Rejected Mates

Rejected Mates A PARANORMAL ROMANCE AND URBAN FANTASY COLLECTION ELIZA GAYLE VERONICA SHADE BRENDA TRIM D.E. CHAPMAN REBEKAH R. GANIERE ASHLEY C. HARRIS A.G. HARRIS STEPHANIE MIRRO ALIYAH BURKE KRYSTA FOX LILY WINTER SAPPHIRE WINTERS KYRII RAYNE DANIA VOSS MISSY DE GRAFF CASSIDY K. O’CONNOR CANDACE SAMS VERIKA SLOANE TIA DIDMON Contents Rejected Wolf Queen Eliza Gayle Queen of Fire & Ice Brenda Trim Academy of the Wolves Prequel Veronica Shade Withered Rose D.E. Chapman The Lycans’ Queen Rebekah R. Ganiere Against Fate A.G. Harris & Ashley C. Harris The Wolf’s Secret Stephanie Mirro Cloaked Ties Aliyah Burke Treaty Born USA Today Bestselling Author Krysta Fox Eternal Night Lily Winter Proof is in the Heart Sapphire Winters & Kyrii Rayne Leopold Dania Voss Immortal Seduction Missy De Graff Won’t Be Tamed Cassidy K. O’Connor Spacesong Candace Sams A Taste of Scarlett Verika Sloane Rejected Angel Tia Didmon Rejected Wolf Queen © 2023 Eliza Gayle All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental. Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Rejected Wolf Queen ELIZA GAYLE Rejected Wolf Queen As Sierra fights to claim her rightful place as pack alpha, she must play a dark and dangerous game. As the daughter of the pack alpha, it is my birthright to take his place when the time is right. But not everyone in the pack is keen on a woman taking power, including my own father. When he forces me to accept an arranged marriage with a wolf of his choosing, fate intervenes. But fate’s choices are no less cruel when I am rejected and left to suffer the consequences. Now I have no choice but to accept my father’s terms until I am named the alpha. But I have dangerous secrets that can be used against me…and one of them is hunting me until he gets what he wants. In a world where the lines between duty and desire are blurred, the path to becoming a future queen is a treacherous mine field. Rejected Wolf Queen is a scorching hot why choose romance. Chapter One SIERRA I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I had just finished my last class of the day when I saw him. My father. He was standing in the middle of the college campus, looming large, and he wasn't alone. Another wolf shifter was with him. He was tall and muscular and had dark brown eyes that seemed to see right through me as I stared at him. Marek. My heart was in my throat as I approached them, my fate tightening around my neck. I knew what was coming, and I was terrified. My father spoke first. "Sierra, you know why I’ve come," he said, his voice firm and unbending. "I have made my final decision on your future.” From the firm set lines around my father’s mouth, it was clear this wasn’t good. He was going to force me to make an impossible choice. “You must accept an arranged mating now with a wolf from our pack. Otherwise, I cannot commit to you becoming the pack alpha when I'm ready." I was stunned into silence. It didn't matter that I had known this was coming. I'd hoped for time to change his mind. I'd been born and raised for this purpose until last year when my father had first wavered about my future. Half the reason I'd been sent to college was so that I could weigh my options and see if I had the strength to toe the line as I'd been told. And now, the thought that it could all be taken away from me was devastating. "This isn't right," I argued. "An unmated female can lead this pack as well as one with a mate. No insult to you, Marek." I nodded to the man who'd accompanied my father. "The matter is no longer up for debate. These are my only terms. You can accept or decline, but I must have your answer now. You cannot be the alpha without a mate. There are too many in the pack with doubts and without a mate bond, you won't be strong enough to defend yourself against all those who would try to kill you to take your place. It will be better this way. You will be free to pursue what you want. Marek can do the heavy lifting. Consider it a blessing in disguise." I ground my teeth together. I saw nothing in his words as a blessing. "When?" I asked through gritted teeth. "The next Black Moon is in fourteen months. You can finish out this semester, and then you will return home. That should give you and Marek more than enough time to get to know each other better and gather the support of the pack before I'm ready to retire." “No, that’s too soon,” I blurted. A deep growl emitted from my father’s throat and Marek’s eyes grew wide with a look of warning that I didn’t need. I was on dangerous ground. “You will do as your alpha commands,” my father snarled, reminding me of my place. “Neither Marek nor I will suffer such insults. As long as I am the alpha you will obey. Unless you’d like to forsake your future. Is that your choice?” I looked Marek up and down.