Page 92 of Claiming His Rejected Mate

“One more thing,” I say. Everyone looks at me with expectant eyes. “This seal, you must break it.”

I'm tired of ensuring the pain for others, of taking on the frustration, the discomfort, of having my wolf locked away, bound and stripped of her freedom, of our freedom.

There's panic in Magnus' eyes. Elara speaks before he does. “We knew the alliance would come at a cost, we've been looking for a way to break it and–”

“And?” Kieran interrupts.

“We have found no way…yet.”

“So, you put this seal on me so I could suffer forever?!” I almost regret my decision to accept the terms for an alliance. I can go back on my word this second because of this. But Kieran places a hand on my shoulder, his warmth easing the sting of the seal.

“We are still looking. Our healer has gone to seek the Witch of Wilfer in the Wilderness of Tral. She is the only one who has any information on the seal. She has been away for many moons. A scout has announced she lives a day away. We wanted to tell you only when we were sure.”

“Have an answer by the time the battle is over…or I will not hesitate to end you where you stand.”

It’s done.

The warriors bow their heads in acknowledgment. The past isn’t erased, but the future has shifted.

Now, there’s only one thing left.

The final battle.

The battlefield is chaos.

Steel clashes. Snarls fill the air. The scent of blood and death is thick, but I don’t stop. I can’t stop.

Kieran moves through the battlefield like a force of nature, his silver wolf tearing through rogues.

But I have only one target.

Eldon.

I find him near the ridge, his body bloodied but still standing. His eyes gleam with something wicked as he watches me approach. He has taken the best parts of my life. The special relationship I should have had with my Mate was ruined by his greed. Nothing could have given me more joy than watching him sit, fat and helpless in his own blood, with a slash of my claw across his lifeless neck.

“Well, look at you two,” he says, his voice thick with amusement but weak.

I grip my blade. “We came to end it.” Kieran growls beside me.

In the blink of an eye we lunge at the same time.

Kieran’s strength is brutal, but I am faster.

I dodge, spin, slice.

He stumbles back, a deep gash across his chest, but he only laughs.

“Without me,” he taunts, “you never would have become this strong.”

My grip tightens.

“You made my life hell,” I say, my voice deadly calm. “But without you, I wouldn’t be back with my Mate.” I ran at him, my sword pointed straight at his heart.

A rogue tries to intercept my attack, but Kieran's wolf tears him down. He faces me and Eldon, who is about to take advantage of the distraction to lunge at me. I duck to avoid his slash, and Kieran’s wolf flies over me, driving Eldon's body to a nearby tree.

There're only growls and snarls of anger and blood lust from Kieran's wolf, but he doesn't kill him, yet. It’s the perfect chance.

I take out my dagger and walk toward him.