REJECTED BY THE ALPHA, CLAIMED BY HIS FATHER

My white dress felt soft against my skin and the flowers in my hair smelled sweet. This was it. The night I

ncing inside me. He's ours

to the platform. Ryder stood there tall and strong, his green eyes on me. I re

. "Alpha Ryder, do you accept A

d my

der said

a slap. The whole p

" I whispered. My

h in his eyes. "I reject you, Ava.

she had already won. My chest felt like it was cracking open. The mate bond that had been warm and golden in

burned my eyes but I blinked hard. "You m

d strong alliances. Lena gives us that. You were j

d. Others had pity in their eyes. A few even smirked. Humiliation burned my

" I said, my voice shaking. "I

rs following me like knives. As soon as I hit the trees I ran faster. Branches scratched my arms a

d my stomach hurt. The bite mark on my neck from Ryder throbbed once, then went cold and n

en something strange happened. Heat bloomed on my

nd old-looking symbols twisting inside it. It puls

hter and a rush of energy shot through me. For the

through the woods. Fast. Getting closer.

va

mark burned hotter. Whoever was coming felt huge. Stro

ure stepped out of the shadows

King Lucian.

it felt like the mate bond was wak

" I whi

dn't be h