Rejected by the Alpha

A Secret She Cannot Explain

"Where have you seen it before," Kade asked.

Elena's mouth went dry. She could feel his eyes on her, and Marcus was watching her too, both of them waiting for an answer she did not want to give.

"I... I'm not sure," she said. "Maybe on an old blanket. Something from when I was little. I don't remember clearly."

It was a lie, and a bad one. She could tell Kade did not believe her, but he did not push further, not with Marcus standing right there and half the pack still recovering from the attack around them.

"We'll talk about this later," Kade said quietly.

Elena nodded, grateful for the small mercy, even though she knew he was right. This was not something that would just disappear.

The next morning, the pack was still cleaning up from the attack. Smoke still hung faintly in the air from the northern village, and every face Elena passed looked tired and afraid.

She helped carry water to the healers' tent, trying to stay busy so she would not have to think about the burnt piece of fabric or the mark on her own shoulder.

It did not work. Her mind kept going back to it, again and again.

"You've been quiet all morning," Mia said, walking beside her with a bundle of clean bandages. "Even for you."

"I'm just tired," Elena said. "Like everyone else."

"Mm." Mia did not sound convinced, but she let it go. "At least your cousin's family is safe. That's something."

"Yes," Elena said softly. "That's something."

They reached the healers' tent and set down their supplies. Old Marta was inside, moving between the injured, checking wounds and giving instructions in a calm, steady voice. She looked up when Elena entered.

"Elena. Good. I need your help with the burn victims."

Elena spent the next hour helping clean and wrap wounds, focusing on the work instead of her thoughts. It felt good to be useful, even in a small way.

But every time she reached for a bandage, her sleeve shifted, and she found herself pulling it back down quickly, checking that her shoulder stayed covered.

Nobody noticed. Nobody except Old Marta, who watched her a little too closely once or twice, though she said nothing.

That evening, Elena found herself walking alone near the edge of the pack grounds, needing air, needing space to think. She did not expect to see Kade there, waiting near the same trees where they had first talked days before.

"You didn't come find me," he said, straightening as she approached.

"I didn't think I needed to," Elena said. "You said we would talk later."

"Later is now." Kade's eyes were steady on her face. "Tell me the truth, Elena. Where have you seen that symbol before."

Elena wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly cold despite the mild evening air. She thought about lying again, but something about the way he looked at her made the words stick in her throat.

"I can't tell you," she said quietly.

"Can't, or won't."

"Both," Elena admitted. "I don't fully understand it myself. And even if I did, I don't know if I could trust anyone with it. Not yet."

Kade's jaw tightened, but he did not push her the way she expected him to. Instead, he took a slow breath, like he was forcing himself to stay patient.

"Whatever it is," he said, "it's connected to Blackthorn Pack somehow. That scout was carrying it for a reason. If it involves you, even a little, I need to know. Not because I don't trust you. Because I don't trust them."

Elena looked away, staring out at the dark trees. "I know."

"Then talk to me."

"I can't," she said again, her voice breaking slightly. "Not because I don't want to. Because I'm scared. If what I think is true, it's bigger than anything I know how to explain."

Kade stepped closer, his voice softening. "You don't have to explain everything tonight. Just tell me you're not in danger."

Elena hesitated. She wished she could promise him that. She wished she believed it herself.

"I don't know," she whispered.

Something shifted in Kade's expression, something protective and fierce that she had not seen from him before. He reached out, gently tilting her chin up so she had to look at him.

"Then we figure it out together," he said. "Whatever it is."

For a moment, the pull between them felt stronger than ever, warm and steady instead of confusing. Elena almost believed things could be simple, that maybe this bond did not have to be complicated after all.

Then a voice called out from the darkness behind them, sharp and triumphant.

"Well, well. Isn't this cozy."

Elena and Kade both turned. Freya stood at the edge of the trees, arms crossed, a satisfied smile spreading across her face like she had just found exactly what she had been looking for.

"I knew something was going on," Freya said, stepping closer. "I just didn't expect it to be this obvious."

"Freya," Kade said, his voice turning cold and commanding. "This does not concern you."

"Doesn't it?" Freya's eyes moved between them slowly. "An Alpha, sneaking around at night with an omega nobody respects. I wonder what Luna Cordelia would say if she knew her son was spending so much time with someone like Elena instead of preparing to meet his future mate from Cross Pack."

Elena's stomach dropped.

"What future mate," she asked quietly, though some cold, sinking part of her already suspected the answer.

Kade did not answer right away, and his silence told her everything Freya's words had not.