Rejected By The Alpha Who Forgot Me

Elara’s POV The wind shifted. I paused mid-step, a basket of herbs clutched to my chest, heart pounding hard against my ribs. For a second, everything fell silent, the trees, the birds, even Cael’s soft laughter from the cottage behind me. The air grew heavier, thick with something I hadn’t felt in years. Wolf scent. But not just any. His. I dropped the basket. No. No, it couldn’t be. He wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near rogue lands. This place was protected, hidden by old magic and the will of the moon. I had made sure of it. For four years, I’d kept us safe. I kept him out of my thoughts. Out of my heart. Out of reach. But now… The breeze returned, carrying it again, clean pine, ash, and something darker. Blood. A howl tore through the distance, low and fractured. Then silence. I didn’t think. My legs moved before my mind caught up, tearing through underbrush, leaping over roots like I hadn’t done since the night I ran. My lungs burned. The forest grew thicker, darker. I should’ve gone back. Should’ve protected Cael. But something stronger than fear pulled me forward. I found him by the river. Kael. Unconscious, blood matting his dark hair, chest rising too slow, too shallow. His arm was twisted at an ugly angle, claw marks slashed across his side. His wolf… gods, it was fading. I stopped cold. The last time I saw him, he rejected me. Told me I wasn’t enough. That I was nothing. He hadn’t meant it. I know that now. Not after what Ysolde revealed. Not after the dreams. But this, him, here, was dangerous. For both of us. I should’ve walked away. But I couldn’t. My feet moved on their own until I was kneeling beside him. My fingers trembled as I reached out, brushing blood away from his temple. His skin burned under my touch. Fevered. Weak. I clenched my jaw. “Damn you, Kael,” I whispered. “Why now?” His lips parted, but no words came. Just a low, broken groan. I looked around. There was no one in sight. But rogue land wasn’t safe, especially now. Whatever did this to him could still be close. I had no choice. I pressed my palm against his chest and whispered the old words, the forbidden ones, the ones my grandmother warned me never to use again. Golden light flickered under my skin. His heartbeat stuttered, then strengthened. He’d live. But healing him came with a cost. A bond. One I never truly severed. I heard a twig snap behind me and nearly jumped. “Elara?” a soft voice called out. My head snapped around. It was Cael. He stood barefoot, clutching his wolf plushie, eyes wide as he stared at the man on the ground. “Cael, go inside,” I said quickly, voice sharper than I intended. “But, he smells like me,” Cael said, stepping closer with hesitant curiosity. My heart sank. “What did you say?” I asked, barely breathing. “He smells like fire and moonlight. Like me when I get mad.” “No,” I murmured, panic rising. “Not now. Cael, listen to me, go back to the house. Right now.” He took another small step forward. “Is he going to die?” “No,” I said tightly. “I won’t let him. But you can’t be here.” His small face twisted in confusion. “Why?” Because he’s your father. Because if he sees you, truly sees you… everything will unravel. But I didn’t say that. Instead, I crouched and gripped his shoulders gently. “Please, baby. Go inside. I’ll explain later.” He looked at me a moment longer, then slowly nodded. “Okay.” I watched him run back toward the cottage, feet silent against the earth. Once he was gone, I turned back to Kael. Only this time, his eyes were open. He was staring at me. Gray. Stormy. Confused. Recognition flickered across his face, then vanished like smoke. “Elara…?” His voice was raw, broken, almost unfamiliar. He said my name like it tasted like pain. I froze. The way he looked at me made it hard to breathe. He shifted, wincing. “Where… am I?” “You crossed into rogue territory,” I said stiffly, rising to my feet. “You were ambushed. You nearly died.” His brow furrowed, and he looked around, like trying to remember something just out of reach. “I… I remember a fight. Riven was with me. Then… there was something, something pulling me…..” He winced and pressed a hand to his chest. “My wolf… he went silent.” I said nothing. Because his wolf hadn’t gone silent. He’d recognized me. Even if Kael hadn’t. He struggled to sit up, groaning from the effort. I knelt quickly, grabbing his arm to steady him despite myself. His eyes snapped to mine at the contact. “Why are you helping me?” he asked. I hesitated, heart pounding. “Because I don’t leave people to die in the woods.” That wasn’t a lie. But it wasn’t the truth either. His gaze softened just for a moment. “You look familiar.” “Must be the blood loss.” “No…” He leaned closer. “I know you. I’ve seen you before.” “Don’t,” I said quickly, pulling away. “You need to rest.” “Elara,” he said again, and my name on his tongue made my chest ache. “Please. Who are you to me?” Everything in me screamed to run. To protect the fragile world I’d built with Cael. But I couldn’t move. I just stood there, caught between a past that never let go and a future I couldn’t control. “You don’t remember,” I whispered. He shook his head, grimacing. “I should. Gods, why can’t I?” I swallowed hard. “Because someone made sure you wouldn’t.” Before he could ask more, a soft creak echoed from the direction of the cottage. A tiny gasp. It was Cael. Kael turned his head slightly. “Who…?” But I stepped into his line of sight, blocking him. “No questions,” I said softly but firmly. “Not yet.” “Elara…..” “Rest,” I said. “You’re not strong enough to fight what’s coming.” His lips parted, but no words came. Because even though I hadn’t told him the truth… He was about to find it anyway.