The Rejected Mate's Revenge

Chapter 2: A wolf alone

The cold night air bit at my skin as I stumbled through the dark forest, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The scent of pine and damp earth filled my lungs, but it did nothing to ground me. My heart pounded, not from exertion, but from the gaping wound in my soul—the mate bond severed in the cruelest way possible.

Karan had rejected me.

My wolf, Nyx, whimpered in my mind. The pain of rejection still clung to us like a thick fog, making each step feel heavier. The worst part wasn’t just the rejection—it was the exile. He hadn’t just cast me aside; he had thrown me to the wolves, leaving me to fend for myself in the wild, where rogues prowled and death lurked behind every shadow.

“Damn him,” I whispered, my voice hoarse. My fingers curled into fists. The pain in my chest burned, but I forced myself to keep moving.

Nyx growled lowly. He will regret this.

I didn’t doubt that. The fire inside me, though dim, refused to be extinguished. I would survive. I had no other choice.

The branches above rustled as an owl took flight, its wings a silent whisper in the darkness. The Silverfang Pack’s territory stretched for miles, but I had no idea how far I’d gone. My body was still weakened from the rejection, my limbs sluggish, my wolf too wounded to fully take control. Shifting would have been easier—faster—but right now, I didn’t have the strength.

My father. My pack. I had left them behind.

A lump formed in my throat. I had seen the anguish in my father’s eyes as Karan exiled me. He had wanted to fight, to stand against the Alpha, but even a Beta couldn’t defy the pack’s leader without risking everything.

I swallowed hard. Would he be punished for my disgrace?

No. I couldn’t think like that. My father was strong, respected. Karan might be a ruthless Alpha, but he wasn’t foolish enough to discard a loyal Beta. At least, I hoped he wasn’t.

A howl echoed in the distance. Not a friendly one.

My muscles tensed, my instincts sharpening. Rogues.

Nyx’s ears perked up in my mind. We are still too weak to fight them head-on.

I scanned my surroundings. The forest was dense, but there was no immediate place to hide. The trees were too far apart to climb without making noise, and the underbrush provided little cover.

Another howl—closer this time.

My pulse quickened. I could hear the rustling of paws against the earth, the distinct scent of unaligned wolves filling the air. At least three, maybe four.

I gritted my teeth. I wasn’t going to die like this—not at the hands of rogues, not while I still had unfinished business.

Nyx growled, her strength slowly returning. Run.

I didn’t hesitate.

I darted forward, pushing my body to its limits. The wind howled past my ears as I dodged low-hanging branches, my bare feet barely making a sound against the forest floor. The rogues weren’t far behind, their snarls growing louder, their footsteps pounding against the earth.

I needed to lose them. Fast.

A fallen tree blocked my path. I lunged, vaulting over it just as a rogue lunged from behind. Its jaws snapped inches from my calf. I hit the ground rolling, ignoring the sting of scrapes against my skin, and kept running.

The rogues were closing in.

Nyx growled. We must shift.

I pushed past the pain, calling on my wolf. Fire rushed through my veins as my bones began to snap and reshape. My nails lengthened into claws, my muscles expanding. A shimmer of silver fur spread across my body, and in mere seconds, I landed on four paws.

Nyx let out a fierce snarl, her anger fueling us.

The first rogue lunged—a mangy brown wolf with scars across his muzzle. I dodged, spinning on my paws before slashing my claws across his side. He yelped, but another rogue came from the right, snapping at my flank.

Too many.

I bolted, weaving through the trees with newfound speed. My paws barely touched the ground as I surged forward, leaping over roots and fallen branches. The rogues pursued relentlessly, their snarls echoing in my ears.

Then—I saw it.

A river.

Rogues weren’t the best swimmers. If I could cross it, I’d have a chance.

Nyx agreed. Jump.

I didn’t slow down. As soon as I reached the edge, I coiled my muscles and leaped. The icy water swallowed me whole, shocking my system. I kicked, pushing against the current, my wolf instincts keeping me afloat.

The rogues hesitated at the riverbank. Good.

I paddled hard, reaching the other side. My limbs burned, my lungs heaving as I pulled myself onto the muddy bank.

The rogues growled from across the river, but they didn’t follow.

I let out a shaky breath, shifting back into my human form. My body trembled from exhaustion, but I was alive. That was all that mattered.

Nyx’s voice was steady. We need to keep moving.

I nodded weakly. The forest stretched on before me, but now, I wasn’t just wandering aimlessly.

I had a purpose.

A vengeance that burned brighter than the moon above.

I had been cast out, rejected, humiliated. But this wasn’t the end of my story

It was only the beginning