Rejected by the Alpha

Chapter 9 - A standard day in the Sabertooth Pack

Sebastian and I sat together underneath the willow tree.

"A while after you left I met someone who changed my life," Sebastian said, his eyes glazed as his mind travelled to the past. "Her name was Kate and she was... Brilliant." He met my eyes once again as he said, "She was my true mate Lena. You would have loved her." He seemed to come to life a little speaking about her and he seemed earnest in believing that we would get along. But still, I frowned, "You're speaking in the past tense," I noted.

His expression turned sad and he nodded. "She.." he paused as his voice broke. "She died, " He said. "It was um... When giving birth to Jessica."

My palm moved to cover my mouth. That was awful and must have been so hard for him. "I'm sorry," I told him and moved my hand from my mouth to his shoulder.

He shrugged, "It was a while ago now. If it wasn't for Jessica, I don't think I would have survived it."

"I can't imagine," I said and I truly couldn't. My experience of my true mate had not been normal and so I couldn't understand what it would be like to have found a true mate who accepted you and then to lose them.

So I changed topic to try and lift his spirits," Jessica is an adorable little girl," I told him and his sad expression turned quickly to one of unabashed pride. "She is," he said, "But she's stubborn too. She's like her mum." He scoffed, "I always did like my females stubborn" I wasn't sure if I was mistaken but I felt some heat in his gaze as he said that. I bit my lip and found myself at a loss for words. "What about you?" he asked. " What's your story?"

I told him about my time in my mother's pack and to my surprise, I also told him about returning home and about Archers punishment.

He was thoughtful when I finished. "I can understand how you feel about your home." he said. "When I lost Kate, I didn't return to our home for over a week and even then, my mum moved in for a while to help me settle. Only you can decide if and when and on what terms you're going to be ready."

I nodded in response but otherwise said nothing. "With the punishment stuff..." he continued, "training with Archer will be hard but fair.... And probably useful. Natalia on the other hand... She's a horror. I actually don't know if Archer knows how bad she is."

"What should I look out for?"

"Everything" he replied. " But especially if she's being nice. If she's playing nice, she has bigger tricks up her sleeve. Never trust her."

"Thank you for the advice," I told him. I looked at the position of the sun in the sky and frowned.

"I think I need to get going," I said still looking at the sky.

"I hope we can talk again Lena," Sebastian replied earnestly. I looked back at him and he had such a soft expression on his face. I was again struck by how beautiful and kind he was.

I smiled at him, "So do I."

Sebastian was kind enough to walk me to the training centre. A short time later I stood outside of it. I sighed, "wish me luck," I said.

"Good luck," he replied with a chuckle and then I walked instead the training centre while giving him a wave goodbye.

Archer waited on me in the training hall. "You're on time," he said approvingly as I approached. I was dressed in my training gear - leggings and a sports bra.

"I didn't want to be dragged here," I replied tartly.

He gave a wicked smile, "Good choice," he replied.

"Speaking of which, I dropped your shirt off at the packhouse this morning," I told him. What I didn't tell him was that I had to get rid of it before I became attached to it. His scent on it was intoxicating.

"hm thank you but you needn't have bothered. I have plenty."

He took off his shirt so he wore nothing but his jogging bottoms. His feet too were bare. I allowed myself to take in his tanned muscular form. When I returned to look at Archers face he was looking at me with amusement. I felt myself blush and was furious about it. "you've seen me more naked than this," Archer said giving me an unwelcome reminder.

"I didn't look," I replied.

"Well, now that you are," he said walking towards me, "Do you like what you see Lena?" He asked and his tone was like melted chocolate. It was soft and low and seductive. He stood centimetres away from me. I felt my face redden even more. He chuckled breaking the tension. "I like a blush on you," he told me before creating distance between us. I was thankful for the distance but enraged by my body's betrayal.

"Stop messing around," I told him. "Are we going to train or what?"

"Okay," he said, "let's see how you handle an Alpha"

Some time later it was clear that the answer to how I handle an Alpha is.... Not particularly well. Sure, I was able to hold my own and I landed a few blows but Archer was always able to have me pinned. In our last spar, I rushed at him throwing punch after punch but he blocked every one. I tried to land a kick but he caught my leg and twisted so that we both ended up on the floor but with him on top of me. He held my wrists to the floor. His body was flush against mine and I felt heat rise on my cheeks

I was satisfied in the fact that Archer at least appeared out of breath and there was sweat on his forehead. His green eyes flashed gold, a sign that his wolf was trying to take over.

In the next moment, he surprised me by burying his face in my neck and breathing in my scent. I felt a warmth pool between my legs. Then I felt his tongue gently licking the spot where he would mark me if he were to claim me. I couldn't help the moan that escaped my lips. In the next second however, I gave him a shove to get off me. I was unsure if I could have forcefully removed him on my own but my shove seemed to bring him back and his eyes turned green again. He stood up and stepped back from me.

Without commenting on what had happened he said, "I think that's enough training for now. Um you'll find Natalia at the packhouse". His tone was clipped and as soon as he finished speaking, he walked away from me. He left me flushed and disorientated.

Knowing I had little choice, I changed and made my way to the pack house. When I found Natalia, she was not alone. She was surrounded by the same cronies she had surrounding her when we were in High School. The conversation cut as I walked into the room and they looked at me like I was dirt on their shoes.

Natalia smirked as I approached her. We stared at her as the silence became uncomfortable.

"Alpha Archer asked me to assist you with your birthday preparations," I said to break the silence.

"Don't lie," she replied. "He assigned you to me for the week as an assistant as punishment for your outright disobedience and insolence"

"Well... Fine. However you want to put it," I answered.

"Sort of funny isn't it? You once thinking you were destined to be luna and now you're serving the true pack luna," Natalia said. I couldn't help the frown that appeared on my face. Inside my mind, Moonlight was furious. We ARE the true and destined Luna, she objected in my mind. Archers rejection of us doesn't change that.

While I was aware of that, I also knew that Moonlight and I had never asked to be luna. Power wasn't something I had ever been interested in. All I wanted was to live peacefully and protect those that mattered to me.

So, I said nothing in response to what she had said and instead simply asked, "Natalia, let's get to the point. What do you want me to do?"

To say I was shocked at what happened next would be an understatement. Natalia slapped me, the sound of the back of her hand impacting with my face rang out across the room. I had my defences down and hadn't expected it. Her force had knocked me off balance. When I turned back to her, my cheek was still stinging and going warm as blood rushed to it. She was screaming at me, "Do NOT disrespect me! The Alpha might allow that but I won't. You will refer to me as Luna"

In my head, Moonlight growled. She can't be serious, she said.

We need to play nice, I reminded Moonlight. This is already a punishment, let's not make things worse.

"Of course Luna Natalia," I said.

She hit me again but I had steadied myself so did not lose my balance. I bit back the growl that was in my chest.

"It's just Luna to you," she said.

The truth was calling her Luna didn't feel the same as calling Archer simply Alpha would. It felt less like a betrayal to the Luna of the Crescent Moon pack and instead more like a betrayal to myself. Although unpleasant, it was easier to stomach in a way.

"Of course, Luna," I said and her cronies giggled in response.

"Thats better," she said squaring her shoulders and adjusting her hair as though she hasn't just slapped the s**t out of me. "Your first task," she told me, "is to clean our bathroom. I want it done thoroughly though." She gave me a toothbrush. "You'll need this," she told me.

"Fine," I replied.

"Now off you pop," Natalia said and a maid of the packhouse stepped forward to show me to the room she had referred to. She was a kind young girl with long silky brown hair she had tied behind her head in a ponytail. She was very apologetic about the fact that she wasnt allowed to give me any other tools beyond the toothbrush and some bathroom cleaner. I was also told I was expected to wear a uniform. It was a tunic that did not fit me well and was short for my tall frame. The maid apologised again when she saw me in it. Then I was led through the Alpha and Lunas apartment to reach the ensuite. It was darkly furnished with mahogany wood and leather couches. There were bookshelves filled with books, some of whish looked really old. There were splashes of colour in the form of rugs, painting and lamps. There were gold and bronze accents within the lamps and the tables. There was a reading nook by the large bay window with a emerald green chair and small coffee table with a lamp. I held my breath as I went through their bedroom. A man's trousers and belt lay on the bed and I tried really hard to not picture Archer in a state of undress. I had to do the same when I was led into the bathroom with a shower and bath big enough for two and his and her sinks. To distract myself I diligently set to work on the tiles. An hour and a half passed and I had only finished one wall. I still had three more to go although the walls with the door and with the mirrors would go faster. As I continued to work, a voice sounded from the doorway, "what on earth are you doing?" it said. If I hadn't recognised him from his voice I would have known him from the delicious scent that wafted towards me. It was Archer. I turned to face him feeling even more self-conscious about how short the tunic was.