Rejected By The Alpha, Claimed By The Enemy

Chapter 9: The Ex Returns

Peace never lasts in a werewolf world.

Two weeks after Dante woke up, we got a message.

Sealed. Silver Moon crest.

Dante read it and his face went dark.

"What?" I asked.

"Kieran." He crumpled the letter. "He’s requesting a meeting. At the border. Alone."

My stomach dropped. "No. It’s a trap."

"Probably." Dante looked at me. "Which is why you’re not going."

"I have to."

"No, you don’t." He grabbed my hands. "You’re not his anymore, Elara. You’re mine."

"I know." I squeezed back. "But if I don’t go, people will die. He’ll keep sending rogues."

Dante swore. "Fine. But I’m going with you. And 10 warriors."

---

The border was neutral ground. Fog. Cold.

And waiting for us... Kieran.

He looked the same. Perfect. Cold. Alpha.

But his eyes were different. Hungry.

"Elara," he said. Like he owned me. "Come home."

I stepped forward. Dante moved with me.

"I am home," I said. My voice didn’t shake.

Kieran laughed. "With him? The butcher? The one who killed your family?"

"Don’t," Dante growled.

Kieran ignored him. He looked at me.

"I made a mistake. I was angry. Jealous. But you’re my mate, Elara. The moon goddess chose us."

"She unchose us," I said quietly. "When you rejected me in front of everyone."

"I can fix it." He took a step forward. "Let me mark you again. Let me claim you. I’ll forget everything."

Rage boiled in my chest.

"You want to forget humiliating me? Beating me? Laughing while I begged?"

Kieran flinched. "I didn’t—"

"Yes you did." Dante cut in. "And now you want her back because she’s not broken anymore. Because I put her back together."

Kieran’s eyes snapped to Dante. "She’s mine."

"She was," Dante said. He pulled me to his side. His arm around me. "Now she’s mine."

The air went electric.

"Last chance, Elara," Kieran said. "Come with me. Or I take you."

I looked at him. Really looked.

No love. No fear. Just pity.

"No."

Kieran’s face twisted. "Then you leave me no choice."

He lifted his hand. Behind him, wolves stepped out of the trees. 20 of them.

Dante pushed me behind him. "Rafe!"

War.

It happened fast. Teeth. Claws. Screaming.

Dante fought like a demon. Protecting me with every move.

I fought too. Knife in hand. The training paid off.

But there were too many.

A Silver Moon warrior grabbed me. Dragged me back.

"DANTE!" I screamed.

Kieran grabbed my face. "Last chance."

Before I could answer, Dante was there.

He ripped the warrior off me and threw him 10 feet.

Then he was in Kieran’s face.

"You. Don’t. Touch. Her."

Kieran attacked. Alpha vs Alpha.

It was brutal. Bloody.

And Dante was still healing.

"Kieran had him pinned. Knife to his throat.

"Say goodbye to your little pet," Kieran sneered.

I did the only thing I could.

I grabbed a rock and smashed it over Kieran’s head.

He dropped.

Silence.

Dante looked at me. Shock. Pride. Love.

"You hit an Alpha with a rock," he said, stunned.

"I did," I breathed. "For you."

Dante pulled me into his arms. Blood and all.

"Mine," he growled into my hair. "Always mine."

Rafe blew the retreat horn. The Silver Moon wolves ran.

Carrying their unconscious Alpha.

It was over.

Back at Crescent Fang, Dante wouldn’t let go of me.

"Are you hurt?" he kept asking. "Did he touch you?"

"I’m fine," I promised. "Because of you."

That night, in his room, he was quiet.

Too quiet.

"Talk to me," I said.

He sat on the bed and pulled me into his lap.

"I thought I lost you," he whispered. "When he had you."

"You didn’t."

"I can’t lose you, Elara." His voice broke. "Not now. Not ever."

I cupped his face. "Then don’t."

And I kissed him.

This time it wasn’t desperate.

It was claiming.

End of Chapter 9