Rejected on the Frost Moon Night, Claimed by the Alpha King Chapter 02

Rejected on the Frost Moon Night, Claimed by the Alpha King Chapter 02

Alaric was out of the SUV in seconds, crossing the sand to me.

“Selene… what you said on the phone—did you mean it?”

I held his gaze. “I did. If you can bring back the Sea God’s Pearl in ten minutes, I’ll marry you.”

“Done.” Alaric shrugged off his jacket and tossed it onto the sand.

Bare-chested, every line of muscle carved sharply under the moonlight, he turned to the Elder.

“I’m here to take the trial for Selene.”

The crowd erupted.

“She’s swapping grooms right here?”

“Can an Alpha even survive that dive? He’s never trained—”

I caught his wrist, worry tightening my throat. “You sure you can do this?”

He smirked. “Doubting me?”

“Relax. I’ll be back with your pearl, little mate.”

“I’ve waited a long time for this, Selene.”

Then he dove into the black, freezing water.

I watched the surface, each second dragging more heavily.

What if I’d just sent him to his death?

Please come back alive.

The Elder checked his watch. “Ten minutes. Poor boy’s probably gone.”

“Selene, I hate to say it, but the law is clear—you must go to the temple.”

Two burly villagers stepped forward to seize my arms.

Then—crash!

Alaric broke through the waves, gasping for air.

His right hand was raised high, clutching a pearl the size of a pigeon’s egg, glowing like captured moonlight.

It was larger than any in our history.

As the crowd shouted in shock, he dragged himself onto the rocks. Kneeling on the jagged stone, he looked up at me, eyes burning gold.

“Selene… will you marry me?”

My throat tightened, tears burning. I turned to the Elder.

“Alaric is my groom now. Our mating ceremony will be in four days.”

The old man nodded slowly. “Blaze made his choice. Shame.”

He limped away.

I helped Alaric up, his skin ice-cold under my touch. “Thank you,” I choked out.

He laced his fingers through mine and pressed a warm kiss to the back of my hand.

“I’ll start the preparations tonight. Wait for me.”

He pulled his coat on and strode back to the SUV.

The taillights vanished down the coast. I sank onto the rocks and pulled out my phone.

The first post on my feed was Lilith’s.

Blaze sat by a hospital bed, peeling an apple, head bowed in focus. Lilith smiled up at him, radiant.

Caption: So lucky to have someone who actually cares.

On her finger, a diamond ring blazed.

Her comment reply popped up: Yep. $58K. I just mentioned liking it, and he bought it.

That ring.

I’d wanted it once.

Blaze had sneered. “Mating bonds aren’t about flashy rocks. Diamonds are a scam.”

I’d believed him and felt guilty for even wanting it.

Now she wore it.

Ice slid down my spine.

I scrolled further.

Valentine’s Day: Cramps so bad… he ditched his girlfriend to cook for me. Best guy ever.

My grip tightened until my knuckles went white.

Last Valentine’s, Blaze had driven me for hours.

Mid-trip, he’d gotten a call, pulled over, and told me to get out.

There were no rides on the highway.My phone died. Rain poured. I’d walked four miles in heels, blisters bleeding, soaked to the bone. Fever kept me in bed for a week.

I’d thought it was an emergency.

It turned out that his emergency was Lilith’s period.

The irony tasted like blood.

My eyes burned, vision blurring.