REJECTION: Fated To My Ex-Mate’s Brother

Chapter 006: What it means to lose everything

•| SAPPHIRE

“There’s no way Sapphire is your Luna-to-be,” Gavin said, his face holding nothing but anger and hatred toward me. And honestly, I couldn’t care less. “You have no idea the kind of person she is, Kaiden. You shouldn’t be with her.”

I scoffed.

Kaiden sneered. “Do you think I care about the kind of person she is, little brother?” he asked in a low tone. “Instead of being all over Sapphire, why don’t you make yourself useful by introducing your own Luna-to-be, huh?”

It was shocking to see Kaiden standing up for me. But I had to remind myself that this was strictly a deal between the two of us, and we needed to find a way to make people believe that we were actually together.

Gavin snickered. “Oh, my Luna will be here soon. And when she comes…” He trailed off and glared at me. “You two will definitely swallow your words.”

I shrugged. “Be our guest.”

Gavin snorted and walked back to his seat. Iris, the priestess, gestured for Kaiden and me to come forward, which we did.

“Present your Luna-to-be to the Alpha, Prince Kaiden,” Iris said, her face void of any emotion.

Kaiden held my hand and walked me to the front of Alpha Thane, who looked like he couldn’t wait to tear me to shreds.

“What do you think you are doing bringing Sapphire as your Luna, Kaiden?” Alpha Thane asked.

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. He wasn’t going to let this go, huh?

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about, Father,” Kaiden replied flatly. “Isn’t Sapphire supposed to be my Luna?” he asked.

Alpha Thane scoffed. “She is your brother’s mate!” he snapped, and everyone gasped. “And I won’t accept you bringing someone else’s mate here—”

“Now wait a minute,” I cut him off with a raise of my finger. “Don’t make it look like we’re committing an abomination here. With all due respect, Alpha Thane, Gavin and I are no longer mates. He rejected me, broke the mate bond, and chose Camille. Everyone saw how he disgraced me when I walked in here. So… Kaiden did nothing wrong by choosing me.”

“But—”

“I have a feeling this is becoming too personal, Alpha Thane,” I said, my gaze fixed on him, trying to remind him of what was at stake for him if he pushed me too far. His shoulders slumped and he let out a defeated sigh. With a lazy gesture, he urged the priestess to continue.

I turned to see Kaiden watching me from the corner of his eye. His eyes were squinted… like he was studying me. I blinked at him and shrugged, giving him an innocent expression.

After Kaiden and I returned to our seats, Camille was still not in sight. Gavin facepalmed, looking defeated. His current state brought a smile to my face. I wanted to take my phone out and film this moment.

We waited in silence while Iris spoke with the Alpha. Gavin was literally throwing daggers at me with his glare. But I didn’t give a damn.

“Alright,” Iris clapped her hands, drawing our attention. “Since Prince Gavin’s Luna-to-be is nowhere to be found, the Alpha has decided to pardon him.”

I scoffed. Of course he would. Gavin was his favorite. I’m sure he wouldn’t let this go if it were Kaiden. I turned to look at Kaiden, who had a blank look on his face. He was used to things like this, but still, I couldn’t help feeling sorry for him.

“So,” she continued, “we will continue the ceremony without her. Can the princes step forward, please?” she asked.

Kaiden and Gavin stood up and walked to where she stood. She made them face each other and cleared her throat. “This is going to be a test based on palace politics. I will ask a few questions. Your answers will determine your level of knowledge on matters that concern the pack.”

I bit my lower lip. Gavin might win this round. I’d taught him things like this when we were still together. But Kaiden? I wasn’t sure if he would know anything. After all, he was just a bad boy who spent most of his time at The Skull. There was no doubt he knew nothing about pack politics.

A few minutes into the test, Kaiden proved me wrong. Dead wrong. Turns out, he was even more grounded in knowledge than Gavin. My eyes widened as I watched him answer every question with ease while Gavin—the baboon, despite everything I’d taught him—stuttered through it all.

And I wasn’t the only shocked one. The Alpha, Luna, and pack members’ eyes were wide in shock too.

I smiled. Kaiden was impressive.

Kaiden aced other parts of the test, and soon it was time for the duel. This was the final step to determine who would be the crowned prince and successor.

Iris clapped, and the place in which they stood flipped, revealing a wide sparring ground with sand scattered across its surface. Wooden stands framed the sides, and the crowd’s excited murmurs grew louder. This was what everyone had been waiting for—the fight.

“Rules are simple,” Iris announced. “First to yield loses. No killing.” She gave Gavin a warning look, but I doubted he’d take it seriously.

Kaiden rolled his shoulders, his eyes locked on Gavin with a calm, calculated expression that made my pulse quicken. Gavin smirked like the arrogant jerk he was and cracked his knuckles for whatever the hell he thought he was doing.

When the duel began, Kaiden moved first—swift, precise, and completely in control. His strikes were sharp, forcing Gavin to retreat more than attack. The crowd gasped as Kaiden landed a clean blow to Gavin’s jaw, sending him stumbling backward.

My lips curved into a smile despite myself. I couldn’t help but admire the way he moved. Every hit was deliberate, every dodge almost lazy, as if he could read Gavin’s next move before he even made it.

But then Gavin’s expression twisted. His movements turned rougher and less disciplined. I knew that look on his face. He was about to play dirty. He swung for Kaiden’s ribs, missed, and then—in a move so quick most wouldn’t notice—he jabbed his elbow hard into Kaiden’s side.

Kaiden grunted, momentarily staggering.

“Hey! That’s cheating!” I shouted, shooting up from my seat. But Alpha Thane’s gaze slid past me as if I were nothing but an annoying buzz in his ear. His expression was perfectly neutral, though the faint twitch at the corner of his mouth told me he’d seen everything.

My fists clenched. Of course he wouldn’t interfere.

“Come on, Kaiden!” I yelled, my voice carrying over the crowd. “Don’t let him get away with that!”

Kaiden straightened, wiping a smear of blood from his lip. His eyes darkened, and suddenly, the fight shifted. He ducked under Gavin’s next punch and slammed his palm into his brother’s chest, sending him sprawling into the sand.

The crowd roared.

Kaiden didn’t stop there. He pressed forward, countering every one of Gavin’s desperate swings with brutal efficiency until Gavin’s legs gave out and he dropped to his knees, panting. Kaiden locked Gavin’s arm and twisted it, causing a shout to tear through Gavin’s throat.

Luna Darlene rose to her feet. “Kaiden!” she called.

“Yield,” Kaiden demanded, ignoring her.

Gavin glared at him, trying to twist out of his control, but his pathetic efforts were futile. When he couldn’t handle the pain anymore, he let out a muffled groan, his chest heaving. “Fine. I yield!”

Kaiden let him go and stood up, a smirk tugging at the side of his lips as he turned to look at Alpha Thane, who wasn’t pleased, but was trying desperately to hide it.

Iris stepped forward, raising Kaiden’s arm high. “The winner of the duel—Prince Kaiden!”

The cheers were deafening, but my gaze was fixed on Kaiden, who met my eyes for only a second before turning away, his expression unreadable. I smiled to myself.

The cheers were still echoing when Gavin growled and staggered to his feet. He wiped the blood from his mouth, his glare locked on Kaiden like he could set him on fire just by looking.

“Enjoy it while it lasts, brother,” he spat, loud enough for the crowd to hear. “Because when I steal that crown from your head and make it mine, I’ll make sure you regret ever standing here today.”

Kaiden didn’t even flinch. He simply stepped past him without a word, the calm in his stride making Gavin’s outburst look pitiful.

But Gavin wasn’t done. He turned his glare on me. “And you, Sapphire…” His lips curved into that smug little smirk I’d once mistaken for charm. “Don’t think being on his arm will save you. You’ll come crawling back to me sooner or later.”

A ripple of whispers spread through the crowd. I felt my jaw tighten. Slowly, I stepped forward, my fists clenched as I closed the distance between us.

“I’d rather marry a rogue than ever crawl back to you, Gavin,” I said, my voice steady, cutting through the noise. “And for the record…” My gaze flicked over him, lingering deliberately on his torn sleeve and bruised jaw. “Your pathetic little ass got spanked by the very man you keep underestimating.”

There were a few gasps and a stifled laugh from somewhere in the stands. Gavin’s face flushed crimson, and I knew I’d hit a nerve.

“Enough!” Alpha Thane snapped, and we all turned to look at him. “Step forward, Kaiden.”

Kaiden walked to where the Alpha stood and went down on one knee. The crown was brought, and the Alpha placed it on his head like he was doing a boring chore. “I hereby crown you the successor of Wolf Borne Pack.”

I snickered as I clapped with the people who actually supported him. I turned to see if I could find Gavin, but he was already storming out with his mother running after him.

I kept clapping, the sound sharp and deliberate, my gaze locked on Kaiden as he rose to his feet with the crown glinting in his jet-black hair. When his eyes found mine, I smirked—not for him, but for me.

Part one of the plan was complete.

Part two is when the real fun begins.

When I peel back every layer Gavin hides behind.

When I burn the things he actually cares about.

When he finally understands what it means to lose everything.

And I’ll make sure he’s looking right at me when it happens.