Elaine believes she has found her fated mate Michael until she learns he chose her sister Kathy and their unborn child instead. Abandoned by her family and pack, she’s forced to watch their mating ceremony. Broken and alone, Elaine must decide: will she accept her fate, or fight back?
Don’t look. Don’t look. She begged herself. But her eyes betrayed her. They locked on him- her mate, her fated-sinking his teeth into Kathy’s neck. The instant his fangs pierced her sister’s flesh, agony exploded through Elaine. It was as if molten fire poured through her veins, tearing at the bond she had once cherished.…
And then it came rushing back-the altar, Michael’s golden eyes pleading for forgiveness, Kathy tilting her head, the sound of cheers, the searing pain of betrayal. The marking. The bond shattering. And then… the pup. Her wolf had said it-we’re with pup. Elaine’s breath hitched. She clutched her stomach in panic. “My pup-what happened to…
“She… she said she doesn’t want any of you inside. I must respect her wishes.” Before Efrein could open his mouth and issue the order, Darius stepped forward, his presence instantly dominating the space. “Alpha Michael,” Darius said, his voice cutting through the air like a blade, “I need to speak with you about Elaine…
My body is alive, but my soul feels already buried, Would it not be easier to let go? To vanish into the void? To stop fighting and simply follow my pup into the afterlife where I might finally hold it, cradle it, protect it as I should have? My wolf stirs faintly at the thought,…
“You dare take a member of my pack?” Alpha Efrein’s voice boomed again, his power rolling through the hall like a storm. Several wolves bowed their heads instinctively, cowed by their alpha’s dominance. “She was yours once-a pack member,” Darius snarled back. “And you broke her. Her mate rejected her. Her parents abandoned her, favoring…
He glanced at Elaine again, whispering so softly that Marcus almost didn’t catch it. “Hold on, little one. You’re safe now.” “The doctor is waiting,” Marcus said after a moment. “He’ll have everything ready as soon as we arrive. Darius reached back, brushing a stray strand of hair from Elaine’s face. She didn’t move, didn’t…
Darius hesitated for a heartbeat, then answered evenly. “Her name is Elaine. She’s the daughter of the Silverblade Pack’s Beta.” His father’s sharp eyes narrowed. “Daughter of a Beta? Then how is she here? Is she your mate?” “No,” Darius said firmly. “She asked for a transfer. I agreed.” “A transfer?” Blaine’s voice carried disbelief,…
Darius clenched his fists against the desk, his mind turning over his mother’s insight. She saw it already, something he dared not yet admit, even to himself. Elaine was not simply another pack member seeking refuge. She was something far more significant, though whether she realized it or not, he could not say. The weight…
Marcus let out a low whistle. “I cannot believe he still dares to call her his mate after everything.” “Maybe he’s starting to regret his decisions,” Darius growled, pacing behind his desk. “But it’s too late for that now. Elaine is part of this pack. We do not abandon our own.” His wolf surged in…
His voice hardened, anger simmering beneath it. “What they did was cruel and unacceptable. Nothing will change that.” Before either Marcus or Evan could reply, Darius’s eyes glazed over, his body going still as a mind-link opened. Dr. Grey’s voice reached him clearly across the bond. “Alpha, Elaine is awake now. She is asking for…