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CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Rejected by the Beta CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT
“It’s them,” I say. “I recognize that howl from when they captured me before. It’s them. It’s their pack.”I panic. Did James set me up? Is that why they’re coming? Did I put myself and Ben in danger because I was blinded to the kind of person James really is?“Maybe they’re not after us,” Ben says, though his voice is hitched in worry. He scans the trees around us.It’s all too clear they’re coming though. The howls are getting closer. They’re going to find us and who knows what they’re going to do to us this time.“Hide,” Ben orders in a low voice. “I’ll distract them. You hide.”“I can’t let you do that,” I protest. “This is happening because of me. I can’t…”“I mean it, Isabel,” he interrupts me. “You need to listen. I’m dead serious about this and I’m not going to fight you on it.“I’m faster. I’m stronger. I’m your older brother and I’ve already done so much to protect and take care of you. Don’t let that be in vain now. I need you to hide.”I think of everything he’s tol
Rejected by the Beta CHAPTER THIRTY NINE
The cold of the night settles in once the pack leaves. It reaches through my skin, into my soul. And I stay there much longer than I need to so I can feel safe. I probably stay there much longer than I should.The pact was extra terrifying this time though, so I can’t get it out of my mind. I worry that if I leave, I’ll run into them and who knows what they’ll do to me this time. Who knows what they’ll do to Ben.I stand, deciding that if I’m captured, at least maybe I’ll be brought to Ben and we can deal with this together. This will all be better if we can do this together.Of course, I know that if I’m going to save him, I’ll have a better chance at doing so if I’m not in chains. So, I want to avoid capture if I can.I will save him regardless. If I have to, anyway.As I walk back to my house I think about if I really will have to save him. The pack caught me and they didn’t harm me. They just put me in a cell and then let me go.That has to be the case with Ben as well. Sur
Rejected by the Beta CHAPTER FORTY
JAMES’S POV“Just come with me,” I say, hoping she’ll follow me without too many questions. This decision has already taken a lot out of me. It’s already difficult to even think about doing this. I don’t have the strength now to answer questions. It’s too draining. “Why?” she asks, because of course she does. “Where are we going?”“Just trust me,” I say. “We don’t have time to go into it right now. And if I’m being honest, I still have to fully think this through. I still need to come up with the perfect words to say because it is a pretty big risk.”“A big risk?” she asks. “What we’re doing is risky?”“Of course, it is,” I reply. “Saving Ben’s life is going to come with a risk. But I know how much you love your brother. I know you’re willing to take risks to save him.”“More than willing,” she agrees, just as I knew she would.“Exactly,” I reply. “So, let’s go. We don’t have much time.”She follows me out of the house and into the woods. Then, we shift into wolf form an
Rejected by the Beta CHAPTER FORTY ONE
“Excuse me?” the Alpha asks.For the first time ever, Ryan and I agree. I can’t even fathom it.James has just threatened to leave the pack if Ryan doesn’t release Ben and let us be. And I can’t quite wrap my mind around that. This is what I’ve wanted, but it can’t be happening. I never thought it’d actually happen.“It’s the way things have to be,” James says. “I love Isabel and I refuse to hide that for any longer. I refuse to lie to you. I refuse to deny my mate.“And since I love her, I very well can’t be the Beta to a pack that executes her brother. She would never forgive me for that and I don’t blame her. I wouldn’t forgive myself either.“Ben was only there because of Isabel and me. If anyone is going to be punished, it should be us. This is all unfair and I won’t stand for it.”Silence follows as Ryan noticeably tries to grapple with all of this. I can understand why it’s a lot for him. It’s a lot for me too, but it’s so extreme that it has to work.It has to work. I ca
Rejected by the Beta CHAPTER FORTY TWO
“I don’t want you to leave the pack,” Ryan says. “I want to avoid that at all costs. So, I’m going to let Ben go.”The relief I feel at those words is incredible. My body sags. The adrenaline leaves me.He’s going to let Ben go. He’s going to be safe. That’s what I care about most right now. My brother isn’t going to be executed due to my actions.“Isabel can’t live here,” Ryan continues. “She can’t stay here because it’s against some very important rules. She may be your mate, but she is also a rogue and you have to recognize that some difficulties come along with that. It’s just how things are.“However, I know that you’ll let this pack go before you’ll let her go, so I’m not going to even ask you to consider such a thing. I’m not going to pit this pack against Isabel.“Rather, I’ll let you two live in peace. And we can work out ways that you can see each other without breaking pack rules. I don’t want to keep having these discussions. I don’t want to have to keep dealing with t
Rejected by the Beta CHAPTER FORTY THREE
“Just be careful,” Ben says, before I leave the house the next day. “I’m really happy for you, I truly am. But be careful, okay? I’d hate to see anything bad happen to you.”“I will be,” I promise him. “I already know how awful it feels to even think about anything bad happening to you. I don’t want to have to give you that same feeling towards me. I’m going to be super careful about it.”“And you’ll remember what I said?” he asks.“Of course,” I reply. “I can’t forget it.”That part is a little too true. I can’t forget what Ben said to me about Ryan. It follows me as I get in my car to drive to the pack’s territory.Ryan is predisposition to hate me and it makes so much sense because he did jump to the worst possible punishment when Ben was captured. He wants us dead because his father hated our family. His father killed my father.Yet I also think of the fact that I’m only able to go to see James now because Ryan is allowing it. He’s allowing me onto pack territory which is unh
Rejected by the Beta CHAPTER FORTY FOUR
“It really has been wonderful meeting you,” Helen says as she gives me a hug. “I’m so impressed by your strength, your willingness to work hard and never give up, and you dedication to your family.“I’ll be honest when I say we’ve all heard some things about your family that haven’t been fully great. They may have colored our perception of you, though we’ve tried to cast that aside to get to know you.“I’m glad we have. I’m glad we didn’t stick to old bias because I can tell you’re a wonderful young lady.”“Even more importantly,” Garrett says, worrying me. He’s certainly the toughest one of the bunch, “you make our son happy. That much was apparent right away.“We’re incredibly proud of him anyway for becoming Beta of the pack. That’s a high honor and we’re grateful that our son achieved it. “But we want him to be happy more than anything else. So, if you make him happy, and it seems like you do, we’re more than happy to welcome you into our lives.”“And maybe even someday into
Rejected by the Beta CHAPTER FORTY FIVE
“I wish I could stay here forever,” I say, as I lay my head on his chest. “I wish you could too,” he laments as he kisses the top of my head. “Someday you’ll be able to, I promise. Someday we’ll find a way to make it so we can stay together.“We’ll figure out a way so we can share a bed every night. We will become a bigger part of each other’s lives. But for now…”“I know,” I say. It’s horrible to even think about leaving, but I know I must.“We have to be careful,” I continue. “I understand that. It’s surprisingly great that Ryan is letting me spend the night here once a week, but we shouldn’t push our luck.”“Exactly,” James says. “Though I want to. I really want to. We have a lot to prove to him and the pack. Which isn’t fair. None of this is fair. We shouldn’t have to prove anything to them.”“But we do,” I acknowledge the hard truth. “We do have a lot to prove so we have to play their games for now.”“Only for now though,” he promises me. “Only for now, and then we’ll be a
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Rejected by the Beta CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED
DAMIENYears pass slowly when eternity is no longer in sight.Standing on the edge of the balcony of the bedroom I’ve shared with Isabel for five hundred years, I watch the lush lands in the distance. The demon realm has never prospered like this before. I’ve never been this content before.In the distance, I hear laughter and I look over to see two of my older sons carrying their sisters in their arms while my other daughter run after them, Cerebus trailing after them.I’ve had children before. I’ve watched them pass on. I still watch over their families. But this is different. This is more precious. Isabel has given me so many children and for once, I will not have to watch them die before me. Twenty strong children, half of whom are now leading their own lives, coming back to visit us. I have never once regretted sharing my life span. Now I get to enjoy my beautiful mate for centuries to come before we move on from this world. Speaking of my mate, I hear her voice.“Junip
Rejected by the Beta CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY NINE
I clutch on to Damien’s still body as I see Balin’s body dissolve into nothing within seconds. There is hush across the battlefield as everyone stares in shock at what has just taken place.‘Justice.’The words echoes in everyone’s ears and then I see the realization hit the elves about what is coming to them. The begin to flee.But only if it was that easy.One by one, they fall, their deaths painful and horrific sights.The battle which had come to a halt because of Damien’s sacrifice has now been ended by the interference of the Gods. There is no guilt within me.There is just dark and vicious satisfaction.Let them burn. Let them feel what it is like.The whole thing is over within a couple of minutes and the silence stretches across the field.Finally, the Gods face me, ‘What do you wish from us?’My eyes flicker towards Damien and when I look up, the field is gone. Both me and Damien are in this white space that has no end.“The elves are gone,” I say with great di
Rejected by the Beta CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY EIGHT
My heart is filled with a broken pain that I can’t breathe past.They showed up. But they showed up too late.I’ve lost everything.Damien isn’t breathing. I pull out the spears one by one, ignoring the presence of the beings, tears falling down my face, my chest so tight with pain that I think it will burst. I can’t feel our mating bond!Oh, God! I can’t feel him anymore!The wail that rips from my throat at the realization that he’s left me all alone is a terrifying sound. The earth begins to shake as my grief grows out of control. These powers, these abilities, they’re useless to me!My heart is tearing out of my chest in my madness, the ground shaking.Let it all burn!Let them all die!‘Child.’The voice echoes in my head again and this time I look at those beings, my face ravaged with the tears of a broken woman.‘You cannot destroy these realms.’“I cannot?” I snarl, “Just who do you think you are to tell me what I can or cannot do?!”The more upset I am, th
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
