Alle Kapitel von The Rejected Plus-Size Mate: Kapitel 1 – Kapitel 10

“You must have made a mistake,” Isabella said, her voice dripping with an almost childish certainty. She stepped forward, her expensive gown rustling, a confident smile gracing her lips.“The prince would never choose… her. Not when I’m right here.” She extended a graceful hand towards the captain. “I’m Isabella Morgan. Perhaps you got us confused?”My mother, recovering from her initial shock, quickly chimed in, her voice too bright, too nervous.“Yes, Captain, that must be it. My apologies. It’s an easy mistake to make, mixing up names. Everyone in the pack knows Isabella is destined for greatness. She’s far more suited to become Luna, you see.” She beamed at Isabella, then shot me a worried glance.“It’s just… Elara is hardly the type.”The captain’s expression remained unreadable. He reached inside his tunic and pulled out a scroll, the royal crest emblazoned in gold. With a deliberate motion, he unfurled it. The parchment crackled in the sudden quiet. He cleared his throat, his

The crisp white sheets felt foreign against my skin, the softness a stark contrast to my anxious heart. Days blurred into a muted haze since the guards escorted me to the palace. I hadn’t seen Nathan, not once. My quarters were luxurious, certainly, but they were also a cage. I ate alone, slept alone, prepared alone. My only companions were the hushed servants who brought my meals and the constant, nagging doubt that gnawed at my insides. Was this how a future Luna lived? Contained, unseen, unheard?Then, the morning of the ceremony arrived.A flurry of activity erupted in my room. Servants fussed, their fingers fluttering over me like butterflies. They spoke in soft murmurs, their words of affirmation feeling distant, unreal. As they helped me into the gown specifically chosen for the occasion, I caught a glimpse of myself in the ornate mirror. Silks the color of moonlight cascaded around me, embroidered with silver threads that shimmered like stars. My reflection, usually a source o

Elara's POV The sound of the celebration followed me like a pack of hunting wolves. Every burst of laughter from the great hall felt like a physical lash against my back. As I stumbled through the gilded corridors of the palace, my ceremonial gown—the one I thought would be my wedding dress—felt like a shroud."Did you see her face?" a voice whispered from a side alcove."I can’t believe she actually thought she could be Luna," another hissed, followed by a cruel giggle. "Look at the size of her. She’s lucky Nathan didn't have her hauled off for daring to stand next to him."I didn't turn around. I couldn't. My chest was so tight I could barely draw breath, and my vision was blurring with hot, stinging tears. I practically ran the rest of the way to the guest chambers I had been assigned only hours ago. I slammed the heavy oak door and threw the bolt, the click of the lock sounding like a finality.I collapsed onto the floor, my knees hitting the plush rug as the first sob tore out o

Elara's POV I woke up with the sun streaming through my window, my head feeling heavier than usual. For a moment, the crushing weight of Nathan’s rejection threatened to pull me back under the covers, but then I remembered Elias’s face. I remembered the way he had looked at me—like I was a puzzle he was dying to solve rather than a problem to be hidden away.A knock at the door startled me. "Elara? It’s Elias. I hope you’re decent."I scrambled out of bed, smoothing my hair. "I—yes! Just a second." I pulled on a simple cream-colored dress, the fabric soft against my skin, and opened the door.Elias stood there, looking far too handsome for eight in the morning in a charcoal suit jacket and an open-collared shirt. "Good. You didn't run away in the middle of the night.""I considered it," I admitted, my voice a bit raspy. "But I think you still have my maps."He chuckled, gesturing toward the hall. "A tactical advantage I plan to keep. Come. I’ve had breakfast set up in the conservator

Elara's POV The morning sun hit the sparring ring with a brutal, golden glare. I wiped the sweat from my forehead, my lungs burning, but for the first time in years, the ache felt like a victory rather than a burden."Again," Elias called out. He stood in the center of the ring, his shirt discarded, muscles rippling under skin that looked like polished bronze. "Your footwork is improving, Elara, but you’re still anticipating my strike instead of reacting to it."I shifted my stance, my bare feet gripping the packed dirt. "It’s hard not to anticipate when you look like you’re about to take my head off, Elias."He laughed, a deep, rich sound that made my heart skip. "If I wanted your head off, you’d be on the ground already. Come on. Show me the strength we found yesterday."I lunged. Instead of the clumsy stumble I would have produced a week ago, I pivoted, swinging a practice staff in a tight arc. He blocked it with a dull *thwack*, but I didn't stop. I stepped into his space, using