THE BLOOD THAT WOKE THE WOLF

“I reject you as my mate.” For a second, I just stopped. Breathing, thinking—everything froze. His words lingered, heavy and sharp, hanging between us. I kept staring at Elias, half-expecting him to crack a smile or roll his eyes and say it was a joke. He didn’t. His face stayed hard, arm locked around Serena’s waist, her smile smug and twisted. My stomach knotted. He actually did it. Right here. In front of everyone. My mate tossed me aside. Someone whispered. Then another, louder. A laugh broke out somewhere in the crowd, cruel and echoing in my ears. That sound cut like glass—worse than anything Elias had said. I dropped my gaze for a heartbeat. Hundreds of eyes aimed at me: my pack, neighbors, people who watched me grow up. They’d seen me struggle with being the only girl who never shifted—no wolf, nothing. Now they saw me get dumped because of it. Serena curled closer to Elias. “You can finally stop pretending,” she said, voice ringing clear. A few laughs rose up. I stared at her. She grinned, daring me to cry. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction. I forced myself to inhale, shaky and painful. My eyes found Elias again. “Say it again,” I said. His brows pulled tight. “Aurelia—” “Say it again.” Quieter this time, but somehow it carried farther. The whole hall hushed. He looked right at me. “I reject you, Aurelia.” It felt like something inside me snapped. Raw pain tore through my chest, and I pressed my nails hard into my palms, willing myself not to cry. Elias looked away first. That hurt more than anything. “You knew I was wolfless,” I said. “Yes.” “You knew before the bond appeared.” “Yeah.” “And you still let me think you wanted me.” His jaw clenched. “I was confused.” I let out a shaky laugh. “Confused?” “Aurelia, what do you want me to say?” “The truth.” He sighed, staring straight at me. “The truth is I can’t spend my life tied to a woman who has nothing to offer.” My chest squeezed. There it was. The sentence I’d carry forever. Nothing to offer. I glanced down at my dress—plain, old shoes, weak hands that didn’t shift. Maybe he was right. Maybe I really was nothing. But I refused to break in front of them. I lifted my chin. “Then you should’ve rejected me before I loved you.” Serena’s smile dropped. Elias went silent, and for the first time, something flickered in his eyes—regret. Just a flash. Then gone. Serena tightened her grip on him. “Don’t look at her like that.” I nearly laughed. Even now, she was scared. Not of me, but of Elias feeling anything for me. I turned away. I needed to leave before the tears came, before I begged, before I did something stupid. I managed one shaky step. “Aurelia.” My father’s voice stopped me. I froze. He sat beside the elders, hadn’t moved once—not when Elias rejected me, or when everyone laughed. Not even when Serena mocked me. “Father.” He showed no emotion. “Accept the rejection.” I stared. “What?” “You heard me.” My throat tightened. “You’re telling me to accept this?” “You’re making a difficult situation worse.” I looked around. “I’m the one who was rejected.” “And you should behave with dignity.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “I’ve done nothing wrong.” “You are wolfless, Aurelia.” Quiet—but it shattered me. He looked away. “You knew this day might come.” I swallowed. “So that’s it?” No answer. I looked at all of them—Elias, Serena, my father. Nobody was coming to help. Nobody stood with me. I felt small. But I refused to bow. Wiped at the corner of my eye, catching the tear before it fell. “Fine.” Elias watched me. I managed a smile, probably the saddest thing I’d ever worn. “Congratulations.” Serena frowned. “For what?” “For getting exactly what you wanted.” I started for the doors. “Elias finally found someone who deserves him.” Murmurs swept through the room. I didn’t wait. I walked, step after step. My legs shook, heart cracked right open. But I kept going. I almost reached the doors, when— BOOM! The huge doors exploded inward. I stopped dead. Wood flew everywhere. Screams filled the hall. Pressure slammed over us, snuffing out the candles. Then—silence. Complete. Something shifted. The air changed. Everyone dropped to their knees. My father. The elders. Elias. Serena. Every single person. I stayed standing. Not out of bravery. I was too stunned to do anything else. Then I saw him. A man in the ruined doorway. Tall, broad, dressed in black. His hair dark, face carved and sharp as stone. But his eyes—silver, cold, absolutely unforgiving. Stories surrounded him. Everyone knew his name. Draven Kael. The Lycan King. The most powerful wolf alive. Even Alphas feared him. What the hell was he doing here? He stepped in. No one dared move. His gaze traveled around the room, dismissing the elders, ignoring my father and Elias. Then he saw me. Stopped. Something flickered across his face—shock, maybe even something softer. He looked at me like I was a ghost he’d been searching for, years lost. My heart hammered. He walked toward me, every step deliberate. I shrank back, but he halted, keeping his distance. He studied my face. My eyes, lips, the tears I tried to hide. Then his jaw locked. His voice came out steady, almost too calm. “Who rejected my mate?” Nobody spoke. The silence got heavy. Draven’s gaze swept the room. “I’m waiting.” Elias slowly dragged himself up, pale as snow. “I did.” Draven faced him. The air got colder. “You?” Elias trembled. “Yes, Your Majesty.” Draven turned back to me. Something flashed in his eyes—recognition, pain, maybe even anger, but not aimed at me. He stared hard at Elias. “Why?” Elias hesitated. “She is wolfless.” Draven didn’t blink. “And?” Elias hesitated, lost. “She has no wolf.” Draven stared right through him. “I wasn’t talking about her wolf.” The silence felt stranger than ever. I watched him. What did that mean? Draven focused on me again, stepping closer. I tensed. He stopped right in front of me. I had to tilt my head to meet his eyes. He was close enough that I could feel the warmth coming off him. Still, he didn’t touch me. His gaze softened. “You’re hurt.” I almost snorted. Obviously I was hurt. Rejected in front of my whole pack. But something in the way he said it sounded... different. Not pity, not disgust—almost private, almost personal. “I’ll survive,” I whispered. His eyes narrowed. “You shouldn’t have to.” My heart skipped. I didn’t know this man, didn’t understand how he looked at me like he did. “Why are you here?” He held my gaze, then said, “I’m taking you with me.” I blinked. “What?” “You heard me.” I stepped away. “No.” People gasped. Draven’s brows lifted. “No?” “I don’t know you.” His gaze locked onto mine. “You will.” “That isn’t an answer.” His expression hardened. “You’re not safe here.” I looked around. My father was still kneeling. Elias stared. Serena looked fit to burst. I returned my eyes to Draven. “If I’m not safe, just tell me why.” His jaw clenched. “I can’t.” “Then I’m staying.” Something almost like amusement touched his eyes. “You’re stubborn.” “You don’t know me.” His gaze deepened. “That’s not true.” My heart stuttered. “What?” He watched me for a long moment, as if he was searching for something in my face. Then he whispered, “Aurelia.” The way he said it sent chills up my spine. Not like a stranger—more like someone recalling a memory. Someone who’d said it before, a hundred times. His eyes softened. And then his next words tilted my whole world. “You don’t remember me.”