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Derek's POV

I watched, my chest tightening as the scene before me unfolded. Him. That boy. The one I’d rejected, convinced that a mate like him could never be part of my plans.

But now, seeing someone else—this Alpha—holding him so protectively, something twisted deep inside me. Anger? I wasn’t sure. All I knew was the hollow ache that settled in my gut the moment I walked into the courtyard and heard that word again: mate.

Alpha Alaric's gaze met mine with unyielding defiance. “Your men assaulted my mate,” he said, as if he had already accepted the bond I had so easily tossed aside.

My mate? The words repeated painfully in my mind. I’d told myself he was too weak, too delicate. How could he stand by my side as the king? I would be seen as weak. But now, seeing him in someone else’s arms, everything I had convinced myself of began to crumble.

My wolf stirred restlessly in the back of my mind. I had let him go, hadn’t I? Why did it feel like I was the one being torn apart?

“You must be mistaken,” I spat, trying to keep my voice cold. “That’s no one’s mate.” The words tasted bitter on my tongue. How could this fragile, broken boy be anyone’s mate? Let alone mine?

He glanced down at the boy in his arms, cradling him with tenderness. He accepted him. What I had refused to acknowledge, he embraced.

I stood there, watching the bond between them become palpable, gnawing at me in ways I hadn’t expected. I could still feel the faint but undeniable connection —reminding me of the choice had made.

“I...” The boy’s voice was faint, barely a whisper, but it hit me like a punch to the gut. His face was bruised and bloodied, turned slightly toward me, and for a moment, our eyes met. There was pain there—pain I had caused before he finally lost conciseness.

Without another word, Alpha Alaric turned, carrying him away. He walked off with my mate in his arms, as if that’s where he had belonged all along.A part of me wanted to stop them, but I couldn’t. I wanted to use Abigail's upcoming mate ceremony as an excuse, but somehow, I couldn’t. As long as destined mates are meant for each other, chosen mates have no say. King or not, princess or not—you don’t hinder mates from finding each other.

I watched them disappear, my heart pounding. I had thrown him away, thinking it would make my life easier. Now, I was left standing here, alone, with nothing but the gnawing realization that I had lost something precious.

****

Nicole’s POV

My head throbbed, as if I’d been trampled by a stampede of rhinos. Slowly, my memories trickled back: the beating, three men. Dean must have sent them as punishment for entering the room while I was on the line. He was evil like that—capable of far worse. And then there was the Sinclairs-one of which was my rejected mate and the other was about to crown me her chosen mate.

I then recalled the scent of fresh rain just before I lost consciousness, and suddenly that smell flooded my senses again. I opened my eyes to find myself in an unfamiliar room. To my right, a machine beeped steadily. To my left, a couch. I looked down at my right hand and saw a needle in my vein.

As I sat up slowly, pain shot through my body, a stark reminder of the beating I had endured. Why did the room smell like fresh rain?

“Mate,” Mina, my wolf, whispered.

“What? We don’t have a mate.”

“We do.”

Her words confused me. Was the kick to my head affecting her memory too? I glanced at the clock. Two hours had passed since I was supposed to report to Jeremy. My boss would be furious. I needed to leave. Now.

I tried to sit up, but pain shot through my side, making me gasp. Damn. I really had been beaten badly.

“Where... where am I?” I croaked, my throat dry and scratchy.

“You’re in the hospital. Safe,” came a gentle voice from beside me.

I turned my head slowly, and there he was—a handsome man with a fresh rain scent, sitting in the corner of the room. He exuded an air of authority, but all I could focus on was the concern etched across his features.

“Who are you?” I asked, my heart racing with uncertainty.

“I’m the Alpha of the Silver Crest pack.” He hesitated, his eyes locking onto mine as he moved closer to my bed. “And... I’m your mate.”

My heart skipped a beat at his words, and I couldn’t help but chuckle despite the pain. “So, you’re telling me you’re my mate?”

The Alpha raised an eyebrow as he sat beside me on the bed. “You’re not exactly what I expected either.”

A second-chance mate? Had the moon goddess truly smiled upon me? Should I feel happy or was this just another form of punishment?

“You should get some rest, Nicolas. You’re still weak,” he urged.

Then it hit me. He probably thought I was still a boy—that was why Derek had rejected me. “What a twist of fate,” I said, gazing deeply into his eyes. “Let’s just make the rejection quick, mate...”

Even though I could feel the bond between us, even as my wolf growled at the thought, I had to reject him. I wasn’t ready to be hurt again. I would take my revenge on Derek, rebuild my pack, and choose my own mate-i had planned it

But my mind wandered back to Derek and Abigail who was about to pick me as her chosen mate. what would they be thinking? How would they react knowing I was with another Alpha? The thought sent a flicker of satisfaction down my spine. Derek had rejected me for someone else. This wasn’t the revenge I wanted, but it would definitely confuse him—the source of so much of my pain.

“You focus on healing,” the Alpha said gently. “I’ll take care of everything else.”

What did that mean? He wasn’t going to reject me?

“Aren’t you going to reject me?” I asked weakly, surprised.

He let out a chuckle softly as he brushed my hair away from my eyes affectionately, “You were sent to me by the moon goddess, Nicolas. I would never reject you. Once you’re better, we’ll go to my pack, and together we’ll rule.”

Did he just say “together ” together? He was ready to accept me as I was, even without knowing the real me? This must be a joke!

“You don’t even know me. How can you be so sure?” I replied, trying to gauge his thoughts.

Wasn’t he hesitant because I was a boy? Why was he displaying such calmness? Why was he staring at me with affection and admiration?

Goosebumps prickled my skin.

Alaric’s gaze didn’t waver. He moved closer, his scent of fresh rain enveloping me more, “I don’t need to know everything about you right now,” he said. “What I do know is that the bond between us is real, and I will never turn my back on it.”

I wanted to laugh, but it came out as more of a scoff. If only he knew the truth. Maybe the moon goddess has really compesated me with a second chance blessing, maybe all i have to do is to open my heart to him and welcome him in.

“I won’t let you face whatever it is you’re afraid of alone. Not anymore.”

I stared into his eyes. I wasn’t sure I could trust him—or anyone. But for now, I would focus on healing, on getting stronger.

No one would know what had happened between Derek and me. That secret would stay buried forever...