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Chapter 9
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2024-12-02 00:11:25Related chapters
The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 10
The first thing I noticed upon waking was the silence, a calm so profound it almost lulled me back to sleep. But as I sat up, stretching lazily in bed, I realized I was waiting—for something, or someone. A pang of realization struck when I caught myself glancing toward the door, expecting someone to stride in with my breakfast tray and freshly pressed clothes.I felt ridiculous. The weight of my new routine had seeped in deeper than I realized. With a self-deprecating laugh, I threw back the covers and swung my legs over the edge of the bed. The chill of the polished floorboards against my feet grounded me, a sharp reminder of the contrast between this gilded cage and the raw survival I’d once known.The corset, as always, loomed like an enemy waiting to strike. I wrestled with the laces, frustration mounting with every fumbling twist of my fingers. My ribs protested, aching with the familiar discomfort, but I finally managed to secure it. Breathing came in shallow gulps as I stared
Last Updated : 2024-12-03The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 11
Lauren had been my shadow for nearly a week, her presence a constant thorn in my side. What began with icy glares and verbal slaps had escalated into a calculated campaign to chip away at whatever fragments of peace I had left.Her snide remarks about my weight were relentless. The sharp edges of her words cut deeper each time. I overheard her once instructing a maid to reduce my meal portions, declaring that I was "getting obese." That day, I skipped eating entirely, retreating to the safety of my room until Ryker returned in the evening. His concern forced me to choke down something under his watchful gaze, but the damage to my confidence was already done.Lauren was unrelenting in her quest to remind me that Ryker was hers as if I needed constant reinforcement. When I attempted to tell her that I didn’t even want him, she laughed, her voice dripping with condescension. "Everyone wants him," she said smugly, her words like venom in the air.Today, when Ryker was preparing to leave,
Last Updated : 2024-12-03The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 12
After considering my options, I realized there was no way around it—I had to finish the meal before me. The weight of my choices pressed on me as I forced myself to swallow each bite, my prayers lingering in the back of my mind. Though, what was the point of praying when they always seemed to explode in my face?The first time was when I desperately prayed that Lauren wouldn't come into my room earlier that day—only for her to burst in uninvited. And the second was when Ryker told me I’d be training with Lauren immediately. The irony stung like a sharp slap to my already bruised spirit.Ryker’s intentions might have been genuine, but I wish he wouldn’t bother. What was he trying to prove? Is that being kind to me could erase the cruelty I knew he was capable of? It wouldn’t. I’d seen enough to know better. His supposed kindness felt hollow, like a prelude to something worse. All I wanted was for him to reject me so I could leave, escape this nightmare of being tied to an Alpha who rul
Last Updated : 2024-12-03The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 13
The stairs seemed to stretch infinitely, mocking my attempts to climb them. Every movement was agony. Eve and another maid, whose name I couldn’t even register through the haze of pain, had to hoist me up. Their arms felt steady against my trembling frame, guiding me through a fog of exhaustion and soreness. When we finally reached the bathroom, Eve’s soft offer to bathe me made my skin prickle. It was kind, but unsettling. “I can manage,” I muttered, but my voice cracked under the strain.Left alone, I realized my mistake. Each motion was a monumental effort, my muscles screaming as I dragged myself out of the tub. The cool air prickled against my damp skin, and I cursed myself for not accepting Eve’s help. After what felt like an eternity, I settled on a black nightgown—simple, loose, and mercifully easy to slip into. The fabric was soft against my battered body as I stumbled to the bed, collapsing into its embrace. Darkness claimed me instantly.---When I surfaced from the depths
Last Updated : 2024-12-04The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 14
While we waited for Lucy, Ryker busied himself with tending to my injury. His movements were steady but firm, and the cold touch of the frozen peas he pressed against my swollen ankle sent sharp chills through my skin. He replaced the makeshift ice pack every few minutes with clockwork precision, ensuring the cold remained consistent. The numbing sensation it brought was a fleeting comfort, masking the sharp ache that pulsed with each heartbeat—or maybe my body was simply resigning itself to the pain.Lucy arrived nearly an hour later, her forehead glistening with sweat as she strode into the room. The pristine white of her doctor's coat contrasted sharply with the slight disarray of her appearance—stray wisps of hair escaping her ponytail, her glasses slipping down the bridge of her nose. It was clear she'd come straight from an urgent matter, and the faint smell of antiseptic clung to her as she approached.“I’m so sorry I kept you waiting,” she began breathlessly, sliding her bag o
Last Updated : 2024-12-04The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 15
After I finished eating, Eve handed me a small vial of medicine she claimed would ease the pain. The liquid was thick, slightly bitter, with a faint herbal undertone that lingered on my tongue even after swallowing. It worked faster than I anticipated, pulling me under like a weighted blanket. Exhaustion already tugged at my limbs, so it didn’t take long for sleep to claim me.When I awoke later, the soft clinking of cutlery and Eve’s gentle prodding to eat lunch stirred me. My mind was hazy, caught in the half-dream state where reality felt distant. Ryker stood in the shadows near the corner of the room, his presence heavy yet silent. His eyes were sharp, watching over me with a vigilance that should’ve made me uneasy but didn’t. I barely remembered much beyond the taste of the warm stew she fed me before sleep dragged me back under.It was night when I finally woke again, the room dimly lit by a single lamp casting golden hues across the walls. A faint mustiness clung to my skin, a
Last Updated : 2024-12-04The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 16
It took a week before I could even begin to move my leg without the excruciating sensation of impending death. The pain still lingered, an uncomfortable throb that followed me like an unshakable shadow, but at least I could get around on my own now. The limp was heavy, persistent, but the agony had lessened just enough for me to function without help every minute of the day.Each morning for the past week, Ryker had been there, faithfully assisting me whenever I needed to bathe. The warm water against my skin had become a small comfort, but it was his presence that added an unexpected sense of security. I had grown used to his presence quickly, almost too quickly. By the second day, it no longer felt as awkward when he helped me out. Yet, there was always something about him that left me wondering. After every time, without fail, he would leave right after and return twenty or thirty minutes later. I never knew where he went or what he did during that time. A part of me was curious—no
Last Updated : 2024-12-05The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 17
The days passed in a haze of silence, tension hanging in the air like a storm waiting to break. I did everything I could to avoid Ryker, retreating into the confines of my room where the walls, at least, seemed to shield me from everything else. The bed became my refuge, a place to escape from the reality that weighed heavy on my shoulders. Each morning, I would find myself stuck in the same cycle: wake up, take a bath, get dressed in something comfortable, and stay hidden in my room. I would only leave when absolutely necessary, and even then, the mere sight of Ryker would cause my stomach to tighten in knots. He knew what I was doing. Hell, it was painfully obvious to anyone with a pair of eyes. The avoidance was so blatant that I couldn’t help but wonder how much longer I could keep up the charade before he confronted me about it. I had been expecting this inevitable moment, but when it arrived, I wasn’t ready. That morning began like any other. I slipped into the warmth of a hot
Last Updated : 2024-12-05
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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
