The Alpha Who Rejected His Fated Mate

Chapter 6: When She Wasn't Herself

Darkness.

It wrapped around Nyra completely.

But this time—

It wasn’t empty.

It was alive.

Breathing.

Watching.

Waiting.

She couldn’t feel her body.

Couldn’t move.

Couldn’t speak.

But she could hear.

Distant voices.

Shouting.

Calling her name.

“Nyra!”

That voice—

Ronan.

It reached her through the darkness, rough and urgent.

“Fight it!”

Fight what?

She didn’t understand.

Because something else was already there.

Inside her.

Stronger than her.

Why are you resisting?

The voice echoed, deeper than before. Older. Colder.

Nyra tried to respond—but she had no control.

“I don’t… want this…” her thoughts whispered weakly.

You needed this.

The darkness pulsed.

You were dying.

Images flashed suddenly—

Kael’s rejection.

The pain.

The loneliness.

The emptiness.

Her chest tightened even in this void.

They made you weak, the voice continued.

I made you strong.

“No…” Nyra whispered inside her mind.

Yes.

The darkness shifted.

And suddenly—

She could see.

Through her own eyes.

But she wasn’t in control.

Outside—

Nyra’s body stood still in the clearing.

Her glowing eyes fixed ahead.

Cold.

Empty.

Dangerous.

The hunters struggled against the invisible pressure crushing them.

Some had already fallen.

Others tried to move—

Failed.

Ronan stood a few steps away, his entire body tense.

He had seen power before.

He had faced death before.

But this?

This was different.

“Nyra,” he said again, slower this time. “Listen to me.”

No response.

Kael moved closer.

Ignoring Ronan’s warning look.

“She’s still in there,” Kael said. “I can feel it.”

Ronan didn’t argue.

Because he felt it too.

Faint.

Flickering.

But there.

“She’s losing it,” Ronan muttered.

“No,” Kael said quietly.

“She’s being taken.”

That changed everything.

Ronan’s eyes snapped toward him.

“What do you mean?”

Kael didn’t look at him.

“Whatever that power is,” he said, “it’s not just power.”

Silence.

Then—

“It’s something else.”

Nyra raised her hand slowly.

The air tightened instantly.

The remaining hunters dropped to their knees, their bodies unable to resist the crushing force.

Her lips parted.

“You came… for me…”

Her voice echoed unnaturally.

Layered.

Wrong.

Ronan’s jaw clenched.

“Snap out of it,” he said sharply.

For a split second—

Her eyes flickered.

Silver.

Then darkness swallowed it again.

Too fast.

Too strong.

“Not good,” Ronan muttered.

Kael stepped forward again.

“Nyra.”

Her head turned slowly toward him.

Recognition flickered.

Then vanished.

“You…” she said softly.

Kael’s chest tightened.

“I’m here.”

Big mistake.

Ronan’s eyes widened slightly.

“Don’t—”

Too late.

Nyra moved.

Faster than before.

She was in front of Kael in an instant, her hand rising—

And stopping just inches from his throat.

The air around them trembled violently.

Kael didn’t move.

Didn’t fight.

Didn’t even flinch.

“Do it,” he said quietly.

Ronan snapped his head toward him.

“Are you insane?!”

Kael’s gaze never left Nyra.

“If she’s still in there,” he said, “she won’t.”

Silence.

The forest held its breath.

Nyra’s hand trembled.

Her eyes flickered wildly—

Silver.

Dark.

Silver.

Dark.

Inside her—

She screamed.

Stop!

But the darkness laughed.

He broke you.

Her fingers tightened slightly.

Kael didn’t move.

Didn’t defend.

Didn’t run.

“Nyra,” he said again, softer this time.

And something inside her shattered.

Will Nyra regain control…

or will she become the very thing they fear?