Page 52 of Claiming His Rejected Mate

“You call making the right decision for your pack a mistake? You fought to bring us to where we are now. Why are you letting this poor excuse of a woman do this to us? You will drive a line straight down our middle, and the pack you have worked so hard to raise will crumble before your eyes. And it will be because you chose her.”

My wolf snarls at the disrespect. But what do I care? They’re right. Kieran cares about his pack more than anything else. And I’m apparently something else. I sigh deeply, and Ayana looks up, her humming fading into the sizzling quiet of the kitchen when she notices what I’m doing.

“You’re right,” he says, and I don’t want to listen anymore. I look up at Ayana, and her brows scrunch. That’s when I feel the stinging in my eyes. I want to move away. Stop listening. Stop torturing myself with Kieran’s words. But then, why do I even care? He’s put me through hell and feels justified. But I’m glued to the floor and my chest feels heavy.

“I’ve said things, done things, that I can’t take back. You can justify it because you don’t have the curse of feeling the heart-wrenching guilt of watching the only connection that feeds your soul wither away.” He sighs, and his voice shakes. “But I’m trying to make this right.”

I shake my head, the anger simmering just beneath the surface. I should feel flattered. Held. I should want to forgive him. But I don’t. Darrel asks the question that is burning on my mind. “Why now? Why try? She's going to cost you a lot more if you don't put the needs of the pack first.”

Kieran exhales, and I imagine him running his hand through hishair. The mention of Damon sends a spike of frustration through me, but I hold my tongue.

“I know Damon may have served his selfish interests and acted from a place of righteousness against you, but think about the discord that will arise when the pack becomes aware of the full extent of what is going on. And then you bring a stranger to lead them as your Mate? One rejected by even her own pack? One who is at the root of the discord itself?”

“This pack needs a Luna.” Kieran’s normal tone is back now, sounding like an Alpha. “Someone strong, someone who understands what it means to fight and survive. And Hazel is exactly that. She’s my Fated Mate. I can't turn my back on that. I see why the Goddess blessed me with our bond now.”

The bond hums louder, my wolf reacting to his words with an ache that feels almost physical. But I push it aside, my chest tight with doubt.

Ayana’s voice pulls me back to the kitchen. “Hazel? You okay?”

I force a nod, my throat tight. “Yeah. Just…distracted.”

She gives me a curious look but doesn’t press, her attention returning to the sandwiches.

I glance toward the door again, Kieran’s words echoing in my mind.

She’s my Mate. I can’t turn my back on that.

But trust doesn’t come easy, and Kieran has a long way to go before I can believe in his words. For now, I’ll keep my guard up. It’s safer that way.

“I’m not supposed to be having fun making grilled cheese alone, Hazel.” Ayana walks over with a plate of delicious-looking sandwiches.

I shrug, avoiding her gaze. “I’m sorry.”

“Is it him?”

I frown, but it’s weak.

Ayana gives me a look, her brows pinched with both concern and curiosity. “What did he say this time?”

I recount what I overheard, my voice steady even as my heart stumbles over the details. Ayana listens intently, her expression softening with each word as she munches on one of the sandwich halves.

When I finish, she leans back, her arms crossed. “That’s…a lot. Do you believe him?”

I shake my head, frustration bubbling to the surface. “I don’t know. Part of me wants to, but after everything he’s done, how can I?”

Her lips purse thoughtfully. “People change, Hazel. Sometimes it takes a hard wake-up call for them to realize they’ve been wrong.”

“That doesn’t mean I have to forgive him,” I snap, the bitterness in my voice surprising even me.

“No, you don’t,” she says calmly, offering me a sandwich.

The weight of her words settles over me, but before I can respond, the door bursts open.

Nina strides in like she owns the place, even with the new situation of her brother, Damon, being a slimy traitor. Her perfectly coiffed hair and sharp copper eyes radiate superiority, but I know it's a bluff. She can't have any power now due to Damon’s situation. She takes one look at me and smirks, the kind of smirk that makes my wolf bristle. I won't be surprised if she’s just like her brother, a conniving weak link of the pack.

“Well, isn’t this cozy?” she drawls, crossing her arms. “The little Nightclaw charity case, feeling comfortable, as if she’s Luna already.”

My fists clench at my sides. “What do you want, Nina?” I just want to ram my fist into that symmetrical face of hers.

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