Page 66 of The Alpha's Forced Rejected Mate
"Father." Dominic bowed his head slightly.
Harrison's nostrils flared subtly, and Luna knew he was taking in their scents, likely noting the bond between them. His eyes narrowed.
"You've brought a stranger onto pack land." It wasn't a question, and the underlying growl made Luna's skin prickle.
"Not a stranger," Dominic replied evenly. "My mate."
A murmur rippled through the gathered wolves. Luna’s cheeks felt hot under the intensity of their scrutiny. Her dark blue eyes met several shocked stares before lowering.
"Your mate?" Harrison's eyebrows shot up. "The organization allows such things now?"
"They were the ones who married us. However, the organization is compromised," Dominic said, his voice carrying across the clearing. "We're here because it's no longer safe elsewhere."
An older female, Elder Luna, remembered as Margaret stepped forward. "She smells of magic," she spat, as if the word itself were dirty. "Witch."
"Yes." Dominic's hand found the small of Luna's back. "And it’s her power that exposed the demonic corruption within the Hunting Organization."
Disbelieving whispers broke out. Luna kept her eyes forward, though she could feel the hostility radiating from the gathered wolves.
"This is ridiculous," a man to Harrison's left growled. "Since when do we harbor witches?"
"Since I say so," Dominic replied, his voice taking on an edge that made several wolves instinctively lower their gazes.
The man was not so easily cowed. "And who are you to say anything? You abandoned the pack to play hero with the hunter squad. Now you return with wild stories and a witch mate? She's probably enchanted you—"
Dominic moved so fast Luna barely registered it. One moment he stood beside her, the next he had the man by the throat, lifted several inches off the ground. He clawed at Dominic's forearm, his face rapidly reddening.
"Don’t make me say this again, Jacob. Luna is my mate," Dominic’s voice rumbled, dropping to that dangerous tone that sent shivers down her spine. "My wife. And you will show her the respect that position demands."
"Dominic." Harrison's voice cut through the tension. "Release him."
Everyone stilled and, in that moment, Luna actually thought Dominic might refuse his father. She could see in his clenched jaw and the vein pulsing at his temple that he wasn’t done punishing Jacob.
Then, after waiting a beat, when he believed he had made his point enough, Dominic lowered Jacob to the ground and came back to her side.
Jacob gasped, rubbing his throat. "She can't be trusted—"
"Enough." Harrison's command silenced him instantly. The alpha turned his calculating gaze to Luna. "You seem familiar, girl."
Luna forced herself to stand straight, summoning all her courage. "This is the pack that bore me," she said, all her strength going into steadying her voice. "Luna Mitchell."
Once she said her name, wolves exchanged glances and whispers while recognition changed Harrison’s expression.
"The shiftless one," someone muttered. "She couldn't change."
"Thought she died years ago…"
Luna flinched internally at each comment, old wounds reopening.
Nothing's changed here.
"She's stronger than any of you know," Dominic said, proudly at her side. His voice carried across the clearing, commanding attention. "Without her, I would still be their puppet, hunting innocent witches for demonic purposes."
His hand found hers, warm and surprisingly gentle. Luna's breath caught in her throat as he interlaced their fingers.
"Luna Mitchell is my true mate," he continued, his eyes sweeping the gathered wolves. "My wife by ritual. And I stand with her against anyone who would challenge that."
Wow.
