REJECTED YET CHOSEN

Chapter 35

_Dorian’s POV_

The room felt colder than usual as I waited for Marcus to return. My hands curled into fists on the desk, my jaw locked in place. Camilla had lied. She had looked me in the eye and told me this was medicine. But why? Why would she have something like this?

The moment I got a phone call from Marcus and he told me that the green liquid was not medicine, everything clicked into place. Her odd behavior. Her nervousness. The hushed phone conversations. The way she had spoken so harshly about me to someone, as if I were nothing but an obstacle in her way.

I took a deep breath, but it did nothing to calm the storm brewing inside me. I needed answers. And I needed them now.

The door swung open, and Marcus stepped in. His expression was tense. He locked the door behind him before walking over to my desk.

I didn’t even wait for him to speak. “Tell me what you found.”

Marcus pulled the vial from his pocket and placed it carefully on my desk. The green liquid glowed faintly in the dim light, an eerie reminder of the truth I had just uncovered.

“The healer examined it,” Marcus said, his voice low. “He confirmed it’s not medicine.”

I already knew that, but hearing it out loud sent another wave of anger crashing through me. “What is it?” I asked through clenched teeth.

Marcus hesitated for a moment before answering. “A potion. A dangerous one. It’s infused with dark energy and meant to manipulate people. If used correctly, it can influence the mind, bend someone’s will without them even realizing it.”

The room suddenly felt suffocating. My fingers tightened into fists. “Manipulate?” I repeated, my voice sharp.

Marcus nodded grimly. “Yes. And this particular potion is strong. The healer said whoever made it is skilled in dark magic.”

Dark magic. The very thing my pack had fought against for years. The very thing that had cost lives.

I let out a slow breath, trying to keep my fury under control. “And you think she was planning to use this on me?”

Marcus met my gaze. “I think it’s a real possibility.”

I didn’t even have to think about it. It made perfect sense. The way Camilla had been acting lately, the way she had been so secretive, so distant. And those phone calls—the ones where she thought I couldn’t hear her.

We just need to get rid of him.

My own chosen mate. The woman I had trusted. The woman who was supposed to stand by my side.

Betrayal burned through me like fire.

“She was planning something,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair. “Something big.”

Marcus exhaled. “If she was planning to use this potion on you, there’s no telling how long she has had it. Or how many times she has already tried.”

That thought made my stomach churn. Had she already used this on me before? Had she been manipulating me this whole time?

I slammed my fist onto the desk, making the vial jump. “I need to talk to her.”

Marcus nodded. “I’ll bring her.”

“Now.”

Without another word, Marcus turned and left the room.

I stood there, staring at the vial. My mind was racing, trying to piece everything together. If Camilla had truly intended to use this on me, that meant she had been planning my downfall for a long time.

And if that was the case, then I had been sleeping next to a traitor.

Minutes later, the door opened again. Marcus entered, dragging Camilla by the arm.

“Let me go!” she snapped, trying to yank herself free. “You’re hurting me!”

Marcus didn’t loosen his grip. “Keep walking.”

Camilla’s dark eyes locked onto mine, filled with fury and something else—fear.

I stood tall, my expression unreadable. “Sit.”

She hesitated for a second, her gaze flickering to the vial on the desk.

“I said sit,” I repeated, my voice dangerously low.

Marcus forced her into a chair. She straightened, lifting her chin defiantly. “What is this about, Dorian?”

I held up the vial between us. “You tell me.”

Her expression faltered for just a second before she forced a small laugh. “I already told you. It’s my medicine.”

I slammed the vial down on the desk, making her jump. “Lies.”

Her eyes widened slightly, but she quickly masked her fear. “Dorian—”

“Stop,” I cut her off. “No more lies. I know what this is.”

She shook her head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I leaned forward, placing my hands on the desk. “This isn’t medicine. It’s a potion. A dark one. It’s meant to control people.”

She went still.

I watched her closely, waiting for her reaction. “You’ve been planning to use this on me, haven’t you?”

Her lips parted, but no words came out.

I scoffed. “You think I wouldn’t find out? You think I wouldn’t question why my own mate has a potion meant to manipulate others?”

“I would never do that to you,” she said quickly, shaking her head. “Dorian, please. You have to believe me.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Why should I? You have done nothing but lie to me. You have been sneaking around, whispering to someone on the phone, talking about getting rid of me.”

She paled.

“I heard you,” I continued, my voice sharp. “I heard every word.”

Her breathing grew uneven. “No, it’s not what you think—”

“It’s exactly what I think,” I snapped.

Tears welled in her eyes. “Dorian, please. I love you.”

I let out a humorless laugh. “Love?” I repeated. “You don’t know the meaning of the word.”

She swallowed hard, glancing toward Marcus as if hoping for his help. He stood still, his expression cold.

I straightened, staring down at her. “Tell me the truth. Who were you talking to?”

“I—”

“Who?” I demanded.

She clenched her jaw, her tears vanishing in an instant. “I don’t have to tell you anything.”

I exhaled slowly, shaking my head. “Wrong answer.”

Turning to Marcus, I gave a single nod. “Take her to the cellar.”

Camilla’s eyes widened in panic. “No! Dorian, please! You can’t do this!”

I met her gaze, my face unreadable. “I can. And I will.”

Marcus grabbed her, pulling her to her feet. She kicked and struggled, screaming as he dragged her toward the door.

“Dorian! Don’t do this! I swear, I’m innocent! Please!”

I didn’t move. I didn’t blink.

She had made her choice.

Now, she would face the consequences.

As Marcus pulled her out of the room, her cries faded into the distance. I closed my eyes for a brief moment, taking a slow breath.

This wasn’t over.

If Camilla had been working with someone, I needed to find out who. And I needed to do it fast.

Because one thing was certain—this betrayal ran deeper than I had ever imagined.