Rejected by the Alpha

Whispers in the pack

"She was alone with him for almost ten minutes," Freya said, loud enough for half the kitchen to hear. "Ten minutes, and nobody knows what was said."

"Maybe he was just asking directions," someone offered.

"Directions to where," Freya scoffed. "Everyone knows the eastern camp is a straight path from here. You don't need ten minutes alone with an Alpha to explain that."

Elena kept her head down, scrubbing a pot that was already clean, pretending she couldn't hear every word. It had been two days since the gathering, and the whispers had not slowed down at all. If anything, they had grown louder, twisting the story a little more each time it passed from one mouth to another.

"Maybe he felt sorry for her," another girl said. "You know how Alphas are. They like to seem kind in front of a crowd."

"Kind enough to clear an entire hall?" Freya's voice dripped with disbelief. "No. Something happened. I just haven't figured out what yet."

Elena set the pot down harder than she meant to, the clang echoing through the kitchen. A few heads turned her way.

"Careful," Freya said sweetly. "Wouldn't want you breaking anything. I'm sure that's the only useful thing you're good for around here."

Elena said nothing. She had learned a long time ago that answering Freya only gave her more to work with.

"Leave her alone." Mia appeared in the doorway, arms crossed. "Don't you have anything better to do than gossip all day?"

"We're just talking," Freya said, feigning innocence. "Isn't that allowed?"

"Talking about nothing," Mia said. "Which seems to be your specialty."

Freya's smile turned sharp, but before she could respond, Old Marta walked in, clapping her hands together to get everyone's attention. "Enough. All of you, back to work. The Alpha's warriors are still finishing their inspection of the northern border, and I want this pack looking presentable until they leave."

The kitchen slowly emptied as everyone returned to their tasks, though Elena could still feel eyes on her as she worked. She kept her focus on the dishes in front of her, trying to ignore the tight, uncomfortable feeling in her chest.

She hadn't told anyone the truth, just like Kade asked. But keeping the secret felt heavier than she expected, especially with Freya circling like a hawk looking for any excuse to tear her down further.

"You okay?" Mia asked once the kitchen was quiet again.

"I'm fine," Elena said automatically.

"You've said that about four times today." Mia leaned against the counter beside her. "You know you can tell me anything, right? I'm not going to judge you or gossip like the others."

Elena hesitated. Part of her desperately wanted to tell Mia everything, to share the weight of what had happened instead of carrying it alone. But she had given Kade her word.

"It's really nothing," Elena said. "He just asked me some questions about the pack. Nothing important."

Mia studied her for a long moment, clearly not fully convinced, but she let it drop. "Fine. But if something is going on, I'm here. Okay?"

"Okay," Elena said softly. "Thank you."

Later that afternoon, Elena was sent to gather firewood near the edge of the training grounds, a chore usually reserved for younger pack members but given to her anyway because nobody else wanted to do it. She didn't mind, honestly. It gave her a chance to be alone with her thoughts, away from the whispers and the stares.

She was halfway through stacking a bundle of branches when she felt it again. That same pull, faint but unmistakable, tugging gently at her chest like an invisible thread being pulled taut.

She looked up and saw Kade standing near the tree line, watching her.

Her heart jumped straight into her throat.

"You shouldn't be out here alone," Kade said, walking closer. "Not with Blackthorn scouts spotted near the border recently."

"I'm just gathering firewood," Elena said. "I didn't think it was dangerous this close to the pack."

"Anything can become dangerous quickly," Kade said. His eyes moved over her briefly, checking for injuries out of some instinct he didn't seem fully aware of himself. "Are you hurt? Has anyone bothered you since the gathering?"

Elena thought of Freya's sharp comments in the kitchen but shook her head. "No. I'm fine."

Kade didn't look like he fully believed her, but he didn't push. He crouched down and picked up a few fallen branches, adding them to her pile without being asked.

"You don't have to help me," Elena said, surprised.

"I know," Kade said simply, continuing anyway.

They worked in silence for a few minutes, the only sound the snapping of dry branches and the wind moving through the trees. Elena found herself sneaking glances at him, trying to understand the man in front of her. He looked different out here, away from the formal stiffness of pack gatherings. Less like an Alpha carrying the weight of an entire territory, and more like someone simply trying to figure out what to do with his hands.

"Can I ask you something," Elena said finally.

Kade glanced at her. "Go ahead."

"Why did you come find me out here? You could have just left this to your warriors."

Kade was quiet for a moment, straightening one of the branches in his hands before answering. "I don't fully understand it myself. I just knew where you were."

Elena's breath caught slightly. "The bond?"

"I suppose so." Kade's jaw tightened, like admitting it out loud bothered him more than he wanted to show. "I've been trying to ignore it. It's not exactly cooperating."

Elena felt a small, unexpected warmth spread through her chest despite everything. "I know the feeling."

Kade looked at her then, really looked at her, and for a moment neither of them said anything at all. The pull between them felt almost visible in the quiet, like something alive stretched taut in the space separating them.

Then a twig snapped somewhere behind the trees, and Kade's head turned sharply, every trace of softness disappearing instantly as his instincts took over.

"Stay behind me," he said, voice suddenly hard and commanding.

"What is it," Elena whispered, her pulse spiking.

Kade's eyes narrowed toward the darkening tree line, his body tensing like a coiled spring.

"We're not alone out here," he said quietly. "And whoever it is, they've been watching us for a while."