Rejected Before the Mark

I killed my fated mate, Alpha Kaelan, with a single stab, then refused his antidote and died from the poison.

The next thing I knew, the scent of blood filled my nose.

I forced my eyes open through the searing pain and found myself in Kaelan’s arms.

He was holding a blood-stained moonpetal herb, carefully cleaning my wounds.

For a split second, the worry in his eyes was so deep it stole my breath.

Just like all those times in our past life.

"You're awake."

The second he saw me watching, his face hardened into a mask of ice.

He shoved me aside, stood up, and wiped the blood from his hands.

"The herbs from the healer are on the table. Do it yourself."

I struggled to sit up, every movement sending jolts of pain through my nerves.

The poison from the Shadow Forest burned through my veins. My werewolf healing could barely fight it.

But I had succeeded.

I had retrieved the lost relic—the Heart of the Moon.

When I knelt before the Council of Elders and presented the crystal pulsing with silver light, everyone was stunned.

Including him.

And including the fragile figure hiding behind him, crying—Lila.

"Why did you do it?" Kaelan asked, his back to me. His voice was tight, laced with an emotion I couldn't name—anger? Fear? "You knew how dangerous it was."

"Because you needed it," I said, my voice strained. "The Silver Moon Pack needed it."

He spun around, his eyes blazing with fury. "Or was it because you wanted to force me to mark you?"

No.

In my past life, that’s exactly what I’d thought.

I thought if I sacrificed enough, proved myself enough, he would finally love me.

I was wrong.

"Kaelan," I began, holding out a trembling hand. "Can you... just hold me one last time?"

He froze.

"I've already told you, Selene," he said, his voice cold enough to cut. "I will not mark you. No matter what you do, no matter the price you pay."

"I know."

"Then what else do you want?" He took a step forward, his Alpha aura crashing down on me. "Are you going to use your power to hurt Lila again? Like you did before?"

No.

That’s not what happened.

I wanted to tell him I'd never hurt Lila, but it didn't matter anymore.

I ignored the searing pain and launched myself at him, wrapping my arms tight around his waist.

His scent—pine, rain, and something that was just him—instantly surrounded me.

This was the last time.

"I get it now," I whispered, burying my face in his chest, listening to the sound of his heart.

"Get what?"

"That we're not meant to be."

His body went rigid for a second. Then he pushed me away.

"What new game are you playing?"

I stumbled back, falling to the floor as I looked up at his cold, hard face.

The door slammed shut.

Silence wrapped around me.

I closed my eyes, and memories of my past life flooded in.

Finding out we were fated mates at the academy. Vowing to be the best Luna he could ever have.

Only to discover he had a childhood love he could never be with, the omega, Lila.

My powerful family, my own strength, and the glory of retrieving the relic forced his hand. He had to mark me.

And then, the news came. Lila had been killed by vampires.

Twenty years of being mated. Twenty years of torment.

We were like two beasts locked in a cage, tearing each other to shreds until we were both bleeding.

Until that silver dagger pierced his heart.

Until I heard his last words: "...you have to find out... who's been poisoning her all this time..."

Moon Goddess, we were both so wrong.

A second later, my phone rang, shattering the silence.

I snapped out of my memories.

"Selene? How are the preparations for the mating ceremony going?" Marcus's excited voice came through the line. "The site at Starlight Lake is all decorated. It's going to be beautiful under the full moon in three days..."

"Marcus," I cut him off. "Ask Lila if she has time to attend the ceremony."

"Of course! The whole pack will be there for your Luna coronation—"

"No." I stood up. "Ask her if she wants to be the Luna. And send her my gown."

Dead silence.

"Selene, what are you saying? The poison… is it getting to you?"

"I've never been more clear." I walked to the window and looked at the crescent moon over the distant mountains. "What the Alpha wants, the Alpha gets. I'm setting him free."

"But the Elders approved your mating! You brought back the relic! You're the strongest—"

I hung up.

A few seconds later, another call came in.

"Ms. Selene, this is the office of the Supernatural Council's Secretary." The voice was unfamiliar and formal. "Regarding your application for the Chief Mediator position..."

"We have unanimously approved your appointment," the voice continued. "The Northern Continent needs a strong diplomat like you."

An email notification pinged.

My hands trembled as I opened it. There was the official appointment letter, stamped with a golden seal.

A note was attached: We've been holding this position for you, Selene. You brokered the peace treaty with the Northern Fae on your own. You're irreplaceable.