FADING CONNECTIONS

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• Marked for Ruin: The Alphas’ Rejected Mate   Kade

  KADEWhen I stepped into the house, I could hear my mother’s laughter ringing from the sitting room, and that destroyed any fantasies I had of being home alone.I was hoping she’d be out so I could process my thoughts quietly, but—wishes and horses, I guess.She seemed to be speaking with someone, which was a little strange. She rarely had anyone over, so I was curious to see who it was.“Hi, Mom,” I said, leaning against the doorway.“Oh, hello darling, you’re back. How was your day?” she said and broke into a smile.“Hello… sir,” I muttered without answering her question and turned my gaze to the man sitting next to her on the couch.He looked a little older than her, had dark hair and piercing blue eyes, but there was something about him. I couldn’t place a finger on it yet, but his presence made me uneasy.“Hey there,” he said in a thick Irish accent, and I arched an eyebrow. I had never heard anyone with such an accent before. Knowing he wasn’t from around here added to the littl

• Marked for Ruin: The Alphas’ Rejected Mate   Ella

  ELLA“I’m going to see Claire tonight. I finally decided to get the bond between the twins and I severed,” I blurted as soon as we were outside.I had been holding it in for so long and thinking about how to tell him about it—it just seemed sensible to get it all out without beating around the bush. “That’s… that’s great,” he stammered and tried to hide the grin that danced at the corner of his lips. “You’re getting it done tonight? How can I help?”“You’re not mad?” I asked and arched an eyebrow.“Why would I be?”“I don’t know… I didn’t tell you before deciding and I just… I think springing it up on you right now seems rather unfair and impromptu.”He chuckled and playfully pinched my cheeks. “You’ve got nothing to worry about, Ella. It was your decision to make anyway. I stayed away from the topic because I realized that nothing I said would convince you. You had to come to that decision yourself—and I’m happy you’ve done that.”“Thank you,” I replied quietly and started walking do

• Marked for Ruin: The Alphas’ Rejected Mate   Kade

  KADEThe seer’s last words replayed in my head. I shoved my hand into my pocket and shifted my weight from one foot to another. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Lucian staring at the door angrily.It was obvious that he was resisting the urge to bang on it or take it off its hinges so he could give her a piece of his mind. He had a look in his eyes that expressed how the entire session distressed him as much as it did me.“You were right, Kade,” he mumbled and cursed. “This was a waste of time. Let’s go.” He started walking out of the building with his head bowed.I followed behind quietly, terribly trying to find the guts to tell him the classic ‘I told you so’—but I couldn’t bring myself to. Yes, coming here seemed like a futile venture in the beginning, but now, given that I was getting time to mull over everything we had heard, an irritating wave of disbelief and anxiety enveloped me.I felt like I was missing out on something important, but at the same time, it was still

• Marked for Ruin: The Alphas’ Rejected Mate   Ella

  ELLA“You’re back,” Claire said, holding the door open before I could knock.“Hello, Claire,” I said and shoved my hands into my pockets. “Why does it feel like you were waiting for me?”“Hi, Ella. Come in,” she replied, holding the door for me as I walked in. “I was waiting. I knew you’d come back—I just wasn’t sure when.”“So you waited until I arrived. That’s not creepy at all,” I blurted, and she laughed.“If you call occasionally glancing at the door for the last few hours creepy or categorize it as waiting, then yes—I knew you’d turn up sooner or later. You’re a bit earlier than I assumed you’d be, but you’re here. That’s what counts.”“I had to make a decision at some point, and this seemed like the best one,” I replied, walking into the office.Something was different about the place. The air felt foreign, and I couldn’t put a finger on what was amiss until I glanced to the left and locked gazes with a parrot.“Meet Daisy,” Claire said, gesturing to the bird dismissively. “Ign

• Marked for Ruin: The Alphas’ Rejected Mate   BIAS

  BIASLucian and Kade listened attentively as the seer spoke. They had heard parts of the story before, but this version was different. In this retelling, Ella’s pack didn’t seem as weak and insignificant as previously portrayed.The Harper Pack, once believed to be dwindling and scattered—its members married into other packs and lacking territory—was now described as one of the most powerful packs. Even more shocking, the Blackthorns had gone to them to sign a deal.“I don’t believe this,” Kade muttered as soon as the seer finished speaking.“The Harper Pack is full of Betas and Omegas. The way I remember it, that Harper girl is the only werewolf left to carry on whatever legacy the pack had. There’s no way a Blackthorn—much less one directly related to us—would seek them out.”“The problem is… Actually, the way I see it, there are two problems,” Lucian began. “One, you’ve refused to see that there could be gems in places you wouldn’t look at twice. Two, you’re clinging so tightly to

• Marked for Ruin: The Alphas’ Rejected Mate   ELLA

  ELLAThat thought process was also problematic. I didn’t want to accept his offer of a relationship just because he was nice to me. When I looked at it that way, it felt more transactional than mutual.I needed it to feel like we both wanted it—more than me doing it because he was showing he wanted me in his life. I wondered if I could use this moment to my advantage.He could’ve taken me shopping himself, but he asked Eve to do it, and that pointed to something. If he was trying to get me to bond with his family through these seemingly small activities, then I would make the best use of it.“I won’t tell him anything. And thank you for doing this—I had a great time,” I said after a short silence.“I’m glad you enjoyed it, and no need to thank me. You’re practically family. I’d do anything for you,” she replied in her usual upbeat manner, and I smiled.“Besides telling May I’d like to work around the house?” I asked teasingly.She laughed and bit into her bun while her other hand held