Chapter 3
Elena’s POV
Silence momentarily filled the air after I said that as if they were weighing things out and had come to a realization.
Severing our ties completely would be the best solution for all this mess.
For the entire year, I had been an exceptional Luna, bringing improvements to our pack in every aspect. I was even using my own money to finance everything because the Swiftridge Pack didn’t have enough finances of their own.
Well, they must have realized it.
If I leave, the pack would feel my absence so bad, and that would cause a massive stir in the pack as the members would significantly feel the impact of my absence.
I watched as Bryson clenched his teeth in frustration as if contemplating what he should do.
And by the looks of it, he wasn’t the only one who fell into a dilemma because not even a second later, I observed Glenda’s hold on his arm tighten.
She pulled Bryson aside and boldly talked to Elena with a raised chin. “I don’t think you’ll be daring enough to do that. Just to remind you, there’s a consequence in rejecting a mate. You might be a Luna, and Bryson might just be your chosen mate. That’s why you think you can handle it, but let’s face it: your body isn’t as resilient as a warrior’s body.”
It’s true. Rejecting a mate would severely damage your bond with each other, and it's like losing another part of you. Most higher ranks, like the Lycan family, the Alphas, Lunas, and Betas, usually find rejections manageable because of our natural strength, but it would still hurt so much.
Some low-level members like Omegas even died from it.
I smirked in confidence after hearing their so-called concerns. “Really?”
I was a direct-born pup from alpha, and I’m far more trained than warriors my age. I think I could handle it just fine.
Looking at Bryson with a smug expression, I arrogantly asked, “Do you think the same? Between the two of us, who do you think will suffer most from a rejection?”
Of course, I could be smug about it. I had been taking care of his sick mother for a year and all of the pack members. Even if they combined all of the pack’s money, they couldn’t probably pay what I’ve spent for them.
But then again, they probably think that I was obliged to do all that – to go far and beyond for them.
Trying so hard to keep his cool, he replied, “Is that even a question, Elena?”
Spreading his arms, he motioned to the entire pack. “Where else could you belong but here? Do you really think you can have somewhere to go if we reject each other and you leave here?”
My eyes suddenly went blank in pain as I was reminded of the family and pack I’d lost.
“That’s why…” He took a sigh, sympathizing with me. “I won’t reject you and put you all through that pain. It’s for your future, Elena.”
“Look, Bryson is already being so generous with you. You should be thankful.” Glenda clung her arm to Bryson again. “Don’t play tricks, okay? Don’t say such words like rejection, like you’re talking about the weather, just to seek sympathy from the members. It will make you look more… pathetic.”
Couldn’t handle her endless interruptions anymore, I finally spoke up.
“Who are you to interrupt us? This is a conversation between me and my husband!” I asked nonchalantly and signed for Zara to come forward.
Immediately, Zara approached us and bowed her head.
“Luna”, she greeted.
I nodded in Glenda’s direction. “Send this outsider away.”
“Right away, Luna.” Zara didn’t waste any time and came rushing to pull Glenda away.
As soon as her hand touched Glenda, I saw Bryson taking protective but hesitant steps.
Zara then halted a second and looked back and forth between Bryson and Glenda as she scolded them, “You two are very ungrateful!”
I watched her in stunned as she did that, and so was Bryson. He’s an alpha, so I knew he would burst because of that.
Immediately, I took a step forward to protect her. As he raised his hand in the air and was about to slap Zara, I moved in between them and grabbed his wrist, totally stopping him effortlessly.
I heard gasped from Courtney and Glenda while Bryson was looking at me with wide eyes, not to mention his jaw almost dropped from shock. However, I didn’t care how surprised they probably were that I was actually strong.
After all, they didn’t bother enough to actually get to know me.
“How dare you hit my people?” I asked in a cold yet calm voice that brought chills to their spine before I pushed him back and blocked his path from Zara.
My demeanor changed utterly as I exuded Luna’s power while I looked at Bryson with blaring eyes.
If Bryson weren’t an Alpha, he’d probably shiver as well.
“She’s the one who—”
“I don’t care what she has done or what happened. When it comes to my people, my Omega, I’m the only one who can punish them.” My gaze turned sharp. “They answer only to me and no one else.”
With that, I turned around and pulled Zara with me, leaving them in a haze of shock.
“Luna, are you okay?” Zara worriedly asked while watching me pace around the room as I sorted my thoughts.
I raised my hand and told her to wait for a second.
After a while, I heaved a sigh and went serious.
Looking at Zara, I saw her observing me, and I let out a small smile as I looked at her with conviction.
“I know what to do now.”
“That is…”
I smiled. If he couldn’t reject me because he needed me, then I’d tie his hands like he did to me.
Staring at Zara, I determinedly voiced out, “I’ll meet with the Lycan King.”
Chapter 4Elena’s POV“Let me in!” I shouted from the top of my lungs.The kingdom’s guard trembled with hesitation as he blocked my path. “Luna, you don’t have an invitation or access to the kingdom. You can’t…”“You’re much more powerful than these guards. Just push your way in!” Ava insisted, but this just wasn’t the power one had.We were in the kingdom, and there were rules to follow or great consequences would be faced. As much as possible, I didn’t want to use violence.Standing in front of the massive wooden border gate of the kingdom, I stood with grace while wearing clothes I never thought I’d be wearing again.I wore my booths, brown leggings, and high-class thin armor. Though it was lightweight, it could suppress even a silver sword. Wearing this, I was reminded of my days when I trained to be a warrior, my skills excelling even better than those of other male wolves, even my brothers.“Tell the King that I ask for his time. This is urgent and of great importance,” I insis
Chapter 5Bryson’s POVAfter the party and facing Elena, exhaustion got the best of me. That was partly due to the number of people I needed to entertain but primarily because of Elena's stubbornness.I could understand where she was coming from, though. She was right. I indeed vowed to her that I wouldn’t marry and love another woman aside from her. But that was before I met my fated mate.But what really took me by utter surprise was when she managed to block my hand. I could almost not move my hand when she grabbed it, but I think it was only because I was shocked by her action.“Yeah, keep telling yourself that.” My wolf mocked me.I tried not to mind him and just sighed. Soon enough, when Elena sees her fated mate, she’ll probably understand me.“Really? Will you?” Drake, my wolf, suddenly asked me.On cue, a sudden jolt of unknown pain cursed through my heart. Would I really be fine? But I mean, we were already married, she couldn’t go to him, right?But that thought aside, bein
Chapter 6Elena’s POVReacting quickly, I shifted to the side and dodged his arm, which was about to touch me. Then, I tightly grabbed hold of it and twisted his arm onto his back.He was momentarily shocked, but he moved by instinct as well and maneuvered his body to face me and free from my hold. As soon as he faced me, I raised my leg and sent a fierce kick that sent him to his back and knocked the tall vases behind him, causing a loud noise to echo everywhere.“What’s happening here?” Courtney, escorted by Glenda, rushed inside the room with a furious expression as she found her son fixing his dusted clothes in the middle of the shards of the broken vase.“Why don’t you ask your son?” I fired back and grabbed my phone from my desk before turning around and leaving, but Courtney suddenly spoke.“Wait! Don’t leave yet. I have something to say to you.” Courtney reached out and held my hand tightly as she called me out, successfully halting my steps.“What is it?” I asked coldly.She
Elena’s POVStanding on the podium of the pack, everyone was cheering for either Bryson’s victory or mine. We were wearing our training gear and mouthpieces as we circled each other calculatingly.“Just give up. Don’t hurt yourself, Elena,” Bryson warned.I smirked. “Put your worry to yourself instead.”With that, I made the first move and sent a hard punch to his stomach, which made him back away and whimper. He looked at me with utter surprise, unaware that I could fight.When many of the members stood up from their seats to cheer, I saw Bryson’s jaw clenched in anger, and the light in his eyes dimmed with seriousness.Okay, now we’re really on.We moved at the speed of light, sending punches and kicks to each other several times, but every time, I’d succeed in hitting him while I managed to block most of his attacks.When the right time came, I taunted, “Don’t take it to heart.”After saying that, I used my leg to put pressure on his until he fell, and then I used my arms to hold h
Elena’s POV“Wait, don’t—" Bryson looked at me in panic as he took a step forward near me. He reached out his hand, seemingly wanting to hold me, but I moved with agility and stepped back.Standing tall, I decisively and firmly uttered the formal separation of our bond. “I, Elena Dooley, Princess of Lycan Kingdom, reject you, Bryson Renner, Alpha of Swiftridge Pack, as my mate.”“Aghhh!”Bryson clutched his chest and bent down as he fell to his knees. His face grimaced, and his breathing became rugged. He couldn’t help but shout while his other fist was punching the ground, as though all of his actions would lessen the burning pain he was in.I froze on the spot and fisted my hands together while my breathing hitched. Though the pain would be felt more by the rejected mate, I still could feel a bit of pain and a slight sense of emptiness in me as the string that attached us was cut off.Courtney pushed me to the side and attentively crouched down to hold Bryson. Gazing up at me, she s
Bryson’s POVI looked at the woman who was taking steps away from me and wondered why I was frozen in my spot. The pain was still cursing through my body, and yet I felt so numb as I stared at her retreating figure.Why was I feeling affected?My eyes flickered when I saw Elena’s footsteps halting midway, but then my heart immediately tingled with unexplainable emotions when she continued walking until she vanished from my sight.My heart cramped in pain again, almost making me crawl if it weren’t for Glenda, who hastily supported me.“Bryson, are you okay?” Glenda asked, but I kept silent.‘No, I’m not,’ I thought as I pushed her away and went back to my study room in hopes of relaxing.“Here, drink this, Alpha. The pain should subside and be more bearable in a few minutes.” One of the pack doctors gave me a potion, which I immediately gulped down.The drink burnt through my throat, but it was incomparable to the burn and pain the mate rejection had brought my body.“What should we d
Elena’s POV“Home sweet home,” I commented as I got out of the car. I stood in front of the massive steel gates covered with vines and dust, a vivid symbol of how long I’ve been gone.I looked up at the sky and closed my eyes, feeling the cold breeze brush against my skin, and the familiar scent of the pine woods from the forest filled my nose.I miss this place.The first place I stopped by was the place where my family was buried. One after another, I placed flowers on their graveyards that surprisingly looked clean.“Whose there?” I shouted in alertness as I stood up and looked around.I couldn’t be wrong. I’m pretty sure someone was staring at me. Squinting my eyes, I observed every blow of wind, every movement of grasses and trees, and every sound in the surroundings.Shifting, I looked at the bushes not so far from me. “Come out! Now!”My eyes widened.“She’s just a child…” Ava uttered in shock.The little girl looked at me cluelessly, but her eyes were filled with fear. She kep
Elena’s POV“What did you say?” I furrowed my brows and looked at him calculatedly.My heart pounded loudly in my chest when he said that, but those were the kind of words that shouldn’t be said so quickly. “Jayden, this is not a small accusation. You shouldn’t be saying this like this recklessly.”Unfazed, he stood up straight and confidently shook his head, explaining, “I’m not, Alpha Elena. I’ve been thinking about it, and after reminiscing about the past, I can’t help but think there’s more to what we know.”The past? What made him think so?I leaned back on my chair and gave him my full attention. “Elaborate.”“When your father, Alpha Daco, and your brothers successfully won the battle against the rogues, the Rogues didn’t attack us for revenge. Why wait for a year before they attacked us?”I remembered that. For decades, the Rogues and the kingdom had been fighting at the border to claim the Withered Hinterland, which was rich in Blood Cress and Mountain Mace—the golden herbs fo
King Desmond’s POVAs soon as the door closed behind Elena, I cracked up laughing. Looking at my Mom while pointing at the door, I said, “Did you see her face? I haven’t seen Elena that flustered since we were kids when she fell into the pond!”My mom walked slowly toward me with narrowed eyes before she slapped me on the back of my head. “Mom! I’m the king!”She raised her brows strictly like she used to do when I was being naughty as a kid. With her arms on her hips, she firmly stated, “And I’m your mother.”Frowning, she sat opposite her and shook her head. “She’s not that little girl anymore, Desmond. Don’t keep teasing her. She already endured more than enough with the tragedy she faced.”“I wasn’t being cruel, Mom. I just wanted to see…” My smile widened as I continued, “I just want to see if there’s really a spark.”She shook her head like she had had enough of me and waved her hand in dismissal. “If you’re too bored, go back to your Luna to play instead of playing cupid or wha
Elena’s POVNot even for a second did I question Deacon’s choices during the battle. Not back then, and not now.The trust I had in him wasn’t blind either. It was earned. It was built steadily through everything I’d witnessed, from the way he carried himself among the ranks to the way his soldiers listened to him without hesitation. He was calculating. Fair. A strategist through and through. And that’s one of the many reasons why I admire him not only as a person but also as a leader.And besides, whatever personal disagreements Bryson and I might’ve had, they had no place on the battlefield. In war, we fought as one. We bled under the same purpose.That’s why when the king asked me such a question, where he was obviously trying to find dirt on Deacon, I got irritated a little, which I tried hard to hide. He was still, after all, the King.When I didn’t respond right away, King Desmond leaned back in his chair in a relaxed manner, but his calculating eyes didn’t escape my gaze. He
Elena’s POVQueen Liz and I laughed at Zara’s sudden outburst.“Seemed like I wasn’t the only one triggered by the Duchess’ words,” Queen Liz said, making all of us laugh.Suddenly, despite the scorching heat outside and the torment the Duchess tried to throw at my way, being in here made things feel a bit lighter.“This juice is a lifesaver. I thought my skin would melt on that walk back,” I exaggeratedly said as I gulped another glass in one go.Leaning back to her seat with her head back and arms spread, Zara complained, “Oh, tell me about it, Princess. I can barely feel my legs!”“But seriously, the same woman now dreads your next visit. Elena, you’ve just made life here in this dull palace a whole level more exciting,” Queen Liz uttered before taking a sip of her drink.She didn’t even look fazed by all that was happening to it. It seemed like drama was a normal thing in the palace, and it had now become more like an entertainment than an actual problem, from how often it happene
Elena’s POVMy smile got even brighter as I stared at her innocent eyes and lovely smile. She has that bright sunshine around her like I used to have before. Looking at her was like seeing a walking beam of joy.“What do you mean by fate? It’s not sure yet?” she asked so innocently, making me laugh a little. Shrugging, I smiled gently and teased a little. “It means I’ll definitely be your sister if your cousin doesn’t change his mind.”She giggled at my words before letting out a joking scoff. “He’d be a fool if he did that. Everyone talks about how amazing you are! You’re the most admired general now.”I patted her head and shook my head. She’s so adorable. “What a sweet tongue you have.”Tapping her nose, I added, “I only did what must be done. And don’t tell that to your cousin, he’d be jealous. He’s the best of all.”She pursed her lips and touched her chin while thinking for a bit before shrugging as she gave in. “Well, you’re right, but still, you’re the best female general.”H
Elena’s POVMy eyes shifted to the door just as the Duchess’ eyes did. And there, a girl peeked from the door with a huge smile on her face.Her eyes wandered around first before she stepped fully inside, showcasing her beautiful cocktail dress, styled with glitter on the hem.“Mom, I hear Princess Elena is here!” She came in and jumped in joy as she confronted her mother.She’s about 5 feet tall, and I’d say around fifteen years old from her appearance and demeanour. Her eyes were glistening with curiosity, and she was all giddy, making little jumps in place.Duchess Diana wasn’t even given enough time to reply with all her energy as she turned around and looked until her eyes met mine.She froze for a little while, staring at me like she was starstruck.“Princess Katherine.” I bowed a little and greeted her with respect. Despite our same title and age difference, she’s still a full-fledged princess and deserves respect. Besides, she’s also Deacon’s cousin, so… Might as well.“You ar
Elena’s POVI wanted to laugh at the Duchess’ remark. I didn’t ask her for forgiveness, and yet she felt like I had committed a grave sin that needed forgiveness, and wanted to act like the better person.Going with the flow, she sat, I played with it and bowed my head a little out of respect while keeping my dignity. “Thank you, Duchess Diana.” Looking back up at her, I smile and kindly add, “But about my marriage with Deacon… It’s something the two of us will decide. I am willing to marry him, and should he continue with it… I guess no one else has the right to determine my worth.”“Ha!” Hearing my words, Duchess Diana’s patience snapped. She slammed her hand on her chair as she stood up, looking at me with narrowed eyes.Dripping with disdain, she smirked devilishly and commented sarcastically, “What a humble servant at best, playing a goody-two-shoes act. Mark my words, you insolent woman, once whatever potion you gave my son wears off, he’ll abandon you like he did to others befo
Elena’s POV“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Duchess Diana,” I formally greeted and lowered my head in traditional respect.I heard her scoff as her nails made sounds as she tapped them on the gold armrest of her chair. “Raise your head. I want to see the face that bewitched my son.”I forced a smile and internally stopped myself from showing the annoyance that was slowly building up within me from the real meanings under her words that I vividly understood.She leaned her back to the chair and raised her chin with her thumb and index finger while she narrowed her eyes and looked at me from head to toe like she was examining an object she wanted to buy from an auction.“Hmph. Seductive, yes…” Standing up, she slowly approached me and walked around me. With a sharp tongue, she leaned forward and hissed beside my ear, “But seductive doesn’t mean worthy.”I kept my composure and met her eyes without fear. “That wasn’t my intention, Duchess. I didn’t seduce your son, nor do I have any plans
Elena’s POV“I’m so glad to see you again, Elena. I heard about you and Deacon…” Queen Liz greeted me with a huge smile on her face as she led me to the balcony of her room.“Yes, it just… It happened.” I smiled brightly as I walked gracefully to the balcony and leaned my arms on the fence while looking out at the magnificent view outside.Since Deagon and I started this, we might as well make it as real as possible.Shrugging my shoulders, I added, “Deacon and I went to war together… We fought side by side and faced obstacles far beyond what one could imagine… It’s almost like a sweet-blooded fairytale if that makes sense.”The queen and I both laugh at our statement. “And that’s the weirdest yet loveliest description of love I ever heard.”I laughed even harder at the Queen’s statement. “Well, that’s it. Our camaraderie developed into something deeper, so when we came back and he proposed… I had nothing more to say but yes.”We chit-chat a little and shared a few laughs before she w
Deacon’s POVI couldn’t believe that my mom would be moving so fast that she had already summoned Elena. Now, I couldn’t be more thankful to myself that I had warned her early about my mom, but I’m pretty sure that she was still surprised by it, especially with how early she had to face her.Shaking my head, I stood up.“Where are you going, Prince Deacon?” Tyson asked, looking clueless as he stepped aside from the door and followed me with questions in his eyes.“You… You’re not planning to go to the Duchess and stop her, aren’t you? Because I think that will only make her even more irritated and have her hate Princess Elena even more,” he cautiously said as he tried to give me some advice.Halting, I looked at him and gave him a smirk. “She’s my mother. I know her much more than you do.”Tapping his shoulder, I added, “Don’t worry, it’s not her I’m going to.”Furrowing his brows, he followed me, asking, “Who then? The king, I don’t think he’d help, though.”Smirking wider, I answere