Abandoned by My Alpha, Chosen by the Rogue King

"Kai, please!" The pain ripped through me as I neared the moment of childbirth.

But as I cried out my Alpha mate’s name, a group of rogues saw their chance to strike. Desperation tore at me as I called for Kai, begging him to come to my aid.

"No, the rogues! Oh God, my baby—our baby, Kai, please, hurry!"

But instead of rushing to protect me, his mate and Luna—the she-wolf carrying his child—he chose to save his mistress, whose danger was far less imminent.

And so, I was left alone, on the brink of giving birth to his child, facing a pack of savage, heartless rogues.

....

The contractions hit me like a rogue’s bite, sharp and relentless. A red moon hung heavy in the sky, staining the forest floor crimson. My water broke, a warm gush against the cold earth, and I knew this pup wasn’t waiting. This was it. This was supposed to be the happiest night of my life, the night I brought Kai’s heir into the world.

But the air crackled with a different kind of energy, a primal fear that sent shivers down my spine, overriding the pain.

A rogue howl split the night, followed by another, and another. They were close, too close to the birthing dens.

Impossible. Our borders were heavily guarded. Another contraction ripped through me, and I bit back a scream. I tried to focus on the life growing inside me, a tiny flicker of hope in the encroaching darkness.

"Kai!" I howled, my voice laced with pain and fear. "Kai, they're here!"

I heard his answering howl, close now, a wave of relief washing over me. He was coming. He wouldn't abandon me, not now, not when our pup was about to be born. I could scent him, the familiar musk of cedar and pine, mixed with the metallic tang of wolf, cutting through the stench of rogue. Through the trees, I saw a flash of his dark fur, his powerful form a beacon in the night. He was almost here.

Then, a different cry split the night—Lyra’s. High-pitched and desperate, laced with a manufactured terror that made my gut clench.

"Kai! Help me!"

It’s his mistress, Lyra…

Kai skidded to a halt, suddenly unsure, his head whipping towards the sound. The relief I felt moments before curdled into icy dread. He hesitated, his gaze darting between me and the direction of Lyra's cry. The decision, etched on his face, was a blow more devastating than any beast’s fangs. He turned, a blur of dark fur disappearing into the trees, his voice echoing back, "Lyra! I'm coming!"

He was gone. He had chosen her.

I squeezed my eyes shut, the world a blur of agony and the sickening knowledge that I was utterly alone. The rogues were almost upon me, their snarls vibrating in my bones. This was it. This was how I would die.

And then a roar, deeper and more powerful than any I'd ever heard, suddenly ripped through the night. The rogues surrounding me froze, their eyes wide with stark terror. A massive form, cloaked in shadows, descended upon the clearing. He moved with a terrifying, controlled savagery, scattering the rogues like leaves in a storm. The air crackled with power, raw and untamed. This had to be the Rogue King, the one whispered about in hushed tones. Xander, yes, that was his name. But why was he protecting me?

The rogue king ripped the throat out of the rogue closest to me, then turned, his burning gaze locking onto mine. I braced myself for the killing blow, but it never came. Instead, he nudged my hand with his snout, a gesture so unexpectedly gentle it stole my breath. A small contingent of other wolves, their scent less feral appeared, scattering the attackers as if guided by an invisible hand. They surrounded my den and formed a protective wall against the remaining hostiles.

As another contraction hit, more powerful than the last, I knew I couldn’t wait. I pushed, my body screaming in protest, and felt a small, wet form slide into my arms. My pup. Alive. Barely.