Semua Bab Rejected Luna : Alpha's Promise, King's Claim: Bab 11 - Bab 20

VENUSI notice how pale everyone’s faces turn at the news. Alpha King Rowan is going to be our instructor at this camp. The more I dwell on it, the more my body coils with unease.“But why? We have enough instructors here,” one woman in the group asks, a frown etched on her face. “Apparently, that’s the deal our Alpha made with the King. In order to run the camp, the Alpha has to allow him to join the camp as the head instructor. He’d be watching all of us and testing our strength.” Kent mutters, a scowl on his face. I can understand why everyone’s worried. If the Alpha King becomes our trainer, things are going to be harder. From what I heard, he is extremely strong, so matching his expectations will be tough for us. But why does he want to be the trainer? He can simply come here and watch the camp. Why participate in it? The questions swirl in my head, and I feel Sydney’s hand on my shoulder. She gives me a small smile. “Let’s train somewhere else for now. I’ll train with you,”

VENUS“What?!” Is he joking? I look at his aloof face and find no trace of a lie in it. He is serious. My heart beats rapidly in my chest. How will I fight the Alpha King? Sydney throws a sympathetic look towards me. I’m dead. Rowan and I make our way to the sparring grounds. The moment my feet step inside the chalk circle, my nerves coil like a tightened spring. Rowan stands across from me. “Don’t worry, pup,” he says, his voice relaxed yet firm. “Last five minutes against me. Stay on your feet and I’ll let you stay in the camp.”A flicker of hope sparks in my chest. This is it. My chance to prove him wrong.I nod silently, then begin stretching, loosening my limbs. I may not have a wolf, but I have trained well.I can do this.But then he takes off his shirt, and I immediately regret having eyes.My mouth falls open as sunlight kisses every sculpted inch of his chest and shoulders, and a wave of heat floods my core.No man that old should look that good. It should be illegal.A

BRONZEHer lips part, hesitation written all over her face. “But—”“I meant what I said,” I cut in, my voice firmer now. “Mallory is only filling your place… temporarily. You may not believe me right now, but I need you to trust me. I’m doing this for something bigger—something I can’t risk failing.”My gaze hardens as the truth of my resolve burns in my eyes. She sees it.“What is that important thing?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.I hesitate for a moment, then shake my head. “I can’t tell you. Not yet. I don’t want you dragged into this mess. It’s my fight and I will win it.”I gently cup her face again, my thumbs brushing her cheeks. “Once it’s over, I’ll marry you. I’ll make you my Luna, the way it should’ve been from the start. I don’t care what the pack says or what anyone tries to do. I’ll protect you from all of it. Because there’s only one woman I want by my side and it’s you.”Her eyes flicker with emotion, softening with hope. But she swallows it down before

ROWANIt’s six in the morning and I watch the trainees walk inside the field. “Line up all of you.” I order them and they stand in a line. It’s just past six in the morning. One by one, the trainees shuffle into the field. “Line up. Now,” I command. They don’t rush to obey. Instead, they move with the kind of entitled sluggishness that comes from being raised with too much privilege and not enough discipline. A few exchanged glances, silently challenging my authority, but none dared to defy me openly.A voice slips into my mind. Nile, my General. If an Alpha has his Beta, then the King has a general, the right hand, who handles what I don’t have time for.“I’ve gathered all the intel on the trainees,” he reports.“Send the files to my office. I’ll review them after training,” I instruct.“Understood,” he replies. Just before he cuts the link, I add,“Stay alert. There are too many eyes in Bronze’s packhouse,” I warn him, though he hardly needs the reminder. Nile knows better than a

VENUS“The training is over,” Rowan shouts, giving me a quick glance before marching out of the campgrounds. The trainees exchange confused looks, having the same question in their mind as I do. He barely fought half of them. Why end it now?My body feels like it’s on fire after fighting with him. What the hell just happened?I tried to focus on the fight, but it was impossible with his sculpted body in front of me and that scent. Cedarwood, fresh and wild, like the forest. It’s distracting. Too distracting.When he pulled me close to him, I felt my breasts grazing his hard chest. It felt like I was hitting a rock. Being close to him brings out strong sensations within my body, especially my core. But then I remember what happened with Bronze yesterday, and guilt crashes over me like a wave. I shouldn’t be feeling this way about another man, especially one that old.But… Can I even trust Bronze? Sure, he gave me the ring and brought me back to camp, but Mallory is still his Luna.My