Rejected By My Alpha Mate

Chapter 6

The silence in the ruins is almost louder than the howls that haunt the night beyond its walls. It’s not the eerie stillness of the forest but a pulsing quiet, like the stones themselves are holding their breath. The air buzzes with energy, sharp and alive, and every step I take feels like walking on the edge of something ancient and dangerous.

Selene motions for us to sit around a circular stone platform at the center of the ruins. The platform is engraved with more of the strange symbols, their faint glow flickering as though they’re aware of our presence.

Damien lowers himself onto the ground with a groan, leaning against one of the crumbled walls. His face is pale, but his breathing is steady now, thanks to Selene’s magic. I sit beside him, my muscles aching from the night’s events, but my mind is too restless to let me relax.

“You said the rogues are just the beginning,” I say, breaking the tense quiet. “If they’re pawns, then who’s pulling the strings?”

Selene doesn’t answer immediately. Instead, she kneels by the platform, tracing her fingers over the glowing symbols. “Have you ever heard the story of the first alpha?” she asks, her tone distant.

I exchange a glance with Damien, then shake my head. “It’s just a legend. Something the elders tell pups to teach them about loyalty and strength.”

“It’s not a legend,” Selene says, her voice hardening. “It’s history. And like most history, it’s been buried under lies and half-truths.”

She looks up at me, her golden eyes burning with intensity. “The first alpha wasn’t just a leader. He was a protector, chosen by the spirits to unite the packs and keep the balance between our world and the one beyond.”

“The one beyond?” Damien echoes, his brow furrowing.

“The realm of shadows,” Selene explains. “A place where the darkest creatures and the most twisted magic reside. The first alpha was given power to keep that realm sealed, to ensure its corruption never spilled into our world.”

I lean forward, my heart pounding. “But something went wrong, didn’t it? The curse…”

Selene nods grimly. “The first alpha’s bloodline was cursed when he failed to uphold his duty. The seal between the realms weakened, and the shadows began to seep through. His descendants were left to bear the burden, their power tied to the seal, their lives marked by tragedy.”

I swallow hard, the weight of her words sinking in. “And you’re saying… I’m one of his descendants?”

“Yes,” Selene says, her gaze unwavering. “You’re the last of his bloodline, Ariana. The only one left who can restore the seal and stop the shadows from consuming our world.”

The air seems to grow colder, and I wrap my arms around myself, trying to process everything. “How do I stop it?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Selene rises to her feet, her expression solemn. “The seal can only be restored in one way: by performing the Ritual of Unity.”

Damien stiffens beside me. “The Ritual of Unity? That’s forbidden magic. The elders said it was too dangerous.”

“Dangerous, yes,” Selene agrees. “But it’s also our only chance. The ritual requires the blood of the descendant and the strength of their bond to the pack. It’s a test of loyalty, courage, and sacrifice.”

I feel a chill run down my spine. “Sacrifice?”

Selene hesitates, her gaze dropping to the platform. “The ritual comes at a cost. The descendant must offer a piece of their soul to strengthen the seal. It’s a burden that cannot be undone.”

The weight of her words settles over me like a storm cloud. My mind races with questions, doubts, fears. Why me? Why now? I never asked for this responsibility, this destiny.

Damien reaches for my hand, his grip firm but comforting. “You’re not doing this alone,” he says, his voice steady despite the tension in his jaw. “Whatever it takes, we’ll face it together.”

“Damien’s right,” Selene says, her tone softening. “You’re stronger than you know, Ariana. And you’re not without allies.”

Before I can respond, a loud crash echoes through the ruins, the sound of stone splitting and scattering. The air thickens with the scent of danger—blood and shadow.

“They’ve found us,” Selene says, her voice sharp.

I scramble to my feet, my pulse hammering in my ears. The howls grow louder, closer, and the shadows beyond the ruins seem to writhe like living creatures.

Selene steps forward, her golden eyes glowing fiercely. “Stay behind me. I’ll hold them off.”

“No,” I say, gripping my blade. “I’m not hiding while you fight. This is my fight too.”

She looks at me, something like pride flickering in her gaze. “Then prove it,” she says.

The first rogue bursts into the clearing, its eyes gleaming with malice. It’s followed by another, and another, their snarls filling the air.

“Protect the platform,” Selene commands. “If they disrupt the ruins, we’re all dead.”

Damien pulls himself upright, leaning heavily on the wall but determination burning in his eyes. “Let’s do this,” he says, his voice firm despite his injuries.

I step forward, my blade steady in my hands. The first rogue lunges at me, and I meet it head-on, the clash of steel and claw ringing through the night.

The battle is chaos—a blur of movement, sound, and blood. But through it all, one thought drives me forward: I won’t let them win. Not here. Not now.

Selene moves like a force of nature, her golden light cutting through the shadows like a blade. Damien fights beside me, his strength unwavering despite his wounds.

And as the rogues begin to falter, I feel something stir deep within me a power I’ve never known, rising to the surface like a tide.

I don’t understand it, not fully. But in this moment, I don’t need to.

I raise my blade, my voice ringing out over the chaos.

“For the pack!”

The words echo through the ruins, and for the first time, I feel the truth of them in my bones.

This is my fight. My destiny.

And I won’t back down.