All Chapters of The Mate He Rejected: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The thick timber door to the suite’s foyer clicked shut behind Cullen, cutting off the loud, aggressive demands tumbling from Caomh’s mouth. I stood alone in the center of the private living area, my chest heaving against the tight silk of my emerald gown. The lingering heat of Cullen’s touch still burned across my skin, a stark contrast to the sudden chill creeping into the room. I could hear the low, vibrating rumble of their voices through the walls—Caomh shouting, Cullen responding with a dark, terrifying calm. I couldn't stay in this room. My skin felt too tight, my pulse racing entirely too fast. I grabbed a simple silver shawl from the back of the velvet sofa, wrapped it around my bare shoulders, and slipped out the side door that led into the neutral compound’s communal corridors. I needed air. I needed space to think. I navigated the quiet,

The fire crackled loudly in the stone hearth, spitting bright orange embers against the iron grate. I stood frozen in the center of our private foyer, my chest heaving with shallow, rapid breaths. The heat of the room did nothing to stop the violent shivering spreading through my limbs. "The southern corridor," Cullen repeated, his voice dropping into a dangerous, quiet register. He didn't move toward me. He didn't try to pull me into his arms or offer empty comfort. The intense, burning desire that had consumed us in the hallway was gone, instantly replaced by the sharp, lethal focus of the Arden Alpha. "Explain the security protocols for that sector," he commanded, turning away from the fireplace to face me fully. I swallowed hard, forcing my panicked mind to organize the chaotic rush of thoughts. I gripped the back of the velvet sofa, letting the rough texture ground me. "It&r

The crushing pressure on my chest vanished instantly, replaced by Cullen's protective shield. Caomh gasped, his eyes rolling back slightly as the invisible weight slammed into him. He stumbled, his legs shaking violently under the force of Cullen's fury. Cullen grabbed Caomh by the throat. He lifted the Silver Moon Alpha entirely off the ground. Caomh’s hands scrambled desperately against Cullen's thick, iron-like forearm, his boots kicking uselessly at the empty air. "Cullen," I breathed out, my hands flying to my chest as I caught my breath. "You dare," Cullen whispered. His voice was a lethal, quiet rasp that carried more terror than a scream. His silver-gray eyes were swallowed completely by pitch-black pupils. "You dare use your command on my mate." Caomh choked, his face turning a dark, bruised shade of purple. He couldn't speak. He couldn't even

The impact of my mouth against his was not gentle. It was a fierce, reckless collision of teeth and heat, driven entirely by the adrenaline still pumping wildly through my veins. Cullen froze. For a single, stretched second, his massive frame went completely rigid in shock. I had never initiated contact like this. I had spent five years hiding behind our strict rules, terrified of blurring the lines. But the girl who needed those rules was dead, left behind in the damp soil of the hedge maze. I tangled my fingers deep into the crisp fabric of his black shirt, pulling him closer. A low, vibrating growl tore from the center of Cullen’s chest. His hesitation vanished. His large hands clamped down on my waist, his long fingers pressing firmly into my sides. He opened his mouth, his tongue sweeping past my lips, tasting of dark winter mint and the rich, bitter coffee he drank that morning. The kiss

The cold draft of the stone corridor immediately chilled the damp sweat on my skin. I walked fast, my silver heels clicking a rapid, sharp rhythm against the floor. Cullen kept pace right beside me, his massive frame radiating a steady, grounding heat. We didn't speak. The crumpled parchment from Maddox was tucked safely into my jacket pocket, but the words burned hot against my mind. A Silver Moon guard had tried to scale the balcony. He hadn't fought. He had surrendered, asking specifically for me. To reach the holding cells deep beneath the neutral compound, we had to cut across the upper gallery. The open-air walkway overlooked the eastern courtyard, offering a clear view of the sprawling gardens below. The rain had settled into a steady, freezing drizzle, washing the scent of the morning’s hunt from the stones. As we approached the center of the gallery, the sharp, bitter scent of cedar drifted up from the dam