Rejected At The Altar, Claimed By The Alpha King

Aysel

I watched Damon's face shift through a series of expressions I couldn't bring myself to care about. Shock first, then confusion, then something that might have been panic.

But I ignored them.

I tried to hoist Skylar up but I couldn't and because I knew no one was going to help me so I tried again, drawing strength from inside. I hooked one arm beneath Skylar's shoulders, ignoring the blood that soaked through my torn wedding gown, and hoisted her up into my back.

"Aysel..." Skylar gasped, "What are you..."

"Save your strength," I said through gritted teeth.

Behind us, I heard Damon call out to me in alarm. "Aysel! Wait!"

I turned but Celestine's hand shot out to grab his arm with surprising force. "Kael, don't leave me. Please, I need you. I need..."

Damon turned back to her with a torn expression on his grace.

I let out a bitter laugh. Damon could chase after me, or he could stay and soothe her hysterics. He couldn't do both and he would never choose me.

I left the hall, half-carrying Skylar down the corridor. My feet stumbled over the hem of my ruined gown, but I didn't slow.

"Aysel, slow down," Skylar pleaded, her voice weak. "I can walk, I promise..."

"Not yet." My jaw ached from clenching it. "Just a little further."

We rounded the corner, leaving the main building behind, and I dragged us both into the forested area that bordered the Blackwood estate and suddenly my knees gave out. I tried to catch myself, but I fell hard with Skylar tumbling beside me. The impact knocked the breath from my lungs, and I lay there for a moment, staring up at the canopy of leaves through blurred vision.

Then I began to sob.

The tears came out uncontrollably. All the years of humiliation, cruelty, all the moments I had been dismissed and overlooked and betrayed, it all came flooding out. I pressed my hands to my face, but I couldn't stop the sounds that tore from my throat.

"I'm sorry," I choked out. "I'm so sorry, Sky. Your head..."

"Stop." Skylar cut in. "Just stop, Aysel."

I felt her arms wrap around me and she held me as I sobbed, her hand stroking my hair with a tenderness I hadn't felt from anyone in years.

"Aysel," she murmured, "listen to me. Something better is waiting for you. I know it. This wasn't your happily ever after, but that's okay. There's something else out there. Something that won't make you feel like this."

I wanted to tell her that I believe her but before I could form a

But before I could even form a response, I felt a prickle on my spine.

I snapped my head up, and I shoved Skylar away with enough force that she tumbled backward against a tree trunk. Her eyes widened with shock, but I was already scrambling to my feet, my body moving on pure instinct.

"Run, Sky!" I shouted. "Run, now!"

Three figures emerged from the shadows between the trees. I recognized the emblem on their clothing there were from the Shadow Fang pack. Damon's enemies. My enemies by extension.

I threw myself in front of Skylar. "Stay behind me!"

The first attacker lunged. I swung wildly, catching him across the jaw, but the blow barely staggered him. His companion came at me from the side, and I felt claws rake across my shoulder, tearing through the already ruined fabric of my gown.

I screamed and stumbled backward into Skylar. She caught me, her hands gripping my arms.

"Aysel!" she cried. "Your shoulder-"

"Run!" I shoved her again, but she refused to budge. "Skylar, please, just go!"

The attackers surrounded us, three against two. I could hear the distant sounds from the chapel. They were too far. They wouldn't hear me. They wouldn't help me.

I opened my mouth to scream anyway, to try one last desperate plea but a hand clamped over my mouth.

I thrashed against the grip, my eyes wild as I looked past the trees toward the chapel. I could see Damon carrying Celestine in his arms. My mother was beside him, her hand resting on Celestine's shoulder saying something I couldn't hear.

Celestine kept looking over Damon's back towards our direction in the bushes. Why was she doing that? Did she know something was going to happen? Did she plan this.

I had no time to dwell on that because one of the attackers hissed in my ear. "Your mate doesn't seem to care much about you,"

My vision began to blur at the edges and then I saw one of them turn toward Skylar.

"No!" I tried to lunge forward, but the arms around me held fast. "Don't touch her! She has nothing to do with this!"

"Doesn't she?" The attacker laughed. "She seemed so precious to you."

He unsheathed his claws and was about to swipe Skylar when I let out a low guttural growl. I felt a warm heat spread to my body and the pain on my shoulders slowly faded.

I began to feel an immerse pain deep in my bones and I heard them crack.

The three attackers stumbled backward, their confidence evaporating in an instant. The man who grabbed Skylar screamed as I or whatever was empowering me, launched myself at him.

I slashed his throat and his scream died in his throat. The rest of them fled into the forest and I tried to follow them but something warm fell over my head.

It smelt like cedar and the smell of the earth after it just rained. The scent wrapped around me and soothed my body which was pumped with adrenaline. I pulled it and found out it was a large jacket.

"Cover yourself," a voice said.

I whirled around, to see the silhouette of s man already moving past me to chase after the fleeing attackers. I caught only a glimpse of broad shoulders, dark hair, and the glint of something metallic at his hip.

He was gone before I could open my mouth.

I looked down at myself. My wedding gown was torn beyond repair, the fabric hanging in ribbons from my shoulders. One of my sleeves had been completely ripped away and it was safe to say that I had almost flashed my attackers.

I immediately buttoned it over my ruined dress. It was far too large, the sleeves hanging past my hands, but it was warm.

Who was he?

"Aysel." Skylar's voice was weak but conscious. "Are you okay? What the fuck just happened? Who the hell was that man?"

"Okay, hold your horses. I have no idea what happened." I said, turning back to stare into the darkness where he had disappeared. "I don't know who that man was. He threw me his jacket and then... then he chased them."

"A man?" Skylar struggled to sit up. "One of the attackers?"

"I don't know." I shook my head, forcing myself to focus. "I don't know who he is or what he wants. You go get help and I will check if he is one of the attackers."

"Are you crazy?" Skylar asked, looking at me like I had grown two heads.

"What if he is one of them?"

"That's what I need to find out." That and who he is.

"Aysel, you can barely stand. You've got injuries on your back." She pointed out.

"I'm fine, Skylar. Just get back to the pack and go get help. And some treatment."

She sighed exasperatedly. "You are not even listening to me. If you're not back in an hour, I'll come looking for you."

I nodded "Okay. Try not to get into trouble."

"Me?" Skylar's weak laugh was cut short by a wince. "You're the one chasing a mysterious stranger into the woods while wearing a blood-soaked wedding gown and a borrowed jacket."

I snorted and turned toward the direction the man had gone to give chase.