Rejected Seven Times, I Chose The Alpha King

rine'

ors of Bloodmoon Hall had been k

, commanding figure, who then strode

izing his broad shoulders and narrow waist. The fabric closely hugged h

lar slightly open, revealing the pale line of h

s Kel

y had sh

s had passed since I ha

ssed the hall and climbed the altar steps

nd I could almost feel the force of

ilting my face upward against my will. There was a dangerous coldness in his voice. "Catherine, you did

ering his fingertips fe

gaze firmly. "I'm completely finished with him! Even if Derr

risk playing games wi

knew that Kellen, the Alpha who led the Shadow

had pursued him. Some had even undressed completely and climbed into hi

Others believed the Moon Goddess had placed a curse on him,

hone call, I had spent those ten mi

eally show up in person, mu

dismissive snort, Kellen let go of my chin,

ruggled to bring my turbul

rejection continued to pulse

decision. I extended my hand and to

igid, and a brief look of su

thdraw his hand, so I pulled him toward the altar's

a single drop of blood to land on t

his lips forming a faint, inscrutable

blood came together on

cantation filled the vast

erced the dome overhead and bat

at had been ripping through my body disappear

surge of power, both warm and absolute, tha

ow Wolf, the emblem of the Shadow Pac

ed on Kellen's neck, reflecting t

he mating ce

ark, my thoughts su

had a

the mating ceremony I had

forever joined to mine, wasn't the one I had spen

men were gre

ying a pointed warning that made my skin prickle. "What's the matter? Ar

ance seemed to weigh heavily on my body. "It's already too late to change your mind, Catherine

kin burn. I came back to my senses and vigorously sho

d so unreal, almost as

again, straightened his cuffs, and spoke with the understated authority of someone accustomed to issui

looking at him in bewilderme

ed as though stating an obvious fact, "We're mates, so naturally we'll be going back

s struck the most tender, caref

han, without anyone I

Determined to repay their generosity, I exhausted myself worki

ad wanted to create a g

r me from life's storms, where a light

iving Derrick more than once, even as he repeatedly

nough patience and understanding would ev

ack to me was despair th

ire life would so readily offer me today the home I had wanted for thr

owering my head, I blinked repeatedly

t," I responded softly, movi

room seemed to tu

his blue eyes, leaving only a cold, menacing look. "You can't leave? Are you ser

fication papers, and half my essential belongings are still in my pl

tensity surrounding Kellen dim

sed almost imperceptibly. "It's just a few worn-out clothes.

r arm around my waist and guided me toward the exit. "

compliant nod

ormous black SUV waiting with its

and begun searching awkwardly for the seat b

the seat belt strap between his lon

sharp fastening noise sounded unusua

shoulders downward stiffe

ad formed few close connections and had

had constantly come between us and demanded his attention. He could hardl

len had moved muc

of cold pine coming from him, mingled with a richer, more intox

, sending my heart pounding so fiercely I

aced one hand on the back of my s

peared briefly in his

ce, sounding quietly amused. "Your heart's beating so fa

up and swallow me. I pressed myself against the seat and stammered,

he brought himself even closer, until the force of his dominance seemed to en

"We're mates now, and there will be a gre

y eyes widening in

he famously merciless Alpha who supposedl

pposedly condemned by the Moon

med far more like a pr

y face. Yet instead of withdrawing from me, he gave

y flushed cheek, while an unmistakably

dn't be a big deal, should it?" His voice softened into a whis

, staring down at my lips, and lea