Rejected By My Alpha, Claimed By His Ruthless Rival

At The Gates

The moment Lucien left, the room felt… empty.

Too quiet.

Too still.

My heart wouldn’t stop racing.

Alpha Xavier is at the gates.

Why would he come here?

After everything?

I swung my legs off the bed, ignoring the slight weakness in my body.

“Stay here,” Lucien had said.

But I couldn’t.

Not when this involved me.

I quickly moved toward the door and stepped out into the hallway.

The atmosphere in the pack house had changed.

Tense.

Alert.

Guards rushed past me, their expressions serious.

Something was definitely wrong.

I followed the direction they were heading, my heart pounding louder with every step.

Down the stairs.

Through the large hall.

And then—

Outside.

The night air hit me instantly, cold against my skin.

A crowd had already gathered near the gates.

Pack members stood at a distance, whispering, watching.

Waiting.

I pushed my way through them.

And then I saw him.

Alpha Xavier.

Standing tall at the entrance, his presence just as commanding as ever.

But this time—

There was no warmth in his eyes.

Only determination.

Only something dark.

Lucien stood opposite him, calm and unmoving.

Like a wall.

Like a king defending his territory.

“I didn’t expect you to come personally,” Lucien said, his voice smooth but cold.

Xavier’s gaze didn’t leave him.

“I’m here for her.”

My breath caught.

Of course.

Lucien let out a quiet chuckle.

“You’re going to have to be more specific.”

Xavier’s jaw tightened.

“Don’t play games with me.”

The air between them grew heavier.

Dangerous.

Explosive.

“I want Isabella.”

The words hit me like a shock.

A murmur spread through the crowd.

Lucien’s expression didn’t change.

But his eyes darkened.

“You rejected her,” he said calmly.

“I know what I did.”

“Then why are you here?”

Silence.

For a brief moment, Xavier hesitated.

Then—

“Because she belongs to me.”

Anger flared instantly in my chest.

Before I could stop myself—

“I don’t belong to you!”

My voice cut through the tension.

Both Alphas turned toward me at the same time.

Xavier’s eyes widened slightly.

“Isabella…”

I stepped forward, ignoring the stares around me.

Ignoring the way my heart was pounding.

“You don’t get to say that,” I continued, my voice shaking but strong.

“You don’t get to reject me… humiliate me… and then come here acting like I’m yours.”

Something in his expression cracked.

“I made a mistake,” he said.

The words stunned me.

“I made a mistake, Isabella,” he repeated, stepping closer.

“I shouldn’t have rejected you.”

My breath caught.

What…?

The crowd began whispering louder.

But I couldn’t hear them.

All I could hear was my own heartbeat.

“You chose her,” I said quietly.

“My sister.”

His jaw tightened.

“It wasn’t supposed to happen like that.”

A bitter laugh escaped me.

“But it did.”

Silence fell between us.

Heavy.

Painful.

“Come back with me,” he said suddenly.

My heart twisted.

“Come back… and I’ll fix everything.”

For a moment—

Just a moment—

I hesitated.

The memories.

The feelings.

Everything we had.

It all rushed back at once.

And it hurt.

It hurt so much.

Then—

A presence beside me.

Lucien.

I didn’t even see him move.

But suddenly, he was there.

Close.

Solid.

Unshakable.

His hand brushed lightly against mine.

And instantly—

That strange warmth returned.

Steady.

Grounding.

“Careful,” Lucien murmured, his voice low enough that only I could hear.

“Don’t let him pull you back into something that already broke you.”

My fingers curled slightly.

He was right.

I took a slow breath.

Then—

I looked at Xavier.

“I’m not coming back.”

The words felt final.

Real.

Xavier froze.

“What?”

“I said I’m not coming back,” I repeated.

His expression darkened.

“Is this because of him?” he demanded, his voice rising slightly.

“No,” I said.

Then I paused.

“…but I’m not leaving him either.”

The silence that followed was suffocating.

Lucien’s presence beside me felt stronger.

Colder.

Possessive.

Xavier’s eyes flickered between us.

And something dangerous ignited in them.

“You’re making a mistake,” he said.

“No,” I replied softly.

“I already made one.”

The words hit harder than anything else I had said.

For a moment…

There was nothing.

No movement.

No sound.

Then—

Xavier let out a low, humorless laugh.

“Fine.”

His gaze shifted to Lucien.

“But don’t think this is over.”

Lucien smirked slightly.

“I was hoping it wouldn’t be.”

The tension between them snapped again.

Sharp.

Violent.

Like a storm waiting to break.

Xavier took a step back.

But his eyes never left mine.

“This isn’t finished, Isabella,” he said quietly.

Then—

He turned.

And walked away.

The gates closed behind him.

And just like that—

He was gone.

The crowd slowly began to disperse, whispers filling the air.

But I didn’t move.

I couldn’t.

Everything felt too overwhelming.

Too much.

A hand gently touched mine.

I looked up.

Lucien.

His gaze softened slightly.

“Are you alright?”

I nodded slowly.

“I think so…”

But even as I said it—

I wasn’t sure.

Because something told me…

This wasn’t the end.

Not even close.