The wind swept softly through the quarantine zone, a heavy silence hanging in the air after Karina's words. Derek stood frozen, his eyes wide, disbelief flashing through them. Karina had just said the words he thought he would never hear.
"I officially reject you as my mate, Derek," Karina had said, her voice steady but filled with finality.
Derek's heart clenched as the reality of her words hit him like a wave. This was what it felt like, he realized. To be rejected by your mate. To have the bond you once thought unbreakable severed. For years, Derek had prided himself on his strength, on his control. Now, that same strength felt hollow. But deep down, he understood. He had lost Karina the moment he had chosen Elara and let his pride blind him. His regrets weighed heavily on his heart,
