All Chapters of Rejected, Bound to the Ruthless Alpha: Chapter 51 - Chapter 56

“ATHENA, IF YOU LOVE HIM—KILL ME BEFORE I KILL HIM.”Nyx’s desperate, soul-shattering plea echoed through the dark caverns of my mind, drowning out the roaring collapse of the stone walls around us.I stood frozen in the center of the subterranean vault. My right hand was raised toward Buck, my palm glowing with a terrifying sphere of pitch-black, crackling energy.One command. One single, fluid flick of my wrist, and I could tear the man I loved into ash.The realization sent a wave of icy horror through my blood, temporarily piercing the suffocating fog of ancient, ancient power that claimed my body.“Run, Buck...” I whispered again, my own voice fighting desperately against the demonic vibration echoing in my throat. “Please... run!”Buck didn't move. He stood ten paces away, his heavy broadsword hanging loosely at his side, his dark blue eyes locked onto mine with a fierce, unwavering devotion that defied the divine terror radiating from my skin.“I won't,” he said, his voice quie

“He was your father.”The four words struck harder than any physical blow I had ever taken. They sliced through the chaotic noise of the subterranean vault, shattering the fragile reality I had spent twenty-two years building.I stared blindly at the First Alpha’s shadowy presence swirling around my brother's possessed frame.“My... my father?” I whispered, my voice sounding hollow and distant, like a echo in a void.Damon’s lips—curled into that dark, ancient smirk—parted as the creature’s multi-layered voice resonated from his throat. “Yes, little Luna.”“No...” I shook my head frantically, taking a step back into the dust. “No, that’s impossible! My father was a high-ranking Beta of the Moonborne! He died in the fire!”Across the chamber, my mother covered her mouth with both hands, her entire body wracked with silent, hysterical sobs. Beside her, the First Wolf bowed its massive, scarred head in mournful silence.Buck immediately stepped in front of me, his shadow casting a protec

“And now…” Gerard’s voice rasped like rusted iron scraping over bone. Beneath the dim, swirling haze of silver and shadow magic, the ancient obsidian dagger in his grip glinted with a sickening, lethal promise. “…we can begin.”He lunged.“BUCK!”My body moved before my conscious mind could register the threat. The burning mark over my heart flared into a blinding burst of heat, pushing me forward like a cannon shot. I slammed into Buck’s side with every ounce of momentum I had, taking us both airborne just as Gerard’s poisoned blade whistled through the space where his neck had been a millisecond prior.CLANG!The tip of the dark dagger struck the ancient marble floor right beside Buck’s ear, showering his face with razor-sharp stone splinters. Before Gerard could reset his stance, Buck’s massive arms locked securely around my waist, rolling us across the dusty stone until we slammed against the base of a fallen pillar.“Athena!” Buck gasped, his breath coming in ragged, terrified bu