The Twin Alpha's Rejected Mate

and the earth beneath her. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the camp, and the flames from the central fire pit flickered, adding to the growing t

res imposing against the backdrop of the setting sun. The power they emanated was undeniable, but there was something

red. There was an authority to his tone, a sense that

ersation had left her with more questions than answers. Protecting the pack? What did that even mean

e weight of his words was no less pressing. "But you do need to understand what's

ncertainty, but she couldn't back down now. They had offered her a place, a chanc

ike other packs. We don't just stand idly by. We protect what's ours." His gaze softened slightly, but only for a mom

at. "But I'm not... I'm not like you," she said, her voice

houlder. "You don't need to fight like us. But you need to l

eir veins. Her own wolf was a quiet, cautious creature, and she had never been able to connect with the fierce warrior spirit that defined the leaders of packs. B

ed, his voice lowering, a no

t still gnawed at her. "Yes," she said, her voice stea

is hand still on her should

. The air here was thick with anticipation, the presence of the pack palpable in the quiet hum that surround

was surrounded by strangers-strong, capable wolves who had been raised in this world of domi

gathered pack. "Today, we have a new challenge. Leila will be tested. She m

uiet interest. Leila could feel the weight of their gaze on her, the pressure to prove herself

strongest, the fastest, or the fiercest. This is about her ability to survive. To protect her

dy her racing heart. The challenge had a

s flickering toward her. "Don't worry. You

the first time since she had arrived at Wildheart, she felt a flic

His stance was aggressive, challenging. "I'll take the first round," he said, his voice gruf

t you first. He's not here to

Leila knew that she wasn't going to win this battle, but she couldn't back d

skin prickle. He was waiting for her to show something-anyt

felt like lead, her mind racing with the basics of what little self-defense she had learned as

ipe at her midsection, but Leila stepped aside just in time, her instincts

rying to trap her with a series of quick, precise strikes. Leila's breath came in short bursts, her mind struggling to keep up

that lay dormant inside her, waiting to be unleashed. But it was foreign to her, this feeling of raw energy. Her wolf

houlder, ripping through her shirt and leaving a trail of blood in their

his tone sharp. "Don't let him pu

her veins. Without thinking, she launched herself forward, her body reacting before her mind could catch up. She aimed a punc

rength to land another blow, this time aiming for his jaw. Her fist connec

ir eyes wide with shock. Kieran's usual confidence had faltered, and Leila stoo

d, his expression un

ing, but a sense of pride rising within

expression grudgingly impressed. "Not bad," he mut

ush of adrenaline coursing through her. She had passed th

ylan said, his voice low,

rned your

be, just maybe, she was