RECLAIMING HIS ONCE REJECTED MATE

Chapter 1 Emilia's POV My heart was beating so loudly that it overpowered everything else as I stood outside Maximilian's office. The door closing behind me reverberated along the deserted hallway. He didn't attend the pack gathering, which was unsurprising; it was a habit that showed he didn't care. But this evening? I was going to face him tonight. Rumors had surfaced about Lena. Even after he had designated me as his mate and I had changed my name to Luna, he still had feelings for his ex-girlfriend. For years, I had made an effort to be the Luna the pack expected and the mate he needed. What difference did it make, though? He continued to stare past me despite my generosity, carrying a part of her with him. Now that Lena had returned, everything had changed. Our delicate equilibrium had been upset by her abrupt return. The Alpha of the Nightwolf Pack, Maximilian, had become aloof, his attention straying from the pack to her. His cold indifference made me realize I was just a title to him. I owed this family I had married into and the pack a duty. However, it seemed like all I was doing recently was holding things together, as everything else gradually crumbled around me. And there was more now. The child who was developing inside of me served as a reminder of everything I could lose and was also a blessing. The light from his office door spilled into the corridor as it loomed ahead. My gut tightened when I heard a faint sound of chuckling. It was rich and warm—full of warmth that Maximilian had never given me before. I wasn't the target of that laugh. There was a somber silence after the laughter abruptly stopped. All I could hear was the irregular, weak sound of my breath. Desperate to hear more, I leaned closer to the door, but it only slightly opened, sending a shiver up my spine. I paused. I had no right to be here; I had no right to feel this way. However, I was his mate, Luna. What was happening behind those closed doors was something I had every right to know. I stepped forward, opening the door just enough to hear their words. My stomach rumbled. "Did you hear that?" Lena spoke in a light, almost playful tone. Yes, but it's irrelevant. Maximilian's voice came through with a harshness that made my skin prickle. "Just... forget about it." I saw it at that moment. Lena and Maximilian sat too close to one another to be comfortable. He looked at her with a gentle, amused gaze as he put his arm on the couch behind her. He was very unforgiving of me all the time. But he felt at ease and relaxed with her. They seemed to have resumed their conversation as if no time had passed. My chest began to ache. It was a cruel ache to know the facts but still hold out hope for a better outcome. I'm still holding out hope that he will notice me and feel anything for me outside of duty and the pack. I grasped the door's edge and pushed my lips together, my knuckles white. He meant me to be his Luna, his mate. But there she was, the woman he had never gotten over, his true love. And me? The consolation prize was me. "I—" As my voice wavered, I compelled myself to speak, to express the reason I had come. Now, though, what could I say? With everything already so clear, what more could I say? Maximilian got to his feet, his face inscrutable. "What do you want?" The words spilled out before I could stop them. "I’m pregnant." The room became silent. His eyes weighed heavily on me, yet they weren't worried or happy. It was far away and deserted. It seemed as though what I had just said meant absolutely nothing to him. Lena gave me a quick glance as her eyes narrowed, and a glint of something cold appeared in them. With careful yet elegant motions, she got up from her chair. She whispered, "I’m going to leave," but I understood what she meant. She didn’t need to say anything more. She was an experienced practitioner. She purposely bumped into me while carrying the tray containing their half-eaten dinner, and I stood there immobile. The plates flew to the floor as the tray clattered. A fragment of shattered porcelain touched my skin, causing a searing agony that caused me to recoil. "Are you okay?" Maximilian's worried voice echoed, but it wasn't for me. He was already on his knees next to Lena, examining her. He didn't even look at me when I winced, my hand automatically caressing the cut on my calf. Lena was the only thing that mattered to him. Her scowl left me feeling deeply chilled. Emilia, you are to blame for this. You are aware that I am not incorrect in this situation. I will always be Maximilian's choice. As though her words were a triumph, she grinned. I wanted to yell, strike out, and ask Maximilian questions. But all I could do was stare, my chest heaving with the oppressive weight of betrayal. Maximilian finally stood, his gaze frigid as they rested on me. "What is this? Do you truly think that this behavior is acceptable? A Luna doesn't act like this." His words were more than just words, but they felt like a blow to the face. The way he phrased it made it seem as though I was the one at fault. It was as if he held me responsible for everything that had happened between us, including the distance, the coldness, and the neglect. I took a deep breath. I muttered, "I didn’t do anything wrong," but it felt like I was telling myself a lie. Maximilian glanced back at Lena, and his gaze clouded. "You will regret it if something happens to her. If you injure her, I'll never forgive you." My body shook with shock as I froze. Was Lena expecting? The words hit me hard in the stomach. I was so overcome with the reality that I was unable to breathe. Their actions were not the only betrayal. It was the truth of what those events meant for my child, for me, and for everything I believed to be true. Maximilian's fury acted as an invincible barrier. And there I was, caught up in his rage, compelled to observe this treachery. "I apologize, Emilia," he spat in a chilly tone. "But this... is the way things are." Instead of screaming or fighting back, I just stood there, my legs trembling under me. To him, I was nothing. No more. However, I was determined to keep him aware of my identity, my past self, and my potential. Even though Lena had stolen everything from me, I refused to let Maximilian take away what little dignity I still had. I gazed at him one final time, my heart heavy, but my resolve steeled. For something I hadn't done, I wasn't going to apologize. "I won’t apologize," I responded firmly and quietly, with only a small tremble in my voice. "But you will regret this." Knowing that everything was going to change, I turned and left the room behind.