Rejected and heartbroken, Aria flees her pack to escape the pain of betrayal. Kael, the loyal Beta of his pack, endures a similar rejection but cannot abandon his responsibilities. When fate brings Aria into Kael's territory, neither expects to feel the pull of a second chance mate bond. As past scars and pack politics threaten to tear them apart, they must fight not just for each other-but for a love powerful enough to defy destiny.
The cold air bit at Aria's cheeks as she ran through the dense forest, her breath visible in the moonlight. Twigs snapped beneath her boots, but she didn't stop. Couldn't stop. Not when her world had just crumbled around her.
He had rejected her.
No explanation. No hesitation. Just the cold, heartless words she never thought she'd hear from her destined mate.
"I reject you, Aria of the Silver River Pack. I want nothing to do with you."
Her wolf howled in agony inside her, the bond snapping like a whip across her soul. The pain was so visceral she had collapsed in front of him. She could still hear the laughter from his friends, the way they'd watched her fall apart like it was entertainment.
She had given him everything-her trust, her heart, her loyalty. And now... nothing. Less than nothing.
Her fingers curled around the strap of her small backpack. She hadn't taken much-just essentials and a few personal items. She didn't even care where she ended up. Anywhere but there. Anywhere but the place that held so many broken memories.
The moon hung full and bright overhead, casting silver light over the forest. Aria's legs finally gave out, and she sank to her knees by a stream. Her chest heaved as she tried to control her breathing, but her wolf mourned too loudly within her.
He was supposed to love us... he was meant for us.
"I know," Aria whispered, burying her face in her hands. "But he didn't."
She stayed there for hours, maybe longer, letting the forest soothe her in the only way it could. When the sky began to lighten, she forced herself to move again, unsure where she was headed, but unwilling to go back.
---
Miles away, in a different part of the forest, Kael was training with his Alpha when the pain hit him like a blow to the chest.
He staggered, eyes wide, clutching at his ribs as if that could keep his heart from breaking. The sudden void, the loss-it could only mean one thing.
"She's rejected you?" Alpha Ronan asked, lowering his training sword.
Kael could barely nod. "Without a reason. Just... done."
He dropped to one knee, growling low as the bond disintegrated within him. His wolf snarled in pain, furious and helpless.
Ronan laid a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Kael. She didn't deserve you."
Kael said nothing. The pain was raw, burning through every vein. As Beta, he was used to keeping a strong front. But this-this was agony beyond anything he'd trained for.
He didn't understand why his mate had walked away. Had he done something wrong? Had she been forced?
It didn't matter now. The bond was gone.
He straightened slowly, ignoring the tears stinging his eyes. "I'm fine," he muttered.
Ronan didn't push. He knew Kael well enough to give him space.
But that night, when the pack howled under the full moon, Kael remained silent. His heart was too heavy, too shattered to lift his voice with them.
---
Days passed.
Aria wandered, surviving on the little food she had, avoiding humans and wolves alike. She crossed rivers, slept beneath trees, and ignored the ache in her chest as best she could.
Until one night, exhausted and lost, she stumbled across a border she hadn't meant to cross.
She didn't know it then, but the moment her foot stepped into the Darkfang Pack's territory, her entire life would change.
She collapsed just inside the tree line, unaware of the patrol closing in, unaware that fate was about to give her something she'd never believed she deserved:
A second chance.
Yelena discovered that she wasn't her parents' biological child. After seeing through their ploy to trade her as a pawn in a business deal, she was sent away to her barren birthplace. There, she stumbled upon her true origins—a lineage of historic opulence. Her real family showered her with love and adoration. In the face of her so-called sister's envy, Yelena conquered every adversity and took her revenge, all while showcasing her talents. She soon caught the attention of the city's most eligible bachelor. He cornered Yelena and pinned her against the wall. “It's time to reveal your true identity, darling.”
Life was a bed of roses for Debra, the daughter of Alpha. That was until she had a one-night stand with Caleb. She was sure he was her mate as determined by Moon Goddess. But this hateful man refused to accept her. Weeks passed before Debra discovered that she was pregnant. Her pregnancy brought shame to her and everyone she loved. Not only was she driven out, but her father was also hunted down by usurpers. Fortunately, she survived with the help of the mysterious Thorn Edge Pack. Five years passed and Debra didn't hear anything from Caleb. One day, their paths crossed again. They were both on the same mission—carrying out secret investigations in the dangerous Roz Town for the safety and posterity of their respective packs. Caleb was still cold toward her. But as time went on, he fell head over heels in love with her. He tried to make up for abandoning her, but Debra wasn't having any of it. She was hell-bent on hiding her daughter from him and also making a clean break. What did the future hold for the two as they journeyed in Roz Town? What kind of secrets would they find? Would Caleb win Debra's heart and get to know his lovely daughter? Find out!
“Drive this woman out!” "Throw this woman into the sea!” When he doesn’t know Debbie Nelson’s true identity, Carlos Hilton cold-shoulders her. “Mr. Hilton, she is your wife,” Carlos’ secretary reminded him. Hearing that, Carlos gives him a cold stare and complained, “why didn’t you tell me earlier?” From then on, Carlos spoils her rotten. Little did everyone expect that they would get a divorce.
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.