Rejected by the Beta: Book 4

By Bella Lore

With the demon king fatally injured, it is up to Isabel to save him—a feat she can only accomplish by accepting their true mate bond that eclipses millenniums. However, as she learns to love her true mate, she notices danger on the horizon, and those that want to destroy their bond will stop at nothing to do so.

In Book 4, the fate of the demon king—and the universe—rests in Isabel’s hands. Isabel must open her bond with the injured demon king or he will die.

Isabel saves him, simultaneously forming their bond and balancing the world of humans and the world of demons. Their relationship is passionate and fiery, but it’s one of true love.

Isabel learns more about the world and her duties as the Righ. But there’s only so much she can learn when she discovers that her memories and her powers have been sealed at birth by her parents.

Now, she must embark on a quest to uncover her true destiny.

Can Isabel embrace a legacy so old it exceeds language and logic?

And can she unlock her powers in time to save her people and stop the impending war?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bella Lore
• Release date: Nov 21, 2022
• ISBN: 9781094394053

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

(Book 4)

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 five 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)

MY TRUE MATE (Book #5)

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

Exhaustion is an old companion. So is grief.

It’s been two weeks since the battle.

Two weeks since Damien was shot by an arrow which should have killed but didn’t.

Two weeks since I have heard his voice.

Caleb, I murmur, tiredly, and he doesn’t look up.

This time my voice is a bit louder, "Caleb."

His head jerks up and I see the bags under his eyes, Sorry. I was lost in thought.

I place a cup of tea before him, Yeah, I figured. You haven’t had anything to eat since morning so I asked Marty to make you something. Here’s some tea in the meantime.

Caleb sits back, his golden eyes unseeing, Thank you.

I hand him a warm shawl that I brought with me. He takes it, grateful, Is it always so cold here?

No, comes Fera’s weary voice from behind them. The entire demon realm has become unstable because of Damien.

I look over at Fera as she joins us at the table, Have you eaten? You’ve been awake for a while.

With Damien struggling with life and death, Fera has been the one to take on the helm. She’s picked up all his duties with a surprising ease. But while the transition has been smooth, there is something harsh in the air, unsettled.

No-

Good. I’ve asked Marty to prepare food for all three of us, I say, holding out a chair. You’ve been working yourself to the bone.

Fera doesn’t argue, taking a seat next to the empty chair where I sit down. She sighs and then rests her head on her folded arms, Damien made this look so easy. I hate politics. I prefer my lab to dealing with these people all the time.

I rub her back, Seth is helping out, isn’t he?

Fera lifts her head, her expression dark, Yeah.

Things between Fera and Seth have been tense ever since the battle. Seth’s mother, and the matriarch of the Anaton family is also struggling with death. Despite his role in the scheme of things, I know what it’s like to lose family in quick succession and I can’t hate him. I’ve been checking up on him as well these days.

Seth’s handling the troops and is enforcing the barriers every day. He reports back to me in the evening.

Fera, I say slowly, but she shakes her head.

Don’t, Isabel. I’ve not forgiven him and I can’t. This happened because of him. The only reason he’s still walking freely right now is because you asked me not to punish him.

And because you need his help in keeping things under control, I think to myself.

Despite it all, Seth has been the reason why no one has dared challenge Fera’s temporary rise to power.

Okay, I sigh. But you still gotta eat. I wish you would let me bring you meals while you’re working.

You’re looking after Damien, Fera covers my hand with hers. And you’ve only recently recovered. I don’t want you to overdo things.

Don’t be silly, I frown.

But Fera has no plans of listening to me, Either way, till Damien awakens, the demon realm will continue facing instability. Everything is linked to Damien right now. Right now, the only reason that I can think for everything simply not fracturing is your presence, Isabel. Somehow, you as the Righ, is able to hold together the demon realm from completely breaking.

I make a small sound of disbelief, I don’t really know how that’s possible, considering I can’t even use my powers.

Caleb’s eyes are narrowed and when I glance at him, he turns his head to the side, as if he doesn’t want me to see his face. I don’t know what’s going on in his head but I have other things to worry about.

How is Damien’s condition now?

I look at Caleb.

He’s holding on, the monk confesses. But the truth is that it doesn’t look good. Even back then, I told you that his chances of survival aren’t very high. But for some reason. He is still holding on.

Fera is quiet, I’m hopeful. He’ll recover.

How do you sound so sure? I ask her.

Well, demon kings are born, not chosen. And pregnancies are rare in the demon world, they have been this way since the Righ began slipping out of our hands.

Mara.

Things have come to a head as more information has come to light. It seems that Mara was the one colluding with the elves from the beginning, sharing any information about the Righs that Damien would uncover. Fera has formed an entire investigation team to see how deep Mara’s roots really ran. So far, Rina’s betrayal has been linked to Mara but Fera is sure that more will be uncovered.

There has been no sign of a demon king being born or conceived, Fera admits. This just gives me hope that something is keeping Damien tethered to this realm.

Caleb is oddly silent and then he picks up his tea, sipping it, before suddenly saying, The effects of the moonshine are gone from your system now, aren’t they?

He’s talking to me and I nod, I’ve started growing those flowers. I consumed a lot of them.

Caleb holds out his hand, May I?

His fingers run over the inner side of my wrist and then he releases my hand, Well, it’s gone.

He sighs, When I met you the first time, Isabel, because I couldn’t sense your abilities, I couldn’t recognize what you were. I was looking for the Righ back then. I felt this strong connection to you but it was almost as if I couldn’t see what was right in my front of my eyes. I still can’t sense you as the Righ but the demon lord has which means there is no mistaking it.

What’re you trying to say? I ask, dubiously.

Caleb looks in my direction, "I’m saying that there might be a way to save the demon lord. But because your abilities seem to be nonexistent, I don’t know if this method will work."

Fera’s eyes widen, "What method?"

My own heart is trembling in my chest, What are you talking about?

Caleb looks uneasy, I’m sure you must be aware of the link between you and-

That’s enough, Fera says, quickly, looking alarmed.

But I squeeze her hand, "You mean the fact that he’s my fated mate?"

CHAPTER TWO

Fera stares at me stunned, "You know?"

We’ve not had time to talk about what happened when I was captured by the elves but Balin revealed a lot to me, Fera. I even – I hesitate, I think some of the past Righs managed to communicate with me.

She looks pale and I try to reassure her, "You don’t have to walk on eggshells around me anymore. The moonshine is long out of my system. And with Damien in the state he is, we need to find a way to save him, no matter what it takes."

When she falls silent, I look at Caleb, Why did you ask me about that?

Caleb looks reluctant for some reason, I – It’s very rare for a Righ to not be already mated to her protector, which is the demon lord. I was under the assumption that perhaps your situation was different-

I was captured by the elves like I told you, I tell him, tightly. Well, at first, they had me convinced of some twisted version of the truth- which she still didn’t know as yet – and when they got me to their village, they fed me moonshine. Damien rescued me but –

I see, Caleb looks troubled. But you’re now aware that he’s your fated mate?

I nod.

How do you feel about it?

I go still.

This is the first time anyone has ever asked me that. It occurs me that so far no one has ever tried to get my opinion or my feelings on everything that I have been put through.

I don’t know. I’m still sorting it out.

Do you feel the mating bond within you?

I go blank, What do you mean?

Fera studies me, her brows knit together, "You and Damien are linked. You always have been. Since Damien is the more dominant in your relationship, your mating bond isn’t going to be like that of wolf shifters. It’ll be this thrumming sensation inside of you. You’ll just know."

"Know what?" I’m beginning to feel frustrated.

Caleb interrupts, perhaps sensing my turmoil, You will be able to sense this bond within you so that you can open it.

My fingers are tapping on the table, nervously, Did Damien feel it?

Fera nods, From the moment you were born. His bond formed instantly but the thing is only you can allow the bond to connect you two. So, it has to form for you.

But I don’t feel it.

Everything inside me goes cold. Oh, God, I don’t feel it.

Both Fera and Caleb are looking at me. Well, Fera is looking at me. Caleb is just looking in my general direction.

I – I feel guilty for some reason, I can’t feel it inside me.

The look of disappointment in Fera’s eyes is a crushing sensation inside me but Caleb doesn’t seem very surprised, I can sense the turmoil inside of you. You must have recently discovered the truth.

I nod.

You two weren’t close?

I clench my jaw, I-

When they weren’t fighting, maybe, Fera says, dryly. They clash with every breath.

Not with every breath, I mutter. But it’s not like we’re making each other friendship bracelets either.

I rub my face with my hands, Look, I want to save Damien, okay. I desperately want to do that. But I’m already not a proper Righ as it is. I don’t have my abilities and while you claim I might be the reason the demon realm is not collapsing, I really don’t see it. All I see is that I’m defective in some way. I don’t think I’m your key to saving Damien.

Caleb studies me, quietly.

It’s almost spooky the way his eyes fix on me despite knowing that he can’t see me.

You underestimate yourself, Isabel, he says, softly. I don’t know why you can’t access your abilities but that doesn’t mean you’re lacking in any way. And the mating bond within you is formed over time. It’s not the same as it is for the demon lord. Each Righ connects with the demon lord in a different way.

I understand what he’s saying but it doesn’t make me feel any less inadequate.

Fera nods, He’s right. Besides, you’ve been trying, Isabel. I know you care about Damien. That much is obvious.

It’s more than that. When I saw him collapse, it felt like I had been sucker punched, my heart pounding with fear. And every day I see him, it’s like a new vicious scar on my heart. So, I can’t say I don’t have feelings for him. But I can’t feel this bond and it scares me.

Isabel, Fera grabs my hand, her voice hard, breathe! It’s going to be fine.

Caleb nods, You need to understand, Isabel, that right now, while I was able to bring the demon lord back from the brink of death, you are the one keeping him here. That is the only explanation I can come up with.

So without the bond, you’re saying we might not be able to save him? I ask, feeling anxious.

Right now, the bond is the only way that I can see. This is unchartered territory for me as well, Caleb confesses. In all my time, a demon lord has never suffered such an injury that can put them in such a state.

In all his time?

How long has Caleb been around?

I push that thought aside and ask the question which really matters, So what do we do?

Caleb looks uneasy, There is one way to attempt to get you and the demon lord to connect. Right now, he is in a deep sleep that demons call the Arush-

"He’s in the Arush?" Fera looks shocked. "It has been eons since – How are you sure?"

I can sense it. But there is no guarantee that he will manage to heal since the poison has spread too deep. With injuries like these, death comes in the Arush once the body recognizes that there is nothing further to be done.

What’s the Arush? I ask, tense.

It’s a healing state, Fera replies. One our kind can enter if the injury is fatal. But only very powerful demons are able to enter this state.

How does that help us? I demand, feeling like nothing they’re saying makes sense.

Caleb glances at me, "The Arush is a dreamlike state. If I – If you were able to get inside the demon lord’s mind-"

You’re going to send me into his head?