Rejected By My Mate,Claimed by his uncle

Chapter 5

Lillian's POV.

"Uncle?" I whispered, the word barely audible as it slipped from my lips.

He didn't even spare me a glance. He walked past me as though we had never met, his broad shoulders brushing by mine before he stepped toward Sergio.

"Welcome home, Uncle Sebastian," Sergio said with a smile as he pulled him into a brief embrace.

Sebastian.

So that was his name.

"You've gotten bigger," Sebastian replied, patting his shoulder.

Melissa appeared beside me with an irritated sigh.

"What are you standing there for?" she snapped. "Close the door. We have a guest. At least try to compose yourself."

I swallowed hard and quietly shut the door.

My hands trembled as the truth settled over me. My mate... the man who had rejected me without a second thought... was Sergio's uncle.

The realization settled heavily in my chest, making every breath harder than the last.

Breakfast was served a short while later.

The long dining table was filled with fresh fruit, eggs, toast, pancakes, bacon, and steaming coffee, yet the smell alone made my stomach churn.

As Maria placed a plate in front of me, she leaned closer.

"Are you okay?" she whispered.

I forced myself to nod.

"I'm fine," I responded, quietly.

She studied my face for a moment before shaking her head ever so slightly.

"You look like you've seen a ghost."

Before I could answer, Sergio glanced our way.

"Maria."

She immediately straightened.

"Yes, Alpha."

Without another word, she returned to serving everyone else.

I lowered my eyes to my untouched plate.

Across the table, Sebastian sat with the same unreadable expression he had worn since arriving. He spoke only when spoken to, answered every question calmly, and never once acknowledged that we had ever met.

He never acknowledged me, yet I could feel his gaze following my every move. Whether I reached for my glass or shifted in my seat, his eyes always seemed to find me.

"So, Uncle," Sergio began, setting down his coffee, "the western border has been quiet these past few weeks. We haven't seen any rogue activity."

Sebastian took a slow sip of his coffee before replying.

"Quiet borders don't stay quiet forever."

"I've doubled patrols anyway," Sergio said confidently.

"Good," he muttered a single word and ended the conversation.

Melissa smiled brightly as she placed a hand over her stomach.

"I'm just happy our baby won't have to worry about things like that," she said softly.

Sergio's face softened instantly.

"Our child will grow up safe," he replied, wrapping an arm around her.

Melissa giggled as she leaned against him.

"I've already started decorating the nursery." A lump rose in my throat as her smile widened. "Oh... I forgot. That's not something you'll ever have to worry about,” she added.

Sergio didn't correct her. Instead, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"I'm finally getting the heir this pack deserves," he responded.

My fingers tightened beneath the table until my nails bit into my skin.

I stared at my plate, blinking rapidly as I fought to keep my composure. I refused to let either of them see me break.

The silence stretched between us until I felt it again, that familiar, piercing gaze. Slowly, I lifted my eyes and found Sebastian watching me.

His expression remained unreadable, but his jaw had tightened, and the hand resting beside his coffee cup had curled into a fist.

For the briefest moment, our eyes met, and the mate bond pulsed between us like an open wound. Neither of us looked away until Melissa's voice shattered the silence.

“You've hardly touched your food,” Sebastian said.

My eyes widened in surprise. He noticed.

Melissa tilted her head with a mocking smile. “I suppose it's difficult to eat when you're busy feeling sorry for yourself.”

“I wasn't talking to you,” Sebastian replied coldly.

Melissa gasped, glancing at Sergio, but he said nothing. I lowered my gaze, hiding the small smile tugging at my lips.

“You should stop embarrassing yourself,” Sebastian added.

“I've lost my appetite,” I said quietly, pushing my chair back.

No one tried to stop me as I pushed back my chair and hurried toward the door, desperate to escape before the tears broke free.

But after only a few steps, the chair caught the hem of my dress, throwing me off balance. As I stumbled, the fabric slipped from my shoulder, exposing the dark bruise on my neck.

A stunned silence swept through the dining room, and before I could pull my dress back into place, Sergio was already on his feet.

His eyes were locked on my neck.

"What..." His voice came out low. "...is that?"

My heart stopped.

His hand shot forward, gripping my chin so hard that pain shot through my jaw. He forced my head to one side, exposing the dark bruise blooming beneath my ear.

His fingers dug deeper into my skin.

"A hickey?" he growled.

The room remained deathly silent.

Sergio leaned closer, his nostrils flaring as he drew in a slow, deliberate breath. His entire body went rigid, and the disbelief on his face quickly gave way to blinding rage.

He inhaled again before his eyes locked onto mine.

"Who touched you?" he demanded, his voice booming through the dining room, while my lips parted helplessly and not a single word came out.

A soft chuckle broke the silence. I turned toward the sound and, unsurprisingly, found Melissa struggling to hide her amusement. I almost rolled my eyes.

"Oh my..." she murmured, pretending to cover her shock.

Sergio's grip tightened until tears sprang to my eyes.

"Answer me!" he roared.

I winced. "You're hurting me..."

"I asked who touched you!" His wolf pushed against the surface, filling the room with crushing Alpha pressure.

The servants immediately lowered their heads.

Maria stood frozen beside the serving cart, her face drained of color.

Still...Sebastian never moved.

His fingers tightened around the porcelain cup just enough for a faint crack to appear before he deliberately relaxed them.

Then he lifted it, took an unhurried sip, and set it back onto the table with quiet precision.

His expression remained unreadable, revealing neither guilt nor fear nor even the slightest hint of surprise. He looked as though the accusation had nothing to do with him.

My knees threatened to give out, but Sergio's grip on my chin kept me upright.

"I can smell him on you," he hissed, his eyes beginning to glow with Alpha power. "Another wolf."

His fingers dug deeper into my skin as he glared at me, each word falling slower and colder than the last.

"Who. Did. You. Sleep with?"

Suspicion blazed in his eyes as his gaze shifted to Sebastian, and my heart sank.