Rejected Alpha's Agony

Cristian Mason, the Alpha of the Shadow Fang Pack, was chosen by Lycan King Rayden Moore to save Lottie Johnston, a rogue from the Red River Pack.

But it was me, Noemi Howell, healer of the Silver Moon Pack, who caught his heart the moment we met. Every time his feelings for me deepened, he was struck by a punishing surge of the Moon Goddess’s wrath. On our wedding night, after enduring eighty-one such surges, he was left weakened and battered, yet he still whispered,

“Noemi, the Moon Goddess may want me to forsake you, but I’ll risk everything to make you my Luna.”

Later, when rogues attacked the Shadow Fang territory, I was captured and thrown into the pack dungeon, where ninety-nine silver spikes were driven into my body.

In my despair, I remembered he had once taught me how to sharpen my mind link.

But what I heard through it shattered me.

“Cristian, how could you let Noemi endure this torture in the dungeon? Isn’t she your mate?”

Cristian’s voice was icy. “This punishment was meant for Lottie. To save her, I had no choice but to let Noemi take her place.”

“Besides, Noemi’s a healer. She can withstand it. Once this is over, I’ll make it up to her.”

My heart tore apart.

As the final spike came hurtling toward me, I closed my eyes and surrendered.

==============================

“Is she dead? She’s not moving.”

Someone frantically checked my pulse but found no sign of life.

The silver spikes burned through my veins, and even my werewolf resilience couldn’t dull the agony. Every breath intensified the pain.

Finally, I heard Cristian’s voice, trembling as he asked, “How many spikes are left?”

Rayden, the Lycan King, sighed. “Seven.”

“Most wolves can’t survive more than ten. Even with her healing abilities, Noemi won’t make it.”

Cristian’s voice broke. “Do you think I don’t know that?!”

“But if I don’t do this, Lottie will suffer.”

Lottie, the infamous rogue, had once been destined to join a pack but had fallen into darkness after Cristian rejected her.

Rayden had prophesied that if Lottie wasn’t saved, chaos would engulf the werewolf realm.

To save her, Cristian had sacrificed me to endure the ninety-nine spikes.

He believed my healing skills would keep me alive.

But now, my wolf was barely clinging to life.

Just when I thought Cristian might stop, his voice rang out again.

“Continue! After the last seven spikes, I’ll heal her myself.”

Ninety-nine spikes—no wolf, not even an Alpha, could endure that.

As another spike pierced me, my wolf howled in agony.

Ten years ago, he swore he’d love only me, defying the Moon Goddess’s will to protect me.

On our wedding day, he’d endured eighty-one surges of her wrath.

But now, his love meant making me suffer in another’s place.

If he hadn’t taught me to sharpen my mind link, I’d still be blind to his betrayal.

The pack members hesitated, unwilling to continue.

Cristian stepped into the dungeon, ready to finish the job himself.

Rayden protested, “If you do this, the pain will be unbearable!”

Cristian grimaced. “She’s a healer. She can take it. After this, I’ll find a way to make it up to her.”

When the final spike struck, the pain tore through me like fire.

I gave up, my hope extinguished.

As the ninety-ninth spike was driven in, only a sliver of my wolf remained.

Cristian dismissed the others and rushed to heal me, but his energy wouldn’t flow into my body.

“Noemi, I’m sorry. I never meant for you to suffer like this.”

With my last ounce of strength, I asked, “Cristian, I sent you a mind link the moment I was captured. Did you not hear it?”

He hesitated, avoiding my gaze. “Lottie led the rogues in the attack. I was distracted. I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

“Once the rogues are subdued, I’ll make it up to you. I’ll never leave your side.”

But what he didn’t know was that my wolf was on the verge of fading.

If I hadn’t known the truth, I might have believed his sweet words.

Only the Moonstone could restore my wolf now.

I coughed weakly. “Cristian, the Moonstone we exchanged as our mating bond—can you give it to me?”

He frowned, avoiding the question.

“Why do you need it? The rogues are still a threat. Go to the packhouse. I’ll come to you once this is over.”

He turned to leave, but I grabbed his sleeve, pleading, “Please… give me the Moonstone…”

He shook me off, impatience flashing in his eyes. “Noemi, this isn’t the time for this!”

“Lottie’s injured. The Moonstone is being used to heal her.”

Just then, Lottie appeared, her beauty masking her cruelty. Seeing my state, she feigned sympathy.

“Noemi, you’re in such bad shape. Why not let her recover here? I’ll make sure my people treat her well.”

Cristian hesitated. “She’s a healer from the Silver Moon Pack. It’s not safe for her here.”

Tears welled in Lottie’s eyes.

“Of course, she’s your mate. What am I to you? My pain doesn’t matter. I should’ve known.”

Instantly, Cristian relented. “Don’t say that. We’ll do as you suggest.”

Leaving a healer like me in rogue territory was a death sentence.

But Cristian stepped closer to Lottie, brushing away her tears. “Let’s go to the battlefield together. You’ve always been the strongest.”

Lottie smiled, her eyes gleaming with triumph.

“Cristian, I’d like to speak with Noemi alone. Wait outside.”

My heart sank.

Lottie loved Cristian deeply, and to her, I was the rival who’d stolen him.

Alone with her, weakened and helpless, I knew she’d kill me.

I begged Cristian with my eyes to refuse, but he simply nodded and walked out.

As soon as he was gone, Lottie’s smile turned vicious.

She reopened my wounds and poured a corrosive powder into them, the pain making me bite down on my tongue to keep from screaming.

Laughing, she taunted me.

“Noemi, what makes you think you deserve Cristian? Did you know he and I have been together for years? We promised to be mates long before you came along.”

“Ninety-nine spikes? You’re a healer. Surely you can handle it. Or are you not as strong as you claim?”

I choked out, “Cristian’s just outside!”

“The Moonstone that could save you? He gave it to me. It was yours once, wasn’t it? Funny how things change. You’ll never take him from me.”

Her voice was sharp with madness as she drew her dagger.

I recognized it—the twin to Cristian’s.

After our marking ceremony, he’d hung it in our room, always covering it with a red cloth during our most intimate moments.

When I’d asked why, he’d said it was sacred, not for others to see.

Now I knew the truth—it was a symbol of his bond with Lottie.

I closed my eyes, ready for death.

Lottie’s voice was a shrill cry. “You should’ve died long ago! You stole him from me, ruined my chance to join a pack! Cristian is mine alone. Go to the Moon Goddess and beg for mercy!”