Twice Rejected

Full, bright moon

ALPHA NIYOL'S POV



Feeling a bit stressed these days due to the meetings with my cabinet and other alphas, I decided to go for my late-night hunting.



I wished to free myself from all this stress. I went to get my hunting apparel and prepared to mind-link my beta to come.



Before I could call him, he came knocking instead. He wore a rather complicated look on his face.



"What is the matter?"



"The sentinels want to have a word with you. I think it's the royal hunting day today."



I forgot about that. The royal hunting was a day set aside once every month in which I go hunting alongside my warriors and cabinet. It was more like a banquet or something like that. 



But in this case, it was a hunting ceremony instead. We hunt all night and the one with the highest kill gets to have a wish granted.



"And I thought I was going to have this night all to myself! Alright, let's just get going. I am already dressed up for the hunt. I think I will just go with it."



"Your highness, you will have to put on your royal hunting apparel," my beta said.



"I must? Such a fuss!" I said, going back into the dressing room to be properly dressed for the hunting tonight… as an alpha.



I got dressed and waited for the arrival of my sentinels. I guess they must be excited because of the game. After all, they get to ask for a wish from me, if they win.



"Your majesty!" They chorused, bowing their heads in reverence.



"Is everyone ready for the hunt?" I asked, after acknowledging their greetings.



"Yes, your majesty. The Warriors have also been placed in strategic spots."



"There is no need for all those formalities. The guards should have a rest. We are going hunting in our kingdom. There should be no need for more security."



"Your majesty, your safety cannot be compromised." They chorused, like it was rehearsed.



"Alright then. Whatever you deem fit, but I don't want them within my sight. I like enjoying my hunting without unnecessary bugging." I said, turning around towards the palace gates.



We would not be using any form of transportation except our feet. We will be walking to the hunting ground by the borders.



I could see their confused faces when I began walking toward the forest.



"Your majesty, are we going hunting…"



"Yes, we will be going using our feet. Any problems with that?" I turned to look at them.



" Not at all, your majesty." They all smiled.



"Good. Then let's get going already." I said, grinning secretly.



I will teach you guys a lesson for cutting off my hunting alone. I wanted to be alone tonight.



Somehow, my wolf has been feeling uneasy since morning. I don't know what happened. As it was getting darker, I began to have the urge to go hunting.



Since it was an extremely full moon, I decided to go hunting to satisfy my urge. But these people just had to barge in as well.



I wondered if I will ever have a day alone.



I could hear them grumbling under their breath, but I feigned ignorance to all their complaints. I didn't give a damn, because I had been looking for a way to get them busy for a long time now.



I searched amongst the elders that were going with us and my eyes caught my gamma's uncle. He had been extremely lucky these days. I had been tracking him down.



But I believe that soon, I was going to get him trapped with no way to escape.



In less than an hour of walking, we finally got to the border. The moon was shining exceedingly bright tonight and there seemed to be an attractive feeling emitting from it.



I felt my wolf growing even more restless. The last time he was this restless was the night of my mating ceremony where I got my mate, Erika.



It seemed like I was having the same euphoria and my wolf was not helping matters either.



My sentinels were all warming up for the hunt as they began to choose their best huntsman. I was looking at them keenly.



A guard brought a chair for me to sit down while they started their hunting.



After a while of hunting, the people beat down the last winner out of the six warriors selected. According to the rules I had to compete with the winner.



"Congratulations, Captain Jake. It's open for us now, right?" I said, stepping forward.



"Yes, I believe so. Your majesty, you may take the lead."



"No need to be so formal. Act as if I am just another competitor." I told him.



He didn't say anything. Just a bow.



We walked down through the hunting grounds. I only allowed my beta to follow closely behind me.



Just a few steps away from the people, I heard a ruffling sound of leaves. My eyes lighten up at the sound.



The sound was pretty loud. It must be a huge animal. I aimed at where the sound was coming from and shot directly.



As soon as my arrow hit its target, I heard a piercing cry of a person. That was not an animal!



It was the growl of a person. Who could that be?



I wanted to walk straight to the person, but my beta stopped me." Hold on, your majesty. Let me check it out myself. It might be a set up."



Right, that was true, because I couldn't imagine someone hiding under the leaves at this time of the night.



My beta walked closer to where I shot the person and squatted down to see the person.



"Who is it, Chester?" I asked, desperately.



"It's a woman, your majesty!" He replied.



A woman? At this time of the night?



"Is she dead?" I asked, fearing the answer.



Somehow, my heart couldn't stop pounding and surprisingly, my wolf was howling in my head.



Who was this woman? I pondered as I walked closer to take a look.



I walked slowly towards the woman who was shot by my arrow. As I got closer, my wolf started howling and whimpering. 



It was trying to let loose and rush to the person lying on the grass. I held him back with all the power I could muster and I didn't give him the opportunity.



"Easy, Kai… what is the matter?" I asked him, inside my mind.



"I can feel it, Niyole… she is here. Right here… let me go! I need to see her… she is hurt." Kai said, howling more loudly in my head.



As I was battling with him in my head, my nose caught a scent in the air. It was so pleasant like the feeling you get from inhaling the freshness of the springs amongst a bed of roses.



It was heavenly and… captivating.



I walked faster toward the woman and before I could control my wolf, he let out a word that even I never dreamt of. A word I had never expected to say ever again.



"Mate! She is mine."



The air went still and I could hear the apprehensive feelings from my sentinels. There were gasps amongst them and even the moonlight shone brighter as the words left my mouth.



Did I just say, mate? Did the goddess give me another chance? How was that possible?



"Alpha, she is still bleeding…" Chester said, waking me up from my dazed state. I had forgotten I shot her with my arrow!



I quickly changed to my wolf and mind linked my beta to strap her on my back. My wolf was one of the biggest, as a matter of fact the biggest wolf in the entire werewolf community, as the alpha King.



Once I am in my alpha aura, it would become triple of a normal alpha wolf, so placing her on my back won't be a problem. Her body was so fragile and lanky.



I ordered my Beta to follow me closely as I raced to the Pack's hospital. As we raced through the forest, I prayed silently to the moon goddess to spare her life.



I couldn't lose another mate.



On getting to the hospital, the doctors immediately came out when they saw me. They knew it was an emergency, because I rarely showed this side of my wolf.



Not even when I defeated the dreaded Alpha of the Twilight Pack.



"We will take it from here, Alpha." I heard the doctor say.



I nodded as they rushed her to the theatre. A male nurse directed me to one of the rooms as he handed me a shirt and pants to change into. I thanked him and quickly changed to my human form.



By the time I got to the waiting room, my beta was already dressed too. I walked up to him briskly with worry and anxiety.



"Do you think she would be alright? Will she be fine?" I asked.

Chapter 25 - Twice Rejected