REJECTED AND REDEEMED

Chapter 4: The New. Hazel woke up tired. Not the bone-deep exhaustion of a slave who had worked past breaking, but the sluggish, heavy-limbed drowsiness of someone who had slept too long. The kind of sleep that left you more disoriented than rested. She couldn't remember the last time she'd slept without someone pouring a bucket of cold water over her head to yank her back to duty. The absence of that shock was almost unsettling. She sat up slowly, blinking at the room. She still couldn't wrap her head around it. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood, her bare feet sinking into a carpet so plush it felt like walking on clouds. The window caught her attention. She crossed the room, her heart beating a little faster with a feeling she barely recognized: anticipation. She pulled the curtains open and.... Oh! It was night. She pressed her palm against the cool glass, a smile tugging at her lips despite herself. This feels like a dream. But the longer she stood there, the more the silence of the room began to press in on her. She was a stranger here. She didn't know the layout of the castle, didn't know the faces of the people who served her now, didn't know the rules. She didn't even know what she was allowed to do. What am I supposed to do with myself? she thought, hugging her arms. A knock shattered the quiet. She jumped, her heart slamming into her throat. Old instincts, she had to force herself to breathe. "Who's there?" she called, hating how small her voice sounded. "It's me Piper, Luna." Oh! The maid from earlier. She exhaled, some of the tension draining. "Piper, come in." The door opened, and the young maid stepped in carrying a tray so large it drew her attention wholely, she hadn't seen such delicacies before. "I brought your food, Luna." Hazel's eyes were already fixed on the tray. She watched Piper set it down on the low table near the window, revealing plates piled high with food more food than she'd ever seen served to one person. Roasted meat, fresh bread, vegetables glistening with butter, a bowl of steaming soup, and pastries dusted with sugar. Her mouth watered. Her hands trembled with the effort of not lunging at it. "I thought you said you would pass my message to your Alpha," Hazel said, forcing her gaze away from the food. "I haven't seen him." Piper straightened, giving her a small smile. "Oh, that! he came earlier, but you were sleeping. He didn't want to disturb you." Hazel blinked. "He came?" She pressed her lips together, something unfamiliar and fragile blooming in her chest. "You've been sleeping all day," Akira said dryly inside her head. Hazel could practically see her wolf rolling her eyes. If I weren't your wolf, I would have thought you died. And you missed another chance to talk to our mate. Again. Hazel ignored her, though her cheeks warmed at the thought of it. The Alpha King. Her mate. "I'm sure he'll be back," Piper said, already moving toward the door. "Just eat and rest for now, Luna." The door closed with a soft click, and Hazel was alone again. She stared at the food for a long moment, then gave in but one thought dominated her mind. What the Alpha King, her mate, looks like. *** Just across the other hallway, Arden had been in his study buried in work all day. It was what he had always loved, the order of it, the control, the satisfaction of a kingdom running smoothly under his hand. But today, the reports blurred together. The voices of his advisors faded into background noise. His mind kept drifting to the door at the end of the east wing, to the woman sleeping behind it, to the scent of her that still clung to his memory like smoke. He had waited so long for this. So many years of watching his brother and friends find their mates, of listening to the whispers that the Alpha King was cursed, that the Moon goddess had abandoned him. He had refused to settle. Had turned away every woman the elders had presented, every alliance offered, every convenient match. He had wanted her. Whoever she was. Wherever she was. And now she was here. In his castle. sleeping in a room that had been empty for centuries, waiting for him to find the time to return to her. He had never resented his work before. He resented it now. "Any more reports?" he asked, his voice sharper than he intended. Gaius, his gamma shuffled the papers on his desk, his expression carefully neutral. "One more, Alpha. From the Winder Pack. Rogues attacked them a few days ago. Heavy casualties. The Luna was killed. Their Alpha is... delirious, from what we're told. They're requesting backup." Arden's jaw tightened, rogues were becoming bolder, more organized. Another problem for another day. "Send men to assist them. They should Stay until the pack is stable. Send arms too and provisions necessary." Gaius nodded, making a note. Arden stood, the chair scraping against the floor. "That's all for today. Whatever's left can wait until tomorrow." He was halfway to the door before Gaius could respond. He didn't see the look on his gamma's face, the shock, the disbelief, the slow-spreading smile. Arden had never left work unfinished. Not once in all the years Gaius had served him. But here he was, striding out of the study like a man who had somewhere far more important to be. And it got to be only one place, wherever his mate was. Hazel was lost in thought- standing by the window, staring at the trees, wondering about the forest up ahead, wondering what her future holds, when the knock came. She went still, her breath catching. "It's him," Akira whispered. "I can smell him." She crossed the room on unsteady legs. Her hand trembled as she reached for the door. She pulled it open. And forgot how to breathe. He stood in the doorway like he had been carved from moonlight and shadow. White hair and silver eyes . Broad shoulders and height that overshadowed her. A face that belonged on a painting in some ancient temple-strong jaw, sharp cheekbones, lips that were curved into the faintest hint of a smile. And his scent-It hit her like a wave, pulled her under. Mint and hot chocolate. She was tempted to breathe him in until she drowned. "Mate," Akira howled, pacing frantically inside her. "Mate!" Hazel couldn't move. Couldn't speak. Couldn't do anything but stare up at this impossible, perfect creature and wonder how the moon goddess could have possibly chosen her for him. A slave. A nobody. A woman who had spent her entire life being told she was worthless. His gaze traveled over her face, the wild tangle of her ginger hair. When his eyes met hers again, his smile deepened-just a fraction, just enough to make her knees weak. "Hi, mate." He said, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through her bones. "Can I come in?"