Rejected And Reborn のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 41 - チャプター 50

Chapter Forty Two – Selene’s Bargain Nora’s POV The dungeon was thick with shadows, the stench of damp stone and rusted chains clinging to my lungs. My wrists ached from the ropes that bound me, but my heart ached more watching Axel kneel in iron shackles, blood dried on his mouth, his body trembling with exhaustion. Then the sound of footsteps echoed—steady, graceful, purposeful. The heavy doors creaked open. Selene stepped inside. Her gown trailed against the filthy floor, yet she carried herself as if the dungeon were a throne room made for her. Torches flared as if bowing to her arrival. Her eyes, sharp and gleaming, fixed instantly on Axel. “Unchain him.” Her voice rang like a bell, commanding, unyielding. The guards froze. Their eyes darted to the Alpha, waiting. The Alpha stepped forward, his presence filling the room with menace. His eyes narrowed into slits as he studied Selene. “Do you know them, Selene?” His tone was sharp, laced with suspicion. Selene didn’t flin

Chapter Forty Four — A Cold Welcome Nora’s POV The motor ride back to Axel’s pack felt like an eternity. My back pressed against the leather seat, but I hardly noticed the comfort. My eyes were on his hand, the hand that held mine. His grip was strong, almost desperate, as if letting go would mean losing me to the shadows waiting outside. He hadn’t spoken much since Selene arranged for his release. Only a few words, sharp, quiet, weighted. But every now and then, he would glance at me, and I could see what he wasn’t saying. This isn’t safety. This is a trap. When the vehicle finally rolled to a stop, my stomach knotted. The gates of the pack swung open, creaking with an almost ceremonial weight. Wolves gathered in the courtyard, some with widened eyes, others with whispers darting between them. And then I saw them. His parents. Standing tall at the steps of the pack house, they looked like figures carved from stone and memory. His father’s presence was commanding, though his fac

Chapter Forty-Five — selene’s calm hand Selene’s POV They left her on the bed and took him away down the long hall. I watched them go from the doorway and closed the door behind me. When their footsteps faded, the house felt softer, as if sound itself leaned toward me. I breathed slow. I had to steady myself. Nora’s face had been wet when she walked back to her room. The sight did not make me cruel; it made me careful. Emotions are like thin glass. A wrong move and they crack. I had learned to move around broken things without making noise. Axel was not an easy man to bend. He had a fire under his ribs and a wolf in his chest. He loved like he fought — whole and hard. That was one reason he would never be mine without help. Love does not bend packs or elders. But stories do. A picture. A whisper. A small moment made true by a thousand eyes. That is what I could build. I set the tray on the small table by the window. I had thought about this night for weeks. A quiet plan needs slow

Chapter Forty Eight– The Door of Lies Nora’s POV I could not sleep. The bed felt too cold, too empty. My chest ached with every breath. I kept turning on the small pillow, holding it close as if it could comfort me. But it didn’t. Nothing could. My mind was full of Axel. Was he fine? Was he angry? Or was he… giving in to them? I hated the thought, but it kept pressing into me like a sharp knife. I couldn’t push it away. At last, I stood up. My legs felt weak, but I forced them to move. The house was silent, everyone already asleep. Only the faint sound of night insects outside filled the air. Step by step, I walked down the hallway, my heart beating fast. I stopped at the big wooden door — the room where Axel was. My hand trembled as I lifted it, ready to knock, ready to hear his voice, to just know he was alright. Before I could touch the door, it opened. And Selene stood there. Her hair was loose over her shoulders, her lips curved in a smile that wasn’t kind at all. She lo

Chapter Fifty – Axel’s POV Duty The water was chilly, but I kept my hands immersed. My fingers massaged the dishes methodically, one at a time. I paid no mind to either the soap or the sensation of bubbles slipping down my wrist. None of that mattered. Just the silence at my back. Nora stood there motionless. Her eyes were reddened, her lips quivering, but she didn't utter a word. It pained me more than if she had yelled at me. At least then I could have replied. But this silence. it was as if a wall stood before me, and I couldn’t get beyond it. I wanted to reach out and touch her, let her know that she didn’t have to bear all this anguish, but before I could — The door slammed open. I didn’t have to turn. I knew. The air itself shifted, sharp and heavy. My parents. I kept my hands submerged with my wolf pacing within me. “What is this?” my mother’s voice chopped the room. The echo of her footfalls resounded on the floor. A loud scraping noise followed. It was skin rubbing ag