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31. The mate bond
Last Updated:
2025-02-17 14:24:20
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Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game 32. My wolf
AdrianSeeing Chloe in the gardens had calmed me down more than anything else had since I'd stopped her from tumbling over the edge. The sunlight had danced off her auburn hair, setting it on fire. It'd been bewitching, and I’d taken a moment just to observe her before I approached."Don't kill your brother," Father sighed, rubbing a hand over his face."I'll try my best, but I make no promises. He royally fucked up, and you know it. He could have killed her!" I hissed, my white-hot anger making my words sharp."That he did." Father shook his head. "I have no idea why he'd thought this would be okay."“He’s an idiot, that’s why,” I hissed. I wasn’t inclined to forgive my brother; I’d only just managed to pull Chloe back before she’d tumbled over to her death. If I’d been even one second later… the thought sickened me.“I’ll admit I’ve always been a bit lax with Knox,” Father sighed. “He’s the youngest, and I know that doesn’t excuse my behavior, but he’s always been the youngest. The
Last Updated : 2025-02-17Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game 33. The capital
CadenI was pretty sure I was going insane. That was the only explanation.“Earth to Caden,” Leah said.I turned to her in surprise. I’d been so deep in my own thoughts that I was surprised to find her in the car next to me. We’d left the hunting trip with the rest of the group, but we’d all taken separate cars back to the capital. “What?”She rolled her eyes. “I was saying, do you think Princess Harper was seriously injured? I mean, Prince Adrian had to carry her back to the starting point.”“She was fine. Mostly,” I insisted. “There was no reason for Prince Adrian to pull that, but I’m sure he had his own reasons.” I could hear the bitterness in my voice, and I knew Leah could, too.“Do you not like Prince Adrian?”I turned to Leah, unsure if she was genuinely curious or if she was fishing for information she could use against me. With her, it was hard to tell. “Prince Adrian is destined to be a great ruler.” I conveniently left out that I’d seen the way he’d looked at Princess Harp
Last Updated : 2025-02-17Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game 34. Disaster zone
LeahCaden wasn’t playing by the rules, and I was getting increasingly irritated. Once Chloe was out of the picture, he was supposed to choose me. Why wasn’t he choosing me? I was pretty. I was smart. What the hell was his problem?My phone rang, and I picked it up on the third ring.“I’m sending a car to come pick you up,” my mate informed me from the other end of the line.“Have them pick me up out back,” I instructed. Caden had left to formally put his name in to date the princess, but he could be back at any time. I didn’t want him to see me leaving in a strange car.We hung up, and I grabbed a light jacket before heading downstairs. The alley behind the hotel was rather dirty, but I ignored the mess. I was used to it at this point.I’d found my mate at 18, by complete chance.“Dad, I’m going to go out for a run,” I called out just a few days after I turned 18 and shifted for the first time.“Are you going to stretch your legs?” he asked with a smile. Dad was always smiling for on
Last Updated : 2025-02-17Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game 35. Rogue
LeahWe drove for thirty minutes before we pulled up in front of perhaps the seediest hotel I’d ever laid eyes on. I was pretty sure I’d seen a rat running down the hall as Peter parked.“This place is terrible,” I muttered.“Not all of us can live in fancy mansions, Leah,” Peter hissed.I was about to point out that I wasn’t a rogue, but that wasn’t exactly true anymore. My mate was a rogue, so what did that make me? Rogue adjacent?I followed Peter to the second floor, and he gestured toward room 213. I bit back a sigh and knocked once. Lorenzo didn’t like it when I knocked too much – he said it felt like I was trying to break down the door.After an unbearably long time out in the chill night air, the door finally swung open, and a shirtless Lorenzo gave me a possessive once over. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t do the same. No matter how Lorenzo hurt me, I was compelled to be with him. It was a sick and twisted relationship, and I hated the Moon Goddess for doing this to me.“You’
Last Updated : 2025-02-17Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game 36.Luna
LeahI left the motel early the next morning. I tried not to be disappointed, but Caden hadn’t even texted me to see where I was. I guessed after our argument he assumed I didn’t want to be bothered or that I would be back after he’d already gone to be. At least, I hoped he’d considered me in some capacity.When I got to the room, I realized I didn’t have my room key. “Fuck,” I hissed, searching my bag. It was gone. Where had I left it? Had I even grabbed it when I’d left yesterday? I’d been so upset; it was possible I’d just left it sitting on my nightstand.I knocked, praying that Caden was still in the room. He had a habit of sleeping in, so there was a chance he hadn’t gone downstairs to breakfast yet.The door swung open after a few seconds. “What the fuck happened to your face?” Caden asked when his eyes landed on me.I shrugged. “I fell.”“You fell?” Caden echoed, disbelief coloring his words.“Yep. I fell. Happens to the best of us.” I tried to push past Caden into our rooms,
Last Updated : 2025-02-17Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game 37.Royal coordinator
LeahCaden surprised me with take out later that evening.“I thought you said not to expect you for dinner,” I said, taking the sandwich he offered me. Turkey on wheat; exactly what I liked.He shrugged and sat down at the small table in our room. “I felt bad. You were left alone all day, and you were injured, and I just… felt bad.”“I’m fine, Caden, really,” I sighed. “It’s just a little bruise. It’s going to be fine in a couple of days.”I could tell he didn’t believe me, but there was nothing he could do about it. He couldn't force the information out of me, and I sure as hell wasn't going to volunteer it."Did you put your name in to court, Princess Harper?" I asked, trying to keep my voice as level as possible for my plan to work. I needed Caden to keep me in the loop. My_ plan wouldn't work if I couldn't tell Lorenzo exactly where the Princess would be."I did," Caden admitted, his voice guarded, probably waiting for me to blow up at him again.Instead, I forced a smile onto my
Last Updated : 2025-02-17Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game 38. Rogue pack
ChloeI woke up with a pounding headache. What the hell had happened to me?I opened my eyes and was instantly blinded by flickering fluorescent lights that hurt my head. After a moment of regrouping, I opened my eyes again, waiting for my vision to clear. It took me several seconds after I opened my eyes to process what I was seeing, and I blamed my head for that. I felt like there was cotton stuffed into my head where my brain should be.To my utter confusion, I was tied to a chair in a dirty bathroom. In fact, it looked like a seedy bathroom where someone did drugs. Why the hell was I here? How did I get here?I remembered going into the alley with Leah, but I wasn’t sure what had happened after that. I glanced around, looking for my stepsister. Had she been captured, too? Or had she gotten away? Was she, even now, sounding the alarm that I had been kidnapped?I was tempted to call out, but I wasn't sure that was the best idea. I probably didn't want to draw any extra attention my
Last Updated : 2025-02-17Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game 39. Angry wolf
Chloe“You’ve ruined my life, Chloe. You are the bane of my existence, and even when I thought I was free of you, I wasn’t. How dare you steal everything from me.”I leaned back, pretending my heart wasn’t racing with fear. An angry wolf was a dangerous wolf. I wanted to make it out of this whole situation alive, and egging Leah on wasn’t going to help.“What about Lorenzo?” I asked, trying to distract her from her hatred of me. “How did you get involved with him?”“Mind your own business, bitch,” Leah growled. Her eyes flashed gold, her wolf trying to make an appearance. Being ripped apart didn’t seem too far away right now.Before I could think of anything else to say that might diffuse the situation, the door to the room opened, and someone entered.“Babe?” Lorenzo called out.Leah turned towards the sound, stepping out of the bathroom to see him. “Yea?”“I got you a burger.”It was interesting watching Leah. She was still bristling with anger, but Lorenzo’s offer seemed to have di
Last Updated : 2025-02-17
Latest chapter
Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game 106. Appointment
Chloe“You’re late,” Father clucked from his chair by the window.I rolled my eyes. “Barely, Father. I have a country to run, after all.”Father turned to me with a big smile. “I know. You and Adrian are doing an amazing job.”I softened at this and plopped down into the seat next to his. He already had my tea poured into my cup.We’d been meeting, just the two of us, at least once a week since I’d moved back to the palace with my husband and children. Slowly we’d built a real father-daughter bond, and I treasured having him in my life. I loved meeting with him and sharing my days.He looked preoccupied today. “What’s wrong?” I asked.He turned to me, his eyes sad. “Do you know what day it is?”I frowned, going through my mental calendar. I hadn’t missed an appointment, had I?“It’s your mother’s birthday,” Father said gently.I reared back in surprise. How could I have possibly forgotten that?“Don’t be too hard on yourself, sweetie,” Father said with a bittersweet smile. “Your mothe
Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game 105. The Gray Pack
Caden“You really need to get over her,” my Beta, Jared, said, sitting down next to me. “It’s been years, Caden.”I ignored him and downed the rest of my beer. When I was done, I finally spoke. “I fucked up the best part of my life, Jared, allow me to mourn it as I see fit.”“I’m not arguing with you on that point,” Jared said, signaling for a beer from the bartender. “I’m just saying that you have to accept at some point that you were the one who broke the mate bond with Chloe, which means that you are responsible for no longer being with her. I get it; it sucks. But she’s married and has a couple kids. She’s never coming back.”I stared morosely into my empty mug. “I’m scared that I’m never going to find my second chance mate. I want my Luna, Jared.”
Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game 104. Biological father
Adrian“You know I don’t remember being Crown Prince as this exhausting,” I sighed, tearing off my tie.Chloe lounged in bed already, half asleep. She’d been in meetings all day and I knew she was exhausted. “I think being Crown Prince and being King Alpha are two different things, Adrian.”“Well, I’m tired.”Chloe shot me a sleepy smile. “Me too. Are you ready to come to bed yet, oh great one?”I chuckled. She’d started calling me that after I’d been crowned and while I normally would have balked at someone calling me that, with Chloe it was different. I knew she meant it only with love, not mocking at all. “I am ready.”I crawled into bed and collected Chloe in my arms. She felt so right pressed against me. If I wasn’t so tired I’d be all ov
Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game 103. Adventure
KnoxI came home from my travels just long enough to watch Chloe and Adrian be crowned King and Queen. Over the last couple of years, I’d traveled to 43 countries and met more shifters than I’d ever imagined. Some were werewolves like me, but I also met leopard shifters and dragon shifters, entire cultures with their own legacies and rules. It was incredible, and I felt like I’d grown so much as a person since I’d left.“I guess I have to call you Your Highness now,” I laughed, patting Adrian on the back.He shot me a bright smile. He looks happier than he has in years. Alexander and I made the right choice; Adrian should have always been on the throne. It was never our place. “You can just call me Adrian.”“Not brother?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.He rolled his eyes. “That works too, I suppose.&r
Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game 102. The new Queen
Chloe"You don't usually ask to see me without the kids," I teased Alexander as I sat down next to him on the bench. We'd agreed to meet at our favorite spot in the gardens, one we’d frequented often in the years since Adrian, and I moved our family back here at Father’s request. He hadn’t really needed to convince us; we loved the idea of our children being raised with their grandfather and uncles."There's something I need to speak to you about," Alexander sighed, unusually serious. He seemed more and more serious as of recently and I worried about him. He seemed to be wearing thin."Is everything alright? Did Father's cancer return?" I knew he'd just had some routine scans done and no one had mentioned the outcome. Maybe they’d been keeping them from us on purpose?"No, nothing like that. No, it's something completely different." He closed his eyes for a moment as if he was gathering himself."I'm all ears," I said, leaning back. I was nervous about what he wanted to speak about.A
Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game 101. Charlie’s pregnancy
ChloeI debated for hours on whether or not I wanted to take the pregnancy test on my own or tell Adrian what I suspected. I’d been alone the first time with Charlie, and I’d been terrified, but things were different this time. I was married to my mate, and we lived in the Capital City near my father who doted on his grandson. In fact, both Alexander and Knox took their roles as uncles very seriously. I had a whole support system this time instead of just Caden.I almost told him I was going to take it but before I did I called Caden. He’d been around the first pregnancy, and I knew he’d give me good advice.“What’s up, Chloe?” Caden said when he answered the phone.“I think I might be pregnant,” I said in a rush.Caden was silent for several heartbeats. “Am I supposed to be happy or… supportive?”“Happy,” I laughed. “I’m happy about the idea. But I don’t know whether I want to take the test with or without Adrian.”“Oh,” Caden said, understanding. “I see. Well, there isn’t one right a
Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game 100. Beautiful sight
AdrianI had never been as nervous as I was standing at the altar waiting for Chloe to walk down the aisle.Alexander leaned over. I had chosen him as my best man, although I had been close between him and Knox. “You look like you're about to puke,” Alexander said.“Gee, thanks,” I said. In reality, I thought I was about to pass out.“Nerves?” Caden asked from beside Alexander. I had chosen him as one of my groomsmen as well. To my surprise, we actually got along really well, and I considered him a close friend now, not to mention an uncle to Charlie. He loved my son, and I couldn't stay mad at anyone who loved my son.“Don't worry if you pass out, I'll pour some water on you,” Knox offered.I ignored them and focused on trying to calm my breathing.The music for the bride started and we all turned towards the giant double doors, glancing over our 500 closest friends and family members that had been invited. The door swung open, and Father stepped out with Chloe on his arm. She was abs
Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game 99. Wedding dresses
ChloeI stared at the dress in the mirror, feeling absolutely helpless. “How many wedding dresses do I really have to try on?” I asked aloud.“Until you feel like a Princess,” the seamstress said. “Really, I don't remember any client being this difficult before.”“I'm sorry,” I sighed. “It's nothing with your design, though. It's absolutely beautiful. But ever since I gave birth to Charlie, I just don't feel comfortable in my skin anymore.”The seamstress gave me a sympathetic smile. “I understand,” she said. “I felt that way after the birth of all of my children. Don't get me wrong, I love them all very much, and I would do it 1000 times over if it meant I got to keep them. But it's hard adjusting to the new body you have as a mother.”“I just want my body to go back to the way it was before I gave birth,” I admitted. In fact, I hadn't admitted this to anyone, and it was a relief to get it off my chest.The seamstress tutted. “The sooner you get rid of that notion, the happier you'll
Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Game 98. Married
AdrianI really really didn't want to go see Elizabeth she had haunted my doorstep for years and the thought that I was about to enter her house was too much for me to bear.Unfortunately my wife had other ideas, and I couldn't tell her no.I didn't bother sending Elizabeth any warning that I was on my way. I didn't want her to get anything ready for me. With her, who knew what she would come up with.I knocked on her front door and when the Butler opened it his eyes widened in shock. “Prince Adrian. It's been a while.”“So it has. Is Elizabeth home?” I askedHe nodded slowly. “Are you sure you would like to see her?”“I would,” I confirmed.He led me into the drawing room and motioned towards the couch to sit down. “I'll go grab the lady.”The couches were made for style more than comfort and I was still shifting around trying to get comfortable when Elizabeth rushed into the room. It was clear that she had sprinted from whatever other part of the house she'd been in in order to get t
