safe? Aurora slowly stood, trembling slightly. “You rejected me because of this?” she whispered and instantly I froze. Her eyes widened painfully as realization crossed her face. “Oh my Goddess…” She stepped backward slowly.

“You rejected me because you were afraid of me.”

“No,” I said instantly. I could never fear her. The problem was that everyone else would. Aurora’s breathing became uneven again. Then suddenly she laughed. A broken, painful sound. “So this entire time…” Tears filled her eyes. “I thought you didn’t love me.” Love.

The word nearly shattered my control. Because loving Aurora had never been the problem. It was loving her too much. “Aurora…”

“No.” She wiped angrily at her tears. “Don’t.”

The distance in her voice terrified me more than any enemy ever could. Liam moved closer beside her protectively again. And for the first time in years, I felt something dangerously close to panic. Because Aurora looked at him like he was safe. And looked at me like I was the reason her world was falling apart. Maybe I was.