The Alpha Who Rejected His Mate

Chapter 3: The Alpha's Regret

The knock echoed through the cottage.

Grace froze.

Her grandmother's face immediately darkened.

Outside, Alpha Kael stood silently.

Waiting.

The same man who had shattered Grace's heart before the entire pack only hours ago.

Another knock sounded.

"Grace," Kael called. "Please open the door."

Grace laughed bitterly.

The sound surprised even her.

Now he wanted to talk?

After humiliating her?

After rejecting her like she was nothing?

Her wolf growled softly inside her.

Don't trust him.

For once, Grace agreed.

Her grandmother stood.

"You don't have to answer."

Grace stared at the door.

Part of her wanted to ignore him.

But another part wanted answers.

Why was he here?

What could he possibly have to say?

Slowly, she walked toward the door.

Before opening it, she took a deep breath.

Then she pulled it open.

Kael stood outside.

For the first time, Grace noticed how exhausted he looked.

Dark circles surrounded his eyes.

His usually perfect appearance seemed slightly disheveled.

As if he hadn't been able to rest.

For several seconds neither spoke.

Finally, Kael broke the silence.

"Can we talk?"

Grace folded her arms.

"No."

His jaw tightened.

"Please."

The word surprised her.

An Alpha rarely begged.

Especially not one as proud as Kael.

"What do you want?" she asked coldly.

Kael glanced toward the forest.

"Not here."

Grace nearly slammed the door.

"No."

Before she could move, Kael spoke again.

"I made a mistake."

Silence followed.

The words hung heavily in the air.

Grace stared at him.

Then she laughed again.

This time the bitterness was impossible to hide.

"A mistake?"

Her eyes burned.

"You rejected me in front of the entire pack."

Kael looked away.

Regret flashed across his face.

"I know."

"No, you don't."

Grace stepped forward.

Anger finally exploded from her chest.

"You don't know what it felt like."

Her voice shook.

"I spent my whole life being ignored."

"Grace—"

"Everyone treated me like I didn't matter."

Tears filled her eyes.

"But for one moment..."

Her voice broke.

"For one moment I thought I was chosen."

Kael's expression crumbled.

The guilt in his eyes became unmistakable.

Grace continued.

"Then you destroyed that."

The Alpha remained silent.

Because there was nothing he could say.

Nothing that could undo what he had done.

Finally, Grace pointed toward the forest.

"You should leave."

Kael didn't move.

"Grace, listen—"

"No."

The silver mark beneath her sleeve suddenly pulsed.

A strange energy filled the air.

Kael frowned immediately.

"What's that?"

Grace's heart skipped.

He felt it too.

The power.

Before she could answer, her grandmother appeared beside her.

Her eyes narrowed.

"Alpha."

Kael nodded respectfully.

"Elder Sarah."

The old woman crossed her arms.

"My granddaughter has suffered enough tonight."

Kael looked genuinely ashamed.

"I know."

"Then leave."

For a moment, tension filled the air.

Then Kael slowly nodded.

Before turning away, he looked at Grace one final time.

"I am sorry."

The sincerity in his voice caught her off guard.

But it wasn't enough.

Not yet.

Without answering, Grace closed the door.

The moment it shut, her knees felt weak.

She leaned against it.

Breathing heavily.

Outside, Kael remained standing for several moments.

Then he finally left.

Yet as he walked away, a feeling deep inside him continued growing stronger.

A feeling he could no longer ignore.

Regret.

The following morning, news spread rapidly through the Silver Moon Pack.

Everyone was talking about the rejection.

Some blamed Grace.

Others blamed Kael.

Most simply enjoyed the gossip.

Grace hated every second of it.

By noon, she could barely leave the cottage without hearing whispers.

"There she goes."

"The rejected mate."

"Poor girl."

"Poor Alpha."

The comments followed her everywhere.

Eventually she retreated back into the forest.

It was quieter there.

Safer.

The silver necklace rested around her neck beneath her shirt.

Ever since touching it, strange things had been happening.

Her senses had become sharper.

She could hear birds hundreds of feet away.

Smell distant scents.

Even her strength seemed greater.

It was frightening.

And exciting.

Grace stopped beside a stream.

The water reflected her face.

At first glance she looked the same.

But something had changed.

Her eyes.

Tiny silver flecks now shimmered within them.

Grace touched the water.

"What am I becoming?"

The stream offered no answers.

But someone else did.

A voice suddenly echoed behind her.

"You're finally awakening."

Grace spun around.

A tall man stood several feet away.

She had never seen him before.

His silver hair glowed beneath the sunlight.

His eyes were entirely silver.

Not human.

Not wolf.

Something else.

Grace immediately stepped back.

"Who are you?"

The stranger smiled.

"Someone who has been searching for you."

Fear raced through her.

The man's power was overwhelming.

Far stronger than any wolf she had ever encountered.

Even stronger than Alpha Kael.

Instinct screamed danger.

"Stay back."

The stranger raised both hands.

"I'm not your enemy."

"Then tell me who you are."

The man studied her carefully.

Particularly the necklace around her neck.

His smile widened.

"It really is you."

Grace's heart pounded.

"What are you talking about?"

The stranger's expression suddenly became serious.

"You are the last surviving heir."

The words struck her like lightning.

Again.

The heir.

The same title from her visions.

The same title her grandmother had mentioned.

"How do you know that?"

The stranger looked toward the sky.

"Because I once served your family."

Grace's breath caught.

"What?"

"My name is Orion."

The man bowed respectfully.

"And centuries ago, I swore an oath to protect the royal bloodline."

Grace stared at him.

"That's impossible."

Orion chuckled softly.

"Many things are impossible."

He pointed toward the necklace.

"Yet there it hangs."

Grace instinctively touched it.

Questions filled her mind.

Too many questions.

"Who am I really?"

Orion's silver eyes softened.

"You are Grace Hart."

He paused.

"But you are also far more than that."

The ground suddenly trembled.

Both of them froze.

A second tremor followed.

Then a third.

Orion's expression darkened instantly.

"No."

Grace frowned.

"What?"

The man looked toward the northern mountains.

His face became pale.

"They found you."

Fear crept into Grace's chest.

"Who found me?"

Orion's answer came immediately.

"The Shadow Pack."

The name alone sounded dangerous.

Before Grace could ask another question, a chilling howl echoed across the forest.

Then another.

And another.

The sound sent ice through her veins.

Orion cursed.

"We have to move."

"What?"

"Now."

Suddenly, dozens of dark wolves burst from the trees.

Grace's eyes widened.

There were too many.

Twenty.

Thirty.

Maybe more.

Each wolf wore black armor.

Each carried the scent of death.

Their leader stepped forward.

A scar-covered warrior with glowing red eyes.

He smiled coldly.

"There she is."

Grace's pulse raced.

The warrior looked directly at her.

Not Orion.

Not anyone else.

Her.

"The Heir."

The forest fell silent.

Orion stepped protectively in front of Grace.

"You won't touch her."

The warrior laughed.

"We'll see."

Then he raised his hand.

Every wolf charged.

Grace's heart nearly stopped.

The Shadow Pack had found her.

And the hunt had begun.

End of Chapter 3 🔥