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CHAPTER 65: Pinned Against The Pine
publish date:
2026-07-29 04:15:25The rough, frozen bark of the pine tree bit into my spine through the thick wool of my cloak.
The quiet vulnerability we just shared on the ridge vanished in a single, sudden heartbeat. Cullen’s massive frame trapped me entirely, blocking out the silver light of the moon. He didn't just lean against me; he caged me, planting his hands flat against the tree trunk on either side of my head. The raw heat radiating from his chest was intense, seeping through my clothes
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The Mate He Rejected CHAPTER 65: Pinned Against The Pine
The rough, frozen bark of the pine tree bit into my spine through the thick wool of my cloak.The quiet vulnerability we just shared on the ridge vanished in a single, sudden heartbeat. Cullen’s massive frame trapped me entirely, blocking out the silver light of the moon. He didn't just lean against me; he caged me, planting his hands flat against the tree trunk on either side of my head. The raw heat radiating from his chest was intense, seeping through my clothes and sinking straight into my freezing skin.I looked up into his face. His silver-gray eyes were entirely pitch-black now, the pupils blown wide as his feral instincts took complete control."Cullen," I breathed, the word hanging in a small white cloud between us."You smell like the snow," he rumbled, his voice dropping into a rough, jagged pitch that made the blood roar in my ears. "And you smell like mine."He
The Mate He Rejected CHAPTER 64: What A Leader Carries
I looked down at the frozen river, the painful memories of the last few days bubbling to the surface."I used to think Caomh was a good leader," I admitted. The words felt raw and vulnerable, slipping out of my mouth before I could stop them. "When I lived in the Silver Moon pack, I watched him handle trade disputes. I watched him sit at the head of the table. I thought he was strong."Cullen didn't interrupt. He turned his body slightly toward me, giving me his complete, undivided attention."But being at this summit," I continued, my throat tightening, "watching him interact with Bronson and Dreda... I finally see the truth. Caomh doesn't protect his pack. He protects his pride. Five years ago, I let him humiliate me on that dais. I let him slap me down in front of the entire territory because he needed to feel like a savior. He wanted a fragile Luna he could control, not a partner who challenged him."
The Mate He Rejected CHAPTER 63: Sneaking Into The Snow
I sat on the edge of the velvet sofa in our private suite, staring blankly at the dying embers in the stone hearth. The air inside the room was warm, but it felt incredibly heavy. For days, I had smiled at neutral elders, navigated the toxic whispers in the grand dining halls, and wore the untouchable mask of the Northern Luna.Every single interaction at this summit was a trap. Every polite greeting hid a threat. Every shared cup of tea was an opportunity for rival packs to probe for weakness.I rested my elbows on my knees and buried my face in my hands. My skin felt tight. The muscles in my neck and shoulders burned with a deep, persistent ache. I was exhausted. The sheer mental toll of pretending, of keeping my spine straight while surrounded by the very people who had watched my life fall apart five years ago, was finally dragging me under.Heavy, quiet footsteps moved across the thick rug.I di
The Mate He Rejected CHAPTER 62: Swallowing The Poison
CAOMH'S POVThe medical ledgers from the winter solstice were gone. The only evidence I had was the scent of a five-year-old child and a hushed conversation I overheard in a hallway. If I marched out of this suite and accused the Beta of the Silver Moon pack of orchestrating a false pregnancy to steal the throne, Bronson would deny it. He would point to my recent erratic behavior. He would point to my lingering guilt over Meghann. He would tell the elders that the stress of the summit had finally broken my mind.And the guards would listen to him. They would lock me in a cell for the safety of the pack, and Bronson would assume temporary control. He would win.If I wanted my pack back, I had to play the long game. I had to become the monster they thought they could control. I had to swallow the poison and smile.I forced my jaw to relax. I took a slow, deep breath, burying the raging beast deep
The Mate He Rejected CHAPTER 61: Refusing Her Fake Touch
CAOMH'S POVThe walk from the nursery back to our private chambers felt like dragging my body through a freezing swamp.My boots hit the thick carpet of the corridor in a slow, heavy rhythm, each step rattling the shattered pieces of my reality. The faint scent of damp earth and burnt ash still coated the back of my throat, completely ruining the taste of my own breath.Esme was not mine.I stared at Dreda’s back as she walked a few paces ahead of me. The pale pink silk of her robe caught the flickering light of the wall torches, flowing smoothly with every step she took. Just an hour ago, I would have looked at her and seen my Luna, the mother of my child, the fragile woman I swore to protect. Now, looking at the slope of her shoulders and the sway of her hips, all I saw was a parasite.She reached the heavy timber door of our suite and pushed it open. She didn't wai
The Mate He Rejected CHAPTER 60: Looking At Her Face
CAOMH'S POVThe stone corridor of the Silver Moon wing felt like a long, dark tunnel.I walked slowly, my boots dragging against the thick runner rug. The freezing rain from the storm outside battered against the high, arched windows, sending cold drafts across the floorboards. But the chill in the air was nothing compared to the freezing dread settling deep in my chest.Cullen Arden’s words played on a continuous, looping echo in my mind.You spend so much time worrying about what Dreda did, you are completely ignoring the man who holds her leash.I turned the corner, my shadow stretching long and distorted in the flickering light of the wall sconces. For five years, I had believed I was a strong, capable leader. I believed I had made a difficult, honorable choice to protect a vulnerable girl and my unborn child. I had stood on a dais, looked into the emeral
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