Share

75. ARIANA

Author: Raji
last update Last Updated: 2025-05-02 13:05:35

The moonlight was different tonight.

Even with the weight of fatigue pulling at my bones, sleep didn’t come easy. Ryan stirred beside me, his small chest rising and falling with a rhythm that used to soothe me. Not tonight. Tonight, everything felt... off.

Lucas had left the tent a few hours ago — another emergency meeting, another report, another piece of the puzzle falling into place, but not fast enough. I stayed behind with the children, trying to cling to whatever peace I could still grasp.

But when I finally did close my eyes, I was no longer in the safety of our camp.

I stood in a field of ash.

The sky was black — not night-black, but stained, unnatural, like ink spilt across a canvas. No stars, no mo

Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App
Locked Chapter

Related chapters

  • His Rejected Mate   76. ARIANA

    Dawn hadn't broken yet, but the sky was already stirring — a bruised shade of purple and blue, streaked with pale wisps of light. The kind of sky that made you forget, just for a moment, that the world was on the brink of chaos.But there was no forgetting today.The camp was quiet in a way that didn't feel peaceful. It felt heavy. Thick. Like every breath was a reminder of what we were about to do… or lose.I stood at the edge of the barracks, Ryan strapped gently to my chest, his tiny heartbeat thudding against mine like a drum far too innocent for this kind of morning. Aurora clung to my side, her little hand tangled in the hem of my coat. She wasn’t speaking much these days. She just watched. Understood things she shouldn’t have to.Around me, people moved in silence.Warriors checked their packs one last time. Mothers knelt beside sleeping children, brushing their hair away from their faces, pressing kisses to foreheads as though trying to memorize the feel of them. Mates clung t

    Last Updated : 2025-05-03
  • His Rejected Mate   77. LUCAS

    The battlefield wasn’t quiet tonight. Not like before.It hummed — with the steady breath of wolves, hundreds of us lined up in formation, claws half-sunk into the soil, waiting. The scent of iron and ash clung to the air. Fires glowed in the distance — torches lit by the allied packs, forming a wall of flame behind us, a symbol of the unity we’d forged.For the first time in weeks, I didn’t feel the pit of dread. We weren’t just defending anymore.We were fighting back.The packs had answered our call. One by one, they’d arrived — warriors from the North, rogues from the East who bore no crest but stood beside us like blood kin, and older packs from the South whose leaders hadn’t stepped into war in decades. And when they’d seen Ariana — fierce, strong, her rare white wolf radiating something unspoken — they had pledged more than just warriors.They had pledged hope.I stood near the front, just behind the first defensive line. Ariana was beside me, human still, but already alert — h

    Last Updated : 2025-05-03
  • His Rejected Mate   78. LUCAS

    The battlefield was chaotic.Blood soaked into the dirt beneath my feet. Screams echoed across the field—wolf, vampire, even human. The stench of ash and iron burned in my nose. I moved like instinct, blade in hand, lungs heaving, every limb screaming from the weight of war.We had won the morning, barely. But they came again—angrier, faster, crueler. This time with spells that tore the earth, that turned the sky the color of fire. They didn’t care about victory. They wanted devastation.And I gave them hell.One vampire came at me, fangs bared, black claws flashing. I ducked, drove my blade through his ribs, twisted hard. He crumpled with a shriek, melting into ash.A second one lunged at my back—I barely turned in time to block. His claws sliced across my forearm, tearing through skin. I gritted my teeth, ignoring the pain, and slammed my elbow into his face.More came. There was no end.At some point, I lost track of where Ariana was. Or Jake. I was just moving—killing, blocking, g

    Last Updated : 2025-05-08
  • His Rejected Mate   79. LUCAS

    The battlefield was soaked in blood. The scent of iron clung to the air, heavy and choking, and I could taste it with every breath. My muscles ached, my wolf growled beneath my skin, but I couldn’t shift again—not yet. Not while we were surrounded by wounded warriors and smoke.We had won that day. Barely.But victory didn’t taste like glory. It tasted like ash.I was limping through the battlefield, checking for the fallen, calling out names I didn’t want to forget, when I heard it.A scream.Not just any scream. Hers.“Ariana!”It tore out of me before I realized I was running. I shoved past fighters, jumped over collapsed tents, stumbled through pools of blood and bodies—living and dead. I didn’t know who was still standing. I didn’t care. I needed to get to her.When I found her, I couldn’t breathe.She was on the ground, curled around her stomach, blood soaking through her armor. Her wolf—Saya—was already retreating beneath her skin, the shift collapsing from pain or fear. Her ey

    Last Updated : 2025-05-08
  • His Rejected Mate   1. ARIANA

    I woke up with a blissful smile on my face. Why would I not? After all, it's my birthday today. I turn 18 today and I finally get to choose my mate. Throwing off the covers, I jumped out of the bed and quickly ran into the washroom to get ready. Pulling out a white sweater and a white skirt, I wore it with my white stockings. Wearing my pink shoes to fit my outfit, I quickly applied my lipgloss and blush. Grabbing my bag, I rushed out of my room and ran down the stairs to meet my family who were waiting at the dining hall. My mom hugged me on seeing me and wished me.“Happy Birthday Ariana.” My dad wished me looking up from his plate. He is not a big hugger or even a man who shows his emotions.“Happy Birthday dear.” This was my mother. I put my bag on the floor and sat on the stool at the kitchen counter, beside my brother.“Happy Birthday Ariana.” This was my brother.“Thank you Augustus.” I gave him a smile which he didn’t return. But nothing could kill my mood today.“Are you exci

    Last Updated : 2024-11-30
  • His Rejected Mate   2. ARIANA

    Four Years laterA knock sounded on the door.“Xav! Who is it?” I yelled from the kitchen.“Coming.” He yelled back from the stairs and ran to open the door.I could hear some muffled dialogue but apart from that I couldn’t make out who it was. Oh, right. It should be Mrs. Paul, she said she wanted some recipes from me and she would visit us in the afternoon.Wiping my hands on the kitchen towel, I walked towards the door. “Is it Mrs. Pau—”Words got stuck in my throat.It was him.Lucas Klein in flesh, at my doorstep.“What the hell are you doing here?” I barked and Xavier held me back before I could kill him.“I–I just wanted to talk to you.”Wow, Lucas Klein and stuttering. I never thought that I would get to see the day where I would see the mighty and proud Alpha stuttering. Hell, I didn’t even think that he would want to see me after all that he said and did to me. “Then talk. Why are you here?” I folded my hands in front of my chest and his gaze fell onto my boobs.“Eyes up he

    Last Updated : 2024-11-30
  • His Rejected Mate   3. ARIANA

    Walking towards him, I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. He immediately wrapped his hands around my waist and pulled me closer, deepening the kiss. Pulling apart I rested my head against his and whispered. “I love you.”“I love you too.” He kissed my forehead and I smiled.“Sometimes, you cannot undo certain things. And one of those is betrayal. I lost something very precious to me when I met him and I can never ever get it back. And with you I found pieces of me that I didn’t even know existed. I am not talking about choosing but it’s always you for me.” He smiled and hugged me tightly and I hugged him back discreetly wiping my tears. “Thank you for telling me that. That’s the sweetest thing ever.” He kissed me all over my face, making me giggle at the wet, ticklish feeling.I escaped his grip and went back to the kitchen.Xavier followed me and hugged me from behind, kissing me on my neck. He bit my skin there and I hissed. “Don’t leave a hickey. I can’t cover it in s

    Last Updated : 2024-11-30
  • His Rejected Mate   4. ARIANA

    I woke up to someone raining kisses on me. I tried to shield my face and sleep but I couldn’t. He was relentless. Sighing, I opened my eyes and there he was. Straddling me but without touching me. I pouted seeing him so energetic and active while I felt tired and sleepy.He kissed my pout and I pushed him away playfully.“I am sleepy. Let me sleep.”“Come on baby, you must be hungry. Let’s get you some food and then come back here.” I ignored his comment and pulled the comforter over and closed my eyes.“Are you tired?” I nodded without opening my eyes. “I am sorry for being so harsh last night.”I opened my eyes and looked at him. He was feeling bad and demeaning himself in his head.Caressing his face I spoke. “I loved what we did yesterday, but it’s probably this pregnancy that’s making me so tired and lazy.” He leaned into my touch and I smiled at his act of his.“Sleep for a little while. I shall grab our breakfasts and be back.” He kissed my forehead and pulled the comforter up

    Last Updated : 2024-11-30

Latest chapter

  • His Rejected Mate   79. LUCAS

    The battlefield was soaked in blood. The scent of iron clung to the air, heavy and choking, and I could taste it with every breath. My muscles ached, my wolf growled beneath my skin, but I couldn’t shift again—not yet. Not while we were surrounded by wounded warriors and smoke.We had won that day. Barely.But victory didn’t taste like glory. It tasted like ash.I was limping through the battlefield, checking for the fallen, calling out names I didn’t want to forget, when I heard it.A scream.Not just any scream. Hers.“Ariana!”It tore out of me before I realized I was running. I shoved past fighters, jumped over collapsed tents, stumbled through pools of blood and bodies—living and dead. I didn’t know who was still standing. I didn’t care. I needed to get to her.When I found her, I couldn’t breathe.She was on the ground, curled around her stomach, blood soaking through her armor. Her wolf—Saya—was already retreating beneath her skin, the shift collapsing from pain or fear. Her ey

  • His Rejected Mate   78. LUCAS

    The battlefield was chaotic.Blood soaked into the dirt beneath my feet. Screams echoed across the field—wolf, vampire, even human. The stench of ash and iron burned in my nose. I moved like instinct, blade in hand, lungs heaving, every limb screaming from the weight of war.We had won the morning, barely. But they came again—angrier, faster, crueler. This time with spells that tore the earth, that turned the sky the color of fire. They didn’t care about victory. They wanted devastation.And I gave them hell.One vampire came at me, fangs bared, black claws flashing. I ducked, drove my blade through his ribs, twisted hard. He crumpled with a shriek, melting into ash.A second one lunged at my back—I barely turned in time to block. His claws sliced across my forearm, tearing through skin. I gritted my teeth, ignoring the pain, and slammed my elbow into his face.More came. There was no end.At some point, I lost track of where Ariana was. Or Jake. I was just moving—killing, blocking, g

  • His Rejected Mate   77. LUCAS

    The battlefield wasn’t quiet tonight. Not like before.It hummed — with the steady breath of wolves, hundreds of us lined up in formation, claws half-sunk into the soil, waiting. The scent of iron and ash clung to the air. Fires glowed in the distance — torches lit by the allied packs, forming a wall of flame behind us, a symbol of the unity we’d forged.For the first time in weeks, I didn’t feel the pit of dread. We weren’t just defending anymore.We were fighting back.The packs had answered our call. One by one, they’d arrived — warriors from the North, rogues from the East who bore no crest but stood beside us like blood kin, and older packs from the South whose leaders hadn’t stepped into war in decades. And when they’d seen Ariana — fierce, strong, her rare white wolf radiating something unspoken — they had pledged more than just warriors.They had pledged hope.I stood near the front, just behind the first defensive line. Ariana was beside me, human still, but already alert — h

  • His Rejected Mate   76. ARIANA

    Dawn hadn't broken yet, but the sky was already stirring — a bruised shade of purple and blue, streaked with pale wisps of light. The kind of sky that made you forget, just for a moment, that the world was on the brink of chaos.But there was no forgetting today.The camp was quiet in a way that didn't feel peaceful. It felt heavy. Thick. Like every breath was a reminder of what we were about to do… or lose.I stood at the edge of the barracks, Ryan strapped gently to my chest, his tiny heartbeat thudding against mine like a drum far too innocent for this kind of morning. Aurora clung to my side, her little hand tangled in the hem of my coat. She wasn’t speaking much these days. She just watched. Understood things she shouldn’t have to.Around me, people moved in silence.Warriors checked their packs one last time. Mothers knelt beside sleeping children, brushing their hair away from their faces, pressing kisses to foreheads as though trying to memorize the feel of them. Mates clung t

  • His Rejected Mate   75. ARIANA

    The moonlight was different tonight.Even with the weight of fatigue pulling at my bones, sleep didn’t come easy. Ryan stirred beside me, his small chest rising and falling with a rhythm that used to soothe me. Not tonight. Tonight, everything felt... off.Lucas had left the tent a few hours ago — another emergency meeting, another report, another piece of the puzzle falling into place, but not fast enough. I stayed behind with the children, trying to cling to whatever peace I could still grasp.But when I finally did close my eyes, I was no longer in the safety of our camp.I stood in a field of ash.The sky was black — not night-black, but stained, unnatural, like ink spilt across a canvas. No stars, no mo

  • His Rejected Mate   74. XAVIER

    Weapons don’t think. They execute. And that’s all I am now.The night air was thin at the mountain’s edge, sharp like a blade, but it didn’t cut me. Not anymore. My skin had long since grown numb to the cold — and to everything else. Below, the wolves burned their torches and sharpened their blades, clinging to hope like it meant something. Like it could save them. It wouldn’t.Behind me, the vampire commander hissed orders. His voice scratched at my ears, but I didn’t bother to listen. I already knew what needed to be done. “Xavier,” he called, stepping closer. “You will lead the eastern flank. Break their line. Go for the Alpha first.” I gave a silent nod. No resistance. No emotion. He didn’t deserve words.I didn’t speak unless necessar

  • His Rejected Mate   73. LUCAS

    Later, after the vampire was returned to his cell and the council notified, I found Ariana sitting alone near the edge of the camp. The firelight danced against her pale skin, casting long shadows behind her.She didn’t look at me when I sat down beside her.“I dreamed about him again last night,” she murmured. “But it wasn’t him. It was something darker… wearing his face.” I didn’t know what to say. So I said nothing.“I don’t know if I’ll be strong enough to face him,” she added. “You will,” I said, placing a hand gently on her back. “Because you’re not alone.”She turned to me, eyes brimming but unshed. “I’m scared, Lucas.”“So am I,” I whispered. “But fear doesn’t make us weak. It just means we still have so

  • His Rejected Mate   72. LUCAS

    The vampire looked nothing like the old stories said they would. I chuckled humorlessly at my thoughts. When did these bastards look like that?No long black cloak. No aristocratic smugness or silver tongue. Just a boy. Barely twenty. Skin gray, eyes glassy, limbs trembling. He was shackled to the post in our camp’s prison tent, the thick silver cuffs burning faint marks into his wrists.But it wasn’t the cuffs that made me uneasy. It was the silence. The way he sat there, head bowed, like a marionette whose strings had been cut. Ariana stood beside me, her arms folded across her chest, her expression unreadable. She hadn’t spoken since we walked in, but her presence alone filled the tent like a storm cloud.I cleared my throat. “Name.”

  • His Rejected Mate   71. ARIANA

    The scent of blood was the first thing that hit me when I woke up.It wasn’t strong. Not overwhelming. But it was there — metallic, raw, a whisper of death floating on the morning breeze.I sat up immediately, every muscle in my body tensing. Saya stirred inside me, her hackles rising.Something was wrong.I threw on a jacket over my clothes, not bothering to tie my hair, and rushed out of my tent. The camp was buzzing, warriors moving swiftly, the air heavy with tension. Lucas spotted me from across the clearing and hurried over, his face grim.“What happened?” I demanded before he could even speak.“Attack,” he said shortly, eyes scanning the

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status