All Chapters of Rejected by My Mate, Fated to the Lycan King: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

(Hilda)Soren’s words stalk me all the way back to the pack house, slipping under my skin like thorns. Every step through the brightly lit corridors feels heavier, my pulse a frantic drum. I need answers. I need to know if any of it is true.Arlo has lied to me before. By omission if nothing else. The thought that he might be more monster than mate makes bile rise in my throat.As I near his study, voices seep through the thick oak door. One of them is his. The other one I know I’ve never heard before. It’s slick with something that makes my wolf bristle.I press myself against the stone wall, taking shallow, silent breaths as I strain to catch the words.“She’s proving to be quite the challenge,” Arlo says. His tone is clipped, devoid of the warmth he wraps around me when we’re alone. “But it’s only a matter of time before she yields. They always do.”Ice races down my spine. Is he talking about me?The other voice chuckles darkly. “You always did like a challenge. But remember, the

(Soren)The night is thick with tension over our camp. The fire crackles softly, casting long shadows and flickering light on the determined faces of those gathered around. Cerelia and Damon are here, their expressions mirroring the resolve we all feel, but the weight of uncertainty still presses heavily upon us.We sit in silence, the forest around us whispering its secrets, when a scout arrives, breathless and urgent, handing me a letter from Maelor. “Soren,” the letter begins, the handwriting unmistakably his, “I wish I could have delivered this message in person, but the dangers I face have made that impossible. What I’m about to tell you changes everything we thought we knew.”I read the words aloud to the group, my voice steady despite the unease growing in my chest. “It seems King Arlo might not be the mastermind behind the rituals. There are indications that he was being manipulated by someone within the coven.”“What?” Damon interrupts, his voice edged with disbelief. “

(Hilda)The tension between Arlo and me seems to dissolve into the stillness of the air, yet the turmoil inside me only grows stronger. My thoughts twist and turn, caught between the loyalty I feel for Soren and the undeniable pull I feel toward Arlo. But as the night stretches on, I allow myself to be enveloped in the warmth of Arlo's presence, feeling my resolve weaken.The forest around us is serene, the stars above shimmering as silent witnesses to our conversation. Arlo's words echo in my mind, laced with sincerity and a promise of something more. I can’t deny the magnetic attraction that draws me closer to him, even as I fight the conflicting emotions raging inside me.Arlo steps closer, his eyes never leaving mine. "Thank you, Hilda," he murmurs, his voice full of relief and sincerity. "I promise you won't regret this."A rush of emotions floods me. Hope, fear, and that undeniable attraction I can’t keep fighting right now.The connection between us is palpable, and as mu

(Soren)I pace back and forth in the clearing.Every passing minute feels like an eternity, my heart hammering in my chest as I wait, praying that Hilda will show up.It’s been days with no sign of her, but I keep my promise. I show up every night. I wait for her.I need to warn her. But more than that, I need her help to get to Lilith.I have no chance without the access she has to King Arlo. And the moment I have the proof I need, I will expose King Arlo’s deceit and protect the packs.I was so sure that she would see reason, that she would stand by my side against King Arlo’s tyranny.But doubt gnaws at the edges of my confidence, its claws digging deeper with every second that ticks by.I glance at the trees, their leaves rustling softly in the breeze. The sun filters through the canopy, casting dappled shadows on the ground.The serenity of the forest is at odds with the turmoil inside me.I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself.This has to work. Hilda has to understand. S

(Hilda)The morning sun gently wakes me from a dreamless sleep.As my eyes flutter open, they settle on Arlo standing beside the bed.His smile is soft, his eyes radiating a possessive love so deep it seems to reach into my very soul.“Good morning, love,” he whispers, his voice a soothing melody that makes my heart flutter.I return his smile, a warmth spreading through my chest that has nothing to do with the sunlight.“Good morning, Arlo,” I reply, sitting up slowly.Arlo extends his hand to me. “Come with me,” he says, his voice a soft invitation.We walk together out past the pack to the riverbank.He is quiet as we walk, but his hand grips mine tightly.When we reach the river he stops, his face etched with a pain I have never seen before.“Hilda,” Arlo begins, his voice low. “There’s something I need to tell you. Something I should have told you a long time ago.”“Arlo…” I say, looking up into his eyes. “What is it?”But the sound of rustling leaves interrupts our moment.We bo