Rejected by the Wolf I Now Own Novel – I had endured death multiple times. Each time, the same man delivered the final blow. Alpha Balthazar of the Ruby Domain. The most lethal predator I had ever encountered. The scenario never varied. His blade pressed against my throat, those glacial blue eyes locking me in place as I knelt helplessly. The killing strike always followed, his sword cutting deep, crimson flowing across my chest as my final breath escaped. You would think that after countless attempts, I could alter the outcome. That I could rewrite my fate. The reality was merciless. My memories remained buried until that precise instant when Balthazar’s steel touched my skin. Only then did everything flood back.
Multiple deaths. Multiple failures. My existence replaying in an endless, torturous loop. My lungs burned. My palm pressed desperately against the gaping wound in my abdomen, fighting to contain what was already lost. The battleground stretched around me in eerie silence, broken only by the weak moans of the dying. Every one of my warriors lay dead. Balthazar loomed above me, towering and pitiless, his battle armor painted crimson with blood. Not a single mark marred his flesh. His expression remained hollow, devoid of emotion, those arctic eyes cutting through me without the slightest trace of mercy. He studied me like a hunter examines wounded prey, calculating the perfect moment to deliver the killing stroke. The heartless beast was preparing to claim my life once more. “Look at this,” someone sneered from behind him, a nameless soldier who had witnessed my demise too many times to count. “Still clinging to life. How pathetic.” Another voice erupted in harsh laughter. “Pathetic doesn’t begin to cover it.
The great Luna, dragging her people into battle while her supposed mate hides in his fortress, drowning in wine and whores. How utterly foolish.” A third soldier joined the mockery. “Why waste time killing her? Look at that face. That body. We could drag her back with us, make her our personal entertainment. Picture it – the Luna of Silverpeak crawling on her belly for our amusement.” Vile words spilled from their mouths like poison. My hands clenched against the blood-soaked earth, fingernails biting into my palms. My throat constricted, breath coming in ragged gasps, yet I remained silent. Any other day, I would have spat their insults back in their faces, cursed them with every ounce of fury in my soul. I was Luna. I would never allow such disrespect. But experience had taught me harsh lessons. Every time I rose to defend my dignity, Balthazar struck me down. That path led only to death. And by the gods, exhaustion consumed me. So I endured their filth in silence.
Let them drag my name through the mud. I refused to lift my gaze or squander what little strength remained. My silence ignited rage in one of them. Heavy boots thundered across the gore-slicked ground as he charged forward. “Who gives you the right to ignore me, you worthless bitch?” His arm rose, preparing to strike my face. But before his hand could descend, Balthazar shifted his attention and fixed that deadly stare upon him. The soldier turned to stone instantly. His arm fell to his side. Even his own men feared to cross him. I raised my eyes just enough to glimpse them before lowering my gaze again. My words emerged as barely a whisper. “End it.” Complete stillness. Everyone froze, eyes expanding in shock. One muttered in bewilderment, “Did she actually… request death?” Another laughed uneasily. “She fought like a wild beast minutes ago. What changed?” Balthazar’s sword remained positioned at my throat. His head angled slightly, intrigue sparking in that frozen stare as he examined me. “You desire death?” His tone carried calm amusement. “Explain.” I offered no response.
My attention remained fixed on the ground, on the crimson pool spreading beneath my knees. “Explain yourself, Luna of the Silverpeak Domain,” he demanded again. Why? Because weariness had broken me. Because every existence, every desperate struggle, every frantic battle had delivered me to this exact moment. I had grown sick of fighting destiny only to face identical endings. I swallowed hard. My lips quivered, but honesty escaped anyway. “Because I’m weary of the struggle,” I whispered, my voice fracturing. “You’ll finish this regardless of my actions… so make it swift.” I sensed his gaze burning into me. I dared not look up. If I met those eyes now, if I faced him in this broken state, I would loathe myself for such weakness. The blade pressed closer to my throat. I swallowed with difficulty, pulse hammering. Gods, terror consumed me. I had no desire to die again. But what options remained? I shut my eyes tightly. Please, let it be quick this time. Every previous death had brought unbearable agony.
The sword’s weight shifted. I prepared for the cut, but instead heard the sound of the blade lowering. My eyes snapped open. I went rigid with shock. What? Around me, everyone stood frozen. Balthazar’s soldiers appeared equally confused as they stared at their Alpha. He stood motionless, blade resting at his side, his face maintaining that cold, unreadable mask. “What are you doing?” My voice trembled as I gazed up at him in disbelief. His eyes narrowed to slits. “You want death?” His lips twisted, though it bore no resemblance to a smile. “How fascinating. That expression in your eyes… you’re terrified of dying, yet you plead for it. I’ve never encountered anyone quite like you.” I swallowed, my throat parched. Balthazar tilted his head, studying me like an unsolved riddle. Then he spoke. “Very well. I’ll offer you an opportunity to survive. If you can live through today, you keep your life.” My heart stumbled. I questioned whether I had heard correctly. “Gideon,” Balthazar called. “Yes, Alpha,” responded an impressive man with golden hair – his beta. “Bring me my bow.” Gideon complied immediately, placing the weapon in Balthazar’s grasp.
The Alpha nocked an arrow, then aimed it directly at me. “You have moments to run,” he announced. “Then my men and I will begin firing. If you manage to escape, we won’t pursue you.” The soldiers burst into laughter. Their eyes blazed with anticipation. To them, I was no longer Luna. I had become their quarry. My chest constricted. Every instinct urged me to remain down, to let death claim me here before they could begin their twisted game. But this scenario was unprecedented. Not once across all my lives had he shown mercy, much less offered escape. My body trembled violently. Logic demanded surrender. Yet somewhere deep within, hope still flickered. I refused to die. I wanted to live. Balthazar’s head tilted marginally, those blue eyes gleaming. “If I were in your position,” he said. “I would be running.” My teeth bit into my lip. My legs felt like lead, but I forced them into motion. Then I turned and fled. Behind me, his voice began the countdown. When the first arrows screamed through the air, I never stopped. Even as they ripped into my flesh, even as fire spread through my body, I continued running. I ran because for the first time across all my lives, I possessed a chance. … Aria’s POV My legs trembled beneath me as I pushed forward, each step a battle against my failing body.
Blood seeped through my fingers where I pressed them against my wounds, but I refused to collapse. Not when I was this close. Not when home was finally within reach. The familiar stone walls of the castle rose before me like a beacon of hope. I had made it. Against all odds, I had survived the massacre and returned to safety. My wolf Astra remained silent in the depths of my mind, her presence barely a whisper since the battle ended. She had vanished when I needed her strength most, just as she always did in my darkest moments. Still, I knew she lingered there, watching over me in her mysterious way. The castle gates loomed ahead, flanked by armored sentries I recognized from countless patrol rotations. Relief crashed over me so powerfully that my knees nearly gave out entirely. “We made it,” I whispered to Astra, though she gave no response. My vision blurred as I approached the entrance, swaying dangerously with each unsteady step. One of the guards squinted in my direction before shouting an alarm. “Movement at the gates! Ready your weapons!” “State your identity or face our arrows!” another bellowed. I raised a shaking hand, my voice barely audible through my damaged throat. “Wait! Lower your weapons. I am Luna Aria.” The guards froze in place, staring at me with wide eyes. I understood their shock. Covered in gore and stumbling like a dying vagrant, I bore little resemblance to the composed Luna they served. I steadied myself against my knees, drawing ragged breaths before straightening with tremendous effort. “Why do you hesitate? Open these gates immediately and summon Valentin. Your Luna has returned.” Instead of obeying, the guards exchanged meaningful glances. Slowly, deliberately, they raised their bows and took aim at my heart.
My breath caught in my throat. “What madness is this?” I gasped, my body swaying dangerously. A guard stepped closer, his expression granite-hard. “On your knees. You are to be arrested by order of the Alpha.” Arrested? The word hit me like a physical blow. “What do you mean arrested? Are you blind to my condition? I require immediate medical attention or I will perish where I stand.” My voice cracked with desperation. “Summon Valentin at once! He would never permit such treatment of his mate!” The guard’s mouth twisted into a cruel smirk. “Kneel now, Aria Vance.”