Alpha’s Regret: His Rejected Mate’s Revenge

3. A STRANGER’S MERCY

(Ava’s POV)

I stared in disbelief as the mysterious man stepped forward, his tall figure looming over me as he crouched to untangle the trap from around my ankle. The pain was unbearable, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him. His hands moved with precision, untangling the wire quickly and efficiently, yet his touch was strangely gentle.

For a moment, my mind blurred the lines between pain and relief, but even through the haze, I studied him, needing to understand who had just saved my life. His dark hair, slightly tousled, brushed against his forehead, framing a sharp jawline that made him appear both rugged and refined. The dim light from the moon barely illuminated his features, but what I could see was striking—broad shoulders, a powerful build, and a strange sense of authority in the way he moved.

But it was his eyes that caught my attention the most. Mesmerizing, almost hypnotic, they were a deep shade of amber, glinting in the darkness like embers burning in the night. His gaze held mine, steady and unreadable, as if he was trying to see through me, to understand me, to figure out why I was there.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice low, rich, and calm, yet with an edge to it that demanded attention.

I nodded slowly, though the truth was far from it. My ankle throbbed, my heart still raced from the ordeal, and the betrayal I had faced tonight clung to my soul like a heavy weight. Everything felt like a blur—Caleb, Tessa, the rejection, the guards—and now this stranger who had come out of nowhere to save me.

But before I could even begin to process everything, a wave of dizziness overtook me. My vision blurred, the ground tilted, and then the world around me went black.

***

I awoke to the faint scent of something unfamiliar—a mix of pine, earth, and leather, and the low crackle of a fire nearby. My head pounded as I tried to sit up, but my body felt heavy, especially my leg. A sharp pain shot through my ankle, reminding me of the trap, and I winced, easing myself back down.

As my vision cleared, I realized I wasn’t in the dungeons—or anywhere near the pack house for that matter. The room was dimly lit by the flickering glow of the fire. The walls were made of rough stone, and everything around me seemed sturdy but modest—a simple bed, a wooden table, and a chair. I didn’t recognize this place, but it felt… safe. For now, at least.

I heard footsteps, and before I could react, the door creaked open. The same man from the forest stepped inside, his eyes locking onto mine as if he had known I’d wake up at that very moment.

“Don’t try to move,” he said, his voice firm but not unkind. “Your leg’s still in bad shape.”

I swallowed, trying to push through the fog in my head. “Where am I?”

He walked closer, kneeling by the bed as he reached out and gently inspected my ankle. His touch sent a shiver down my spine, but not from pain. He was cautious, almost careful, despite his hardened exterior. “You’re safe. This is my place. You passed out after I got you out of that trap.”

My heart raced as I stared at him. The realization that I had no idea who this man was—or what he wanted—hit me hard. I tried to sit up again, but the pain in my ankle forced me back down.

“You need to rest,” he added, glancing up at me with those intense amber eyes. “Without your wolf, your healing’s slower.”

His words stung. “How do you know I don’t have my wolf?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

He stood, his gaze never leaving mine. “If you did, your wound would have already started healing. It’s barely closed up.”

I didn’t know how to respond. It took me three years to get my wolf. I hadn’t even had her long enough to truly know her, to bond with her like most werewolves did. But the rejection—the unbearable pain Caleb had caused—had ripped her away from me, leaving me empty, defenseless, and alone. And now, I had no wolf to help me heal. No inner strength to guide me.

“It’s because of the rejection,” I whispered, the words falling out before I could stop them. “I lost her… when he rejected me.”

For a moment, silence hung between us. His eyes softened, but he said nothing. He didn’t offer any empty words of comfort, and I was grateful for that. I didn’t want to hear that things would get better. They wouldn’t.

“I’m Dominic,” he said finally, standing up fully now. “Dominic Reid. I lead the rogue faction known as The Shadow Claw.”

I blinked, the name stirring something in my memory. The Shadow Claw. I had heard whispers of them—outcasts, rogues, wolves without a pack. They lived by their own rules, feared and despised by most packs. But I had never imagined I’d come face-to-face with their leader.

“I’m Ava,” I said quietly. “Ava Carter.”

His eyes darkened, but not with anger. There was something else—a curiosity, maybe even a hint of sympathy. “You said you were rejected?” he asked, his voice dropping slightly.

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Alpha Caleb. He’s… he was supposed to be my mate. But he rejected me.” I paused, the anger flaring again in my chest. “He claimed Tessa, my best friend, as his mate instead. And she accused me of trying to steal her scent.” The bitterness in my voice was unmistakable.

Dominic crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. “And now you’re on the run.”

“They were going to kill me,” I said, my voice trembling. “Tessa ordered the guards to make it look like a suicide.”

His jaw clenched at my words, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of anger in his eyes. He didn’t say anything for a moment, just stood there, as if contemplating something. Then, finally, he spoke. “I was in the area when I heard the commotion. I saw what was happening. Figured it wasn’t my business… but then I saw you trapped.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Why did you help me?”

He shrugged, his expression hardening. “Let’s just say I don’t like watching innocent wolves get punished for something they didn’t do.”

I believed him, though something told me there was more to his story than he was letting on. Still, I was in no position to question him.

The pain in my leg flared again, and I winced, trying to shift in the bed. “I can’t believe Caleb would do this to me,” I muttered, the anger and hurt mixing in my chest like a toxic brew. “I trusted him. I thought he was… my future.”

Dominic stepped closer, his voice low and deliberate. “You want to get back at him?”

I glanced up at him, meeting his gaze. The intensity in his eyes took me by surprise. He wasn’t offering pity or consolation—he was offering something else. Something darker. Revenge.

“I know what betrayal feels like,” Dominic continued, his voice almost a whisper. “I’ve lived it. And I’ve made sure the ones who betrayed me paid for it.”

I stared at him, my heart pounding in my chest. The thought of revenge had crossed my mind more times than I could count since that horrible moment in the grand hall. The idea of making Caleb and Tessa pay for what they had done to me was tempting—so tempting.

“I can help you,” Dominic said, his voice firm. “You want revenge? I’ll give it to you. But you have to decide if you’re ready for that kind of fight.”

I felt a surge of energy, of anger, of something that had been simmering beneath the surface ever since Caleb’s rejection. The betrayal was too much to bear, and I wanted justice. No, I wanted more than justice—I wanted retribution.

“Help me,” I said, my voice shaking with emotion. “Help me make them pay.”

Dominic’s lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile, his amber eyes glinting in the dim light. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”