The Alpha King Rejected Queen'

Rayne POV

"Rayne! Stop!"

Mateo's shout barely registered over the roaring in my head, a low hum of power that surged with each sound of my heartbeat.

I felt it vibrating through me, stronger than any physical force, consuming every thought that i have within myself. I wasn't Rayne anymore at this point; I was something darker, something unrestrained, something fierce.

I took a step forward, and the rogue leader flinched, fear flashing in his eyes for the first time ever.

His pack stood behind him, their usual bloodlust replaced with nervous glances. They were visibly scared, and it thrilled me, a sharp, intoxicating feeling that dulled everything else that was inside of me.

Kael's voice broke through, low and calm.

"Rayne, this isn't you. Don't let it take over who you are."

But the power didn't want calm down; it wanted chaos and fight.

With a flick of my hand, I sent another pulse of energy ripping through the air. Trees cracked, leaves exploded into the night, and the ground trembled. The rogues stumbled back, some of them turning to flee.

"Rayne!" Mateo's tone was desperate, pleading for me to calm down. I could feel his concern—his fear—but it was buried under layers of anger and power, sensations that didn't belong to me.

"Rayne, you have to stop all of this you're doing." Kael's voice was closer now, steady and more calm. He moved cautiously, his hand extended, as if I were a wild animal he could tame. "If you don't pull back, the darkness will consume you and have a greater part of you."

I laughed, but it was cold and hollow, nothing like my own voice this time.

"Maybe that's what I needed," I murmured, not sure if I meant it or not.

Kael reached out, grabbing my arm.

"Rayne, look at me."

His touch jolted me, a spark that cut through the haze of power and strength. For a split second, I saw the forest around me, the terrified faces of the rogues, the concern etched into Kael's face, and… Mateo. Standing there, his eyes filled with something raw and heavy, something that reminded me of what I'd just lost.

"Think of why you're fighting," Kael whispered, his voice breaking through the wall of power that was rising within of myself. "Is this what you've always wanted?"

The words struck something deep within myself, and suddenly, the power wasn't exhilarating—it was heavy, a weight dragging me down. My hands shook as I tried to push it back, but it fought me, pulling and clawing to stay alive.

"Rayne!" Mateo's voice was louder now, more desperate and more stronger.

"Fight it and control yourself!"

With all the strength I could muster, I pulled back, struggling to cage the energy within me, forcing it down and trying to take control of it. The darkness clawed and writhed, resisting, but I pushed harder, gritting my teeth until finally—it faded, leaving me breathless and hollow.

I stumbled back, nearly collapsing to the floor, but Kael caught me, his grip strong and tight. I looked up at him, dazed, the weight of what I'd just done settling on my shoulders. The rogues had vanished into the air, leaving only broken trees and shattered earth in their wake.

"Rayne," Kael said softly, his hand still on my shoulders.

"Are you alright?"

I shook my head, unable to speak up. My chest felt tight, and a cold fear curled in my stomach at almost same time. That power—it hadn't felt like mine. It had felt… ancient, dark, and uncontrollable.

Mateo moved toward me, his face pale.

"Rayne, what was that?"

I opened my mouth, but no words came out of it. How could I explain something I didn't understand myself? The power had taken me over completely, nearly drowning me in darkness. The memory of it left me shaking.

Kael looked at Mateo, his gaze unreadable.

"She's not ready to talk about it yet." His hand tightened on my shoulder, a protective gesture that only seemed to irritate Mateo further.

"I wasn't talking to you, Mr second chance at love," Mateo growled, stepping closer to me.

Kael's expression didn't change.

"She needs time to process all of this. Pressuring her won't help a single bit."

Mateo scoffed.

"And what would you know about what she needs and what she doesn't?"

A tension sparked between them, an unspoken challenge, but I was too drained to deal with it. I held up a hand, stopping them both. "Enough. Just… stop all of this. I can't handle this right now when you both are busy fighting."

They both went quiet at my words, though I could feel the anger radiating off Mateo and the calm intensity from Kael. Exhausted, I stumbled back, leaning against a tree as I tried to catch my breath. Every muscle ached, and my mind felt like it had been stretched to its limit.

Kael moved closer, his eyes softening.

"Rayne, I meant what I said earlier. This power—it's not yours to control yet. But it can be. You just need to learn how to use it."

I managed a weak nod, though doubt gnawed at me. Control? After what I'd just experienced, that seemed impossible to me.

Mateo crossed his arms, his jaw tight. "If that's what's happening here, Rayne needs to be protected. This power—it's dangerous and dark."

"Agreed," Kael said, his voice calm and strong. "But I don't think locking her away is the answer to all of this."

Mateo's gaze darkened at once.

"I didn't say that. But we need to keep her safe and secured. And that means she needs to stay with me, with the pack."

Kael's eyes flashed with a challenge. "And what if she doesn't want that?"

I wanted to scream, to tell them both to stop, but my energy was spent. I looked away, trying to tune them out, but something caught my attention. Just beyond the clearing, I saw a figure standing among the shadows, half-hidden in the trees.

I blinked, but the figure didn't move. They were cloaked in darkness, their face obscured, yet something about them felt familiar, unsettlingly so.

"Who…" I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Kael and Mateo paused, their argument forgotten. They followed my gaze, but by the time they looked, the figure was gone, leaving only a faint whisper on the wind, a warning that sent a shiver down my spine.

Mateo's eyes narrowed. "Did you see someone?"

I nodded, my heart racing. "Yes. There was someone… watching us."

Kael's expression darkened. "We should go. This place isn't safe."

But even as he said it, I couldn't shake the feeling that the figure wasn't just a random onlooker. They'd been waiting, watching me specifically, and somehow, I knew this wouldn't be the last time we crossed paths.

I turned to Kael and Mateo, my voice trembling. "I think… whoever that was… they know about my power. And they're not here to help me but to destroy it."

Their expressions mirrored my own fear, and as we turned to leave, a chill settled over me, a sense of foreboding I couldn't shake.

Whoever that figure was, they were coming for me. And this time, I wasn't sure even Kael or Mateo could keep me safe.