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chapter 16

Penulis: Uriel Kings
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-03-28 18:08:35

Anna

Whether it was exhaustion or lack of blood, I did manage to get a couple of hours of sleep. Just as the sun started to creep over the horizon, we headed out. Like I asked, Jax pulled his power in, and even I was fooled. He wasn’t hiding his wolf. That wasn’t possible, but when I focused on him, he just seemed like an average wolf shifter.

That would make things easier. My injuries were mostly healed, so I moved faster and easier on foot. Jax was never more than an arm’s length away from me, and I liked that even less.

He was also in a chatty mood.

“You didn’t respond to my order to shift,” he said casually as we walked. “Care to explain how that’s possible?”

“Maybe I’m stronger than you.”

His growl told me that it was the wrong thing to say. “As I’m sure you’ve already seen for yourself, my wolf is broken. It doesn’t function.”

“Since when? Did something happen in my pack?”

I snorted. “Worried that your edict to torment me has backfired? You can rest easy. I haven’t shifted since
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  • The Alpha King's Rejected Mate   chapter 17

    He grunted again, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Don’t worry, if I thought you could do this yourself, I’d be more than happy to divulge my secret. I have no desire to spend any more time with you than necessary. Now that I’m here, trapped with you and facing what is probably my imminent death, why don’t you tell me who told you I was here to begin with.”“Emerson Triggs.”Now it was my turn to stumble. Emerson Triggs was a name I knew a little too well.Alpha of the Blood Moon Pass pack. Irked that my father had kidnapped his niece, Triggs had hunted my father down and nearly ended him six or seven years before Jax did.Unfortunately, my father offered something a little more desirable to Triggs.Me.“Strike a nerve?” Jax asked. “He knew all about your trip, but he didn’t know why.He did insinuate that the two of you were close.”“Jealous?” As soon as the word was out of my mouth, I desperately wished I could take it back. But since I’d come this far, I went ahead and threw my wh

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-28
  • The Alpha King's Rejected Mate   chapter 18

    JaxShe wasn’t telling outright lies, but she wasn’t telling the truth either, and that meant that she couldn’t be trusted. Still, we made it through most of the day without attracting any rogue wolf attention.Occasionally, she would stop and stare. I did the same, but I never could see what she saw, so eventually, I stopped and just studied her. Nothing about her motivation made sense. She could have told me how to release the traps and in return, I would have given her the freedom she wanted.Maybe.I could just as easily drag her back to my territory when this was done. Did she think herself safer from me the closer we got to the witch coven?There was nothing that would keep me from her if I decided to keep her.Deep within me, my wolf rumbled. It was not a warning of danger, but rather a warning for me. Ever since Anna had come into my life, my wolf and I had been at odds with each other. He wanted his mate.I wanted to protect my clan. At the moment, we couldn’t both have what

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-28
  • The Alpha King's Rejected Mate   chapter 19

    AnnaI may have said it in passing before, but it was the first time I’d ever introduced Jax as my mate.To his credit, he didn’t blink an eye. Not at the fake name or the confession of our relationship. Not even to the revelation that Marsh was a friend of my father’s.A good friend.“A mate! Look at you! Dirk’s sweet little girl all grown up,” Marsh said with a mischievous glint in his eye. “A mate of Anna’s is definitely a friend of mine. I’m sure you have her well in hand. My little Anna used to be such a hellion.”My stomach turned, but I just laughed with him. To show even a little hint of distress would only give him more ammunition, and it was too late to signal to Jax to kill him so we could be on our way. There was something about Marsh I didn’t like. Why was he so at ease chatting out in the open?“She’s under control,” Jax said mildly.“I have no doubt. Why don’t you join me at my place, and we’ll catch up?”I tried to look regretful as I shook my head. “I’m afraid we’re j

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  • The Alpha King's Rejected Mate   chapter 20

    “Just once. He died soon after,” Jax said shortly.“That explains where she went off to. When I heard about Dirk, I was worried about my sweet little girl. I went looking for her.”“Saul kept me safe,” I said as I forced myself to look up at Jax and smiled. I had to play the role, or I’d just end up vomiting all over Marsh’s shoes. It had been awhile, but submissive, quiet, dumb little Anna?Coming right up.“Have you been up here all this time?”“Hmmm. I rather like it here. It’s quiet. I’ve made a few friends.” He winked at me. “I’ll wager you’ll like it here, too. It should remind you of home.”“She has a home now.” The tension in Jax was evident, and I worried that if he didn’t keep it together, he’d stop masking his alpha status.If Marsh noticed, he didn’t say anything, Instead, he kicked off his boots and sat on the couch. When he patted the spot next to him, Jax sat in the chair and plopped me down on his lap.Marsh was right. It did feel just like Dirk’s home. I swallowed dow

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-28
  • The Alpha King's Rejected Mate   chapter 21

    JaxThe lies had slipped so easily out of her mouth, but while Marsh invited Finn to stay for dinner, Anna started to shake. I knew what she was thinking. My wolves hadn’t made it back.Interesting that she would worry for them so.I knew that my wolves were fine. I would feel if they were dead. Finn had lied. I couldn’t tell Anna that. I also didn’t know why.We spent the next two hours as guests while Marsh happily relayed stories of little Anna that set my teeth on edge and tested me in every way possible.Anna, meanwhile, never blinked an eye.Afterward, I quickly shut down Marsh’s suggestion that we sleep in the cabin. When he mentioned we could all shift and sleep together, I felt the first sign of Anna’s fear and panic.“Anna’s wolf does not come out unless we’re home,” I said, playing the role of the controlling mate.Marsh was clearly frustrated, but I didn’t budge. It was obvious he wanted Anna. Did he really think I would share her?Had someone else shared her?It was impos

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-31
  • The Alpha King's Rejected Mate   chapter 22

    She opened to me, and I swept my tongue in and kissed her gently. It was meant to be a quick kiss, but the moment my lips touched hers, the energy in the tent shifted. The air grew warm and thick, and my entire body started to tingle. I didn’t want to scare her, but when my arms slipped around her body and under her shirt so I could spread my palms against her naked skin, she whimpered.It wasn’t from fear.Groaning, I pulled her more snuggly against my lap and hard cock and deepened the kiss.She placed her hands on my chest, but soon, her fingers were tangled in my hair, and her whole body was plastered against me.“All clear.”At the sound of Finn’s voice, I snarled. Anna tried to pull away, but I kept my arms around her. “I know he lied. The others are okay. I would know if they were dead,” I whispered.“I need to talk to him.”“Okay.”“Stay here, and keep that flare gun handy in case anyone but me tries to come in. I’ll keep the tent in sight.”Immediately, she shoved off my lap.

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-31
  • The Alpha King's Rejected Mate   chapter 23

    AnnaI kept my back to Jax when he returned and pretended to be asleep. We both knew it wasn’t true, but he quietly stretched out behind me and laid a hand on my hip. I almost gave him a warning growl, but his touch did help settle my wolf. Her anxiety at being alone on Marsh’s land was suffocating.I hated how he made me feel. Calm. Centered.Desperate. Needy.Furious.The man gave me whiplash, and now, I had his kiss to haunt me. His real kiss. Not just the ones I sometimes had in my dreams.Somehow, with him behind me, I managed to slip off into sleep. I had no idea how much had passed before my wolf’s panic had been bolting upright.Next to me, Jax had already started to pull me against him when a blade shredded the tent, and Marsh’s face loomed near. He was streaked with blood and had a crazed look in his eye.“Something wrong?” Jax said tensely.“Stupid bitches think they have a say in what I can and can’t do,” he snarled. “This one is mine. Dirk gave her to me, and I’m taking h

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  • The Alpha King's Rejected Mate   chapter 24

    “That would be a pretty targeted question for me to ask, wouldn’t it?” Jax responded.Shivering, I turned my back and slipped off my wet shirt. We were in a cave that, according to Finn, was part of a system of rock dwellings. He believed the caves would lead straight to the witch’s den, but he hadn’t explored them. He said he’d only tried to go further once when he became ensnared in a spell trap. It was two agonizing days before a witch released him and warned him away.Jax had commented that it was awfully nice of them for a group of blood-thirsty witches.In any case, Finn had supplies stashed here, including some dry clothes.I opened a bag and yanked on a musty-smelling T-shirt. It fell to my knees. That didn’t bode well for the pants.“Well, you didn’t really present me with the kind of environment that fostered care and sympathy for difficult conversations and trauma sharing, did you?”“I gave you Parker.” Jax sounded hurt.With a short laugh, I turned around with the pants in

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-31

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  • The Alpha King's Rejected Mate   chapter 35

    “And now you need it to be a sanctuary again, away from Jax?”He was fishing. He already knew that Jax and I weren’t happily mated, but we were supposed to be changing that perception. For the pack, at least. That means him as well. I gave him a tight smile. “It’s just a good place for me to be while we figure everything out.”The back door opened, and I whipped my head around and went rigid. Finn didn’t move a muscle, but I could feel the wolf inside him ready himself.This was who TK wanted running messages for him? How could he not sense the power in him? Finn could be an alpha one day.“So how did those challenges go?” I asked dryly.Finn just chuckled softly.Two females walked in, and Finn relaxed a fraction. I didn’t. I only recognized one, and I still wasn’t sure how she felt about me.“Bridget,” I greeted calmly. “And Bridget’s friend.”Bridget looked to be in her thirties, where her friend was younger. Early twenties, maybe.Pretty with blonde hair and big blue eyes. She was

  • The Alpha King's Rejected Mate   chapter 34

    AnnaIt had only been a month, but The Fanged Smile was a disaster. Chairs had been smashed to bits. The inside and outside walls had graffiti. The liquor wall was completely empty. It broke my heart to see her like this. She’d been my prison. My chance at an identity. My torment.Now she was just mine, and she was a mess.“One of the guards told me that there was some rebellion while Jax was gone. One or two employees didn’t like it when Jax killed the manager,” Finn said as he walked up behind me.“What did he do anyway?”“Tried to rape me,” I said flatly as I turned around. The frustration in me eased a little. It was good to see him. “I’m not well-liked here.”He gave me a tight smile. “I gathered that, too. Turns out the happy couple you played in Wisteria Woods was a lie.”“Did you volunteer to guard me, or is this a shit assignment for the new guy?” If Finn hated me now, I wanted to know.“You and I are more alike than you think, Anna. I volunteered. I hope you don’t mind.”He

  • The Alpha King's Rejected Mate   chapter 33

    And sometimes, I met with people in the locker rooms of the gym.Jenson ran a towel over his face as he entered the room. “Finn kick your ass?”“I took on three others before him. Just to give him an edge,” Jenson said with a smirk. “He’s good. Real good. One day, I might worry about that.”“I’ve made some decisions without talking with you about it. This is your chance to give me your opinion.”“My opinion? Wow. This is a big moment for me. Where do I start? That girl, Callie, that you took out about seven years ago? I told you that she was probably a walking case of STDs? I want to tell you I told you so. And my God, when you promoted Derrick, and I tried to stop you?And that time you thought you could make your own wine?”I cleared my throat. “That is not what I meant, and you know it.”Jenson tossed the towel on the bench, crossed his arms, and leaned against the lockers. “Oh, you mean when I asked to guard Irene, and you said no. When you moved the most hated woman in the pack i

  • The Alpha King's Rejected Mate   chapter 32

    JaxHer body curled around mine automatically, like it remembered my touch in that cave and craved more. Ever since that night, she was never far from my mind.How could a woman have so much control over me when I had none over her? The crone had told me that as a null, Anna would never feel the mating bond the way that I did. It would never affect her. When I finally let her go, she could walk away and never think of me again.She might not even think of me now except that I was forcing her to live in my house.Forcing her to sleep in my bed.Except maybe I was the only one who was tortured.I could smell her arousal. Every whimper when I touched her went straight to my cock. God, I ached for her, but I couldn’t have her. Couldn’t take her.Slipping my hand down her panties, I curled my hands over her ass cheeks and pulled her hard against my cock. She whimpered and squirmed against me.“You want to come, baby?” With one hand anchored around her, I flipped on my back and took her wit

  • The Alpha King's Rejected Mate   chapter 31

    I wanted The Fanged Smile, and to my surprise, he agreed. Not just manage it but deeded it to me as well. I wasn’t sure how that was going to work. When this was over, really over, I wouldn’t be part of his pack anymore. How would I run The Fanged Smile then?For now, it was my lifeline. Something to focus on while the pack schemed on how to get rid of me. Reaching out, I snagged the keys. “Thank you,” I muttered.“You’re welcome.”I waited, but it wasn’t like he was going to thank me. After all, I was just doing what he ordered me to do. Or what he tried to order me to do. In the past three weeks, he’s tried to use the pack bonds to test me, as if he thought maybe my null abilities could turn on and off at will.“Is there something else you wanted?”“I’m assigning Finn as your bodyguard.”My head jerked up. “Excuse me?”“You’ll be at The Fanged Smile for most of your time, unless I need you. I won’t be able to watch you,” he said evenly.“Worried your little hands-off policy isn’t go

  • The Alpha King's Rejected Mate   chapter 30

    AnnaThree weeks laterHe was in my room again.Not my room. His room.Our room.The door closed quietly, and I could feel the air shift around him, trying to make room. I was in his bed, the sheets pulled all the way up to my chin. Underneath, I wore a pair of cotton shorts and a T-shirt. Nothing that would seem sexy, nothing that would give him the wrong impression, but clothes didn’t indicate intentions. I could have been bundled up in a parka jacket and snow pants, and he still would sense my needs.My desires.Damn it to hell and back, but it was hard not to want him. Especially here, in the middle of his room, in the middle of his bed. His scent was wrapped all around me, but then, that was the plan.Sleep in his bed. Smell like him. Play the role of the dutiful alpha mate and pretend we hadn’t been circling each other for weeks. Since he found out I was a null.Since he wanted to use me.“If you’re going to fuck me, then come here and fuck me. Otherwise, leave me alone. I’m try

  • The Alpha King's Rejected Mate   chapter 29

    The crone’s eyes blazed purple, and her head snapped back. “I see a darkness rising within the mountains, and it will consume all. The wolves will bind together, but it will matter none if the broken wolf does not find her shadow. Her gift will be his strength.”When she lifted her head, her eyes had returned to normal. I waited a beat, but only silence followed. “I was expecting a little bit more of a song and dance from a prophetic vision.”“You will respect our magic,” the crone rumbled, and the house shook. That was more like it.“Can you provide more details? What the darkness is? What I need strength for?”“I do not know.”I stared at Anna again. “Well, she found me, assuming that I’m her shadow. So everything will be fine. I promised Anna her freedom. Will she be all right?”The crone straightened. “Her freedom?”“Her price for bringing me here. She gets to live her life as a rogue.” My stomach twisted.“Maybe she can stay here with you.”Away from whatever darkness was rising.

  • The Alpha King's Rejected Mate   chapter 28

    Jax“Where is Anna?” I demanded as I looked down at my tea. It was a surreal moment. The small tea parlor had plenty of sun streaming through the windows despite the fact that there were no windows outside.Five minutes ago, I was fighting for Anna’s life. Then, I was here, in a fucking tea parlor, with a dainty little teacup in front of me.Witches. Whatever was in this cup of tea could kill me.Three strangers were in the room with me. A short and rounded older woman with long thinning gray hair set the rest of the cups of tea down and eyed me through thick glasses. A young woman who looked no more than twenty with long red hair and a beautiful smile accepted a cup of tea and sat across from me at the table. In the corner, on the bench where an unconscious Anna lay, a middle-aged woman with a blonde messy bun and a permanent scowl on her face sat next to her and waved her hands up and down Anna’s body.The maiden, mother, and crone. Were there really only three witches of Darkwyn co

  • The Alpha King's Rejected Mate   chapter 27

    AnnaIt was two days before Jax could walk on his own again. Two days of him swearing up and down that he was fine and collapsing not more than five minutes of trying to leave the cave.Two days of him demanding to know how I released him from the spell.Two days of him asking about my father.I couldn’t tell him about the spell, so I told him about Dirk. Everything he wanted to know. Every answer I could give him. Maybe I felt like it was my last chance at redemption.After we reached the coven, I would never see Jax again.I had a plan. If he didn’t tell me what he wanted with the witches, I would leave him there. He’d never get in without me. If he did tell me, maybe the witches would let him in. Either way, we’d go our separate ways.I’d stop being Dirk’s daughter. Adopt a new name and live my life alone. Lonely but peaceful.Away from Jax.When we walked the rest of the way, we did so in silence. If Jax was suspicious of my motives, he didn’t let on. If he was planning on going b

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