Alpha's Rejected Mate: A Howl in the Dark

Chapter 2: The Fateful Encounter with Alpha Alexander

Dawn arrived, coming close to the edge of the land, warming the view of Eldergrove village. Fenal stood at the brink of the trees, her heart pounding, preparing for what lay before her. Events of the night flittered in her mind; the battle with Alexander, which set something alight within her, was finally fed by determination.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Raven asked as she padded, her voice raised with concern, to join Fenal. The air was crisp this morning. The smell of grass filled their lungs covered in dew.

“Yes,” Fenal replied, her voice steady. “I need to show him I’m not some rejected mate. I must show him I have strength.”

Raven nodded, but her expression remained as troubled as before. “You must remember that Alexander is not just any wolf—he’s the Alpha. He is to be respected; his word is law.”

“I realize that, but I can’t let my life be in the hands of fear any longer. I have to take control.”

Together they walked through the village, the sun rising and shedding a more brilliant light over the cobblestone streets. Peasants and villagers had begun to stir, starting their day as if it had been any other morning, but she felt their eyes on her, following, with whispers and curiosity in her wake. Their judgment was palpable, and she felt their pity. Red was the only color she saw at this point.

The closer they got to the Alpha’s den, the more Fenal felt her heart race. She seemed to feel the view of a sign of both power and a past that was imposing. She took a deep breath in order to calm herself for the encounter awaiting her inside.

“Are you ready?” asked Raven, her voice barely above a whisper.

Fenal nodded; doubt flicked at her chest. “I have to be.

They crossed the threshold to a place that made them feel the change in atmosphere. The den smelled of leather and wood, the tension in the room at best able to create sound on its own. At the far end sat Alexander’s throne, black furs making the daunting image cloaked in sharp features uplit with the morning light spilling through the tall windows.

His blue gaze zeroed in on her when she entered, piercing through her with such intensity that it made her heart stumble. “What is it you want from me, Fenal?” His voice was low but commanding, with an edge of curiosity in it.

She opened her mouth to answer that but then closed it just as quickly. “I came to talk,” she said instead, trying to sound much steadier than she actually felt.

“About?” His interest was piqued as he leaned forward slightly.

“About my place in the pack,” Fenal said, gathering her courage. “About what it means to be your mate.”

Alexander’s expression remained inscrutable, but she could feel the tension in the air. “You know I rejected you,” he pointed out, tone sharp.

“Yes, but I feel I’m not just your abandoned mate,” Fenal said; her heart seemed to beat loudly. “I have to prove I’m worthy, that I’m useful in this pack.”

The man observed her in silence, looking straight into her eyes. “How are you going to do that?”

“I will show you my strength,” she declared, more and more with a rising voice and rising emotion. “I want to train, to fight. If I can prove myself worthy, then perhaps you’ll see me differently.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Alexander’s face, quickly replaced by a guarded expression. “You think training will change my perception of you?”

“Yes,” Fenal replied, determination surging within her. “I won’t back down. I refuse to be defined by your rejection.”

For a moment, the silence enveloped them thickly with the anticipation. Alexander narrowed his eyes, glancing cunningly into hers, as if he wanted to say something but determining the validity of her words. “Very well,” he finally continued, with this tone a little bit challenging. “If you want to train, then under my supervision you will. But know this: the price for failure will be high.

“I accept the challenge,” Fenal replied levelly, even as her heart pounded at the offer.

“Good,” he said with a smile, the corners of his lips twitching. “Meet me in the training fields at dawn. We’ll see if you have what it takes.”

He leaned back into his throne, dismissing her with a wave of his hand. Excitement and dread mixed within Fenal. she had taken that first step, dared to reclaim a part of her life, but the road ahead.

Did not promise much in the way of certain security.

As she turned to go, Alexander’s voice followed through: “And Fenal?”

“What?”

“Make no mistake; I won’t be easy on you.

“I wouldn’t want it any other way,” replied and saw a spark of flint start within.

---

Those same feelings flowed through her as she went to bed early that night, and she woke with the first light. Quickly pulling on a tunic and a pair of trousers, she set her hair back in a braid. As the first light of day began to break through the trees, so did the surge of determination within herself.

“Raven,” she called, her echo resonating within the quiet of the house. “Are you ready?”

Raven materialized at the door, her eyes wide with excitement. “I can’t believe you’re actually going through with this!”

She was completely overwhelmed. “I have to. I’ve got to prove to myself that I can be strong.”

“Just remember to be careful.” Raven’s face was serious. “Alexander’s not one for showing mercy.”

“I know.” Fenal straightened at that, her will hardening. “But I have to try.”

They led Fenal through the village; the air seemed so fresh with dawn. There was the rising sun in all its golden splendor over Eldergrove. Fenal marched in with this conglomeration of feelings—both anxious and excited—showing around the training ground, the place where warriors trained and tested their limits.

As they entered the place to set down, Fenal couldn’t help but gasp. It was huge: huge trees running the area of a ring—middle of the ring, roughly laid out and filled with some well-worn mats and old training equipment.

Alexander was already at the place; his very air spread around him and filled the space, explaining something to some warriors, obviously about to prepare them for the training. His well-built, powerful, colt shoulders spoke of muscular power, and Fenal felt herself both frightened of him and drawn toward him.

“Good, you are here,” he said to her in a low voice as he turned around. “You’re punctual. That’s a start.”

To that, Fenal gave a nod, with determination to work in her eyes. “I’m ready.”

“Well then, let’s begin,” he said, waving her a step forward. The other warriors stared at her and murmured among themselves. Fenal could feel the heaviness of their gazes; she could feel the skepticism and something that resembled interest but wouldn’t be put off. “Well, first off, we will start off with the basic fighting skills,” Alexander resumed the order in his voice, “how to guard yourself and how to strike well.”

Fenal drew in a deep breath, her adrenaline seeming to pour out of her every nerve. She squared off against the competition.

“Focus, Fenal,” came Alexander’s voice, firm. “You have to be alive to the elements around you. Predict your adversary’s next move.”

As they began, Fenal felt that she was struggling to keep up with the man. Alexander had been a master trainer; he guided her through the moves with precision and intensity. She could feel the burning in her muscles and her breath quickening, but she pushed through, not willing to appear weak.

“Good. Now try again,” he said, urging her on, as his eyes remained keen on her.

Fenal gritted her teeth, listening to what he was saying. Her feet moved as if she had somewhere important to be as she started attacking a dummy he had created, her hits getting harder each time.

“Better,” he conceded, a bit of acceptance to his tone. “But you need to harness your emotions. Let your past fuel your strength.”

She let herself close her eyes for a brief moment as memories of her family—of the ache and loss—washed over her. She opened her eyes again, and within the scorching heat, fire ignited within her. She slammed her fist into the dummy again, harder this time, and with more precision.

“Good. Now, let’s add some footwork,” he says, and after a few moves, he finishes a small sequence.

She followed his lead and then just let her body react, totally free to mess up, learn to dodge and weave, to hit and run—more like every second, she felt some kind of shift inside her.

But training was going on to the point where weariness set in. Her muscles tingled with a burn, and sweat continually dripped from her forehead. She continued, pushing forward for the sake of making herself known, but the wear of these events was slowly draining her.

“Keep going,” Alexander pushed. His voice was strong. “You’re stronger than you think.”

Just as she started to stumble, a loud noise came from the edge of the training area. Fenal looked to see the wolves begin to adjust their stance from the previous coming forward on that tense and aggressive behavior, as low-ranking warriors closed in on the group.

“Alpha!” one of the warriors shouted, raising his voice. “We have trouble from the northern border!”

Fenal’s heart raced, and she looked across at Alexander. He had changed the cast of his expression, and the air was thrumming with the sense of urgency.

“Stay back,” he ordered as he looked into her eyes. “This is not your fight.”

“I can help!” Fenal argued, her instincts acting up.

He shook his head, features set with a look of strong determination. “You’re not ready for this.”

But before she could argue, full steam in their direction was a turned-away Alexander, commands unspoken, echoing from him in his very presence as he hurried toward them. A rush of frustration moving through her.

“I cannot just stand by and do nothing!” she yelled, but Alexander was already wheeling, shouting orders to his warriors.

The tension was running high, and Fenal observed from the sidelines, the pounding of her heart. Whether it was fear or anger, it was due to the constant urge to prove against a tint of slinking instinct.

The rival wolves drew near, and the sense that the danger’s plans boiled a stone’s throw away, unattainable, was on them. Feral energy snapped at the air around them, and Fenal knew this was just the beginning.

“Stay alert!” Alexander commanded as he rallied his pack.

Fenal’s instincts kicked in, and she felt the call of her wolf. She could no longer just stand by. She had to act.

With her heart now resolute, she stepped forward; it was racing as she prepared to join the battle before Alexander. The howl in the dark had aroused something within her, and she was ready to accept the chaos before them.

The more they got closer to each other, the more the adrenaline rushed in Fenal’s blood, all over. A choice had been made, and nothing changed from then on. No longer would she dwell in the shadows of what had happened then; it was time to build a life of her own, an entrepreneurial one, even if it entailed her stepping into the middle of the lion’s den.

“Fenal!” Raven called out, and her face was all concerned.

“Stay back!” Fenal called over her shoulder, eyes no longer focusing but locked on the incident.

As the rival wolves got close, the place in Fenal that held the instincts sprang to life. She could feel the weight of her ancestors’ power in her, and for the first time, she embraced the power it laid upon her.

“Fenal!” Alexander’s voice cut through the air, commanding and with urgency in it.

But was she going to back down? She had come too far to let fear of failure rule her actions. Her worth would be proven—not only to Alexander but to herself.