The Rejected Mate novel · Chapter 15 of 24

Chapter 15: The Moon Stone

The whole hillside was lit for the mating.

Lanterns hung from the pines all the way up the track, and wolves from three packs stood shoulder to shoulder in a ring around the Moon Stone.

The Alphas of the visiting packs had come in their good coats. Rufus had sent for them a week ago, so that no one could say it was done in a corner.

Kirk Hartnell stood among them with a dozen Stormvale wolves at his back, looking bored.

He did not look at Willa once, which was how she knew he was watching.

She walked up the track behind Dinah, holding the end of the veil.

It was white lace, three yards of it, and the emerald pin shone in Dinah's pale gold hair.

She had not walked out of the cell, though Caelen had opened the door for her.

Kirk had said through the slit that a jailbreak would make Rufus the wronged Alpha, and the Stone would make him the liar.

At dusk the enforcers came to take her up the hill, and she went with her hands open and the token under her dress.

Two of them walked at her elbows.

The Beta's token lay flat against her ribs under her dress, and it had stopped being cold an hour ago.

Her father's place in the ring was empty.

She heard the whispers about it run around the lanterns.

Luna Odette stood at her husband's right hand, in grey silk, and her face was a closed door.

Caelen waited in front of the Stone.

He wore a black jacket, and the heir's cord showed at his wrist, and his skin was grey with fever.

His eyes found Willa's across the ring.

The bond sang between them, low and steady, and the fever eased in his shoulders a little, and she saw him breathe.

"Pack of Ironwood," said Rufus. "Friends from Stormvale, from Redmoor and from the river."

His voice was warm and enormous and sure.

"Tonight my son does what his blood and his duty ask. He takes as his mate the mother of the next generation of this house."

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