Lahat ng Kabanata ng Rejected Luna : Alpha's Promise, King's Claim: Kabanata 191 - Kabanata 200

BRONZEI shouldn’t have done that. I shouldn’t have threatened Venus like that. Why did I even say that? That didn’t feel like me at all. The last I remember is seeing Mallory on the ground and Venus standing in front of her. She looked angry so it seemed she hurt her. A part of me knew that wasn’t the truth. Venus won’t hurt anyone unless it comes to self-defence. Then what happened? Why were they even fighting? “Argh!” I yell as my head hurts like someone is pounding on it from the inside. Mallory’s voice follows me down the corridor. “Bronze! Wait!”I ignore it. I just don’t want to speak to her right now. Something about her does not feel right. Whenever I’m around her, I seem to lose control over myself. Is that how mates feel? Was that the reason my dad tried to protect mom even when she burnt my skin with a hot iron poker? I don’t want to become my dad! My steps turn fast as I feel her coming right behind me. I don’t want to be close to her. The walls seem longer than

VENUSHis eyes flicker with guilt but he quickly hides it. “I didn’t intend to do it. I’m telling you…”“Those are excuses,” I cut him off.His eyes flash. “Even if you are in trouble, you could have come to me. You could have told me. But you never cared to discuss anything with me.” I snap and swallow the lump in my throat as those old, bitter memories rush to the surface of my mind. I push them away as I don’t want to remember them. “The truth is, you always made decisions for the two of us. And for once, when I decided to do the same by rejecting you, you started to blame me.” He simply stares, as if he is at a loss for words. “That’s cowardly, Bronze.” The words hang between us.“Maybe,” I continue, my voice lower now, “you should figure out what you actually want instead of dragging me into your confusion.”His expression shifts into shock. I gather strength to say, “I know what I want. The moment you slept with Mallory, everything between us was over. So I simply decided

VENUSTwo days later, the packhouse is filled with people. Preparations for the gathering are everywhere. Servants moving back and forth, decorations being arranged, voices overlapping. I step into the venue where the celebration will be held, and scan the space. “Venus!” Olivia spots me immediately. Her face lights up as she hurries over to me, relief practically radiating off her.“Thank the Goddess, you’re here,” she says, like she wasn’t entirely sure I would be.“I said I would be,” I reply.She lets out a breath, then grabs my wrist lightly. “Come, I’ll show you everything.”She pulls me along before I can respond, leading me toward the dining area reserved for important guests.The moment I step inside, I know this is a mess. The seating arrangement is wrong. People who shouldn’t be near each other are placed side by side. The hierarchy isn’t respected.Even the menu is all over the place. Woah! So she wasn’t joking when she said she doesn't know much about holding events.

ROWANCarlisle’s punch snaps my head to the side. A burst of pain hits across my jaw, followed by the metallic taste of blood. He lowers his fists, watching me with narrowed eyes. “You’re getting sloppy.”I roll my jaw, tasting the hit again. “I’m fine.”“You’re distracted.” He says as he scrutinizes me. The private gym of my club echoes with the dull rhythm of our breathing. I refuse to agree with my boxing partner, even though he’s right. My head hasn’t been here all week. The thoughts of the royal council pressuring me to take a wife has been screwing with my head. But it’s not just them. All I can think of is Venus. I haven’t spoken to her. I have been avoiding her thinking that maybe the distance will help both of us move on. Instead it has made me and my wolf restless. Asgard has been staying up all night, telling me we should go back. I can’t! Because if I do, Thane might get an upperhand at the council. Nana can only do so much to keep them at bay. Feeding them fake prom

VENUSThe next day, I wake to the violent groan of metal doors being thrown open. The sound crashes through the dungeon like thunder, dragging me out of the shallow, restless dark. Light spills into my cell. I squint, pushing myself up, my head spinning as the world tilts slightly.I hear footsteps thundering towards my cell. Bronze stands at the entrance with Simon and three guards behind him, his presence filling the narrow space like something carved from stone. “The trial begins in an hour,” he says to me, his voice flat. “You’ll be presented as the accused.”There’s a slight hint of rage but other than that, there’s no emotion in his eyes. I stare at him, trying to find any semblance of the man I used to know. The one who was kind, just and loving. I can’t find that Bronze anymore. The one standing in front of me looks like a tyrant. “I hope,” I say as I slowly get up from the ground, “you realize before it’s too late.” He narrows his eyes at me, a hint of darkness reflecti