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CHAPTER NINETEEN

Author: Bella Lore
last update Last Updated: 2023-01-07 17:31:24
“I’ll be right back. Need to go to the bathroom,” I tell Sharon, making a beeline for the doors at the back of the café that I pray actually do lead to the restrooms.

I’m in luck and not only is it a bathroom, but an empty one, allowing me to lock the door and barricade myself in a stall while I work out what to do.

What is the pack doing here, and why do they all look like they want to murder me?

The only explanation I can come up with is that the other rogues said in that meeting last night was true: the pack are out to eliminate all the rogues in town. And somehow, they’ve figured out I’m one of them.

Did James tell them?

I want to immediately brush that thought away, but I don’t, because if I’ve learned anything from interacting with James over the last few weeks, it’s that he’s unpredictable. Easily swayed by the pack’s wants and needs, rather than his own.

If they asked him, point-blank, if he was seeing a rogue, he wouldn’t have been able to deny it. His is not a face t
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    Explaining to Sharon why I disappeared from the café and then returned, ten minutes later, with a strange guy trailing behind me was difficult, but thankfully she got a phone call from her boyfriend just as I got back to the table, so I was saved from having to answer too many questions. If only Ben was as easily distracted, my life would be so much less complicated. Since I got home an hour and a half ago, he’s been hovering around me and asking incessant questions. My first-date nerves are already off the charts and his constant presence is only making it worse. I’m in the middle of applying lipstick in my bathroom when Ben pops up again, scaring me so much that I end up with a swipe of red going from the corner of my lips all the way across my cheek.“Ben! For god’s sake, leave me alone!” I say, whipping around to face him. I don’t use a particularly sisterly tone, but no hurt shows on his face. All I see is suspicion. “Where did you say you were going again?” he asks, c

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  • Rejected by the Beta   CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

    My breath gets caught in my chest the moment I see James at the edge of the secluded street where he’s asking me to meet him. “Did you bring me here to murder me?” I ask, looking around. There is a disturbing lack of cars, or people, or lit windows, despite this being a residential neighborhood. James’ eyes go wide for a minute, and I want to laugh at how horrified he looks, but then the joke sinks in and he laughs. I guess I’m not the only one who was nervous about tonight. “No. There’s a really good Mexican restaurant nearby that I wanted to take you to nearby,” he says, nodding to twinkling lights that I can barely make out through the thick cluster of trees next to us.“A restaurant in the middle of nowhere?” I ask.“Just trust me,” he says, and the smile that was starting to pull my lips up falls.Trust him. Can he really expect me to do that, after all the shit he’s pulled with me? After the way his pack acts towards wolves like me? His alpha attacked me in public not

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  • Rejected by the Beta   CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

    “You wish you were a rogue?” I whisper, leaning close to him because despite the chaos around us, I’m still worried someone will hear. “Why? Why would you wish that kind of hardship on yourself?”“Because I hate being tied to the pack. They dictate everything I do, everything I am. Ever since I became a beta, I feel like I’ve lost a huge piece of myself.”I feel for him, but I have to say my piece. “It’s still better than being a rogue. I’m always on high alert, waiting for an attack. Like the one today,” I say, and James flushes with embarrassment and guilt. “Sorry about that,” he says.“I didn’t bring it up to make you feel bad. I did it to prove a point. That people like me are vulnerable. I don’t have anyone other than Ben to look out for me, and our reliance on each other can make things…complicated. “Ben is your brother?” James asks. “Yeah. He’s great, but sometimes he gets so caught up in protecting me that I end up feeling suffocated. If we were part of a pack, we’d ha

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  • Rejected by the Beta   CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

    I’m still giddy from James’ kiss and the success of our date when I open the door to the house half an hour later. When I walk into the living room, I breathe a sigh of relief because there’s no evidence Ben is home. Most of the lights are off, as is the TV, and I can’t even smell him. But when I walk up the stairs to go to my room, Ben pops out from behind the wall at the top of the stairs, and I scream. “Ben! What the hell!” I say, a hand on my chest to steady my heart, which feels like it’s going to jump right out of my ribcage. “Why were you hiding? Were you trying to scare me to death on purpose?”I’m expecting him to laugh and say yes, because he used to pull pranks like this all the time when we were kids. He’d sneak up on me when I wasn’t looking and laugh his head off when I shouted in surprise.He’s not laughing now. He’s glaring at me, looking more intimidating than I’ve ever seen him.“Ben? Are you going to answer me?”“Are you going to tell me where you actually

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  • Rejected by the Beta   CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

    I’m nearing the end of my patrol shift when I hear a noise behind me. My mind immediately jumps to Isabel. Actually, it doesn’t even need to jump. It’s been on her for the last forty-eight hours, ever since our date ended.But while the noise is coming from a girl, it isn’t Isabel.It’s Christina. My ex. I have to swallow a groan at the sight of her. “Hey James,” she says, sidling up to me and assaulting me with her sickeningly sweet vanilla perfume. It’s so overpowering that I have to stifle a cough, and I long for Isabel’s subtle, signature scent. “Hey Chris,” I grumble, stepping away and trying to put as much distance as possible between us. “Miss me?” she asks, twirling one of her long blonde curls around her pointer finger.She knows the answer is “no,” because I told her after we broke up that I never wanted to see her again. It was a pipe dream, considering we’re part of the same pack, and she’s Ryan’s half-sister, but I’ve managed to avoid her for the last few mo

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  • Rejected by the Beta   CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

    “Ben called me on Saturday night,” Sharon says a few days after my date with James while we’re getting coffee after our shifts at the diner. “Yeah, sorry about that,” I say sheepishly.“I’m happy to cover for you, but next time give me a little warning, okay? I’m not good at lying on the fly.”“Hopefully you won’t have to cover for me again.”“Did you and Ben finally have that talk?” she asks, misinterpreting my words. “I’m so proud of you, Izzy. I know it can’t have been easy but—”I hold up my hand. “We didn’t. I wanted to, but when I got home on Saturday, he told me I’m not allowed out of the house for anything other than work, getting gas or food.”“Where does he think you are right now?” Sharon asks. “At work. I told him I was working til three,” I say. “Yikes. Sounds like he’s really going overboard on the whole big-brother protectiveness instinct.” “It’s more than that,” I start, the knot in my chest tightening because I don’t want to talk about this with anyone, bu

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  • Rejected by the Beta   CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

    “Where are we going this time?” I ask as I walk up to James. It’s our second date, and he’s scheduled it for the middle of a Sunday afternoon. “You’ll see. Come on,” he says, grinning as he takes my hand in his and leads me down a barely discernible path in the woods. I can’t help echoing his smile as I follow him. “You said you have a couple of hours, right?” he asks as we take a right turn deeper into the woods, where the trees are so dense their branches block out most of the light.“Yup. I don’t have to be back until four.”I told Ben I was going with Sharon to the farmer’s market this afternoon. She’s taken Lisa along with her to pose as me in case Ben checks up on me, and because it’s absolutely freezing and sunny outside, Lisa is wearing a scarf that covers her mouth and sunglasses that hide most of her face. If Ben thinks I’m lying and goes to the market, he’ll see Lisa’s hair, which is naturally the same color as mine and is pulled into my signature ponytail, and her

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  • Rejected by the Beta   CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

    “Sit down,” Ryan says, and I obey him, not just because he’s my alpha, but because I’m too tired to resist. I haven’t slept since my disastrous second date with Isabel.Ryan takes a seat across from me at his desk and stares into my eyes.“You look like shit.”“Thanks. I know.”“Are you having trouble sleeping?” he asks.“Yeah. Just a lot on my mind,” I shrug. “I know the feeling. These rogues have been driving me crazy. I can’t function knowing they’re nearby. It’s like I can feel them watching me,” he says with a shiver. I want to tell him to stop exaggerating, stop making up imaginary threats to our way of life, but I don’t have the guts. It’s a problem I’m struggling with in all areas of my life right now. “I wouldn’t worry too much. Our patrols are going like clockwork, and there haven’t been any new alerts for a few days.” “But the ones the other day were bad. Three rogues. That’s what the guards say they saw. Prowling around our property boundary like this land is

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  • Rejected by the Beta   CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY EIGHT

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  • Rejected by the Beta   CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY SEVEN

    Mara’s anticlimactic death has me reeling. But now is not the time to worry about that. I shift into my wolf form, attacking the enemy with a ruthlessness. It’s true what the witch said. My mating bond has increased my strength. I feel lighter on my feet as I wade through the elves like they’re ants. My speed is faster, although not to the level of that of Damien’s.I can feel some of my abilities leaking through but I’ve still not been able to access my abilities. I’m a little disappointed. I thought weakening the seal would have more of an impact but aside from this soft leakage of warm sensation, there is nothing else.I feel frustrated but I can’t do anything.Damien, though.Damien is stronger than I have ever seen. He’s cutting down the elves with speed, his focus sharp. His laughter is vicious and despite that, my heart flutters in my chest at how glorious he looks. I look at him and that is my mistake.You never allow yourself to get distracted on the battlefield.A

  • Rejected by the Beta   CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY SIX

    The troops are already waiting in their battle positions when we arrive.Damien brings me with him to the battlefield. He’s wearing a suit of dark armor and I feel tense, “The Rubab Stone-”“I’ll have to be more careful,” his voice is calm. “Last time I wasn’t as aware. This time I know I am not invincible.”“Damien,” my heart is twisting in my chest. “I-”He cups my cheek, his voice gentle, “I’ll be fine, little wolf. Just don’t leave your guards.”I know he would have preferred to stash me somewhere but it’s clear that he wants me close by. After so many traitors popping up after the first battle, it only makes sense.“Don’t let anybody catch you off guard,” he thrusts a sword into my hand. “Trust your instinct when you fight. They’re going to try and separate us. Let’s make sure that, that doesn’t happen.”I give him a small smile, feeling a sliver of hope on seeing his confidence.“Okay.”I get on my toes and press a sweet kiss to his mouth.We don’t get more time togethe

  • Rejected by the Beta   CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY FIVE

    “What is it?” “Something has happened in the demon realm,” he says, grimly, before looking down at my hand.I shake my head, “The pain is gone.”“Good, let’s go.”“Thank you,” I give the witch a weak smile, not knowing whether to actually be grateful or blame her for the wrong that has happened in my life. But it’s always a good idea to be graceful.She waves us off and I’m in Damien’s arms as he runs out of the cave, past the trees, towards the temple.“The portal-”“Caleb will open it when I give the signal,” he’s not even out of breath as he rushes down the temple where the shrine gates are.As we move towards the town, I grab his shoulder, “Wait! What is that?!”The sky is orange.“How long were we inside?” I mutter. “Is the sun rising?”“No,” Damien says after a long moment. “It’s fire. The town has been set on fire.”“We have to help-”But Damien holds me back, “Look.”For a moment, I don’t understand what he is saying. And then I see the arrows shooting within the

  • Rejected by the Beta   CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY FOUR

    “There has to be something someone can do,” I ask, forcing my voice to stay calm, despite the roiling fear inside of me.The witch’s voice is kind now, “I’m afraid not. You’re not the first who has tried to seek a way to undo the curse.”It’s hard to keep my tears at bay. The tears are not of sadness but rather of the crippling fear of the unknown future that awaits me. At this point, I am already aware of the nature of the painful deaths a majority of the Righs faced. It was just physical pain they had to go through, that would have been fine. Horrifying as it may be, one can tolerate that to an extent. But seeing your loved ones be tortured? The mental anguish is not something I will be able to take any longer. My suffering may be different from that of the previous Righs. It may not even compare. But for me, it is enough. I am reaching my breaking point. There are so many people in my life that I now care about, so many people who can be used against me. It frightens me to th

  • Rejected by the Beta   CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY THREE

    The witch studies me, “There have been numerous prophecies recorded about the Righs over time but there was one that was recorded by a Righ who was born to a Seer and a witch. You can call it a curse or a prophecy.”I instantly remember what I saw. The memory of the battlefield. The woman who was held down, screaming.My blood turns to ice as I recall that memory. It still gives me nightmares. “The downfall of the elves. From the hands of the weakest of the Righs. And right now,” the witch looks at me, “no offence, but you are the weakest Righ there is.”I’m being hit by so many curveballs that getting my feelings hurt is at the bottom of the list right now.“It’s funny that you think I’m going to bring about the downfall of the elves when I can’t even protect myself or use my abilities.”My voice is tight with barely restrained anger.“The stars have aligned and the stars have never lied before,” the witch says, easily. “The time is drawing nearer for the final battle.”I don

  • Rejected by the Beta   CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY TWO

    I feel my knees turn weak, “What?”“But you created the seal!” Damien snaps. “You should be able to break it!”“Logically, yes,” the witch says, calmly. “But this seal is special. It draws its power through sacrifice of fate. Those spells are impossible to break.”A shutter falls over Damien’s face, “What have you done?”I look between the two feeling like I’m in the dark, “What does she mean? What do you mean by a sacrifice of fate?”The witch studies me and for the first time, I see a glimmer of sympathy in her eyes for me, “I don’t think you want to know the answer to that.”I push past Damien, “I do. What do you mean a sacrifice of fate?! Whose fate?!”She looks at Damien before meeting my gaze, “The Righ is a powerful entity. You think it was easy for even somebody like me to be able to contain your powers? No. If I had used a normal spell, as strong as I might have tried to make it, it would have broken against your powers. I needed something stronger. Something that woul

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