Chasing back his Rejected Mate

Silver light filtered through the forest canopy as the moon hung low in the sky, heavy and expectant.

It was the sort of night that contained charm and danger in equal measure, and that whispered secrets.

The eerie symphony of night creatures surrounded me as I stood in the centre of a clearing. The world itself seemed to be holding its breath due to the electrified and dense air.

It wasn't the cold that made me shiver. My heartbeat accelerated, my skin tingled, and all of my nerves were awake. Alpha Neon was standing a few steps away, staring into the darkness. Although he had always been a powerful presence, something about him was different tonight-more wild, more primordial.

His voice was a gruff whisper that made me shudder as he murmured, "Nixie."

He was fighting a battle of emotions, and it wasn't just the way he uttered my name; it was also the way his eyes softened for a heartbeat before hardening once more. With a dry throat, I swallowed.

"What brought me here?" I asked, hardly raising my voice above a whisper. I wanted to flee to get away from the intensity of his stare, but my feet were planted firmly on the ground. I could feel the heat radiating from his body as he took a step closer.

"Because something needs to be done," he stated. There was a seriousness in his voice that made my heart race.

I couldn't take my eyes off of him, even though my mind was racing with questions and doubts. Unquestionably, our link had grown stronger, but I was afraid of what that signified.

It went against every wound in my psyche to trust anyone, much less an Alpha.

"You believe that tagging me will make a difference?" With a trembling voice, I challenged myself. Will the past vanish as a result? Will it make the sorrow and betrayal go away?

I briefly believed I saw something break in his eyes as his jaw tightened. "No," he said, taking a step closer. However, it will keep you safe. And I'm unable to refuse to allow anything to happen to you.

I detested the way his words broke my heart and gave me reason to believe. However, hope was a risky thing, a two-edged sword that I couldn't afford to use.

I tried to seem strong when I said, "I don't need protection."

"I've made it this far by myself." His fingers extended, hovering just above my cheek as his gaze darkened. "Nixie, surviving does not equate to living. You're worthy of better.

My body deceived me when I tried to take a step back and put some distance between us. I shivered as I stood there, shaken by his presence and his comments. My voice cracked as I muttered, "You have no idea what I deserve."

At last, his fingers made contact with my flesh, a delicate touch that made me feel warm. With hardly more than a breath in his voice, he continued, "Then let me show you."

I closed my eyes, caught between the allure of something I couldn't articulate and the fear that had kept me alive. But I sensed it first-the heat of his breath against my neck, the way his lips touched the area just above my collarbone-before I could comprehend the tempest inside of me. My ears rang with the wild, furious pounding of my racing heart.

He said in a low voice that vibrated against my flesh, "Are you afraid?" He said,

"Yes," letting the truth slip out before I could stop it. "But not of you."

My head tipped slightly as his hand moved to the back of my neck. Then what?" He pressed, his presence overwhelming, his mouth so close.

"Afraid of losing myself," I said. "Of having faith in you."

He slightly tightened his hold and drew away to meet my gaze. For the first time, I was on the verge of believing him when he said, "I won't let you lose yourself." Nearly.

The air surrounding us changed before I could speak. The scent of danger, of something sinister and twisted, was carried by a violent, bone-chilling wind that ripped through the area. Neon's body tensed, every muscle taut and prepared for battle, as his head snapped up.

"Stay behind me," he commanded in a stern, defensive tone. However, it was too late.

Figures appeared out of the shadows as they slithered into the clearing. Rogues. Their lips twisted into savage smiles, and their eyes glinted with hate. I went reflexively for the little dagger at my waist as my heart faltered.

Neon moved forward, protecting me from the danger with his body. His voice was deep and menacing as he muttered,

"You've made a mistake coming here." One of the outlaws let out a hollow, irritating laugh.

"Oh," he mocked, "I don't think so, Alpha." "We are here to support her."

I tightened my hold on my dagger as my blood grew chilly. "Why me?" Trying to sound braver than I felt, I demanded.

The renegade grinned more broadly. He hissed, "Because you're marked for something greater." "And that's not possible, is it?"

Neon's body tensed up, and he turned to face me, his eyes burning with a mixture of dread and rage. "Run," he commanded in a commanding voice.

However, I was immobile. With the shadows encroaching, the ground felt as though it were holding me captive. Then Neon did the unimaginable before I could respond.

Leaning forward, he took hold of my arm and fixed his gaze on mine. He said, "I'm sorry," before sinking his teeth into my neck.

Heat and pain erupted inside of me, a relationship forming that was so strong it took my breath away.

I experienced the connection that suddenly bound us together in an unbreakable chain, the dread, and the power. My eyesight blurred as I fell against him while the world whirled around me.

Neon gave a ground-shaking roar as the rogues charged forward. After that, everything turned black.