Rejected By My Alpha, Claimed By His Ruthless Rival

When Alphas Collide

A low, threatening growl echoed through the forest.

The sound sent a chill down my spine.

I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

Alpha Xavier.

My chest tightened painfully as his scent filled the air—familiar, once comforting… now suffocating.

“Step away from her.”

His voice was cold. Commanding.

Lucien didn’t move.

Instead, his arm tightened around me, pulling me even closer against his chest.

A shiver ran through me.

“Or what?” Lucien replied lazily, his tone laced with quiet danger.

The air shifted instantly.

Heavy. Tense.

Explosive.

“Don’t test me, Lucien,” Xavier growled, stepping closer into the dim light of the forest.

I finally turned.

Our eyes met.

And for a brief second… I saw it.

Regret.

But it was gone just as quickly as it appeared.

“You lost the right to command anything concerning her,” Lucien continued, his voice now colder. Sharper.

“She is no longer your mate.”

The words hit harder than I expected.

Even though it was true.

Even though I had heard it already.

It still hurt.

Xavier’s jaw tightened.

“I rejected her,” he said, his voice firm. “That doesn’t mean she belongs to you.”

Lucien let out a low chuckle.

“Belongs?” he repeated slowly. “Careful, Xavier. You might reveal more than you intend.”

A dangerous glint flashed in his eyes.

“Or are you saying you regret your decision already?”

Silence.

The tension between them crackled like lightning.

Xavier’s gaze flickered to me.

For a moment… he hesitated.

Then—

“Come here, Isabella.”

My breath caught.

The command was soft… but it still carried that Alpha authority.

The one my body used to obey without question.

My fingers curled slightly.

A step.

I almost moved—

But Lucien’s grip tightened.

“Don’t,” he murmured near my ear, his voice low and steady.

And just like that… the invisible pull snapped.

My heart pounded.

Why did I almost go to him?

After everything?

“I’m not going anywhere,” I said, my voice trembling—but firm.

Xavier froze.

Shock flickered across his face.

“What?”

“I said I’m not going anywhere,” I repeated, stronger this time.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Something dark flashed in Xavier’s eyes.

“Is this because of him?” he asked, his tone turning sharp.

“No,” I said immediately.

Then I paused.

“...This is because of you.”

The words hung in the air between us.

Heavy.

Final.

Lucien’s chest rumbled softly behind me, almost like a satisfied growl.

Xavier took a slow step forward.

“Isabella, you’re emotional right now. You’re not thinking clearly.”

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

“Not thinking clearly?” I repeated.

“You rejected me in front of the entire pack… for my own sister.”

My voice cracked—but I didn’t stop.

“You humiliated me.”

Something in his expression shifted.

“I had my reasons,” he said.

I shook my head.

“I don’t care.”

The words surprised even me.

But once they left my mouth… I knew I meant them.

“I don’t care about your reasons anymore.”

Silence fell again.

This time… it felt different.

Like something had truly broken.

Xavier’s gaze hardened.

“Fine,” he said coldly. “If that’s how you want it.”

His eyes flicked to Lucien.

“But don’t think this is over.”

Lucien smirked.

“I was hoping you’d say that.”

The two Alphas stared at each other, power radiating off them in waves.

It felt like the entire forest was holding its breath.

Then—

Xavier stepped back.

But his eyes never left mine.

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

And then…

He turned and disappeared into the darkness.

The moment he was gone, the tension in my body collapsed.

My legs gave out slightly.

Lucien caught me easily.

“Careful,” he murmured.

I didn’t pull away this time.

I didn’t have the strength to.

Everything felt too overwhelming.

Too much.

Too fast.

His hand moved gently to my back, steadying me.

“Interesting,” he said softly.

I frowned slightly. “What is?”

“You,” he replied.

I looked up at him.

His eyes were still locked on mine—intense, unreadable.

“You didn’t go to him.”

My chest tightened.

“I almost did,” I admitted quietly.

“But you didn’t,” he said.

There was something in his voice.

Something certain.

Something… possessive.

Before I could respond, he suddenly lifted me into his arms.

I gasped softly, instinctively grabbing onto his shirt.

“W-what are you doing?!”

“You’re in no condition to walk,” he said simply.

“I can walk—”

“No,” he cut in calmly.

And for some reason…

I didn’t argue again.

The forest blurred as he began to move.

Fast.

Too fast for me to even track.

My heart raced—not from fear this time…

But from something else.

Something unfamiliar.

Something dangerous.

I swallowed hard.

“Where are you taking me?” I asked softly.

His grip tightened slightly.

“To my territory.”

My breath caught.

“And why would I go there?”

A small, knowing smile appeared on his lips.

He looked down at me, his gaze dark and intense.

“Because,” he said quietly,

“you’re mine now.”