The Alpha King’s Rejected Luna

CHAPTER3

The silence between us stretched unbearably, thick with unspoken words and unreadable intentions. I clenched my hands in my lap, my fingers pressing into the furs draped over me. Lucian’s golden gaze never wavered, assessing me with an intensity that made my skin prickle.

I had walked into the territory of one of the most feared Alphas, and I had no idea what fate awaited me.

“You should eat” Lucian finally said, his voice a deep rumble.

I hadn’t even noticed the tray of food on the small wooden table beside me. The aroma of roasted meat and fresh bread sent a wave of hunger crashing over me, but I hesitated. My instincts screamed at me to be cautious. Trust was not something I could afford to give freely.

“If I wanted you dead, you wouldn’t have woken up in a warm bed.” Lucian exhaled sharply, clearly aware of my hesitation.

He wasn’t wrong. Still, I kept my guard up as I reached for the bread, my hands shaking slightly. The first bite was heaven, warmth spreading through my body as I chewed slowly. My child stirred inside me, as if grateful for the sustenance.

Lucian watched me eat in silence, his expression remained unreadable. I could feel the weight of his gaze, analyzing, measuring. It was unnerving, but I forced myself to ignore it.

“You need to regain your strength,” he said after a moment. “Your body is weak, and you won’t be able to protect yourself or your pup in this state.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. He was right. I had spent days wandering aimlessly, running from a life that had been ripped from me, and in doing so, I had neglected the one thing that mattered most, my child’s survival.

“Why are you helping me?” I forced myself to meet his gaze.

Lucian leaned back in his chair, his golden eyes flickering in the firelight.

“Because I don’t make a habit of letting pregnant rogues die on my land.”

A simple answer, but one that left me with more questions than answers.

I chewed another bite of bread, my mind racing with possibilities. Was it pity? Some unspoken debt he owed to another rogue in the past? Or was there something more?

“Once you’re strong enough,” he continued, “you will have to decide what comes next.”

I tensed.

“And what if I choose to leave?”

Lucian’s expression darkened slightly, but he gave a slow nod.

“Then you leave. But understand this, survival outside these borders won’t be easy. If you’re going to make it, you’ll need to be stronger than you are now.” He said, sending me a dangerous warning.

A chill ran through me. He wasn’t threatening me, but the reality of my situation settled like a heavy weight on my chest. I had no pack, no home, and no one to turn to. If I left, I would be completely alone.

For the first time since Callum’s rejection, I allowed myself to acknowledge the truth, I wasn’t just fighting for myself anymore. My child needed me to be strong.

I took a slow, steady breath.

“Then teach me.” I casually said, taking another bite from my bread.

Lucian’s eyes flickered with something unreadable. Amusement? Interest? Whatever it was, it disappeared just as quickly as it had come.

“You’re serious.”

“I have no other choice,” I admitted. “If I can’t survive on my own, then what’s the point of running?” I emphasized.

A long silence stretched between us. Lucian studied me, his expression unreadable. Finally, he gave a curt nod.

“We’ll start tomorrow,” he said, standing to his full height. He was a towering presence, his power almost tangible in the small cabin.

“You’ll need it.”

The weight of my exhaustion settled over me, heavier than before. My body ached, my mind felt sluggish, but for the first time in a long while, I had something close to a plan. Something to hold on to.

As Lucian moved toward the door, a thought slipped past my lips before I could stop it.

“Did you ever lose everything?”

Lucian paused. His back stiffened, but he didn’t turn around. A long, agonizing moment passed before he finally spoke.

“Everyone loses something.”

And then he was gone, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I lay back against the pillows, my hand resting protectively over my stomach. My child shifted inside me, a tiny reminder of the life I still had to fight for.

I wasn’t going to be weak anymore.

Dawn crept through the small window, casting a golden hue over the wooden walls. The warmth of the blankets tempted me to stay wrapped in their cocoon, but Lucian’s words from the night before echoed in my mind.

“We’ll start tomorrow.”

Today. Today was the beginning of something new, something unknown.

I sat up, my muscles aching from exhaustion, but I forced myself to move. If I was to survive, I needed to be strong. Not just for me, but for the child growing inside me. My hand drifted to my stomach, feeling the slight curve, the life beneath my skin. A fresh wave of determination washed over me.

The cabin door swung open with a creak, breaking the silence. Lucian stood there, his golden eyes cold and calculating.

“Get up,” he ordered. “We start now.”

I swung my legs over the side of the bed and rose to my feet, feeling a little unsteady. Lucian didn’t wait for me to gather myself; he turned on his heel and strode out.

I followed him into the crisp morning air, shivering as the cold bit into my exposed skin. The training grounds lay ahead, a wide clearing surrounded by towering trees. Weapons lined the far side, their steel glinting ominously in the early light. My stomach churned at the sight.

Lucian stood in the center of the field, waiting. His presence was commanding, his stance one of complete control.

“You’re weak,” he said bluntly, his eyes scanning me like he was taking stock of every flaw. “You won’t last a day outside my borders unless that changes.” He even added!

I swallowed my pride. He wasn’t wrong.

“First lesson,” he continued, tossing me a wooden staff. I barely caught it, my fingers struggling to grip the smooth surface. “Balance and control. If you can’t stand your ground, you’re already dead.”

I nodded, adjusting my grip as he circled me. My heart pounded against my ribs. I had never trained for combat before. Callum had always dismissed my attempts, saying I wouldn’t need to fight because I’d always have him.

What a lie that had been.

“Feet apart. Knees slightly bent.” Lucian’s voice was firm but not unkind. “When I move, you move. Read my body, anticipate the attack.”

I barely had time to process his words before he struck. His staff came down fast, a blur of motion. I lifted my own in defense, but the impact rattled through my arms, sending me stumbling back.

“Again.”

He didn’t wait. Another strike, this time from the side. I barely managed to block it, my arms straining from the force. My breath came in sharp pants, my legs trembling.

Lucian was relentless, but I refused to fall. Every time I staggered, I forced myself upright. Every time he landed a hit, I gritted my teeth and pushed forward. My body screamed for rest, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t stop.

The morning bled into afternoon, and by the time Lucian finally called for a break, I collapsed to my knees, sweat drenching my clothes. My limbs ached, my hands were raw, but for the first time in a long time, I felt something close to power.

“Not bad for your first day.” Lucian tossed me a water skin, his expression unreadable.

I took a long, grateful sip, the cool liquid soothing my burning throat. I wanted to snap back at him, tell him that he’d nearly killed me, but I held my tongue. Complaining wouldn’t change anything.

“You’ll need to learn to fight like a rogue,” he continued, watching me closely. “No rules, no honor. Just survival.”

I met his gaze.

“Then teach me.”

Something flickered in his expression—approval, maybe. But it was gone before I could place it.

“Rest,” he ordered. “We start again at dusk.”

I nodded, exhaustion settling deep into my bones. As I made my way back to the cabin, I realized something—I wasn’t just surviving anymore. I was preparing to fight.

And I would never be helpless again.