All Chapters of Rejected By My Alpha: His Second Chance : Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

Dawn broke cold and gray, the kind of morning that felt like the world itself was holding its breath. I stood at the edge of the ritual space Morwyn had prepared, watching my siblings take their positions in a circle carved with symbols that glowed faintly in the early light.They looked so young. Selara with determination in her eyes, Kieran's jaw set against fear, Lyssa trying to be brave despite trembling hands. Dorian adjusted his glasses one final time, Cassia offered a maternal smile to the younger ones, and Torin stood with shoulders squared despite his missing arms.So young. And in a few hours, they'd look older."The circle is complete," Morwyn announced, her ancient voice carrying across the space. "Once I activate the ritual framework, there's no stopping. You must maintain the connection until the cleansing is finished, no matter how difficult it becomes.""We understand," Selara said, speaking for all of them."Do you?" Morwyn's violet eyes were grave. "Because understan

The meeting with my siblings happened in the survivors' quarters, away from listening ears and political expectations. Seven of us crammed into space meant for comfortable privacy, now feeling claustrophobic under weight of impossible decisions."They want us to restore the kingdom," Lyssa said, her aged face showing disbelief. "Seven packs are considering pledging loyalty to a bloodline that doesn't even have a throne.""They're not pledging to a throne," Dorian corrected, his scholarly precision unchanged despite decades added to his body. "They're pledging to an idea. Service through sacrifice, leadership earned rather than inherited. That's what resonated.""Based on one act of cleansing corruption," Kieran countered. "They saw us age ourselves and decided that makes us worthy of ruling? That's not logic, that's desperation dressed up as hope.""Maybe," Selara said quietly, her silver-streaked hair catching lamplight. "Or maybe it's recognition that power without purpose has destr

The first crisis came before we'd even finished celebrating our revolutionary government.We were still gathered at the settlement entrance, the seven pledged Alphas discussing logistics with Magnus and my council, when the scout burst through the crowd. A young wolf from Morrigan's pack, breathing hard and bleeding from a gash across his face."Alpha," he gasped, barely able to speak. "The Eastern Ridge Pack. They're attacking our territory. Took advantage of your absence to launch full assault on our border positions."The words dropped like stones into still water, ripples of shock spreading through everyone gathered. Morrigan's face went from satisfied to horrified in seconds."How many?" she demanded."At least two hundred. Maybe more. They're calling it retaliation for pledging to the Nightshade Council." The scout wiped blood from his eyes. "They're saying you've betrayed wolf independence, that you've submitted to tyranny. They're using your pledge as justification for territo

(Lucien's POV)The Eastern Ridge supply camp was exactly where intelligence said it would be. Three miles behind their advancing forces, positioned in a clearing that provided good sight lines but terrible defensive options. Arrogance, thinking no one would dare attack their rear positions while two hundred warriors pushed forward.I crouched in the undergrowth with my ten scouts, watching guards patrol with lazy confidence. They weren't expecting trouble. That would be their fatal mistake."Four sentries," Marcus whispered beside me, the veteran scout's eyes tracking movement patterns. "Rotating every twenty minutes. Supply wagons clustered in center, medical tent on the east side. Maybe thirty non-combatants total.""Thirty we'll try not to kill," I replied quietly. "This isn't about massacre. It's about sending message.""What message?" Sarah asked, the young warrior who'd helped Aria before. "That we can sneak up on undefended camps? Eastern Ridge won't care about that.""The mess

The mate bond pulsed weakly, distant and muted, but present. Lucien was alive. That knowledge kept me functional through the morning as we coordinated with Morrigan's pack, ensured the wards remained stable, and tried to reach him through every method we had.Nothing worked. No response to messages, no acknowledgment of communications. Just that faint pulse through the bond confirming existence but nothing about condition or location."He might be laying low," Magnus suggested, reading my growing panic. "If Eastern Ridge patrols are still searching for whoever sabotaged their operation, staying hidden and silent makes sense.""Or he's injured and can't respond. Or captured. Or dying slowly in some forest while we celebrate victory." The words came out sharper than intended, fear manifesting as anger."Aria." Selara's aged hand touched my shoulder, grounding. "You need rest. You've been awake for over twenty-four hours maintaining that connection with Morrigan, coordinating defenses, m