REJECTED BY THE ALPHA

Chapter Seven

Back in the forest...

Logan drove his fist into the rogue's chest, sending the man crashing through a cluster of trees; another rogue lunged from behind, he heard him before he saw him without turning, Logan caught the attacker's wrist, twisted sharply, and threw him into the dirt.

Then—

Logan... Help me...

The voice wasn't spoken aloud It echoed inside his mind Elena, her terrified voice echoed inside his head. He turned sharply, searching through the thick mist that covered the forest, but there was no sign of her. A horrifying realization slammed into him and his body went completely still.

The rogues hesitated, exchanging uneasy glances as they watched the terrifying Alpha suddenly stop fighting.

"...Elena?" he called her through the link but silence answered him. He turned in every direction, scanning the fog-covered forest, but she was nowhere to be seen. A cold knot tightened in his chest, she was gone. A dangerous stillness settled over him.

Even the rogues sensed it one by one, they backed away Inside him, Morgan snarled “Find her.” Logan closed his eyes, he focused on the forest surrounding, the wind brushed against his skin, the smell of wet earth, the distant rush of water.

His eyes flew open.

"A waterfall..." Morgan growled in agreement she's there without another word, Logan ran.Trees blurred past him as he tore through the forest at full speed, following nothing but instinct and the pull of the fragile bond connecting him to Elena.

A narrow path appeared between the rocks Logan slowed just enough to notice it "I've never seen this trail before." Morgan's voice turned grim. “A rogue shouldn't know about a place like this either.” Logan's jaw tightened "If they know hidden paths inside our territory..." He didn't need to finish the thought that someone had betrayed the pack.

Before either of them could say another word, a scream echoed through the night his heart nearly stopped "Elena." He moved forward and branches snapped beneath his feet as he ran.The roar of the waterfall grew louder until the curtain of rushing water came into view.

Logan didn't hesitate; he charged straight through it. The cave was colder than the forest outside, water dripped steadily from the ceiling. For a heartbeat...Everything stood still Elena was curled against the stone floor and her dress was torn, dark bruises stained her arms. Stephen stood over her, one hand gripping her shoulder while a cruel smile stretched across his face something inside Logan broke.

Morgan's roar shook his entire mind “that bastard is going to die today logan” morgan said with fury in his voice, logan rushed in and dragged the rogue by his neck "What the—" he never finished Logan's fist crashed into his face with enough force to send him slamming into the cave wall. The crack echoed through the cavern. Stephen barely had time to breathe before another punch landed, then another, blood splattered across the stone.

Logan wasn't thinking anymore, he wasn't questioning, he wasn't showing mercy, Every blow carried the terror Elena had felt, Every strike answered the fear he'd seen in her eyes Stephen tried to fight back, swinging wildly Logan caught his arm and twisted a sickening crack filled the cave.

Stephen screamed.

Logan grabbed him by the throat and lifted him off the ground as though he weighed nothing."You touched her." Stephen clawed at Logan's wrist, gasping for air, Logan slammed him against the wall dust rained from the ceiling "You thought you could take my mate?" Stephen's vision blurred; he couldn't breathe, couldn't think for the first time he was afraid.

Logan threw him across the cave. Stephen hit a boulder hard enough to crack the stone before collapsing onto the ground in a coughing fit, his mouth filled with blood, He staggered backward, desperate to put distance between them, His trembling hand brushed against the edge of the crystal-clear pool beside him. "I... I have to get out..." Panic overtook him "If I stay... he'll kill me..." Logan stalked toward him like death itself every step echoed. Stephen scrambled backward, desperately searching for an escape, An idea flashed through his mind and His eyes lit up.

"The water..." A wicked idea formed "That stupid girl..." He remembered how Elena had used it to distract him "If it distracted me ...It might distract him too." He silently dipped his hand beneath the surface, as Logan closed the distance between them, Stephen scooped up a handful of water and threw it at him.

Logan quickly raised his arm to block it, but the icy water slipped past his guard and splashed across his face. Morgan growled, Stephen didn't wait he shoved Logan backward and sprinted toward the waterfall, By the time Logan regained his footing the rogue was gone.

"Damn it." He took a step to follow, then he heard "...Logan." It was barely a whisper he turned Elena was still lying where Stephen had left her, she was trembling, her breathing came in uneven, shaky gasps Morgan's anger disappeared instantly.

“Our mate comes first” He slipped off his jacket and carefully wrapped it around her shoulders before kneeling beside her "It's over, I'm here, no one's going to hurt you again." he said softly. Tears welled in Elena's eyes "You came...I thought..." Logan brushed a damp strand of hair away from her face.

"Shuchh, I'm here for you." The moment his fingers touched her skin...Heat exploded between them his breath caught. Morgan inhaled sharply “The bond…” Logan pulled his hand away and stood up "No I already have Megan," he whispered. He looked at Elena; her cheeks were flushed, and her breathing had become uneven.

The mate bond had awakened, and her heat was growing stronger with every passing second. “The Moon Goddess chose Elena.” Logan closed his eyes, fighting every instinct that pulled him toward her. Elena whimpered softly, "... Logan..." His resolve faltered. He knelt beside her. "I'm here." She clutched the front of his shirt. "I... I don't know what's happening to me...i think its the heat"

"I know." Warmth spread through his body, and his vision blurred. Morgan took over “Let me protect our mate.” Elena looked into his glowing golden eyes and, for the first time since Stephen had dragged her into the cave, the fear melted away.

Outside, thunder rolled across the mountains.

Far below, Stephen stumbled through the darkness, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, hatred burned in his eyes "This isn't over." He wiped the blood from his lips. "I'll make them both suffer." The storm overhead answered with another crack of thunder. The battle was over, but the war had only just begun.