The Alpha King's Rejected Bride

Training Tension

The training grounds behind Blackthorn Estate were massive — an open field bordered by ancient trees, with combat rings, obstacle courses, and a private shooting range.

I arrived in black workout leggings and a fitted silver sports top, hair tied in a high ponytail. The crescent moon necklace rested cool against my collarbone — a silent message.

Damien was already there.

Shirtless.

Sweat glistened on his sculpted chest and abs as he finished a brutal set of pull-ups. The moment he dropped down and saw me, his entire body stilled. His dark eyes traced the necklace, then slowly moved over my body with raw hunger.

“You wore it,” he said, voice low.

“Don’t read too much into it,” I replied, stretching my arms. “It’s just jewelry.”

A ghost of a smile touched his lips. “Whatever helps you sleep at night, little mate.”

Beta Kane wisely disappeared, leaving us mostly alone except for a few distant warriors.

“Ready to spar?” Damien asked, tossing me a pair of training gloves.

I caught them. “With you? Absolutely.”

We stepped into the main fighting ring. The moment we circled each other, the air thickened. Every movement felt charged.

He came at me first — fast but holding back. I dodged and landed a solid kick to his side. He grunted, eyes flashing with pride.

“Good,” he growled. “Again.”

We fought hard. Sweat poured down my back. Every time our bodies collided — his hand on my waist, my thigh brushing his, his breath on my neck — the mate bond flared hotter. He was clearly distracted by it too. His usual lethal precision was slightly off.

During one takedown, he pinned me to the mat, body hovering over mine. Our faces were inches apart. I could feel how hard he was against my thigh.

“Yield,” he whispered, eyes locked on my lips.

I bucked my hips suddenly and flipped him, straddling his waist. “Never.”

Damien’s hands gripped my thighs, thumbs stroking dangerously close to where I was aching. His breathing was ragged.

“f**k, Elara…” he groaned. “You’re going to kill me.”

I leaned down, lips hovering near his ear. “Good.”

Before I could pull away, he rolled us again, this time with me trapped beneath him. But instead of fighting, he just… held me there. Forehead pressed to mine.

“I missed this,” he breathed. “Fighting with you. Touching you. Even when you’re trying to hurt me.”

My heart stuttered.

For a second, I almost kissed him.

Then I remembered the photo.

I shoved him off and stood up, chest heaving. “Training’s over.”

I started walking away, but his voice stopped me.

“The woman from lunch… her father controls the eastern supply routes. I was securing them for your old pack. That’s all it was. I swear on the Moon Goddess.”

I turned slowly. “Then why did you smile at her like that?”

“Because I was acting.” He stepped closer, voice dropping. “The only woman I want to smile at like that is you. The only woman I want at all… is you.”

The sincerity in his voice made my walls c***k a little.

Before I could respond, Beta Kane came running.

“Alpha! We found the traitor.”

Damien’s entire demeanor changed. “Who?”

Kane hesitated, glancing at me. “It’s… one of the Silvermoon wolves who came with Alpha Marcus. He’s been feeding information to Crimson Fang.”

My stomach dropped. Someone from my pack had tried to get me killed.

Damien’s hand found mine instantly, squeezing. “We’ll handle this together.”

Later that afternoon, we stood in the dungeons.

The traitor — a warrior named Ronan I vaguely remembered from my childhood — was chained to the wall. Damien’s aura was terrifying as he questioned him.

But the man refused to talk.

Until he looked at me and sneered, “You think the Alpha King actually wants you? He only married you because of your bloodline. Just like Viktor wants you for the same reason.”

Damien punched him so hard I heard bones c***k.

“Speak to my mate like that again and I’ll rip your tongue out.”

I stepped forward, heart pounding. “Why did you betray us?”

Ronan laughed through bloodied teeth. “Because the real power is coming. And when it does, even the Alpha King won’t be able to protect his rejected whore.”

Damien moved to kill him, but I grabbed his arm.

“Wait,” I said quietly. “Let me try something.”

I placed my hand on Ronan’s shoulder and let my silver resistance power flow — the same healing energy, but this time I pushed it with intention. The man gasped as faint silver light glowed under my palm.

His eyes widened in fear. “What the hell are you?”

“Someone you shouldn’t have crossed,” I whispered.

He broke in under two minutes.

“The Crimson Fang Alpha has a bigger plan. They’re not just after territory… they’re coming for the Alpha King’s throne. And they have help from inside Blackthorn.”

Damien’s expression turned murderous.

As we left the dungeons, he pulled me into a shadowed hallway and pressed me against the wall — not roughly, but desperately.

“You were incredible in there,” he murmured, thumb stroking my cheek. “My strong, powerful Luna.”

I swallowed hard. The bond was screaming at me to close the distance.

“Damien…”

“Tell me to stop and I will,” he said, voice strained. His lips hovered over mine. “But I’m dying here, Elara. Let me kiss you. Just once.”

My hands fisted in his shirt.

I wanted it.

I hated how much I wanted it.