All Chapters of The Alpha King's One-Time Rejected Mate: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

The halls fell silent following the ridge battle. An unsettling quiet permeated the atmosphere. Smoke still drifted above the pines, and the wards hummed steadily once more. Though wolves limped by and guards rotated, Talia's primary sensation was the absence of Lucian from the war room where she had anticipated him.A guard located her. “His Majesty requests your presence, Luna.”A knot formed in her stomach. Lucian's father did not summon individuals; he commanded entire cities. If he intended to address her alone, it signaled a cause for concern.His chamber was unexpected. There was no throne, no opulent jewels. Instead, it was illuminated by firelight, with maps adorning the walls. The King stood by the window, cloak draped over one arm, appearing as though caught between his duties and an older, more profound force.He nodded once. “Sit.”Talia complied, her pulse steady, though her wolf gave a warning. The King remained silent initially, gazing into the fire as if searching fo

Dorian sat stiff-backed in the shadow of the hearth, eyes fixed on the flames as if they could give him answers. His wiry frame was all elbows and sharpness, but there was something brittle in the set of his jaw. Not weakness. Not fear. Something else—an edge of grief sharpened into defiance.Amalia had not moved from his side since they dragged him out of hiding. Her hands rested loosely in her lap, but her gaze never left him. In the firelight, her eyes looked older, heavier, shadows deep with something unspoken.“You favor him,” Casius said quietly, standing near the window where the shutters gaped open to the night.Amalia’s lips pressed thin. “He’s Roland’s blood.”“That doesn’t make him safe,” Lucian cut in, his voice rough. He leaned against the wall, golden eyes never leaving Dorian. Savage prowled in the surrounding air, restless. “If the witches know he’s alive, they’ll hunt him. If the traitors inside our own council catch scent, they’ll kill him before sunrise. Roland’s bl

The council circle was packed, the air dense with winter smoke and expectation. Torches licked the stone walls, shadows climbing with every shift of the flame. Lucian stood at the head, his shoulders squared, the weight of leadership radiating from him, crownless. Beside him, Beta Casius loomed, arms crossed, his stare hard.At the center of the chamber stood Dorian. His clothes were plain, stitched at the hem from wear, and his boots still carried the marsh’s dampness. His shoulders were tight with the instinct to flee, but his chin did not dip. Amalia hovered behind him, one hand light on his back, steady. Her touch was not force but a reminder: You are not alone.The murmuring died as Lucian’s voice cut through the chamber.“Dorian. Grandson of Roland. You have lived in shadow, outside these walls. Yet you are not lost to us.” His gaze swept over the circle, daring anyone to argue. “From this day forward, you are claimed by the pack. However, understand that acceptance is not the sa

The path dropped sharply from the ridge, snow snapping beneath their boots. Wind cut in off the frozen lake, carrying iron and old stone. Obsidian Ridge rose behind black cliffs crowned with frost, ancient teeth guarding the shore. It had protected their bloodline for centuries. Today, it felt watchful. Uneasy.Talia stayed on the flatter sandbars; one hand anchored to her belly. The cubs shifted beneath her palm—three small, insistent pulses that never let her forget what was at stake.“Careful,” she said without turning. “The rocks glaze fast near the water.”Alina adjusted her footing, then snorted. “I’m not the one carrying the future of the kingdom.”But her gaze softened as it slid back to Talia’s stomach.“I can feel them,” Alina added, quieter now. “Kara hums when I’m near you. They’re bright. Strong. Moon-blessed.” A pause. “They glow.”Talia slowed. “You’re sure?”Alina nodded once. “They already know who they belong to.”Warmth spread through Talia’s chest—and fear followed

Talia hurried back to the pack house, her steps quickening with every beat of the bond. All day, Lucian had been in her head—sometimes his voice, sometimes the deep growl of his wolf—never letting her forget she belonged to him. A constant reminder, a steady drum in her chest: come home, mate.The babies kicked again, sharp and insistent. She pressed a hand to her stomach, smiling faintly. Impatient, just like their father.Talia quickened her pace as she made her way back to the pack house. Her bond hummed with restless energy, Lucian’s wolf growling through the tether, Kaela echoing the demand inside her head: hurry home. They shut her out of the whole conversation, but the message was clear—her mate was waiting, and he was eager to see her.Lucian was waiting at the door. He filled the frame like a shadow carved of muscle and stormlight, eyes locked on her the moment she came into view. Her pace quickened. The bond tugged hard, and when she reached him, she pressed into his chest a