All Chapters of The Alpha Prince's Rejected Mate: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

KNOXI kneel there in the moonlit clearing, holding the ring that cost more than most nobles see in a lifetime, watching Aubrey's face cycle through shock, disbelief, and something that might be panic. The emerald catches the starlight, sending green fire dancing across the moss-covered ground between us, but her expression remains frozen in that same stunned silence.I didn't expect her disdain for me to be even more intense than the public indifference she's shown these past weeks. Every interaction we've had has been laced with barely concealed hostility, every conversation ending with her fleeing from my presence like I'm some sort of plague carrier. But tonight, when I found her talking to a crow—a fucking crow—declaring her hatred for me, the words hit like a physical blow.The whole scene was biza

JAXI lean back in my leather chair, savoring the expensive whiskey as I review the latest reports from my spies scattered throughout the kingdom. The amber liquid burns pleasantly down my throat while I study the carefully detailed accounts of fear and chaos my network has been sowing. Three villages reporting strange disappearances, livestock found mutilated in ritualistic patterns, families fleeing their homes in terror—all exactly as planned.My lips curve into a satisfied smile as I trace the red marks on the map spread across my mahogany desk. Each mark represents another step toward destabilizing Knox's future kingdom, another crack in the foundation of royal authority. The people are beginning to lose faith in their precious crown prince's ability to protect them. Soon, they'll be desperate for a new leader—someone strong enough to restore order to the chaos.Someone like me.A soft knock at my door interrupts my thoughts. "Enter," I call without looking up, assuming it's one

KNOX"You're an idiot," Iris declares from her position curled against Astor's side on the burgundy velvet sofa. Her dark hair spills over his massive shoulder as she gestures dramatically with her wine glass. "A complete and utter fool."I drag a hand through my hair, still feeling the phantom weight of that emerald ring in my pocket. The sitting room feels too small suddenly, the ornate furniture and rich tapestries closing in around me like a trap. "Thank you for your overwhelming support, sister.""She's right," Mom says gently from her chair by the fireplace, her emerald silk dress pooling around her feet. The flames cast dancing shadows across her face, highlighting the concern etched in her features. "Knox, darling, you can't just... ambush a woman with a proposal. Especially not after kidnapping her."Dad remains silent in his leather armchair, nursing his brandy and staring into the fire. His disapproval radiates off him in waves—not about the failed proposal, but about my in

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVENAUBREYThe wooden platform creaks above me as I huddle in the shadows beneath, my thirteen-year-old body trembling with terror. The sweet scent of crushed wildflowers mingles with the metallic tang of blood, creating a nauseating combination that will haunt me forever.Screams pierce the air—voices I recognize, people I love. My brother James's voice rises above the chaos, defiant even as death closes in. Then it cuts off abruptly, and something inside my chest shatters."Find the girl!" a voice commands, cold and authoritative. "She can't have gone far."I press my hands over my mouth to stifle my sobs, my heart hammering so hard I'm sure they'll hear it. Through t

AUBREYI nod firmly, meeting Knox's furious green eyes without flinching. "I know exactly what I'm saying."The rage radiating off him is palpable, making the air between us crackle with tension. His jaw clenches so tight I can hear his teeth grinding, and his hands fist in the sheets like he's fighting the urge to grab me and force his mark onto my throat."Do you have any idea what you're doing?" Aria's voice explodes in my mind, sharp with disbelief and fury. "You're disrespecting the most sacred bond between mates! Marking isn't just tradition—it's completion, recognition, the physical manifestation of what the Moon Goddess herself created!""I understand perfect