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Chapter 18
Last Updated:
2024-12-05 03:01:04Related chapters
The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 19
Over the next few days, Ryker and I began to carve out a strange kind of truce, a delicate balance between us. My initial fear of him, so heavy and oppressive, didn’t just vanish overnight. That was something I had known from the beginning. It was always going to take time to unwind the tight knots of fear and uncertainty that had coiled themselves around me. But now, I noticed with some surprise, there were moments when I didn’t jump at his presence, or freeze up when he walked by. And though I couldn’t say I felt completely at ease yet, I felt a shift. It wasn’t that I stopped fearing him—it was that I had fewer reasons to. I had seen how he treated the omegas in his pack, with a kind of quiet respect, a responsibility that ran deeper than I had expected. Slowly, I was starting to believe there might be more to him than just the cold, intimidating alpha that I’d first met. It was a strange, cautious peace, but I took it as a victory.The healing of my leg was another small victory.
Last Updated : 2024-12-06The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 20
The rest of the day passed in a strange and unsettling silence. After we finished breakfast together, Ryker disappeared. It wasn’t like him to just vanish, and it left a void in the house. The space felt unnaturally still, almost hollow. I was so used to his presence—his warmth, his deep voice filling the rooms, his subtle but constant awareness of me—that it was jarring not to have him around. It felt as though the house had lost its heartbeat, and my own rhythm faltered in response to the absence.Eve noticed my mood and, in an effort to keep me distracted, spent the day telling me stories about life in the pack. Her voice, soft but steady, brought some semblance of comfort. She wasn’t born into this life, she told me. She had been a rogue, wandering alone until, at the age of five, she accidentally wandered into the pack's territory. The former Luna had found her, taken pity on her, and made her an omega. The pack had become her family, and her story, tragic yet hopeful, held me ra
Last Updated : 2024-12-06The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 21
The sun had barely risen, its faint light filtering through the trees as I stood alongside Ryker in the early morning quiet. The crisp, cool air nipped at my skin, and the damp earth beneath our feet seemed to hum with the weight of untold stories. Our training was the same as yesterday—focused and relentless. But today, there was a sense of urgency, a tension I could feel in every movement Ryker made. Though he tried to hide it, I could see it in the way his jaw clenched, the way his eyes darted to the horizon as though expecting trouble. He was still worried about the rogue, I knew that much. But despite everything, he chose to be with me rather than delegate my training to someone else. I appreciated that, more than he probably realized.As the morning wore on, the soft rustling of leaves and the occasional bird call were the only sounds that accompanied us. My body ached from the exertion, but I kept pushing, determined to keep up. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw her—Laur
Last Updated : 2024-12-07The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 22
I locked myself in my room the entire day, the weight of guilt pressing heavily on my chest, suffocating me. Eve had come by to offer lunch, but I couldn’t even bring myself to take a bite. The thought of what I had done to Lauren twisted like a blade in my heart. I couldn’t even begin to fathom how she felt, having me still in this house, after everything. The air in my room felt suffocating, my mind swirling with regrets, and every corner seemed to echo with the silence of my shame.The hours dragged by, each minute stretching endlessly. As the evening approached, I began to rehearse the speech I had prepared for Ryker. I must’ve gone over it a thousand times in my mind, each time tweaking it, refining it, trying to make it sound as sincere as possible. The plan was simple—wait until dinner, thank him for everything he’d done for me, and tell him that it was time for me to leave. I would tell him I needed to give him and Lauren the space they deserved, even if it meant tearing mysel
Last Updated : 2024-12-07The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 23
A shadow passed over his features, and in that brief flicker, I saw something that made my stomach tighten. It was an emotion so raw, so stark, it threatened to unravel the calm facade he’d so carefully maintained. The deep, hidden sadness behind his eyes was palpable, as though it had been festering for far too long. I almost felt a pang of guilt for bringing it up, but the weight of the conversation demanded it. I needed to know, and he needed to confront it.“What do you know about it?” he asked at last, his voice barely above a whisper, but sharp enough to cut through the tension.“I know that you and Lauren were having a child,” I said, careful with each word. My mind raced to find the best way to explain without dragging Eve into it. “I know it was a recent loss because of how Lauren reacted to it.”The words hung heavy in the air. The silence that followed was suffocating, pressing down on me as if the very walls of the room could collapse under the weight of our unspoken truth
Last Updated : 2024-12-08The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 24
Sleep eluded me, a cruel companion to the unrelenting heaviness of the day’s events. My mind was crowded with a myriad of thoughts, but one lingered, persistent and stubborn—Ryker. I couldn’t shake the way my heart had thudded in my chest when he’d looked at me, his expression unreadable, his presence all-consuming. I wasn’t ready to admit it, but I felt it deep within me—he was the reason I couldn’t sleep. The sky outside my window gradually shifted from dark to a pale, melancholy blue, the soft glow of dawn creeping through the blinds. There would be no chance of returning to slumber now. With a sigh, I resigned myself to the fact that the quiet, peaceful morning I had hoped for wasn’t meant to be. Instead, I lay in bed a moment longer, reflecting on how different life had become since I’d arrived here. Before I came, there had been no routine, no physical exertion to fill my day. But now, it seemed as though every day was a cycle of training, learning, and growing, both physical
Last Updated : 2024-12-08The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 25
Ryker’s presence was like a lingering shadow, one I couldn’t seem to escape, no matter how much I tried. For the entire day, I kept to my room, a self-imposed exile meant to avoid him at all costs. My sanctuary became a quiet haven, though the walls seemed to grow closer with every passing hour. I knew he was just down the hall, likely resting in his room, but I couldn’t bring myself to risk running into him. Not yet.Eve, ever the observant one, clearly noticed something was wrong. Her curious glances spoke volumes, but she didn’t push me for an explanation. When I informed her, with a hint of finality, that I’d be taking all my meals in my room, she simply nodded and left without protest. Her silence was comforting in its way. She understood my need for space, even if she didn’t understand why.By morning, my strategy unraveled. After a restless night, I rose early, seeking solace in the steady routine of bathing and dressing. Steam from the hot water clung to the bathroom mirror, a
Last Updated : 2024-12-09The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 26
A shadow swept over his face at the mere mention of the name, dark and forbidding like a storm brewing on a distant horizon. My breath hitched, my chest tightening with unease as I watched him. His jaw ticked, his eyes narrowing slightly, and I couldn’t help but wonder what thoughts were churning behind his steely gaze.“I know of him,” Ryker said at last, his voice as calm as the surface of a frozen lake. But there was an edge to it, sharp enough to slice through the tension hanging between us. “Although, if I’m not mistaken, he isn’t Alpha yet.”I nodded. “His father is Alpha, but he practically leads already.”“He rejected you.” It wasn’t a question. The words landed like a hammer, blunt and unyielding, yet the weight of his tone demanded a response.“Yes,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.“Then he’s a f**king idiot,” he stated, the venom in his words catching me completely off guard.My eyes widened in shock, my heart skipping a beat. Of all the things I’d expected him to say
Last Updated : 2024-12-09
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The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 53
As soon as I crossed the threshold of the pack's protective walls, the façade I had carefully maintained all day shattered. My breath came in shallow, ragged gasps as I leaned against the cold, unyielding stone for support. I had thought dealing with Ryker would be the most challenging part of today, but I hadn't accounted for Tyson's presence.For years, I had forced him into the shadows of my mind, locking the memories away where they couldn't hurt me. I wasn’t still hung up on what he did—at least that’s what I told myself. I had fought tooth and nail to reclaim my life, to move forward. Yet seeing him again felt like being plunged into frigid water, the air snatched from my lungs, and no means to resurface.For a fleeting moment, the thought of calling off the ceremony crossed my mind. But the weight of my duty crushed that idea before it could take root. I couldn’t let two men—two ghosts of my past—derail the future of our kingdom. Still, understanding my responsibilities didn’t
The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 52
I hadn’t seen Ryker again since that day. Two days had passed, and his absence lingered in my mind like an unanswered question. I tried to suppress my curiosity, but my family saw through me as they always did. Christine eventually let it slip that he was staying in the palace guesthouse.Knowing he was so close felt strange, almost suffocating. Just a short walk separated us, and the proximity unsettled me in ways I couldn’t explain. They say “out of sight, out of mind,” but whoever coined that phrase never had someone like Ryker looming just within reach. He was a storm cloud on my horizon, refusing to dissipate.Then there was the dress—my looming nightmare. The designers paraded sketch after sketch before me, yet none resonated. Each one felt lifeless, uninspired, and the indecision gnawed at me. They needed my approval by tomorrow, and I had nothing to give. The frustration weighed on me, a heavy stone tied to my every thought.The only solace I had was Audrey. Somehow, my little
The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 51
“Christine, I need you to get her for me,” I said, my voice trembling as I struggled to calm my breathing.Christine’s brows furrowed, her arms crossing tightly over her chest as she gave me a sharp look. Her gaze was unreadable, but the tension in her posture screamed a mix of frustration, concern, and perhaps even a desire to smack some sense into me. She exhaled heavily, tilting her head slightly to glance past the pillar. I mirrored her movement, peering out into the garden where Ryker stood.He was animatedly speaking to Audrey, his deep voice carrying on the breeze. His stance was relaxed, but there was a subtle tension in the way his eyes darted around, scanning the surroundings like he was searching for something—or someone.I ducked back behind the pillar, pressing myself against the cool stone, my heartbeat hammering against my ribs. “Please,” I whispered desperately, my voice cracking. “Before he asks who her mother is and she mentions me. I can’t face him yet—I’m not ready
The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 50
The preparations for the ceremony started immediately, overwhelming me like an unstoppable tidal wave. It was like being pulled into a whirlpool of constant activity—meetings, lessons, and expectations. Day after day, I was swept along, learning everything about how a crowned princess should behave, from the way I spoke to the way I walked. I was taught what I was allowed to say in public and, more importantly, what I wasn’t. There were so many rules, some obvious, some subtle, but they all pressed down on me, suffocating my sense of freedom.It was exhausting. Every night, I collapsed into bed with the hopes that the following day would be the last lesson, the last meeting, but each morning, I woke up to the realization that there was always more to be done. Audrey, oblivious to the gravity of the situation, was simply excited about the grand party that was to come. She noticed that I was busier than usual, but her world was filled with bright, simple joys, like dressing up and playi
The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 49
Audrey Valentina Caine was born about seven months after I ran away from Ryker. The pregnancy came as a complete shock to me. I didn’t even know I was carrying a child, not until that very day when Christine found me in the bathroom, tears streaming down my face, overwhelmed by the sheer weight of the discovery. I didn’t know what to do. The thought of raising a child alone paralyzed me with uncertainty.But despite my fears and the chaos I often felt, Christine was there for me in ways that no one else could be. And to my surprise, so was my mother. She had missed so much of my life, but now she was determined to make up for it by pouring all her love into Audrey. The little girl, as oblivious as she was to all the struggles around her, was adored. And I don’t think she even realized the magnitude of that love. Everyone in this grand palace was wrapped around her little finger, and she didn’t have to do a thing to earn it. I named her Audrey because the name felt right, and part of m
The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 48
FOUR YEARS LATERThe crisp bite of the early morning air brushed against my exposed skin, sending a shiver that traced the length of my spine. I hadn't expected it to be this cold, especially not in August. It was too early for this kind of chill; I always thought it would come with September, with the sharpness of fall settling in. But here I was, wrapped in nothing but a sleeveless dress, feeling the wind bite through the thin fabric as though it were a warning.I pulled my arms closer to my sides in a weak attempt to shield myself from the growing cold, but it didn’t help much. My thoughts were far from the chill of the weather. Instead, they lingered on memories long buried, memories of Ryker. August was always the month that made me think of him, the month I ran, the month I left him behind. And yet, four years later, I couldn’t escape him. His face, his voice, the love and the pain... they lingered in the back of my mind, haunting me with every step I took away from the life I h
The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 47
I sprinted, my legs burning with each step as I raced away from the office and back downstairs. My heart pounded in my chest, the rhythm erratic, as if it knew something I couldn’t grasp. The weight of the truth hung heavy in the air, thick like smoke, suffocating me with every breath. I couldn’t bring myself to tell anyone what I had witnessed. My mouth felt dry, words trapped in my throat like a prisoner behind a wall. I couldn’t even speak them to myself—let alone to anyone else.The entire day felt like a blur. I forced myself to go through the motions, trying to appear composed, trying to act like everything was normal, but inside I was crumbling. My thoughts were a whirlwind, a storm of questions and doubts, but I couldn’t find the answers I was desperate for. Riley noticed. She asked me about the mating ceremony with an intensity that stung, but I couldn’t bring myself to shout the truth at her. The only thing I wanted in that moment was to escape, to return to my own bed, to s
The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 46
The air was thick with unease the moment I stepped into the living room. My heart stumbled when I saw Damien sitting there, dressed to the nines in his usual immaculate style, talking casually with Eve as though this were the most natural thing in the world. The soft rustle of fabric and muted voices seemed to echo louder than they should have, and the tension clung to the room like an unwelcome guest.Ryker’s surprise mirrored my own. I caught his sharp glance and realized something was off. If Ryker hadn’t expected Damien’s presence, then Eve certainly hadn’t either. A chill crept up my spine as I pieced it together.Before I could decide what to do, I heard the familiar sound of Eve’s light footsteps skipping down the stairs, each step like a note in a song I knew by heart. Her carefree rhythm faltered as her gaze landed on Damien. She froze for a moment, then spun on her heel and retreated upstairs, her steps now hurried, almost frantic.I turned to Ryker, whose confusion was evid
The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 45
I spent the remainder of my day in Ryker’s office. His quiet presence was a comfort, anchoring me in a way I hadn’t expected. The air between us was calm yet alive, like the steady rhythm of waves kissing the shore. While I poured over texts about the mating ceremony and began sketching vague plans for what I envisioned, Ryker worked at his desk, the scratch of his pen against paper and the occasional shuffling of documents punctuating the stillness.Every so often, I felt his eyes on me, their weight a quiet invitation to meet his gaze. When I did, he would smile—soft, warm, and completely disarming. It was a smile that reached into my chest and made my pulse flutter. At one such moment, his eyes caught mine, and there was a flicker of something unspoken, a question lingering on his lips. I was certain he was about to say something when the door burst open without so much as a knock.I didn’t have to look up to know it was Riley. Only she would dare enter Ryker’s sanctuary so brazenl
