Rejected on the Frost Moon Night, Claimed by the Alpha King Chapter 01

Rejected on the Frost Moon Night, Claimed by the Alpha King Chapter 01

Our merfolk have a sacred tradition: the Bride Offering to the Sea God.

On the Frost Moon Night, the groom must dive into the freezing depths of the underwater cave and retrieve the Sea God’s Pearl with his bare hands to place on his bride’s finger.

If he fails, the bride is sacrificed to the Sea God—bound forever to the temple, never allowed to set foot on land again.

Blaze spent three years in water ten degrees below freezing just to be strong enough to find that pearl for me.

He endured arthritic pain gnawing at his hands so he could dive deep for our mating ceremony.

I sat on the rocks, tail flicking against the waves, heart pounding with joy as I waited for him to surface.

Then my phone rang—with a call from myself five years in the future.

“Blaze got the pearl for me, didn’t he? We completed the mate bond?” I asked, grinning.

Selene on the other end let out a cold laugh. “You’re such an idiot. He left you for Lilith. You ended up in the Sea God’s temple, wasting your whole life.”

My smile froze.

“The day he was supposed to get the pearl, his first love called saying she had stomach cramps. He left.”

“You became the only bride in history sent to the temple because there was no pearl.”

“Jett dove in to find one for you. The undertow took him. He never came back.”

“Stop being stupid. Alaric Nightshade is your fated mate.”

The line went dead. My chest felt hollow.

Minutes later, Blaze took a call, pulled dry clothes on over his half-zipped wetsuit, and muttered, “Selene, something urgent came up. I have to go.”

I stepped in front of him. “What could possibly be more important than today?”

I’d heard the voice on the other end—a woman whimpering about stomach pain.

Blaze’s face darkened. “Be reasonable, would you?”

“I’ll make it up to you. I promise I’ll come back and get the pearl.”

My stomach dropped. So our mating ceremony meant less to him than some she-wolf’s discomfort.

Through the mindlink, I told him flatly, “Blaze, if you walk away now, we break the mate bond.”

His jaw tightened. “Are you seriously picking a fight right now?”

He shoved me aside. I landed hard on the sand, my white dress smearing with grit.

Tires screamed, gravel and salt wind stinging my face, my makeup streaking down in muddy lines.

It felt like something had reached inside me and ripped my heart clean out.

Elder Marek limped forward, leaning on his cane. “I thought Blaze would be a good mate. Shame.”

He sighed. “Time’s up. No pearl, no groom. By our law, you’re the offering.”

Whispers rippled through the gathered merfolk. Someone muttered that I was cursed.

Jett shoved through the crowd, falling to one knee before the Elder. “Please! Let me dive in her place! She’s too young for this!”

Marek studied us both. “I’ve watched Selene grow up… fine. Any male from your family can retrieve it.”

“But it’s dangerous. You’re only nineteen—”

“I don’t care,” Jett said fiercely. “I’ll do anything to save her.”

Before he could strip off his shirt, I grabbed his arm. “Don’t you dare.”

From the future call, I already knew how this would end. I wouldn’t let him die for me.

I turned back to the Elder. “So… any male who stands as my groom can take the trial?”

“Yes, but Blaze is gone and—”

“Then I’ll take another groom.”

Shock flickered across his face. “You have ten minutes left. Where are you going to find—”

A black SUV skidded to a halt on the beach.