The Healer He Rejected: A White Wolf Reborn

For six months, I drained my very soul to heal Alpha Coleton's paralyzed spine. I gave so much energy that I lost the ability to shift into my wolf form. I thought when he finally stood up, he would announce to the pack that I was his Fated Mate.

Instead, he looked right through me.

"You have served the pack well as a servant," he said coldly.

Then he welcomed back Charly, the woman who had abandoned him the moment he was injured. To protect Charly from a harmless spider, he shoved me into a purification pool laced with liquid silver. It burned my skin like acid, leaving scars that refused to fade.

When Charly faked a cough during lunch, he accused me of poisoning her with Wolfsbane. He didn't check the food. He simply grabbed my jaw and forced boiling hot soup down my throat while I gagged and begged for mercy.

"If you hurt her again, I'll make you a slave," he threatened, his eyes full of disgust.

I finally understood. My sacrifice meant nothing to him. He would kill me to please a liar.

So, I sent a single text: "I accept your rejection, Alpha Coleton."

Then I disappeared.

Three years later, I returned. Not as a weak, broken healer, but as a legendary White Wolf, with the most powerful Alpha Prime in Europe holding my hand.

Coleton fell to his knees in the middle of the airport, tears streaming down his face as he begged for the bond to return.

I looked down at him with glowing golden eyes.

"You broke me so I could rebuild myself," I said softly. "And I built a world where you don't exist."

Chapter 1

Arminda POV:

The bass at the Blood Moon Pack house was loud enough to rattle the crystal chandeliers, but it couldn't drown out the nervous thrumming of my own heart. Tonight was the Full Moon Party. Tonight, everyone was celebrating the miracle recovery of Alpha Coleton Barron.

I stood in the shadows near the kitchen entrance, smoothing the fabric of my simple grey dress. My hands were trembling-not from cold, but from exhaustion. For six months, I had poured every ounce of my spiritual energy into Coleton's broken spine. I had sat by his bedside while the silver poison from a Rogue's dagger ate away at his nerves. I had taken his pain into my own body until I was too weak to even shift into my wolf form.

But it was worth it.

Coleton stood in the center of the room, tall, broad-shouldered, and radiating power. His dark hair was perfectly styled, and his tuxedo fit him like a second skin. He was laughing at something an Elder said, his teeth flashing white. He looked magnificent. He looked alive.

My wolf, usually dormant from my fatigue, stirred feebly in my chest. Mate, she whispered. He is strong again.

I took a step forward. Surely, tonight was the night. Now that he was healed, he would acknowledge what we were. He would announce to the pack that the humble healer who saved his life was actually his Fated Mate.

"He looks good, doesn't he?" Beta Jaydan appeared beside me, holding a glass of champagne. He gave me a sympathetic smile. "You pulled off a miracle, Arminda. The doctors said he'd never walk again."

"It was my duty," I whispered, my eyes fixed on Coleton.

"Duty?" An Elder nearby scoffed, overhearing us. "It was sorcery. But effective. Perhaps the Alpha will finally cut his little nurse a check."

The music died down as Coleton raised a hand. The room fell instantly silent. This was the power of an Alpha-his mere presence commanded absolute attention.

"My pack," Coleton's voice boomed, deep and resonant. It sent a shiver down my spine, a mix of fear and adoration. "Six months ago, I was a cripple. Tonight, I stand before you, stronger than ever."

Cheers erupted. He waited for them to subside.

"I owe my recovery to the strength of my bloodline," he continued, puffing out his chest. "And, of course, to the loyal service of my staff."

My heart stuttered. Staff?

His eyes scanned the room and landed on me. For a second, I thought I saw a flicker of warmth, the golden flash of his wolf recognizing mine. But then, a steel shutter slammed down over his gaze. It became cold, detached.

"Arminda," he said.

I stepped into the light, my breath catching. "Alpha?"

"You have served the pack well," he said, his tone flat. "As a servant, your dedication is noted."

Servant. The word hung in the air like a guillotine blade. The murmurs started instantly.

"Just a servant?"

"I thought she was... you know..."

"Look at her. She's practically an Omega. She can't even shift. How could she be a Mate to an Alpha?"

Tears pricked my eyes. I wanted to scream that I couldn't shift because I gave my wolf's essence to fix his broken back.

Before I could speak, the double doors at the top of the grand staircase swung open. A collective gasp went through the room.

Charly Mack descended the stairs.

She was stunning. Her blonde hair cascaded in waves, and she wore a white silk gown that hugged every curve-a gown that looked suspiciously like the ceremonial dress of a Luna. Charly was a high-ranking Beta, vicious and calculating, but physically flawless. She had left Coleton the moment he was paralyzed.

Now, she was back.

Coleton turned. I saw his nostrils flare. I saw his knuckles turn white as he gripped his champagne flute. His Inner Wolf was fighting him-I could feel the waves of rejection rolling off him-but his human side, his arrogant, prideful human side, was winning.

"Coleton, darling," Charly purred, reaching the bottom of the stairs. She ignored me completely, walking straight to him. "I'm so happy you're whole again."

"Charly," Coleton breathed.

"I've missed you," she whispered, placing a hand on his chest.

The crowd watched in stunned silence. This was the woman who abandoned him.

Suddenly, Charly gasped. She stumbled back, her heels clicking on the marble floor near the indoor decorative pool.

"Oh! A spider!" she shrieked, pointing at nothing.

It was a pathetic act. But she flailed her arms, "losing her balance" dramatically.

Coleton moved with supernatural speed. But instead of catching her, he shoved the person standing closest to the pool to make room for Charly's safety.

That person was me.

"Move!" he roared, using his Alpha Voice.

The Alpha Voice is a compulsion. It forces a wolf's body to obey against their will. My knees locked, and his hand slammed into my shoulder with the force of a battering ram.

I flew backward.

Splash.

I hit the water hard. But this wasn't normal water. It was the pack's purification pool, treated with trace amounts of liquid silver to cleanse ritual objects. For a human, it was harmless. For a wolf, especially one as depleted as me, it was acid.

"Ahhh!" I screamed as the water touched my skin.

It felt like a thousand hot needles were piercing my pores. The silver reacted with my wolf blood, sizzling against my flesh. I thrashed, trying to find the surface, choking on the metallic-tasting water.

"My dress!" Charly cried out from the dry safety of the deck. "I almost got wet!"

Coleton didn't even look at the pool. He had his arms wrapped around Charly, his face buried in her neck, inhaling her scent-a scent that was likely masked with expensive perfumes to hide her fear.

"Are you hurt?" Coleton asked her, his voice tender.

I dragged myself to the edge of the pool, my skin red and blistering. My grey dress clung to me, heavy and burning. I coughed up water, my body shaking violently.

"Alpha..." I croaked.

Coleton turned his head. He looked at me struggling to climb out, looking like a drowned rat. There was no pity in his eyes. Only annoyance.

"Clumsy," he sneered. "Get out of sight, Arminda. You're ruining the mood."

The pain in my skin was nothing compared to the sound of my heart shattering.

Arminda.

A voice echoed in my head. It was Esther, the former Luna and Coleton's mother. She was watching from the balcony, a glass of wine in her hand.

Mind-Link: Come to my office tomorrow morning. I have a check prepared for you. It is time you moved on. My son needs a strong Luna, not a nursemaid.

I looked up at Coleton one last time. He was leading Charly to the dance floor, his hand resting possessively on her lower back.

My wolf let out a low, mournful whimper and curled into a ball deep within my soul. She was giving up.

"Yes," I whispered to the empty air, dragging my burning body toward the exit. "It is time."

Arminda POV:

The smell of antiseptic was sharp in my nose. I sat on the edge of the examination table in the pack hospital, watching the doctor finish stitching the burn on my forearm.

"The silver content was low," Dr. Evans muttered, shaking his head. "But because your immunity is so compromised from... recent exertions... it burned deep. It will scar, Arminda."

"It's fine," I said, my voice hollow. "Scars fade."

"Not silver scars," he said softly. "Not for our kind."

I pulled my sleeve down, wincing as the fabric brushed the raw skin. I didn't tell him that the scars on my heart were far deeper.

I walked out of the hospital into the bright morning sun. The pack grounds were busy. Warriors were training on the lawn, and pups were chasing butterflies. It looked idyllic. It looked like a home I was about to lose.

I rounded the corner toward the administrative building and stopped dead.

Coleton stood by the fountain, his back to me. Charly was there, too. She was leaning against him, her head on his shoulder, feigning weakness.

I could see the air shimmering around Coleton. He was projecting his Alpha Aura-a wave of calming, dominant energy used to soothe distressed pack members. He was using his precious energy to comfort a woman who was faking a headache.

Charly saw me. Her eyes narrowed, and a smirk played on her lips.

Mind-Link: Look at you. Limping like a wounded dog. You really thought he would choose a broken Omega over me? I am a high-ranking Beta. I can give him strong heirs. You can't even shift.

Her voice in my head was like scraping nails on a chalkboard.

I didn't respond. I simply turned and walked into the admin building.

Ten minutes later, I signed the papers.

"Voluntary separation," the clerk said, stamping the document. "You have forty-eight hours to vacate the territory before your status officially changes to Rogue. Once you are Rogue, you have no protection."

"I know," I said.

I went back to the Alpha's mansion-my home for the last six months-to pack. I didn't have much. Just a few clothes and some medical books. I gathered everything that held my scent: my hairbrush, my pillowcases, the sweater I wore when I read to Coleton while he was in a coma.

I threw them all into the incinerator chute. I would leave no trace.

Just as I zipped my bag, the door flew open.

"Where do you think you are going?"

Coleton stood in the doorway, looking irritated. He was wearing a business suit.

"I'm packing," I said, not looking at him.

"Stop it," he ordered. "I have a meeting at the company headquarters in an hour. My back is stiff. I need you to come and perform the meridian therapy."

I stared at him. "You want me to massage you? After last night?"

"You are the pack Healer," he said coldly. "That is your job. Unless you want me to revoke your access to the hospital supplies?"

He knew exactly how to hurt me. He knew I cared about the patients.

"Fine," I said.

I followed him to the sleek black SUV. I sat in the front, as I always used to.

"Backseat," Coleton said.

I froze. "What?"

"Charly is coming. She gets carsick in the back."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and climbed into the back. Charly hopped into the front seat, shooting me a triumphant grin in the rearview mirror.

At the company office, Coleton sat behind his massive oak desk while I worked my fingers into the muscles of his shoulders. I could feel the tension there. I could also feel the magnetic pull of the Mate Bond, urging me to nuzzle him, to comfort him. I fought it with everything I had.

"Oh, look what I brought!" Charly chirped. She was lounging on the sofa, scrolling through her phone. She pulled a fancy box out of her purse. "Artisan dark chocolate truffles. They are imported."

She walked over and held one out to Coleton. "Open up, handsome."

My eyes widened.

"No!" I snapped. "Coleton, don't eat that."

Coleton paused, the chocolate inches from his lips. "Why?"

"It's dark chocolate," I said urgently. "The theobromine concentration is too high. For a wolf, especially one recently recovered from nerve damage, it's toxic. It will cause seizures."

Charly pouted, her lower lip trembling. "But... I bought them specially for you. The shopkeeper said they were the best. Is she saying I'm trying to poison you?"

Coleton looked at Charly's teary eyes, then at me.

"You are being paranoid, Arminda," he said. "It's just candy."

"It's poison to our biology!" I insisted. "Wolf 101!"

"I am an Alpha," Coleton growled. "My metabolism can handle a little chocolate. Stop trying to make Charly look bad."

He took the truffle from Charly's hand and popped it into his mouth. He chewed, maintaining eye contact with me, a challenge in his gaze.

"Delicious," he said to Charly.

Five minutes later, he doubled over.

"Urgh..." Coleton gripped the edge of the desk, his face turning pale. Sweat beaded on his forehead instantly. "My stomach..."

"Coleton?" Charly gasped. "What's wrong?"

He groaned, clutching his abdomen. His body was trying to reject the toxin, but his system was still fragile.

I sighed. I didn't want to help him. I wanted to let him suffer for his stupidity. But my oath as a healer-and the stupid, lingering love of a mate-wouldn't let me.

I reached into my bag and pulled out a vial of herbal extract I always carried. Milk thistle and activated charcoal.

"Drink this," I said, slamming it onto the desk.

Coleton reached for it with a shaking hand, drinking it down greedily. He slumped back in his chair, breathing heavily.

"You chose to eat poison to spare her feelings," I said quietly, looking down at him. "You value her vanity more than your own life."

Coleton looked up at me, his eyes hazy with pain but still defiant. "Get out."

I zipped up my bag. "With pleasure."

Arminda POV:

The silence in the car ride home was thick enough to choke on. Coleton had recovered quickly thanks to my antidote, but his pride was bruised. He refused to look at me.

I spent the rest of the day in the servants' quarters, nursing my silver burns and planning my route out of the territory. I had one day left.

The next morning, however, Coleton summoned me again.

"Get dressed," he said, throwing a garment bag at me. "We are going to an art gallery."

"I am not your doll, Coleton," I said, standing my ground. "I resigned."

"You are still on pack territory," he countered. "Which means you obey the Alpha. Charly is showcasing her paintings. She wants the pack leadership there. You will come to carry her supplies."

I wanted to refuse, but the Command in his voice made my wolf dip her head in submission. I hated it. I hated how my biology betrayed me.

The gallery was a modern glass building in the city center. It was packed with humans and wolves alike. Charly was the center of attention, holding a glass of wine and laughing loudly.

"And this is my assistant," Charly said, waving a hand at me as I struggled with a box of brochures. "She's a bit slow, but she tries."

A few people chuckled. I kept my head down, focusing on the exit sign.

Suddenly, a piercing shriek cut through the air.

WEE-WOO-WEE-WOO!

The fire alarm.

Smoke began to billow from the vents. Real, thick, black smoke. Panic erupted instantly. The crowd surged toward the doors, screaming and shoving.

"Move! Move!"

I was shoved hard from behind. I fell, my ankle twisting with a sickening crunch. I hit the floor, and a heavy sculpture stand toppled over, pinning my leg.

"Help!" I cried out, coughing as the acrid smoke filled my lungs.

Through the haze, I saw him.

Coleton was standing ten feet away. He had seen me fall. Our eyes locked.

For a moment, time stopped.

My wolf howled to his. Mate! Save Mate!

I saw Coleton take a step toward me. His instinct was driving him. He reached out a hand.

"Coleton!" Charly screamed from the other side. "I can't breathe! The smoke!"

Charly was standing near the exit, completely uninjured, just holding a handkerchief to her nose.

Coleton froze. He looked at me, trapped under the heavy stand, unable to move. Then he looked at Charly.

The conflict on his face lasted only a second.

He turned his back on me.

He ran to Charly, scooped her up in his arms bridal-style, and charged out the door.

"No..." I whispered.

The smoke swallowed me. I coughed until my throat bled. The heat was rising. I curled into a ball, waiting for the end. So this is it, I thought. Rejected and left to burn.

I didn't die.

I woke up in the pack hospital again. My throat felt like sandpaper.

"Easy," a voice said.

It was Beta Jaydan. He was sitting by my bed, looking grim.

"Who...?" I rasped.

"The firefighters found you," Jaydan said quietly. "They brought you out."

"Where is he?" I asked, though I knew the answer.

"He is at the mansion," Jaydan said, looking at the floor. "He is helping Charly wash the soot out of her hair."

I laughed. It was a dry, cracking sound. "Of course he is."

Jaydan looked up, his eyes full of sorrow. "Arminda, I am a Beta. I follow orders. But what he is doing... it is against the will of the Moon Goddess. You are his Mate. We all smell it, even if he pretends he doesn't."

I looked out the window. The full moon was rising again. It was beautiful and cruel.

"He left me to die, Jaydan," I said softly. "He chose a lie over the truth."

"He is blind," Jaydan said.

"No," I said, sitting up. The pain in my ankle flared, but I ignored it. "He isn't blind. He is unworthy."

I closed my eyes and reached deep inside myself. I found the golden thread that connected my soul to Coleton's-the Mate Bond. It was frayed, blackened by his rejection and cruelty.

"I'm going to do it," I whispered.

"Do what?" Jaydan asked, alarmed.

"I'm going to sever the link."

The door banged open.

Coleton strode in. He smelled of expensive shampoo and Charly's perfume. He looked annoyed, not relieved that I was alive.

"You're awake," he said. "Good. Charly is distressed about the fire. She needs a sedative."

I looked at him, and for the first time in six months, I felt nothing. No love. No longing. Just cold, hard clarity.