Rejected and claimed by the alpha beast Novel by Paige T

Elise’s POV:

It got harder day by day to hide the urge to touch Hayden and be close to him. I felt like crush–stricken pup who had just realized the presence of an alpha who had been with me all this time. And now it was far too clear to ignore. I wondered if he had noticed too, if he had seen the times I looked away when our gazes met

harder each time our eyes locked from across the room or fro: where he stood with his friends, laughing at a joke Brady made. I watched as his eyes crinkled from the joke, and an unconscious smile spread on my face too.

Jax called his attention back to the field as I stood with the ladies under the gazebo. I felt a soft tap on my shoulder from Jenna, Brady’s mate. We were under one of the tents, with the other serving beverages and drinks while we watched.

According to their tradition, there was a day for young pups and males to participate. She- wolves were allowed to join, yes, but more of the mated females enjoyed the shade and let their pups torture their fathers instead while they basked in the cooler shade.

Normally I’d be excited to join the match, but I wanted to focus on Ethan today, and maybe laugh at the older wolves torture as they try to coach the small pups with the ladies.

Ethan’s small group was first, showcasing their skills, which made the whole crowd in awe of their cuteness, and I couldn’t help but smile with pride, cheering for my baby boy.

I waved at Ethan when he scored a goal, with Hayden on the sidelines coaching him and cheering him on. My heart skipped again when I watched Hayden. What the hell was wrong with me?

I cleared my throat and walked to the refreshment table to get myself a cup of water to cool down, giving a small smile to the other females. To my relief, the others were comfortable with me; there was no power struggle here; we were all a pack. That meant no conversation was left a secret, as they tried to pull me into each of their conversations, even unknowingly into the intimate kind.

The moment the kids had left, with Ethan very enthusiastic to follow Abby, my eyes were laser–focused on the game and the white–blonde male who was playing

A tarp had been set where mud and water mixed; a friendly duel with his betas was next, more like a mud fight with the males that Hayden was asked to join. It was a show for the females who squealed when their shirts were taken off.

A blush crept on my face too when I peered at Hayden’s naked torso, which I had seen multiple times, but the night we both ended up at the pack hot springs after a tussle with some smugglers by the borders, the moment he’d gotten closer to me while teasing me, something shifted that night, and it was hard to look at him ever since without my insides. pooling with lust.

“Moons, Beta Ian is so handsome!” Drea muttered, with the others nodding in agreement. “Only if he wasn’t such a flirt; I get insecure easily, and I can’t get enough of him you know he’s packed down there; they all are, but the story of Alpha Hayden’s size was legendary.”

“Ehnn! chnm!” Jenna cleared her throat, signaling it all to me. Their eyes widened when they saw me behind them, knowing they were talking about my husband.

“We’re sorry, Luna,” Drea apologized quickly, but I shook my head, waving her off as she skittered away with her head pushed down in embarrassment.

Because I know she was right, Hayden was the most sought–after male before he married me. I hadn’t heard a word of him visiting the pub rooms anymore; had he not seen another

woman:

I wondered how he pleased himself throughout the past three years. My cheeks reddened at the thought of him using his rough, veiny hands to pleasure himself. Moons, why am I thinking like a horny pup in heat?

But he couldn’t have possibly spent his ruts alone, right?

I watched him play, grappling with Michale in the mud as the crowd cheered. It all felt: intense watching his muscles flex; he had effortlessly flipped Michale with a playful grin, and the crowd immediately went wild. I cleared my throat and looked away the moment he won the match, and our eyes locked. His eyes raked my body with a smirk.

I was a hot, blushing mess because of him. After the games, I sought Abby first, but Ethan begged to stay the night at her home, Abby already being like a grandmother to him.

She let me go back and have time out with the other females, sharing their stories about hilarious incidents while we drank Jenna’s stash of wine. It was a cherry–ripe taste that felt like an explosion of flavors that I savored.

Drinking glass after glass of the sweet wine, and before I knew it, I felt dizzy. I took off for the night, heading back home.

I headed back to the palace, being greeted by the night guards, who tried their best not to look amused by my dizzying stance. I marched into the hallways, my chambers immediately opposite his. Call it liquid courage, as I pushed open his door instead of mine.

There was no sign of him, but the light and showers from the bathroom gave it away that he was in there.

The layout of both our bedrooms was almost the same, but mine with lilac sheers and light contains was a contrast to his blood–ruby red ones. I traced the layered down map on the

I large table in the middle of his drawing room.

My eyes moved to the south of the map, marking a very familiar land: the black mountain. A crippling memory passed through it: “EP” I heard Hayden’s stunned voice call out to me in the bedroom.

His voice was breathy and husky, just the way I knew it. “Hey,” I starte! I walked away from the table, taking a few short strides before I stood in front of him. I tried my best not to look. down at his shirtless, wet torso. I thought of something quick to say.

“You. You did amazing today, it’s funnier how Michale fell into the mud. Too bad Holden forfeited the match. I would have liked to see that.” I giggled. I watched as his lips stretched into an amused smirk, his brow raising as he muttered.

“I can’t tell if you’re just drunk or if this is your way of flirting with me,” he said. The smile on my face stopped me from thinking he had pushed too far; he was always careful with my limits, but I didn’t want that. “Forgive me, I didn’t mean

“Yes,” I cut in. “This is me flirting with you, Hayden,” I said, whether it’s the wine or my embarrassment. I knew my face was red, but I was far too gone now. I peered up from my lashes to look at him.

“El..Angel,” he muttered on his breath. The moment my hands touched his cooling skin and traced his abs, I heard a whispered curse from his lips. “Fuck, Angel,” he muttered.

“Is it working then? My flirting,” I joked. He lowered his head till our foreheads touched, and as our breaths danced against each other, I felt him huff out a breath in amusement as he muttered.

“Yes, it’s more than working; you have no idea,” he muttered as his lips traced mine in a single breath. “Let me show you what you do to me.” He closed in with a searing hiss that set my body twinkling with warmth.

This kiss felt like a cool stream to calm the heated skin. The moment of want and yearning all flowed into this kiss. My hands pulled him forward pushed my fingers into his silver locks, earning a grunt from him.

and I

“Fuck, Hayden, oh my-” He shut me up with a bite, licking my lips with his tongue, begging for deeper access into my mouth, and I let him, as I felt his hands close to my heated sex, and god, I felt like I could die from this, from him just touching me.

This male who had waited for me all this time, and I could feel his hunger seeping with each stroke of his tongue in her inner cavern, I wanted to devour him whole and for him to take me also. But then he stopped.

He pulled away as I burned, his eyes filled with so much lust. The rising tent in his pants proved that he wanted this just as much as I did.

But I couldn’t help feeling mortified for a second. God, what if I forced him into all this? What if he doesn’t feel the same way anymore, and I’ve lost my chance? Or does he find me deceitful for having another man’s child?

“El, Angel, look at me,” he said, taking my face into his hands. “I want you.”

Boom! Boom!

The whole ground trembled

and his hold on me tightened as the ground shook. Both of us stiffened, and we raced to the balcony. We peered at the gates to see the commotion; it looked like the rain of fire from weapons blasting and shooting at the gates and our soldiers. For a shocking second, I realized the veils had been lifted. But how? I could hardly think from the screams outside.

The riots and yells of our men as the alarm rang, declaring the whole pack was under siege, I and Hayden looked at each other, knowing fully well this could be the work of humans; we’ve been found.

And our pack is under attack.