Jayden
"We're here."I raised my head to confirm our location as the driver announced our arrival. My best friend and beta, Lewis was with me, and we were both attending the party of the daughter of one of my favourite investors.The Graysons are known all around the East Blue as the third-richest family in the kingdom. They are revered by everyone in the East Blue because of the wealth they possess.Grayson's family only has one daughter, Elena and she has just come of age. A party was thrown in respect of this, and I was invited as the Alpha of the pack.I would have turned down the invitation if my uncle hadn't insisted that I accept the invitation.I mean, why should I attend the banquet?Elena is a spoiled brat who thinks the whole world evolves around her. I never wanted anything to do with her nor did I want her around me.However, the situation is such that I have to attend this party as her father is an important investor in my company and I wouldn't want him at loggerheads with me.Putting on the best smile I could muster. I stepped out of the car. I adjusted my bow tie and brushed my hand through my hair.When I was certain that I looked good, I stepped out of the car and headed towards the entrance.I chose to make an entrance into the party through the back door because I wanted to keep myself hidden.I was never a party freak.I like my space and enjoy my privacy, but in this case, I had no choice but to attend. I had to honour the invitation.Dressed in a black suit and white shirt, Lewis looked dashing as he stepped out beside me."You should smile a little more, Jayden, you don't want to go about announcing your lack of interest through your face. It's a party and you should look happy."He was right.I should look happy, but how?How do I look happy when I am displeased about my presence at this party?I nodded in response to his advice and adjusted my trousers before moving inside.I was dressed in a blue tuxedo paired with a white shirt and black shoes. My brown hair was styled as a Caesar cut.Even though I wasn't happy to attend the party, I had to look good."Hi, baby."I looked behind me to see Melissa Aubrey, my girlfriend and would-be-chosen Luna.Melissa is the daughter of an oil mogul. Her father is one of the richest men in East Blue and her immense beauty was proof of that."Hi," I replied, nonchalantly."You look dashing in that, Jay," she smiled as she pointed at my outfit."Be respectful. This is a public gathering," Lewis cautioned and she rolled her eyes."Alright."Melissa didn't seem to take that well, but she also didn't dwell on the topic.Lewis and Melissa never get along and I wonder why.Neither of them like the other."Let's get a place to sit," Melissa intertwined her hand with mine as she led me to a private seating space."Welcome Alpha Jayden," Lady Estrella appeared to greet me.She is Elena's mother. The wife of Felix Grayson, and the owner of Greyson Pharmaceuticals, the largest firm in the field.Here in East Blue, the Graysons owned the biggest pharmaceutical company."Thank you, Estrella," I smiled in response."I'm glad you made it," she flaunted her hair and swayed her hips as she stepped aside for me to see the figure lingering behind her."Elena says hi." She said, ushering her daughter forward."Welcome to my party, Alpha Jayden," Elena muttered in her strange guttural voice.The lady has strange, yet funny features. She was beautiful, no doubt, but her outlook was amusing.She had short hair with curls. Her brows were thick and full. With full lips that were as red as roses. However, for someone with such beautiful facial features, Elena had a masculine physique and guttural voice."Happy birthday, lady Elena," I muttered in a low voice, as I tried as much as I could to stop myself from laughing.I just can't help laughing every time I see her. She was like a combination of both genders. She was more like a man than a woman.Even though the makeup made her look beautiful and her heavily studded Red dress made her look like a princess, it couldn't change her manly figure."You look beautiful as always," I muttered as I checked her out."Thank you, Alpha," she curtsied."We'll be around, Alpha," Estrella led the way and Elena followed as they went to welcome the other guests."Was she that beautiful?" Melissa taunted as soon as they were gone. "You couldn't stop staring."Beautiful?Is she kidding me?I was only staring at Elena because I couldn't stop wondering how she ended up with such horrifying beauty, but it seemed to have made Melissa jealous.I can't speak out my reason for staring at Elena either, so I just pacify her."I wasn't staring you know. I was just....."Before I could complete whatever explanation I had for Melissa, I felt my heart tighten and I could barely breathe."Excuse me," I turned away from her before she could notice that something was wrong.I was a guest at the party and it wouldn't look good if I ruined Elena's party. Estrella definitely wouldn't go easy on me.I released my bowtie as I walked out of the party hall.I needed air.I gasped for air as soon as I got outside, but I became restless. It felt as if I wasn't in control of my body anymore.What is wrong with me? I wondered as I walked further outside.I have never felt that way before.My wolf seemed to want to jump out. He was restless as well and I was finding it difficult to hold it down.I tried to listen to the voice of my wolf and I was surprised to hear what it had to say.'Mate,' my wolf cried.Mate?Could my mate be among the guests here?I spent years waiting for my mate but she was nowhere to be found.Not that it mattered to me who my mate was, but I just wanted to see who the goddess had chosen for me.When I didn't get my mate, I took my relationship with Melissa further and even proposed to her.She was everything I wanted in a woman. Strong, beautiful, sexy and daredevil. My exact type of woman.Why did my mate have to show up now?I walked further to at least get a glimpse of this mate of mine as my wolf wouldn't rest until he saw her.So, I followed her scent and arrived at the entrance of the Grayson Mansion. I looked around in search of her and the scent brought me to a small house.I wouldn't say it's a house, it looks more like a pen...where dogs are kept.Could my mate be a vet?Or why am I being drawn to a pen? Could she be in there?Letting my wolf take the lead, I went towards the pen and noticed that a man was about to lock it. I hurried my steps and went towards the pen like I was possessed.I tossed the man aside and leaned forward to take a look inside the pen.I was shocked to see a pregnant dog and a young girl.... lady. Crouched on all fours like a dog.Her hair was unkempt and rough. Her tongue was out as she breathed through her mouth like a dog. Her eyes dilated warily as soon as she saw me. She opened her mouth and I expected her to speak but I was stunned by the sound she made.She barked.I flinched and stepped backwards, too surprised to speak.What the hell?How could she bark like that?My heart raced as she raised her limbs and continued barking.What is she? I watched in awe.Is she a human or a dog?Could she have been born to a dog? Is that even possible?My mind was filled with thoughts of all kinds as I watched her, and just when I thought I had gotten enough surprises for one day, my wolf jumped and screamed, 'Mate!'~~~~~~Note:This book is the continuation of the rejected series. Pregnant And Rejected; His Wolfless Mate. It can also be read as a stand-alone.Welcome.ZorayaThe air in the dungeon was thick and damp, the kind of air that clung to your skin and made it impossible to forget where you were. The scent of blood, rusted metal, and the faint tang of mildew lingered like a memory you couldn’t wash away. My feet made almost no sound on the cold stone floor as I followed Queen Melody deeper inside, the torchlight flickering against the damp walls and casting shadows that danced like ghosts in the corners of my eyes.And then… I saw it.The cage.For a heartbeat, I froze where I stood. My breath caught in my throat so sharply it hurt, my fingers curling into the fabric of my dress without me realizing it.It was the same kind of cage I had grown up in. Every sharp, cold bar was a mirror of the prison that had defined my childhood.A narrow, box of steel that offered no comfort, no dignity, and no space to breathe.I could feel it all over again… the aching knees, the stiffness in my back, the way my ribs pressed against metal when I tried
MelodyThe battle was over, but my heart was still racing. The scent of blood lingered in the air, mixing with the charred smell of destruction, and even though the palace had been secured, I couldn’t rest. Not yet. My family was my heartbeat, and until I saw each one of them with my own eyes once again to make sure that they were truly unharmed, I would not breathe in peace.I started with Derek. He had been badly wounded during the northern assault, and the image of him bleeding was still raw in my mind. I found him in one of the large recovery chambers, the healers swarming around him with herbs and bandages. His usually mischievous eyes softened when he saw me, and I crossed the room quickly.“How are you feeling?” I asked, brushing a lock of blood-matted hair away from his face.“Like I’ve been chewed up and spat out,” Derek grinned weakly, but the smile faltered under my sharp gaze.“You scared me,” I murmured, cupping his cheek. “Don’t ever do that again.”“I didn’t plan on
MelodyThe adrenaline hadn’t quite faded when I handed Derek into the healer’s care. My hands were still slick with blood, but it was no longer from battle. It was from holding Derek. He was badly wounded and pale as he tried to insist he was fine while life drained from his shoulder.“Keep pressure here,” I told the healers, nodding at the gash that marred his ribs. “And give him wolfsbane-root elixir for the fever. He’s strong, but don’t take chances.”The healer bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty.”I took one last glance at Derek, his eyes already fluttering closed as the painkillers took hold, and turned back toward the hallway.Giovanni was nearby, bruised but unharmed. His sword still dripped with fresh blood, and his dark eyes followed me with concern.“I’m fine,” I said before he could ask. “Stay here with the king.”He started to protest. “But Mother—”“I said stay.”The words came out sharper than I intended, but he nodded, understanding the urgency. My mind was already racing ahea
Melody The taste of ash still lingered in my mouth as I dragged Estrella’s bloodied form through the scorched remains of Mallory’s palace corridor. Her body slumped behind me, her once-pristine cloth now torn and soiled from her futile attempts at rebellion. She groaned softly, barely conscious, her limbs twitching in the most pitiful display I had ever witnessed from the woman who once dared call herself my sister. Her rogues, what was left of them, stood frozen in the courtyards and shattered hallways as I passed, their horrified eyes fixed on the sight of their leader being dragged like worthless prey. I wanted them to see it. I needed them to see. Let them witness what became of the mighty Estrella, the wicked woman who stole my child, who ruined my family, and now dared bring war to my kingdom. “She’s down,” I called out, raising my voice with calm certainty. “Let every soul in Mallory remember this day. The day the traitor fell.” My boots thudded heavily against the
MelodyThe flames crackled in the distance, licking the edges of the northern wing of the palace, but I felt nothing, no fear, nothing. Only purpose.I had returned just in time.I stood beneath the archway of my chamber’s corridor, the heavy stone behind me now silent. Just moments ago, the underground passage had swallowed my attendants, maids and everyone who might’ve been caught in the storm Estrella had brought with her.They were safe. That was all that mattered.And now, it was my turn.I stepped through the scorched doorway of my chambers, the smoke thick in the air, curling like angry spirits. My once-beautiful tapestries had turned to ash. The silk bedding charred. My bookshelf had collapsed, tomes blackened and unreadable.Still, none of it made my pulse race.No.What caught my attention was the shrill snarl of frustration echoing through the chamber.Estrella.She stood in the center of the ruin, her silver eyes scanning desperately. Her nostrils flared, her claws exten
EstrellaThe moon hung heavy over the treetops, casting silver light on the valley below. From where I stood atop the ridge, the walls of Mallory stretched like a serpent in the darkness…ancient, proud, and soon to be broken.I exhaled slowly, the weight of my anticipation turning my breath to fog in the chill night air. The time had come.Behind me, hundreds of my rogue army waited in tense silence, their eyes glowing in the dark, muscles coiled like springs. I turned toward my commanders. “I want ten of our best,” I said sharply. “Silent, swift, and loyal. Send them through the hidden archway on the northern ridge. Elena said there would be only a handful of guards at this hour.”Darion, tall and dark-eyed, nodded at once. “As you command.”Within minutes, ten of my most lethal shadows were assembled, cloaked in black, blades gleaming faintly beneath their tunics. Without a word, they slipped into the darkness and began their descent down the rocky slope toward the wall.I watched