Rejected by the Beta: Book 3

By Bella Lore

When Isabel is kidnapped by the arrogant and handsome demon king, she proves to be a rebellious prisoner. But, even as she is determined to see him only as a villain, she can't help but feel her heart soften against the powerful demon king. However, amidst twists and turns, deception and truth, the wolf shifter begins to realize that all may not be as it seems. It might be only the demon who can keep her safe from her true enemies.

In Book 3, Isabel has finally come to terms with her new status as the Righ—the balancer of the human world and the demon world—when her new life is whisked away.

She finds herself locked in the demon king’s castle, far away from the friends and family she’d found among the Elves of the Shadow Forest. The demon king is cruel and unyielding, possessive of Isabel’s time and restrictive of her freedom.

Despite her suffering, Isabel adapts to life in the demon caste. Despite herself, she shares moments of affection with the demon king. With insights from the castle staff, she discovers the hidden history of the Righ. Isabel can’t help but wonder what else the elves, her supposed protectors and friends, might be hiding from her.

In a moment, her world turns upside down.

Will Balin, once her love, become her enemy?

Will Isabel uncover the truth and save her friends before it’s too late?

Or will she be destined for a life of rejection?

Book 4 in the series is also available!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bella Lore
• Release date: Aug 26, 2022
• ISBN: 9781094394046

Book preview

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R E J E C T E D   B Y   T H E   B E T A

(Book 3)

B e l l a   L o r e

Bella Lore

Bella Lore is the paranormal romance author of the MY TRUE MATE series, comprising four books; THE ALPHA’S MATE series, comprising four books; the REJECTED BY THE BETA series, comprising four books; and 9 NOVELLAS BY BELLA LORE, comprising nine books.

Bella loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit bellaloreauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.

Copyright © 2022 by Bella Lore. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the author. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Jacket image Copyright Ironika, used under license from Shutterstock.com.

BOOKS BY BELLA LORE

MY TRUE MATE

MY TRUE MATE (Book #1)

MY TRUE MATE (Book #2)

MY TRUE MATE (Book #3)

MY TRUE MATE (Book #4)

THE ALPHA’S MATE

THE ALPHA’S MATE (Book #1)

THE ALPHA’S MATE (Book #2)

THE ALPHA’S MATE (Book #3)

THE ALPHA’S MATE (Book #4)

REJECTED BY THE BETA

REJECTED BY THE BETA (Book #1)

REJECTED BY THE BETA (Book #2)

REJECTED BY THE BETA (Book #3)

REJECTED BY THE BETA (Book #4)

9 NOVELLAS

BOUND TO THE ALPHA (Book #1)

DESIRED BY THE ALPHA (Book #2)

FALLING FOR THE ROGUE (Book #3)

MATED TO THE ALPHA (Book #4)

MY TRUE ALPHA (Book #5)

PROMISED TO THE ALPHA (Book #6)

THE ALPHA’S BRIDE (Book #7)

THE ALPHA’S DESIRE (Book #8)

THE LUNA’S CHOICE (Book #9)

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

CHAPTER THIRTY

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE

CHAPTER FORTY

CHAPTER FORTY ONE

CHAPTER FORTY TWO

CHAPTER FORTY THREE

CHAPTER FORTY FOUR

CHAPTER FORTY FIVE

CHAPTER FORTY SIX

CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN

CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT

CHAPTER FORTY NINE

CHAPTER FIFTY

CHAPTER ONE

Under the darkness of my dreams, it is the witch who visits me.

I’m in her house now, in the same living room with her blood splattered everywhere. The only difference is that this time her eyes are staring at me while she lays on the floor.

You will be forced to reach a crossroads. You will be forced to choose again and again. Your decision will decide the fate of the worlds. You are a harbinger of destruction, little wolf. You will destroy us all.

There is a grotesque grin on her face, a milky white film covering her eyes which makes my blood go cold.

She’s dead.

But her mouth is moving as she spews out those familiar words, "There is love written in your fate. Love and destruction. The choice you make will carve the path of the worlds."

I stumble back, covering my ears and letting out a frightened cry, Stop it! Leave me alone!

But her corpse is now crawling towards me, "So much destruction in your future. The truth is in the mirror. What you see isn’t real. You have to look past the illusion. She makes a groaning sound, Your decisions have to be guided by your instincts. The darkness hides the light. As does the illusion. What you see isn’t real!"

I’m terrified right now, my mind spinning, a mixture of both horror and stark fear.

You aren’t real! I gasp, my eyes pinned on her distorted form. This is a dream. It’s just a dream!

But she’s getting closer and this burning pain within me is spreading and I feel like I’m the one who’s about to die.

I look around for a door, any way out of this hell hole, fear a bitter taste in my mouth, but I see nothing. The walls – They’re closing in – I can’t breathe.

The pain is getting worse.

I died because of you! The corpse screams and I’m unable to bear it.

I cover my ears, hunching into a ball and screaming, Help me!

Just as I scream, I feel something warm wrap around me in an almost protective hold. My eyes fly open and I’m surrounded by darkness. But it’s comforting and I feel safe.

You’re safe now, comes a familiar husky growl. I’ve got you.

My body shivers for a different reason now. There is something infinitely dangerous about this voice. I can taste it.

However, while I’m shielded, the burning pain is a vicious storm inside of me. I want to scream in agony and yet nothing is leaving my lips except whimpers. My heart is throbbing. It hurts.

Everything hurts.

The dark mist around forms the shape of a hand and it strokes my cheek, offering silent comfort but nothing more. But it keeps wrapping around me, each tendril forming a stronger barrier. My lips tremble as I curl into a tight ball, the old witch’s words beating against the insides of my skull, misery and pain steady constants.

And just as everything reaches its peak and I know I can’t bear anymore, my eyes fly open with a loud gasp on my lips.

I’m no longer in that cacoon of darkness.

My body is racked with pain but my eyes swivel around in panic as I take in the room I’m in. It’s a beautiful room, the kind one sees in palace tours with gorgeous draperies, tall ceilings, marble and lucious carpets and curtains that are ten times my size.

What is this place?

My fingers flex and I feel the sheets under me.

Silk.

Did I die and wake up in heaven?

My thoughts are hazy and pain filled as I try to move, unable to remember how I got here.

And then I hear the door open.

And then somebody is by my side. He looks familiar and he’s speaking but I don’t understand anything. He’s handsome with amber eyes and dark hair but his brows furrow as his mouth keeps moving.

I open my mouth to say something but nothing comes out aside from a moan of pain.

His jaw clenches and then he’s moving me into a sitting position and holding a bowl to my lips. The liquid that enters my mouth tastes sweet and cold and my eyes close with relief as I begin to feel drowsy. My vision is growing blurred but I can see his mouth moving and then his hand comes to stroke my hair as he murmurs something.

But I don’t know understand anything, slipping into a deep sleep, the pain subsiding momentarily. But as I drift off, I hear the words, You’re safe.

Safe?

Safe from whom?

My memories are blurred. I remember pieces and faces but it’s like everything inside of me has become entangled like a thread and I can’t separate the threads to follow even a single one.

I find my vision darkening but this time there are no dreams.

***

I don’t know how long I’ve been asleep for but when my eyes flutter open, I feel more alert. The pain in my body has lessened my disorientation has also decreased. My head still feels fuzzy though.

I force myself into a sitting position, feeling dizzy.

What happened?

How did I get here?

I try to remember but my head seems to be filled with cotton.

I glance at the long black drapes that are a combination of silk and lace. The sky seems to be a dull red but I can’t be sure I’m not hallucinating right now. Groaning as I sit up, I feel a spasm of pain in my chest and my eyes go down to it, only to see that my entire chest is bandaged. I’m wearing some loose pants but my bare chest is bandaged.

I was injured?

Yes, you were, A familiar voice comes from the corner of the room and my head swivels around to see Damion walking towards me. You nearly didn’t make it, little wolf.

His voice has that lazy drawling edge to it but his eyes, his eyes are glittering in anger.

But I don’t notice any of that, my eyes pinned on him, my heart racing for an entirely different reason.

I’m remembering.

You’re the demon king? I stare at him, part of me hoping it’s not true. "You – You – All this time, you were just trying to kidnap me?"

Damien is wiping his hands on a towel, dressed in a black button up and jeans, his sleeves rolled up to expose powerful muscled forearms, Kidnap you?

He sits down on the side of the bed, before tossing the towel aside onto a chair, Isabel, if I wanted to kidnap you, I would have done so in a heartbeat. I had multiple opportunities after all.

He’s right.

So why now?

CHAPTER TWO

I stare at him, confused and shaken. A part of me is also fearful.

So why didn’t you? I can’t tear my eyes away from his face. Why didn’t you just snatch me back then?!

I can understand the fear within me but I can’t comprehend this strange anger.

He’s looking so relaxed right now while I’m having an internal panic attack.

Well, He studies me, partly amused and just a little annoyed. You had already agreed to come to me of your own choice. I didn’t need to kidnap you till you decided to mate that bastard. I warned you over and over-

"Warned me?!" I glare at him. Don’t make Balin out to be some monster when you are the one who’s the demon!

Damien’s eyes flash, You’re very quick to defend your lover. Did you forget he shot you with an arrow?

My heart aches at the painful memory.

And he kept trying to shoot you, Damien rubs salt in my wounds, his voice cruel as he moves towards me, bending down, his voice a whisper now. "He wanted you dead."

However, despite everything, I can’t just forget how Balin cared for me and what he told me so I find myself snapping, Because he knew the fate that awaited me here! I was better off dead than captured by you!

A strange emotion flashes behind Damien’s amber eyes and his voice is soft, almost dangerous, Is that a fact?

My heart is pounding as I remember the vicious dreams, the secrets that Balin had revealed to me. Damien was a monster. He had to be! Balin said it was the demon king who killed our children and Damien was the demon king so – Everything added up!

I know what you did, I push myself back on the bed, trying to get away from him, feeling sick to my stomach. You’re a heartless monster!

Damien watches me, his face growing blank. This time when he speaks, his voice is cold, "I’m the monster?"

My heart feels like it’s going to burst out of my chest with how fast its beating.

Yes, you are! It’s getting hard to breathe with the pain in my chest from the wound but I’m scared of what’s going to happen now. Balin will come and get me and-

Elves can’t enter the demon world without the Righ, Damien sneers now. And if your lover will come now, it will only be to finish you off!

His words are like a stab in my heart.

Balin would never-

Are you so madly in love with him that you can’t see the truth? Damien stares at me, incredulously. He tried to kill you. I saved you.

He just wanted-

He gives me a disappointed look, I credited you with more brains than this. He shot you. He tried to kill you. He ordered others to try and kill you and yet you find excuses for him.

"He loves me!" I cry out at him. We had a family together. He’s my fated lover!

Damien grabs my jaw, his thumb stroking over my cheek bone, If I loved a woman, I would not want her dead. I would do everything in my power to keep her alive. And if she was taken from me, I would search till the ends of the world and bring her back. What I wouldn’t do is shoot an arrow into her chest, especially a poisoned arrow which guarantees a long and painful death.

His grip on my jaw tightens and my heart is racing, "He could have chosen any arrow, little wolf. So, why did he choose the one which would cause you the most agony?"

I tremble at his touch, my brain running a hundred miles per hour, trying to catch up to his words.

While Damien is making some sense, I know he will say anything to make me turn against Balin. Balin might have been a little mean at times but it was only because he loved me. He had been making so many sacrifices for us while I had been so useless. I have to trust that he had a good reason.

You’ll just say anything, won’t you? I spit at him. "But I won’t hate Balin for what he did. He loves me. What he did – He had a reason for it!"

Damien just gives me a disgusted look before releasing my jaw and walking towards the door, You are stuck in this fog. You’re not going to listen to reason.

Reason? I echo, incredulously. "You kidnapped me from my mating ceremony! You brought me all the way here and now you’re trying to fill my head with all sorts of nonsense about the one man who has saved me.

I saved you too, Damien narrows his eyes. Twice.

I stare at him, my hands feeling cold, I have to wonder if you didn’t orchestrate those events to make me feel like you are savior. Maybe you are the reason I was tortured and –

My mouth snaps shut at the burning fury in Damien’s eyes, You really are a stupid, immature girl, aren’t you? So gullible. Any time a man shows you affection, you fall head over heels, believing any crap that comes out of his mouth-

Balin is the man I love! I hiss at him. Or the man I wanted to fall in love with.

The silence that follows my words is heavy and suffocating.

And then it is broken.

You’re going to stay here, Damien watches me, coolly. You have free reign of my castle but you will not leave it. And don’t think you can try to fool me and escape. This whole castle is a living sentient being. It will not let you escape.

I feel anger bubble under the fear, So, you’re just going to hold me prisoner like this?!

Before I can blink, Damien is in my face, his hand grasping my, forcing me to meet his burning gaze, and his voice is gentle in a way that has chills running down my spine, "Would you rather I lock you up in my one of my dungeons, little wolf?"

I freeze.

CHAPTER THREE

His lips curve as he takes in the expression on my face, Well?

That taunting edge to his voice is back and it infuriates me. I slap his hand away, As if you’re offering me a choice.

He doesn’t look bothered by the disdain in my voice, Yes, yes, I’m a terrible person. You’ve made that pretty clear.

My jaw clenches at his unruffled attitude.

But either way, you should remember that I could have thrown you in a dark and dingy dungeon but I gave you your own room with open access to everything. I must be the most kind hearted kidnapper there was.

I glower at him, both wary and irritated, I want to go back!

His small smile vanishes, No. You can ask anything else of my but you’re never going back to that place.

My nails dig into the silk bedsheet, You can’t do this to me. You can’t separate me and Balin! We were meant to be together!

Even as the words fly out of my mouth, I don’t recognize this strange desperation within me. I’ve never experienced it before and some part of my brain acknowledges how alien of a reaction this is. However, after knowing what I do about the past I share with Balin, and how tenderly he treated me, how can I not want to go back?

Meant to be together? Damien’s face twists. You’re talking about the same person who was going to starve you of your most basic need and deny you your wolf?

I freeze, H-How-?

Does it matter how I know? He sneers. I just do. That’s the man you think loves you?

His words make sense but just as