Rejected by the Alpha, Chosen by the King

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

My first thought was that I had missed his birthday, and I mortified myself considering that he was still ahead of anyone else or any circumstance in my memory, but it was a habit even before he noticed me.

"He wants to talk to you when you're ready."

I nodded, every part of me still longed to feel him and hug him. The idea that he wanted to talk to me could only mean that he had changed his mind, and that was the thought that gave me the strength to get out of bed and take a shower.

I ran a comb through my hair and put on a little makeup, but nothing could fix the bags under my swollen and reddened eyes. I pursed my lips and resigned myself to the fact that he would have to see me looking like this. I walked towards his office. I knocked and opened the door without waiting for a response. Ronan was sitting behind the desk and seemed surprised to see me.

"Seraphina," he exclaimed before gesturing for me to sit. For some reason, I couldn't read his expression. His face was mocking, and his eyes were hard, not like the soft dark brown eyes he used to look at me with. I stood behind the empty chair, my chin jutted forward. I said nothing, aware that all of this had been his fault. "I'm sorry about how that happened. I panicked, it shouldn't have been like that. I should have talked to you after the party," he said.

He ran his hand over his face, and my heart raced.

"I panicked," he continued after a pause, "but now that we're more composed." He looked at me. "I need you to end it."

I tilted my head, not understanding what he meant.

"Seraphina, I need you to accept my rejection so we can move forward," Ronan said when he sensed my confusion.

I ran out of breath, and I struggled to stay on my feet as I held onto the chair.

"You can still stay with the pack, your things are being packed for you right now, and we will send them to your parents to make everything easier."

My ears were buzzing, and I couldn't hear anything else but what sounded like my blood rushing through my body.

"Seraphina?" It sounded very distant.

"I, Seraphina Milles, accept your rejection to be your mate and the future Luna of the Ulfer Fang pack," I said as the last bit of me cracked. Somehow, I forced myself to walk away from him without begging, without asking the questions that pierced through me.

"What about the baby?"

"Why?"

"Why?"

I ran to the clinic. Running wasn't characteristic of a Luna, but I wasn't going to be one anymore, so screw it. I ignored the nurse at the reception and stormed into Doctor Anne's office.

"Is the baby okay? I need to know, now," I demanded. The doctor's eyes softened as she saw me in that state; she must have known.

The baby was fine, even though I wasn't, but that was something. Luckily, when I returned, there was no one at home. I crawled into bed.

A few months before becoming Luna, I was back here, with a broken and confused heart.

I don't know how much time passed before I heard my mother's voice again.

"Sweetie, I know it's difficult. Your father and I can't even imagine the pain, but we need to talk," my mother said.

I leaned against the headboard, and my mother placed a tray of food in front of me, with soup and thick slices of homemade bread. The only reason I ate something was for the baby, because I had no appetite.

"We want to know what you want to do," my mother continued after seeing me eat. "We'll support you no matter what you choose."

My dad entered the room and placed his hand on my mother's shoulder.

"What do you mean?" I asked. My throat was dry, and my voice was hoarse.

"Do you want to stay here, or maybe go to the city for a while, to the human city? Or we could find a pack for you to be transferred to, temporarily, of course. Your aunt would just love your company," my mother suggested.

I placed a hand on my still-flat stomach.

"I can't." My voice broke. As much as I loved the idea of running to my aunt's house, which I used to visit during summers, moving to the city or attending university, and pretending that none of this had happened, I had a very real memory that it had. I bit my lip. A part of me wanted to stay there. I wanted to stand in front of him, in front of everyone. I wanted Ronan to have time to realize his mistake and accept me. I wanted to stay there to show him what he was missing and make it clear to everyone, in that damn pack, that I was carrying the Alpha's baby. There was no way they would let him get away with it after seeing the proof growing inside me.

"I'll stay," I said, nodding with newfound determination. I was willing to fight for that baby to have a father.

My parents looked at each other and then looked at me.

"Sweetie," my mom placed her hand on my knee, "We love how strong you are, but that might not be the best idea." She seemed nervous.

"So what's the best idea then?" I asked, and my mom closed her eyes, while my dad rubbed his mustache, something he always did when he was nervous.

"Seraphina," he hung his head, and my insides buzzed. This couldn't be good.

"Just tell me," I said, gripping the spoon tightly.

"We need you to listen carefully," my father said. "Rumors are starting, and it's said that Ronan wants to claim another Luna."

My world tilted and spun, and I ran past them towards the bathroom, where I emptied the little bit of soup and bread I had managed to swallow. I longed for that darkness I fell into the night he rejected me. I still felt numb, but the numbness was becoming sharper around the edges of my head, and I didn't want to feel any of it. My mom wiped my face with a cold cloth and helped me back to bed. The look on their faces broke my heart.

The next day, Luna Mary showed up. I was surprised but curious to hear what she had to say about her son. An apology wouldn't go unnoticed. I changed and put my long hair up in a messy bun; I was too exhausted to even deal with tangles. I went downstairs to sit next to her on the couch while my mom served us tea and then left the room. I reached for my cup just to have something to do with my hands.

"Seraphina," she frowned, looking at me with pity. I hated it. "I didn't expect this, no one did. I came to say that Alec and I are deeply sorry for how this happened. We hoped you would become Luna, and we enjoyed the time we had you close." I hated how she was talking about me in the past tense, as if this was already so final, as if they had fully accepted it. I didn't know if I believed her words, but it was nice to hear that at least she had enjoyed my company.

I nodded, looking at the brown liquid in my cup.

"However, we are glad that you've chosen to do the right thing," Luna Mary said. My eyes shot to her brown eyes, the same color as her son's. What was she referring to? "I know you don't see it that way, and it's to be expected." Luna Mary sighed and took a sip of her tea. "But the future of this pack is important, the Alpha line is even more so. Though we hate how this happened, we're happy that you're choosing a family for your child." She looked at me. I was completely lost. Did Ronan tell them about my baby, our baby? The way she was expressing this didn't make sense. A small glimmer of hope ignited within me. Did Ronan want to put the baby first? He chose the baby even if he didn't choose me. That would have to be enough. It would be enough if it meant I could still be with him. "This leaves me with a baby shower and a new Luna ceremony to prepare," Luna Mary continued after shaking her head, as if that wasn't her dream.

"Does that mean you know?" I asked, placing a hand on my stomach and forcing a smile. I couldn't feel more pleased. Luna Mary was already planning a baby shower for us.

"Ronan and Callista just shared the news with us," Luna Mary said, giving me another sympathetic frown.

"What?!" My eyes shot to hers. A cold fear slithered through my skin, extinguishing that glimmer of hope I had briefly held onto. "You knew, didn't you?" Luna Mary covered her mouth. "Callista is three weeks pregnant, almost a month now."

I didn't think there was anything else that could be said that would shock me.

So, we hate how this happened, we really hate it," Luna Mary continued, "but we are very proud of our son for doing the right thing. For making this tough decision that has hurt him more than you can imagine, for putting his child before anyone else, even himself."

I barely heard her.

"Get out!" I found my voice, my eyes hardened. The shock that covered her face gave me nothing but a slight twinge of satisfaction.

"Seraphina, I know you're upset, but..."

"I'm not going to repeat it," I stood up and left the room.

I didn't think I had anything left in me to cry. I sat on the stairs and curled up, thinking about how someone who once said they loved me could do this to me. I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy what he put me through, if I even had one. Well, maybe I could wish this upon Callista, but that would only be wishing upon her what she had done to me. But what could I have done to Ronan to deserve this? I always knew I wasn't enough for him, but he claimed me, and foolishly, I began to believe I was worth it. It didn't matter anymore what I had done, how I dressed, or if I swelled up like a whale in front of his parents' eyes, and now nothing I could do would make him accept me again. He made his choice, and he was already heading down this path with her.

I told my parents about my plans, and they agreed to come with me. I had to stop my dad from hitting Ronan when he found out I was pregnant, and my mom's tears triggered another nervous breakdown. I hated that I was doing this to them, I hated that he was doing this. What should have been an exciting moment, their first grandchild, was ruined by his rejection. I knew they didn't want to leave the pack, but I also knew they would do anything for me. So, we left.

I wrote a letter to Zara and left it in her mailbox, and then my parents and I packed up the house, bringing some things with us. They wanted to eventually go back, but I knew I could never do that. He rejected me in public. He chose another Luna. He cheated on me, more than that one time, got her pregnant, and despite all that, I still loved him.

I hated myself even more for that.

The worst part?

I couldn't choose the rejection, I couldn't distance myself from his infidelity. I was practically kicked out and humiliated. It wasn't just him, it was the others who were so satisfied with this. His future Beta and Gamma, whom I considered my friends, didn't stop him, and neither did his parents. No one did. It wasn't just his rejection that hurt, it was also the fact that nobody asked him what the hell he thought he was doing. Fury replaced my sadness as I took one last look at the place where I grew up, the only home I knew, and which until a week ago, I was destined to lead.