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18. Half-brother

Penulis: Lino
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-02-17 14:15:46

Adrian

I hadn’t meant to scare her, but Chloe jumped about a foot in the air when I spoke. She searched the room, her eyes landing on me. I sat in the wing backed chair in Chloe’s sitting area, staring at her guilty face. Wherever she had gone, she thought she shouldn’t have been there. Interesting. That narrowed down potential places significantly.

“So? Where were you?” I asked again. I wanted to see if she’d admit to going… wherever she’d gone.

“How long have you been sitting here?” she asked, countering my question with one of her own. She put her hands on her hips and tried to glare at me. Unfortunately for her she couldn’t work up the ire the look really needed.

I’d gone to Chloe’s room as soon as I’d returned from the bar and had been sitting here ever since, waiting for her. When I thought too hard about it, it seemed creepy, but I hadn’t intended it that way. I just hadn’t known where else to go. I had to know that Chloe was okay before I could continue on with my day. I staye
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  • Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game   19. Do you miss him

    ChloeAdrian rose from his seat and stepped slowly closer to me as if he thought I might run away. He stopped right in front of me, filling the space with his presence – his energy. He leaned down and I stopped breathing. He was so close I could smell the mint on his breath. He was a habitual gum chewer, especially when he was thinking. I half expected him to blow a bubble.Every wolf had their own scent, and no two wolves smelled the same. Mates sometimes had their smells combine over time, as if their souls were melding. I’d always thought it was beautiful.I’d learned the scents of my family over the last three months. Alexander smelled like books and sunshine; King Charles smelled like pastries and green tea, two of his all-time favorite treats, and Knox smelled like fresh rainfall. I couldn't help but notice that despite living in the palace, Adrian still smelled woodsy. He smelt of pine trees and freshly fallen snow. I felt my body sway towards his as if I was connected to him.

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-17
  • Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game   20.Healer

    ChloeI'd spent all night tossing and turning, trying to figure out if I wanted Adrian to go with me to the healer. I wasn't sure what the healer was going to ask, and I thought his presence might make me too nervous to answer.Instead, I sent him a note via Nancy telling him that I wanted to go alone.Nancy offered to walk me down to the clinic, but I declined. It's not like I didn't know where to go. I'd gone there several times over the last couple of months for blood work. "I know where to go. Thank you, Nancy." I gave her a smile to soften my rejection." Of course, Your Highness."I could feel her eyes on me as I exited the room.As I walked, I tried to calm my racing heart. I was nervous- what if the Healer couldn't help me and my wolf lay dormant for the rest of my life? The thought left an ache in my chest that was almost unbearable. I had to get my wolf back - she was part of who I was and being without her felt wrong.I hesitated when I got to the Healer's office. I knew Ad

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-17
  • Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game   21.Luna

    CadenI turned to Leah, anger eating me up inside. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I growled, my wolf unable to hide its displeasure with her. As Alpha I should have a steady hold on my emotions, but as I watched Chloe walk away something snapped inside me.“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she huffed, not meeting my eyes. She knew exactly what she’d done, and the worst part was I know she wasn’t remorseful even though she had absolutely been in the wrong.“You know exactly what I am talking about. My conversation with Chloe had nothing to do with you, and you had no right to interrupt and speak the way you did. I can’t believe you.” I could, though. Leah had always been mean and spiteful, but as her father had been the Beta in the pack everyone had turned a blind eye to her behavior. Clearly, that had been a mistake, and we were all paying the price now.Leah stuck out her lip, obviously thinking that pouting was going to make me forgive her faster. News flash: it

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-17
  • Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game   22.The Hunt

    AdrianAfter her initial appointment, Chloe started going to the Healer every other day. Somehow, I always happened to be in the hallway outside the Healer’s offices when Chloe left. It was getting to the point that I had to make up more extravagant excuses about why I was down there.“Adrian?”I turned to find Chloe just outside the Healer’s door, her arms crossed. I tried not to notice what that did to her breasts, but she was wearing a low-cut shirt, and I was just a man. Tearing my eyes away from the compelling sight, I met her gaze and gave her a small smile. It delighted me when she instantly softened.“Yes?” I finally managed to say, my throat dry.“Why are you outside the Healer’s quarters this time?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.I swallowed and cast around for something to tell her that wasn’t the pathetic truth. “I have a headache, and I wanted some painkillers.”Chloe nodded; her face carefully neutral. I had no idea if she believed me or not.Mate, my wolf whined, choo

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-17
  • Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game   23. Rockcellar Pack

    Chloe“Shit, shit, shit,” I muttered to myself, desperately clinging on to the back of my horse. I’d taken lessons over the last few days, but I still wasn’t confident in my abilities.“Princess Harper!” Caden called behind me.“Double shit!” I turned my horse to the right and dug my heels into its side, urging the horse away. It took every bit of my newfound skill not to fall off. I’d fallen off several times over the last couple of days.“Don’t pull back so hard on the reigns!” Alexander called out on my first day of lessons.Of course, I pulled back harder on instinct and Jolie, my horse, reared up on her hind legs. I screamed and slid right off her back and onto my ass. Jolie righted herself and turned to me with a horsy frown. She snorted at me in indignation.“You’re doomed,” Knox howled with laughter from the other side of the arena.I stood carefully, making sure nothing was broken. I brushed off my ass and turned to my brothers, both of whom were still giggling.“I could have

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-17
  • Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game   24. Kill her

    KnoxChloe's look of surprise confused me. It took me a moment to realize I'd lifted my gun and was pointing it in her general direction. I had no memory of doing so, but my rifle was definitely pointed at her chest now.I knew that I never had any plans to actually shoot her, though. She annoyed me, but not enough to commit murder. Since her arrival in the palace, I’d tolerated her presence for my family’s sake, but I’d never gone out of my way to get to know her. I simply didn’t care. She was an interloper, an intruder who had infiltrated my family.My mind flashed back to the day Father told us about Chloe."Sons," Father said, clearing his throat at breakfast.He set down his fork, and I followed suit, turning to face the King. He looked nervous, which made me nervous. I couldn’t remember the last time something had unsettled Father and seeing him being so openly vulnerable concerned me. We weren’t a particularly touchy-feely family and kept our emotions in check.I glanced at my

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-17
  • Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game   25. Disappointment

    AdrianIf I didn't know better, I'd say Chloe was avoiding me. Besides our brief exchange this morning before we mounted our horses, it seemed like she’d gone out of her way to be as far away from me as possible. Actually, she might have just been trying to stay as far away from Elizabeth as possible. I didn’t blame her; the woman was insufferable."And then I just about died from laughter!" Elizabeth tittered next to me. I had absolutely no idea what she’d been yapping about. I was ready to go deaf if it meant I didn't have to listen to another word Elizabeth said. Unfortunately, she had an endless stream of words she was spouting, barely breathing as she spoke. I’d assumed over the years that, at some point, she would realize I never listened to her, but she hadn’t happened as of today. I wasn’t sure what more I could do to show her my disinterest. I was pretty sure Alexander had a betting pool for that very event.I shared a glance with Alexander over the top of Elizabeth’s head. I

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-17
  • Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game   26. Mom

    ChloeI held onto Jolie's saddle horn with a death grip, desperate not to fall off. It was one thing to fall off when we weren't moving, but it was an entirely different thing to fall off when she was sprinting and holding nothing back.I was still shocked that Knox had shot at me. On some level, I recognized that if he'd wanted to injure - or, god forbid, kill me - he could have. No, he'd shot wide, missing me by a huge margin. It didn't make me forgive him, but it was nice to know he didn't want me dead.I screamed and ducked as we entered the tree line, a low-hanging branch nearly knocking me off. I only barely managed to stay on my horse.Jolie wove in and out of the ever-denser trees, not slowing at all. I knew it was only a matter of time before I was knocked off. I wasn't a skilled enough rider to stay on.Just as I’d predicted, a large branch nailed me in the chest. I flew backward, landing on my head, the world instantly going black.It was a warm summer day, and the soft bre

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-17

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  • Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game   73. Pregnancy test

    CadenI had been giving Chloe space, wanting her to settle back into her old home comfortably. It had been over a week since I last saw her, and our communication was limited to the occasional text message to check in on her.I decided to stop by her house with some takeout on the following Friday, thinking it would be a nice surprise.As I approached her door, I hesitated, briefly wondering if I should have called first. But then I reminded myself that a friendly visit was a good idea. When Chloe answered the door, I was relieved to find she looked surprised but happy to see me.We chatted casually as I followed her inside, catching up on the past week. As we walked into the kitchen, I noticed something on the kitchen counter: a positive pregnancy test. My heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, I stood there, frozen.Chloe, noticing my gaze, immediately turned pale. She bit her lip, looking at me with a mixture of fear and uncertainty.I d

  • Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game   72. The reality

    Chloe The car ride was excruciating in its silence. I wasn't sure if Caden knew my heart was shattering into a million tiny pieces, but I appreciated that he didn’t pry. We were almost back to the Blackstone pack territory before I spoke. "What are we going to tell everyone?" The question had been rattling around the entire ride, but I’d been unable to ask before this.&nbspCaden shrugged, his eyes never leaving the road. "Don't worry; I've got it handled. No one will say anything to you."I blinked, surprised. "You've already planned out what you're going to say?"He finally glanced in my direction before quickly returning his gaze to the road. "Chloe, I've already had the discussion with the pack. There's nothing left to discuss.Everything is settled. No one is going to bother you."My mouth fell ope

  • Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game   71. City borders

    AdrianI knew Chloe was gone the moment she stepped outside of the city borders. Because we hadn’t broken the mate bond, I was still connected to her, although the clarity with which I felt her presence weakened the farther she traveled. I felt like I was losing a piece of myself, and I wondered for the first time if I should break the mate bond. We didn’t have to be together for one of us to do it.My father visited after dinner. I’d refused to go down, instead staying in my rooms. After my conversation with my brothers earlier, I was confused.“You didn’t come to eat,” Father said, joining me on the window seat I’d been sitting in for the last hour.“I know.”“Why?”“I wasn’t hungry,” I said, keeping my eyes fixed out the window at the gardens down belo

  • Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game   70. Queen Luna

    AdrianI was a block away from the hotel when my anger finally faded enough for me to realize something wasn't adding up. I stopped walking in the middle of the sidewalk, nearly getting run over in the process by other pedestrians.Something wasn't right with Chloe's story, and I hadn't realized it initially because I'd been too shocked by Chloe admitting to having an affair with Caden. Or rekindling their relationship - whatever you wanted to call it. It felt like an affair to me, but I wasn’t about to argue the semantics.I turned on my heel and stormed back to the hotel, breezing past the front desk and back up to Caden's room. I banged on the door repeatedly, and after several moments, Chloe opened the door with a frown, still wearing Caden’s shirt. The sight made my stomach roll in disgust."Adrian?" Her voice was soft, and I could still see the fresh tear tracks stai

  • Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game   69. Ceremony

    ChloeCaden and I spent the few hours between me barging in and Adrian’s arrival to plan out what we were going to do. I hated the idea of deceiving my mate, but I couldn’t think of any other way to make him leave me. He was far too forgiving where I was concerned, and I knew he’d look for any excuse not to leave me and break the bond.Unfortunately, since we’d done the marking ceremony, the only way to break our mate bond was to have one of us desire to break it with all our heart. It didn’t seem like a trick, except for the fact that the very last thing I wanted was to break the mate bond. I loved Adrian and always would. The only way to break the bond was to make him hate me enough to want to. The thought sickened me.Adrian arrived right at three. I didn’t know what his father had told him to get him here, but I had a sinking feeling from the angry banging on the do

  • Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game   68. Your mother

    ChloeI spent all night tossing and turning, unable to sleep. What I could do, though, was cry, and I cried until I had no tears left, and my pillow was soaked.I knew, deep in my heart, that Adrian deserved someone better than me to be his Queen Luna. I loved him so deeply that I’d ignored the glaringly obvious: we were from two different worlds.The closest I came to being royalty was having a dead stepfather who was a Beta in my old pack. He’d been a kind man, but he’d been unpolished, too. I came from a different life, and I’d be a fool to stick around and destroy everything by being a terrible Queen Luna.Not to mention, if we stayed together Adrian would have to constantly be explaining our relationship to everyone. He was expected to marry a polished woman who knew how to play the game, not a nobody like me.When the dawn broke, I kn

  • Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game   67. Queen

    Chloe“You’ll be upstairs today, Chloe,” the head maid said, scanning her list. “The yellow and blue sitting rooms are yours.”I blinked at her in surprise. Since I’d been demoted to maid, I’d stayed out of the more public spaces in case someone recognized me. The yellow and blue sitting rooms were fairly busy spaces. “Alone?” I squeaked.She looked up and gave me a sharp look. “No. Since it’s your first day cleaning these two rooms, Hannah will be with you.”I nearly sighed in relief. Hannah was nice, even if I did think she chattered too much. I got it, though. If I was a talkative person, it’d be so hard to spend the workday alone.Once the head maid had given everyone their assignments, Hannah flounced over to me, a wide smile on her face. “Are you ready?”

  • Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game   66. Crazy old men

    ChloeEven though I’d been given a room downstairs with the other maids, I spent every night wrapped in Adrian’s arms in his rooms. He’d gallantly offered to stay a night in my room, but I only had a twin bed, and while I enjoyed cuddling with him, it was a bit too close in my new bed. Luckily, it hadn’t been too hard to convince him that his king-sized bed was superior.I knew Adrian had had some sort of fight with his father because he’d found me afterward. While he’d only muttered about crazy old men, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to put together that he was speaking about the King. I had a feeling the conversation was about me, and I wasn’t looking to find out the details. The King’s rejection still stung, even if I understood it.“How do you feel about completing the marking ceremony?” Adrian asked as casually as one would ask abou

  • Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game   65. Worst moments

    AdrianI wasn't expecting a summons from my Father, and receiving one immediately put me on edge. A summons meant business, and more often than not, it was unpleasant. I couldn't ignore a summons, and he knew that.I entered his office without knocking. He was seated at his desk; however, his chair was turned to the window. I didn't think he was actually looking at anything out there."Sit," Father sighed, turning to me."No, thank you."He raised an eyebrow at this. I ignored him."I had a meeting this morning," Father said.I blinked in surprise. I was usually included in his meetings, especially now that my assentation to the throne was so near."And why wasn't I invited?""Well," Father paused. “I didn't know what he wanted to say, and I feared you might end the discussio

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