Rejected by The Alpha, Claimed by Faith

Chapter 8

Lily's POV

The confrontation with Marcus becomes pack gossip within hours. By lunchtime, I've overheard at least three different versions of what happened, each more dramatic than the last.

"I heard he declared his love for her in front of everyone."

"No, she slapped him and told him to leave her alone."

"My cousin said they almost shifted and fought right there in the hallway."

None of it is true, but I keep my head down and focus on work. Dr. Frost doesn't mention it, which I appreciate. She just keeps giving me tasks, keeping me busy enough that I can't obsess over Marcus's words.

I didn't want Elena.

What if I don't want it to be over? No. I push the thoughts away and focus on entering patient data into the computer system.

"Lily?" Dr. Frost appears in the doorway of the small office I'm working in. "There's someone here to see you. He says he's a friend from university."

Kieran.

It must be Kieran. Relief floods through me. I find him in the hospital lobby, looking completely out of place in his casual jeans and leather jacket among all the medical staff in scrubs. His face lights up when he sees me.

"Hey! I hope it's okay that I stopped by. I was in the area for pack meetings and thought I'd see how you're settling in."

"It's fine. Good, actually." I realize how true that is. Seeing a friendly face that isn't connected to all the pack drama is exactly what I need.

"Want to grab coffee? There's a café across the street."

"Perfect."

We walk to the small café together. It's quiet in the mid-afternoon, just a few pack members scattered at tables. I'm hyperaware of their stares, their whispers. They recognize Kieran isn't from Riverside Pack.

"So," Kieran says once we're seated with our drinks.

"How's your first week going? Besides the obvious drama I'm hearing about."

I groan. "You heard?"

"Lily, every pack within fifty miles has heard. Future alpha publicly declaring he didn't want the dead perfect sister, he wants the supposedly wolfless one?" He grins. "That's premium gossip."

"It's not funny."

"No, but the way you shut him down apparently was. Good for you, by the way. Guys who don't know what they want until they've lost it don't deserve second chances." His words make me feel better and worse at the same time.

"You really think that?"

"I think..." He considers carefully. "I think you need to figure out what you want, not just react to what he wants. Do you still have feelings for him? Even after the rejection?"

"I don't know," I admit. "The mate bond is supposed to make everything clear, right? But it just made everything complicated. And now it's gone, but I still feel... something. This echo of what was there. I hate it."

"That's normal. Rejected bonds leave scars." He reaches across the table and squeezes my hand briefly. "But they do heal. You'll figure it out."

We talk for another hour about safer topics—my work at the hospital, his pack alliance negotiations, Zara's latest messages about university drama. It's easy and comfortable, and I find myself laughing for the first time in days.

We're walking back to the hospital when I feel it—that awareness that means Marcus is nearby. I glance around and spot him standing near the hospital entrance. He's not looking at us, but his posture is rigid, and I know he sees us.

"That him?" Kieran asks quietly.

"Yeah."

"Want me to growl at him?" Kieran's tone is joking, but I can sense his wolf rising protectively.

"No. Just... walk with me inside?"

"Of course."

As we pass Marcus, I feel his eyes on us. Feel his disapproval radiating like heat. But he doesn't say anything, just watches as Kieran walks me to the hospital's second floor where my office is. "Thank you for coming by," I tell Kieran at the office door. "I needed that."

"Anytime. I mean it, Lily. You have my number. Use it when you need a friend." He hugs me briefly, and I'm grateful for the uncomplicated warmth of it.

After he leaves, I try to focus on work, but I can't shake the image of Marcus's face as we walked past. The clench of his jaw. The flash of something that looked like jealousy in his eyes. Good, part of me thinks viciously. Let him feel what it's like to be replaced.

But another part of me—the part I'm trying to ignore—feels guilty. The rest of the week passes in a blur. I settle into a routine: wake up at six, rounds at seven, patient care until noon, lunch with Dr. Frost, afternoon administrative work, dinner alone in my cottage, studying until midnight. It's exhausting but satisfying. I'm good at this work. Dr. Frost keeps praising my instincts with patients, my attention to detail.

Marcus stays away, which should make me happy. Instead, I find myself looking for him in hallways, tensing whenever I hear his voice in the distance. On Saturday, my phone rings. Nathan.

"Hey, little sister. How's the new job?"

"Good. Busy. How's Sarah?" I keep my voice neutral even though I'm glad he called. Nathan is the only family I have left.

"She's good. Pregnant, actually. Just found out."

"Nathan! That's amazing! Congratulations!"

"Thanks. We're excited. Terrified, but excited." He pauses. "Mom and Dad don't know yet. I'm not sure how to tell them given... everything."

Given that they hate me, he means. Given that they'd probably rather I didn't exist so they could fully enjoy being grandparents without the reminder of their disappointing daughter.

"You should tell them," I say, pushing down the hurt. "It's good news. Don't let them steal that from you."

"You're too understanding, you know that? Most people would tell me to pick a side."

"I did tell you to pick a side. Sarah's side. Your pup's side. That's what matters now."

We talk for a few more minutes before he has to go. After hanging up, I allow myself a moment of sadness. Nathan is going to be a father. Sarah is going to be a mother. And I'll be... what? The aunt they don't mention? The embarrassing secret?

"You'll be more than they imagine," Rose says softly. "The Moon Goddess has plans for us, remember?"

"I wish she'd share those plans," I mutter.

Sunday is my day off. I sleep late, then decide to go for a run in my wolf form. I haven't shifted since that night with Zara, and Rose is restless. I drive to a remote section of pack territory, far from the main grounds. The forest here is thick and wild, perfect for a run. I strip and shift, reveling in the freedom of Rose's form.

We run for miles, just enjoying the feeling of earth beneath our paws and wind in our fur. For a while, I forget about Marcus, about my parents, about being back in this pack. I'm just a wolf running through the forest. Then Rose catches a scent that makes her freeze.

Rogues.

"How close?" I ask her.

"Too close. And there are many of them."

We need to report this to pack security immediately. But before I can head back, I hear voices—human voices, speaking low and urgent.

"—said she'd be here. The one with the weird wolf."

"You sure she's the right one? The Moon-Blessed?"

"Matches the description. Blue-silver fur, black marking. There can't be two."

They're talking about me. About Rose.

My blood runs cold. How do rogues know about Rose? I've kept her hidden for six years. The only people who have seen her are Zara and... no one else. No one.