The Alpha Who Rejected Me… Then Begged for Our Baby

The night air was thick with the scent of pine, fire, and fate. Eighteen. Today, Lyra Quinn turned eighteen—and the mate bond had snapped into place like a string pulled too tight around her chest. Her heartbeat stuttered when she saw him across the courtyard. Alpha Kael Nightbane. Towering. Cold. Ruthless. And impossibly beautiful in that cruel way only dangerous men could be. His tailored black suit clung to his sculpted frame like it was afraid to displease him. And now… he was staring at her. Her wolf stirred within. Mate. Lyra stepped forward. She didn’t care that she was just the daughter of a Beta warrior or that she’d always been the invisible girl at the edge of the crowd. The bond didn’t lie. She was his mate. “Alpha Kael,” she whispered, her voice trembling as she approached. “Can you feel it too?” His icy gaze dropped to her face, then slowly trailed down her trembling form. Something unreadable flickered in his eyes—recognition, maybe even confusion—but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. He took a step closer. And then—he laughed. A hollow, humorless sound. “You?” he said flatly. “You’re my mate?” Her heart shattered at his words. Kael’s expression was unreadable as he continued. “You’re weak. Quiet. Barely worth noticing, and now the Moon Goddess wants me tied to you?” He scoffed, stepping back like she was something foul. “I reject you, Lyra Quinn. As my mate. As my Luna. As anything.” The rejection hit harder than a silver blade. Pain exploded in her chest. Her wolf whimpered. Her legs gave out, and she hit the ground on her knees, gasping for air as the bond tore itself apart inside her soul. Kael didn’t flinch. Didn’t reach for her. Didn’t care. He turned his back and walked away, leaving her broken in the dirt while the pack looked on in silent horror. Lyra didn’t cry. Not in front of them. But as the full moon hung above, mocking and cold, one vow burned in her mind: You’ll regret this.