Rejected

Third Night

The Third Night

The rain hit Sophia’s skin like needles. Cold. Endless. Merciless. Branches clawed at her arms as she ran through the forest, her breathing uneven, the mud swallowing her bare feet with every desperate step. Somewhere far behind her, wolves howled into the night, the sound of paws getting closer and closer.

She caught a whiff of their scents in the air and her blood turned cold.

Rouges.

Her hand instinctively pressed against her stomach as three of them surrounded her. “Please” she whispered shakily though she wasn’t sure whether she was speaking to the moon goddess, the child inside her or the rouges staring at her hungrily with red beady eyes. They shifted not completely though. Half shifted. Human bodies twisted with claws and glowing eyes.

The tallest one grinned and her chest tightened painfully with fear. She immediately backed away and her wolf growled in her head. Tired, but alert.

“I don’t want any trouble” Sophia said quietly and the second rogue laughed harshly. “Then you shouldn’t be out here alone sweetheart.”

The third rogue noticed her hand on her stomach and grinned widely. “What’s this?” More panic lashed through her instantly.

Run

Sophia spun around ready to run and a hand grabbed her hair violently. Pain exploded across her scalp and she stumbled back into the rogue’s chest biting her tongue to stop the scream that threatened to slip out.

“Let go of me!”

“Feisty.” He sneered against her ear and something inside her snapped.

Maybe it was exhaustion? Heartbreak?

Maybe she had swallowed so much pain over the years that she had no more room for fear. Or maybe it was the sheer will to give her baby a chance to live.

Whatever it was, it gave her enough strength to remember the skills her father had taught her when she was just a child. Her elbow slammed backward hard into his ribs. The rogue cursed loudly and loosened his grip just enough for Sophia to twist herself free instantly and shove him away with all her strength.

“Stupid b***h!”

Another rogue lunged toward her. Sophia ducked barely in time as claws sliced through the air above her head. Her wolf, Layla surged forward fury burning through her veins despite her exhaustion. She shifted partially without thinking.

Claws. Fangs. Golden eyes glowing in the dark. The rouges paused briefly in surprise. Sophia used it to her advantage. She launched forward and drove her claws across one rogue’s face. Blood splattered instantly and he howled in pain. The second rogue grabbed her arm before she could move again, claws digging painfully into her skin. Sophia cried out and bit down hard on his wrist. Hard enough that she tasted blood. The rogue roared and threw her backward violently. She crashed against a tree trunk hard enough to knock the breath from her lungs. Pain shot through her side and her vision blurred. The tallest rogue stalked towards her slowly now, his expression no longer amused. “Should’ve stayed obedient” he growled. Sophia forced herself upright despite the pain pulsing through her body. The rogue lunged and Sophia moved on pure instinct. She grabbed the broken branch near her feet and drove it straight into his shoulder. The rogue screamed, falling to his knees and she ran as fast as she could despite the pain.

Alpha Zayden Black woke up before sunrise. He always did. The Blood Moon territory still slept beneath darkness as he stepped onto the balcony outside his room, cold air brushing against his skin. Below him, thick forests stretched endlessly beneath the fading moonlight while patrol wolves moved quietly between the trees. Silent. Alert. Blood Moon never truly slept. Zayden rested his forearms against the railing, silver eyes scanning the territory automatically. Years of being Alpha had trained him to notice everything. Unfamiliar scents, strange movements, shifts in the air most wolves ignored. Nothing escaped him for long. A knock sounded behind him. “Enter.” The door opened immediately. Damon Reyes walked inside carrying his usual joyous expression. Beta of Blood Moon. Zayden’s oldest friend. “North patrol checked in,” Damon said. “Two rogues near the river yesterday. Probably gone by now.” “Probably isn’t good enough.” Damon rolled his eyes. “Good morning to you too.” Zayden ignored him completely. The Beta stepped beside him on the balcony, both men watching the territory below in silence for a moment. Most packs feared Blood Moon. Which was good. Fear kept enemies cautious. Zayden had spent years building Blood Moon into the strongest territory in the region. Discipline. Loyalty. Strength. Weak wolves didn’t survive here. Yet despite the terrifying stories outsiders spread about them, Blood Moon had rules. One of them was simple. Nobody harmed other pack members. Especially, women or children. Ever. “You’re brooding again,” Damon said dryly. “I’m thinking.” “Dangerous hobby.” Zayden finally glanced at him. “Patrol rotations changed?” “Already handled.” “Training?” “Handled.” “Eastern border?” Damon stared at him flatly. “Also handled.” A small smirk pulled briefly at Zayden’s mouth. The Beta sighed dramatically. “One day I’d love appreciation instead of interrogation.” “You’d get lazy.” “I hate you.” “No, you don’t.” Damon muttered something rude under his breath before leaving the balcony. Zayden stayed outside a while longer. The sun slowly rose over Blood Moon territory, light filtering through endless black pines. Wolves gradually emerged below as the pack woke fully — patrols changing shifts, hunters preparing for the day, younger wolves heading toward training grounds. Everything normal. Everything controlled. The way Zayden preferred it. By midday, the territory buzzed with activity. Zayden spent most of the afternoon handling disputes, checking patrol reports, and overseeing combat training near the western grounds. Blood Moon wolves respected strength above everything else, and Zayden made sure none of them forgot who led the pack. A young warrior hit the ground hard during sparring. “Again,” Zayden ordered coldly. The wolf groaned. Damon snorted nearby. “You enjoy terrifying them.” “They fight badly.” “They’re nineteen.” “They’ll die at nineteen if they fight like that.” Nobody argued with him after that. By evening, rain clouds gathered heavily above the forest. The air smelled strange. Wrong. Zayden noticed it immediately. His wolf stirred uneasily beneath his skin. Something unfamiliar lingered near the borders. A scent. Wolf. Female. Weak. Injured. Zayden straightened instantly. Damon noticed the shift in his expression. “What?” Zayden was already moving. He had no idea why he was going there. He would usually alert pack warriors to check it out but whoever it was had an effect he couldn’t explain on him. The forest darkened quickly as he crossed through the trees at unnatural speed, his beta and gamma not very far behind, boots crushing leaves beneath him. Rain began falling halfway there, cold drops soaking through black clothing while shadows stretched endlessly between the woods. The scent grew stronger. Fear. Blood. Pain. And something else. His wolf suddenly went still. Not threat. Not enemy. Something smaller. Fragile. Pregnant. Zayden slowed near the southern border. Then he saw her. A girl wandered weakly through the trees ahead like she was barely conscious. Mud stained her clothes. Bruises marked exposed skin. Her steps dragged unevenly like every movement hurt. Too thin. Too exhausted. Too broken-looking for someone so young. Zayden remained hidden silently between the trees while watching her. The female stopped suddenly beside one of Blood Moon’s border markings. A black wolf carved beneath a crimson moon. Recognition flickered weakly across her face. Fear followed instantly afterward. She knew where she was. Most wolves would’ve run immediately. Instead, her knees buckled beneath her. Zayden moved before she hit the ground. He caught her easily against his chest just before impact. The female flinched instinctively even unconscious, like she expected pain even now. Something dark twisted violently inside him at that realization. Zayden looked down at her properly for the first time. Tear tracks stained her face. Fresh rejection marks scarred her scent. And despite being unconscious, one hand rested protectively over her stomach. His jaw tightened immediately. Someone had done this to her. Around him, Blood Moon patrol wolves slowly emerged from the trees. One of them frowned. “What do you want us to do with her, Alpha?” Zayden stared at the unconscious girl for another second. Then— “Prepare a room.

Sophia woke to warmth. For one terrifying moment, she thought she was dreaming. Warm blankets. A soft mattress beneath her body. The

faint crackling of fire somewhere nearby. Not the freezing forest floor. Not the tiny room beneath the pack house. Confusion pulled her awake slowly. Sophia’s eyes opened weakly. A large unfamiliar room greeted her, dimly lit by a fireplace burning along the far wall. Dark wooden walls surrounded her, decorated with deep crimson banners she didn’t recognize. Her body immediately tensed. Unknown territory. Unknown scent. Wolf. Powerful wolf. Sophia pushed herself upright too quickly and instantly regretted it when pain shot through her side. A quiet gasp escaped her lips. “Careful.” The deep voice startled her badly.