Fated to Be Forgotten

ad over and over. Kian's rejection rang in my ears, reminding me I was weak, weak enough to leave my home. I h

I wandered for weeks after leaving, never lingering in one place too long-always moving, always hiding. I

ssed Aurora. I missed her strength and comfort tucked away tightly in my mind. But she disappeared deeply, and I couldn't call her from the plac

ystal clear streams of the mountains. It wasn't much of a life, but it was my life, and I found a slight

ng and the warm golden light began illuminating my surroundings, but I hardly noticed. I was nu

p here in the mountains, but I grew used to the chill long ago. My small fire crackled bef

ary howl-it was an inviting one. I could feel my heart accelerate, but I did not move. I remained completely still and listened int

, just seconds before I withdrew into the bark and shadows of the forest, I heard distinct footsteps crunching over the fallen

ve gone to sleep, but my instincts had not. I could fe

ed, trying to sound

unhurriedly stepped from the trees. A man. Tall. Broad-shouldered. His dark hair melted into the shadows of

spoke to stop me. He held his hand up. "I'm not going to hurt you," he said, hi

s and stepped bac

eeth. He glanced at the fire and turned back his gaze to me again. "The

did I never have the sense to wait before cursing the stupidity of other people? Zane tipped an assessing look down at me, his stare boring into me. "I've been hunting you down for the past couple of days. You hide well, Reyna Winters." The sound of my name gave me a start. "How do you know--" "Oh, don't look so surprised," he cut in, taking a step closer, "You might have left your pack but people still hear about it. The rejected mate of Alpha Marcus leaves the fold without a single trace? It's spread like wildfire." As he waggled a feral grin at my expense, I clenched my fists in fury. How dare he-- "You didn't come here to chat. What do you want?" Raising an eyebrow, Zane listened to my challenge and chuckled. "Right to the point. I like that." He took another step towards me, blue eyes flashing in the sterile light of the hospital wing. "

çade. "Reyna, I am not selling anything. I'm giving you a choice. You can continue to live out here, deep

ing with fear. "What

ow and dangerous. "I know your wolf has not surfaced

houghts that crossed my mind. How could he kn

I whispered my past failing to

u are not just any wolf, Reyna. You are something special. Special enough that even you don't u

w something I had spent months trying to forget? The rejection, the pain, the silence of my wolf

alpha, something stirred inside me, som

pe

and push the thought away

ftness behind his smile. Something akin to... authentic. "Beca

gainst the fear that froze me and the possib

I actually thought about what it w