All Chapters of Rejected by the Alpha King, Claimed by His Ruthless Rival: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The forest felt wrong after Kael arrived.Not just tense fractured. Like the land itself knew something unnatural had crossed into it and refused to settle. The rogues stood scattered behind Riven, silent but alert, every instinct sharpened. No one spoke. No one dared.Because Kael didn’t belong here. And yet he stood at the center of it like he owned the ground beneath his feet.Liana’s pulse hadn’t slowed since he stepped into view. It beat hard, uneven, betraying everything she refused to show. She kept her chin up anyway, even when his gaze locked onto her with that same suffocating intensity she remembered too well.He took a step forward. Then another. No hesitation. No permission asked.“You’ve made a mess of things,” Kael said, his voice controlled but heavy with something darker underneath.Liana let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. “You didn’t have to come here.”His mouth curved slightly, but there was no warmth in it. “I did.”“No,” she said, steadier than

The slap echoed through the rogue camp like a thunderclap.Liana's palm burned. Her arm still trembled from the force of it. Kael's head had turned with the blow, his dark hair falling across his face, and for one frozen moment, no one moved.Not his warriors.Not the rogues.Not Riven, who stood behind her like a wall of barely contained violence.Kael's head turned back slowly. His cheek bloomed red. His silver eyes, those eyes that had once looked at her like she was starlight were completely black."You," he said quietly, "should not have done that."Liana's heart hammered. But she did not step back. "You should not have come here."Something in Kael's expression fractured. His hand lifted—not to strike her, but to reach. To touch. His fingers brushed her jaw before she could pull away."I never stopped""Get your hand off her."Riven's voice was not human.It came from somewhere deeper than his throat. Somewhere ancient and merciless. The temperature in the camp dropped. Wolves w

The shelter door slammed shut, and Liana's world shrunk to four stone walls and one Alpha. Riven bolted the lock. His hands moved quickly, deliberately, avoiding her eyes. The room was small, barely large enough for a bed of furs, a table, a dying fire. No windows. One exit. A cage built for protection. Or temptation. "You shouldn't be in here with me," Liana whispered. Her voice shook. Everything shook. The heat had climbed higher during the walk here, burning away reason, leaving only raw instinct. "You think I don't know that?" Riven finally looked at her. His amber eyes were darker than she had ever seen. "The rogues are restless. Kael's scouts are everywhere. If they scent you like this" "Then leave me alone. Lock me in and walk away." "I can't." "Why?" He didn't answer. Instead, he moved to the farthest corner of the room, putting as much distance between them as the small space allowed. His back pressed against the stone wall. His hands curled into fists at his sides. "St

The water ran cold over her ankles, but Liana welcomed the sting. She had slipped away before dawn, needing air that did not smell like Alpha tension and unspoken ultimatums. The river cut through rogue territory like a silver wound, peaceful and indifferent to the war raging inside her.She closed her eyes and let the sound of rushing water drown out everything else. Kael’s confession still echoed in her chest. Riven’s quiet patience still warmed places she had sworn would stay frozen.“You should not be alone out here.”She did not turn. Kael’s voice had become familiar again, low, pained, always on the edge of an apology she had not asked for. He stepped onto the riverbank, boots crunching against stones. “I am not yours to command anymore,” she said. “That has never stopped me from wanting to protect you.”Before she could answer, another presence pressed against her senses. Riven emerged from the tree line, shirt sleeves rolled up, expression deceptively calm. But his eyes, those

The prophecy scroll still burned in Liana’s memory when she returned to the cabin. Riven had been quiet during the walk, his hand hovering near her back. Protective. Watchful. Different.“You’re staring,” she said, closing the door. “You’re worth staring at.” He stood closer than expected. Her pulse stumbled. “The prophecy changed something,” she said. “Between us.” “It changed everything. You are no longer just a woman I want to protect. You are a woman others will kill to control.” He stepped closer. “And I refuse to let that happen.” Her back touched the wall. Heat flooded her chest.“Your scent is changing,” he said quietly. “The royal bloodline is waking up. Other wolves will sense it soon.” His fingers trailed down her jaw. “Unless they smell another Alpha on your skin first.” “What are you saying?” “I want to mark you. Not as a mate. Not yet. But enough that every wolf understands you are under my protection.” She should have pushed him away. Instead, she whispered, “Do it.”Hi