Rejected by the Alpha

Chapter 15 - The hangover.

I didn't spend much more time at the party after my interaction with Archer and Natalia. I found Rayn and told her i was going to head home. Once I did, I took the blanket I had taken from my Dad's chair and wrapped myself in it. My head was spinning. I had kissed two separate people in a matter of minutes. I had kissed Sebastian. My younger self would have punched the air. He was kind, stable, supportive. I had also kissed Archer and I would be lying if I said I hadn't wanted to. And there there was his confession... That had taken me by surprise even more so than the kiss.

I decided to ask Moonlights opinion.

Sebastian is kind and I will accept him if he is who you choose.... But I am still drawn to our destined mate. We learned that he has suffered and it is likely what has hardened him. I wonder if we were chosen by the Goddess to help him.

I frowned struggling with the image of Archer as someone needing to be rescued. Yet, I could feel Moonlight's certainty on it. I was grateful for the bond I had with Moonlight that she would let me choose a different path for us if I wanted to. Many people have fought with their wolfs over such a thing. But I remained drawn to Archer too and it was something I needed to figure out before anything progressed further with Sebastian.

Half a decision made, I eventually drifted off to sleep, still wrapped in the blanket.

The next day I met Sebastian at our usual spot by the river and the old wooden bridge.

He looked more tired than usual and rubbed his eyes as he came to sit beside me on the bench. I'd managed to avoid Rayn that morning as she had still been sleeping when I got up. I still hadn't told her about the events of the night before. I wanted to have a better sense of how I felt about it before I did.

"I'm sorry about last night," Sebastian said and for a moment I thought he was apologising for kissing me but then he quickly added, "for having to leave, I mean."

"Oh, no it's okay." I replied and then I decided it was best to just get into it. "I need to tell you something Sebastian."

"yeah?" he said expectantly.

"You know that Alpha Archer was my destined mate right? And that he rejected me?"

He nodded, "Yeah, I do."

"Well what I didn't mention is that when he rejected me all those years ago I didn't accept it at the time. I've asked him to reject me again so I can accept but he refuses to. It's... Still complicated between us. In some ways I hate him and in other ways... I don't? I'm still trying to figure it out and with how things have progressed with us I felt you should know. I don't want to start something else until I have this thing with Archer figured out. I'm not always able to control my actions around him."

" Ah I see, " Sebastian mused. He was quiet for a long moment and I anxiously twirled my thumbs as I waited. "This has had to have been really difficult for you. Listen Lena, if what you need is a friend right now, I'll be that friend. Whatever happens, happens."

I breathed out the breath I didn't know I had been holding, "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure." He took my hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it. My skin tingled from where he had kissed it.

"Thank you," I told him earnestly.

My next stop was the pack house. Sebastian and I had spent a pleasant morning watching the world go by as usual.. He had told me about being up all night with Jessica. He said that the war with the Rogues was scaring her and that some of the kids had been saying things which had worsened it. My heart ached for her. I did however feel relieved that my conversation with Sebastian had gone well and now I was on the search for Archer.

But, on the way, I ran into Judith. She was carrying some empty glasses out from the ballroom. She gestured to me to follow her.

"How was your night last night?" she asked me

"It was good. Why do you ask?" I replied feeling nervous about what the maids might know.

She shrugged, "Just being polite. What brings you here today? I thought your servitude was over."

"it is. I'm here to see Alpha Archer."

"Ah to seduce him I presume?"

"No! I told you I..."

She chucked interrupting me. "Relax Lena, I'm joking." Then she lowered her voice, "But I do have some tea for you," she told me and I knew she was referring to gossip.

"Oh spill," I replied.

"Rumour is the Luna tried to seduce the alpha last night"

I frowned, "isn't he already hers?"

"I mean seduce him to bed. It's been questioned before why they seem to rarely have any physical Intimacy or spend the night together. The alpha often sleeps in his study, you see. Last night he went to their rooms and she was... Dressed to impress shall we say? But he was seen leaving soon afterwards and the luna has been in a foul mood ever since."

"Does she cheat on him?" I suddenly wondered, "Does he cheat on her?" I then said immediately after thinking that if he did, it may make what had happened between us less significant.

She shrugged, "it's suspected that she does cheat on him. In fact some people suspect her and General Edward but there's nothing concrete. The Alpha spends most of his time here however. There's no evidence that he engages in any cheating but you never know."

"Why are you telling me this?" I wondered.

"Because it's hilarious," she whispered. "But don't tell her I said that or she'll have my head."

"How have things been with her, does she still hit you all?" I asked.

Judith seemed to think for a moment and c****d her head to the side. "No actually. Since that thing with you I don't think I've heard of her hitting anyone. I mean she's still been a cow but there's been no violence."

I smiled, "that's good." I wondered if Archer had spoken to her. I hoped he had.

She suddenly came to a stop and gestured to a door to her right. "He's in there," She told me.

"Thank you Judith."

"No worries," she replied with a smile.

When I entered Archer's office he was so involved with his papers that he didn't look up at me. His brow was furrowed as he stared at something that looked to be a map of the packland. There was red dots all around the perimeter. He sighed, taking off his black framed reading glasses and rubbed his eyes. Finally, he looked up at me and seemed startled to see me.

"Lena," he said. "What brings you to my humble lair?" I was startled a little by his response. I didn't imagine what had happened did I?

"I felt perhaps we should talk about last night," I told him.

Recognition dawned on his face. "Ah right well... I apologise for that. I will control myself better in future, " he replied.

"Is that all?"

He looked genuinely confused. "What else is there?"

I scoffed, "Seriously?! Are you still refusing to reject me then? Am I able to spend time with Sebastian or are you going to make an issue of that?"

He had the sense to look chastised before he got up from his chair and walked towards me. He enclosed my hands in his two large ones." Lena this pack is facing an imminent attack. The group of rogues have us surrounded." He gestured to the map with a nod of his head. "Each dot on that map represents a group of them. We're closed in and have no way of getting new supplies as they attack any shipments. We only have what we grow and make here. I can't allow myself any time to focus on my own struggles, I have to be the Alpha, I have to focus on the pack. I won't stop you from getting to know Sebastian. My wolf won't like it but I'll manage. As for the rejection, forgive me, but I need to ask if you can please wait a little longer. There's a lot I need to think on with regards to that as it's a very final thing and I don't have the head space for it at the moment."

I sighed, my brain focusing on the threat with the memory of Sebastian telling me about Jessica's fear in my mind. This may not feel truly like home anymore but truth be told, I did want to defend it especially now with the bonds I've re-strengthened. Preparing for it could be a welcome distraction and training was something I had always fallen back on as a way of focusing myself.

"What about my training?" I asked him.

He seemed relieved by the change of subject. He softly let go of my hands and returned behind his desk. "I thought it might be easier for you if it wasn't with me anymore," he said. "So I've asked my Beta Trey if he would assist you."

"the Beta? I thought you might just throw me back into generic training."

"Well, firstly, you're very strong and I think the generic training would be too easy for you. You could teach that class if I'm honest. You'd be bored. Secondly, General Edward teaches that class and I didn't feel you would appreciate having to be close to him again."

" I appreciate that." I replied.

"Don't mention it. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

"No. Not for now."

"Okay. Let me know if you need anything, " Archer said absently as he returned his focus to the papers on his desk.

"Archer?" I called to him and internally I winced as I had once again forgotten his title. But he didn't seem to notice. "Hmm?" he replied without looking. He was turning over one of the sheets to look at the next one.

"I'm sorry about what happened to you and your mother," I said and Archer froze. He was still in the middle of turning the papers over, hand hovering in the air. In the next moment, he sat the papers down and met my gaze. "Thank you Lena," he replied earnestly. "if you don't mind, could you... Could you not tell anyone about that? It's not what people remember about my father," he said.

I shook my head, "I won't. I promise."

And with that, I closed the door. It would be a several days before I had another conversation with Archer and that would only be after a terrible tragedy.