The Alpha King's Rejected Mate

Warning: This story containes explicit scenes. Intended for those above 18...

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Aria Blackwood has spent her life trapped beneath her father’s iron rule. When she is paraded through the glittering halls of the Grand Moon Hall, offered as a prize to unite the powerful Twelve Houses, she believes her fate is sealed. But one forbidden night changes everything.

The stranger who steals her breath is no ordinary wolf. Kael Nightborne is the King of werewolves, ruler of Nightfall Keep, and the last man Aria should ever desire. When dawn comes, he turns her away, cold, distant, unreachable.

Except Aria carries his child.

Hunted by secrets, betrayed by blood, and chased into the dangers of the High Wilds, Aria discovers that her father, Victor Blackwood, is tied to horrors buried deep within the Forsaken Heights, sins that could tear the realm apart. As enemies close in from Ironwill Basin Pack to the shadows of Veilshade Peak, Kael is forced to choose between his crown and the woman fate never intended for him.

Love was never part of the plan.

Neither was a baby that could change the balance of power forever.

When the truth finally comes to light, will Kael protect his hidden family, or will the past claim them both before dawn breaks?

1

ARIA

The dress was pulled so tight around me that breathing fully was hard. The deep red fabric pressed against my chest, squeezed my ribs, and clung to my hips, as if it had been made to keep me trapped.

The high slit along my leg was the only reason I could move at all. Sitting would be impossible unless I lifted the gown first. I already knew I would not be allowed to do that.

This was exactly what my father wanted.

The only time my father wanted me seated was when I was on someone's lap. Straddling them. On purpose. Tonight, that lap belonged to Alpha Alaric Stonefang of the Ironwill Basin Pack.

This night decided my future. Not freedom. Just a different cage. I was leaving my father's rule and stepping into another man's control. I knew nothing about Alaric. Not his temper.

Not his habits. Not what he was like when no one watched him. All I could do was hope he was better than my father. That hope was small. Anyone had to be better than Victor Blackwood.

"Smile," Victor growled at my side. His fingers tightened on my arm, hard enough to warn me, not hard enough to leave a mark yet. "If you don't look pleasant, Stonefang won't think you're worth it."

I smiled right away. I always did. Saying no was never allowed. My father would hurt me in front of a crowd without a second thought. Even tonight. Even in front of the man meant to claim me. No one would stop him. No one ever had. They would call it discipline. They would praise him for being strong.

The Grand Moon Hall opened before us,