บททั้งหมดของ Rejected then Claimed by the Alpha: บทที่ 71 - บทที่ 80

Serena’s POV The rain did not let up. It was steady and endless, pouring from the skies as though the heavens themselves wanted to scrub the earth clean. Ari had already soaked himself through, his little body darting between puddles, his laughter ringing across the garden like bells. Kael followed him with patient strength, every move sharp but playful, as if this Alpha who could silence a room with a glance had been reduced to nothing more than a father splashing in puddles. I stood under the covered porch, arms crossed, hair dripping at the ends, refusing to step into the storm again. My dress clung to my body like a second skin, heavy with water, and my shoes squelched with every step. I told myself I hated this. Told myself I wanted to drag Ari back inside. But watching them Ari throwing his arms around Kael’s neck, Kael lifting him high above the puddles, their laughter weaving together my chest ached in a way that scared me. Because for the first time, we looked lik

Kael’s POV The house had been noisy all day, but not in a cheerful way. People spoke in hushed voices, conversations cut off the second I stepped into a room, eyes shifting away like they hadn’t been staring at me a moment before. It wasn’t hard to guess why. Word spread fast in this pack, faster than fire in dry woods. By now, everyone had seen it. The ring on Serena’s finger. The way she walked beside me, not behind. They didn’t need me to announce it. They already knew. Serena was mine. I should have been on my way to the south sector by now. A meeting waited for me there, business about land rights and contracts, the sort of thing I handled without thinking. My jacket was already on, my keys on the table, but I hadn’t moved. Instead, I stood at the window, staring out into the dark yard, thinking of her. I kept replaying that moment, the way her hand trembled when I slid the ring onto her finger, the way she tried to hide her tears by pulling Ari close against her side.

Serena’s POV The voices reached us before the doors did, sharp and certain, each word thrown like a stone. “…a Luna who cannot shift is no Luna at all.” “…he is blind with desire. He endangers us all.” “…the Goddess will judge him.” Kael didn’t pause. His hand clamped around mine, solid, unyielding, his pace steady even as the noise thickened. The doors swung open beneath his push, crashing against the walls. Every voice inside died. Dozens of faces turned toward us, rigid with shock or rage. Elders at the long table. Betas and advisers scattered near the back. They’d gathered without him, and now they’d been caught. Kael didn’t bow, didn’t greet. He led me forward until we stood at the center, the silence pressing hard against us. One of the elders finally rose. Alric. His voice carried, sharp as a whip. “You shame yourself, Alpha. You bring her into this chamber as if parading a crown she does not deserve.” Kael’s head turned slightly, eyes cutting to him. “Y

Serena’s POV The next day came sooner . My chest hurt from how fast my heart was going. Every step felt heavier the closer we got to the circle. Kael’s hand stayed locked around mine, firm and steady. I didn’t know if he was holding me up or holding me down. It wasn’t a big crowd. Just a few elders, some wolves who had been curious to see if I’d survive this, and those who wanted to judge. Their eyes followed me like knives. Some curious, some waiting for me to fail. Kael never looked at them. His gaze was fixed ahead, like he didn’t care who was here, only that I was beside him. Elder Rhys lifted his hand. “Tonight, under the full moon, the Alpha takes his mate. A human.” The word hit me hard. Human. Like it was dirt in his mouth. My knees trembled, but I forced my chin up. I wouldn’t bow. Not now. Kael squeezed my hand once before letting go. His voice was low, steady, meant for me. “Just breathe. I’ve got you.” I nodded, even though my throat was dry. I could feel

Serena The fever had broken, but something else replaced it something hotter, deeper, crawling under my skin in ways I didn’t understand. I lay against Kael’s chest, listening to his heartbeat. The sound was steady, strong, but his body was tense, like he was holding himself back even as he held me. Light seeped through the curtains, soft and pale. I stirred, sore but warm, wrapped in tangled sheets and Kael’s arms. His chest rose and fell steady behind me, his breath slow against the back of my neck. I lay still for a long moment, afraid to move, afraid to break the fragile peace. The memory of how last night had ended, of how his hands and mouth had claimed me completely, wrapped tight, almost painfully, made a shiver run through me. My pulse quickened just from the thought. My body still ached from the night before, but it wasn’t pain it was proof. Proof that it had been real, that I was his in every way now. Carefully, I turned in his hold. He didn’t stir. His lashes cast