I Reject You, Alpha Vaughn

“As I explained over the phone, Luna Ashbourne, this is a high-risk procedure. Your wolf hasn’t surfaced in over a year. I can’t guarantee a stable bond, neither can I guarantee the success of this procedure.” Dr. Stephens steadied his voice, trying to appear calm even though his eyes showed the pity he felt for me. “I want to try it,” I said with finality. One year. That’s how long it had been since I lost my sight; when my wolf vanished during the rogue attack. One year since I lost everything: my dignity, my strength, my place in the pack. The tragic accident stole my sight, but the world stole its kindness. Davina, my sister, made sure of that. And, as always, I was the one blamed. Now, I had a chance to take something back. Dr. Stephens hesitated. “I’ll need your mate’s consent before we proceed.” I adjusted my hood, suppressing a growl. “I don’t want anyone involved. You have my full consent. Just do it.” I didn’t want Vaughn to know. Didn’t want his tired sighs or his forced sympathy. I was done being the broken Luna. Dr. Stephens exhaled sharply. “Alright. The serum takes effect in an hour. The awakening begins at moonrise.” And just like that, I placed my fate in the hands of ancient blood magic and a desperate prayer. ** A strange vibration pulsed in my ears as I stirred from unconsciousness. My face burned. “Luna Ashbourne, you’re awake,” Dr. Stephens said. I could hear the tightness in his tone. I froze. Had it worked? “We’re removing the bindings now.” My heart pounded in my chest as my hands turned cold from fear. This was my last shot. It had better work. . Dr. Stephens peeled the bandages off slowly, carefully. “Open your eyes.” I obeyed. At first, only blinding light. Then blue… then… I saw him. I saw everything. A sob broke from my throat as tears streamed down my face. “Oh my God… I can see.” I could feel, too, smell every scent in the room, hear every heartbeat. My wolf wasn’t gone. She was awake. She was hungry. Dr. Stephens smiled. “Congratulations.” I wiped my face, overwhelmed. For the first time in a year, I wasn’t trapped. I wasn’t helpless. “Vaughn is going to be so happy.” At least, he wouldn’t look at me with pity or disgust anymore. And I actually believed it, until I walked into the pack house. The front door was unlocked. Strange. Still wearing my cloak and the scent-blocker charm, I tapped my cane on the floor, pretending to still be blind. Vaughn wasn’t supposed to be home yet. Or so I thought. A sound stopped me cold. It was a breathy moan that sounded too familiar. “You’re so sweet!” a familiar voice said amidst moans. I froze. My grip on the cane tightened. Davina…? Vaughn? No. No, I had to be imagining it. Maybe it was the TV, or she had company over like always. “Focus on me, Alpha. We can deal with her after,” Davina whispered between moans. My stomach twisted into a knot. I forced myself forward, with my cane trembling. And then… I saw them. Davina was naked, straddling Vaughn on the dining chair, with his hands digging into her waist and his face buried between her boobs. My heart clenched, and fury burned through my veins. My wolf growled. I wanted to shift right there and rip them apart, but not yet. Not like this. “It must be so nice to live in the dark… never seeing things that could break your heart,” Davina mocked as she moved faster on him. Vaughn said nothing. He was obviously lost in pleasure. How long had this been happening? I swallowed my rage and did the hardest thing I’d ever done…I walked away. Still pretending. Still blind. Letting my cane hit the wall. Letting them laugh. Letting them think I was still the fool they betrayed. I reached my room, collapsed onto the bed, and buried my face in the sheets. For the first time since regaining my sight… I wished I hadn’t. Vaughn was tired of me. I knew it. Tired of a Luna who couldn’t shift. Who had no wolf. But to betray me with her? Davina was born cruel. But Vaughn? A while later, Vaughn entered the room. I wiped my tears and adjusted myself in bed, breathing slowly. “I’m home, honey,” he said, like he hadn’t just destroyed me in the next room. “Welcome, baby,” I replied sweetly, the lie tasting like blood in my mouth. He kissed my forehead. Davina’s scent clung to him like rot. “There’s something I need to tell you,” he said, sitting beside me. “It’s about the pack.” My chest tightened. “We’ve been under pressure since your… condition,” he began. “You can’t shift. You can’t stand before the council. The Elders are concerned.” I said nothing. “I’ve decided to take Davina as a second mate,” he said calmly. “It’s purely for diplomacy. She’ll act as Luna during gatherings, just until you—” I stopped listening. He wasn’t just replacing me in bed. He was replacing me in blood, in name, in power. And just like that… Vaughn didn’t just betray me. He erased me. But with my sister?