Rejected By One Alpha, Claimed By Another

Chapter 2: A New Beginning… or So I Thought

Serena's POV

I woke to the sound of a soft beeping. It was steady, almost like a clock ticking beside me. For a moment, I didn’t move. My eyelids felt heavy, my chest tight, and the thought crossed my mind.

Had I… died?

A strange calmness spread through me. Maybe this was it. Maybe all the pain, the fear, the running, it was finally over.

I let out a slow breath. So this is the afterlife… white, quiet, and peaceful.

But when I finally forced my eyes open, I realized I wasn’t in the afterlife. I was in a hospital! Oh, no. The walls were pale, the curtains drawn, and the machine beside me blinked with tiny lights that matched the beeping sound.

My heart leapt in panic. I tried to sit up, but before I could move, a warm hand closed over mine.

“Shhh… calm down, Selena.”

I turned my head, startled. Aunt Kira sat beside me, her eyes swollen from worry, her voice gentle but firm.

“Aunt Kira…?” My throat felt dry and hoarse.

“Yes, Seren, it’s me.” She gave a small nod, her hand rubbing the back of mine.

“You’re safe now. Don’t try to move too quickly.”

My lips trembled. “The guards… did they find me?”

She nodded again. “Yes. You collapsed at the border. They brought you straight here. You were lucky, Selena. If they had been a little late…” Her voice cracked, and she stopped herself.

I swallowed hard, the memory of running through the woods still sharp in my mind. “So… I’m alive.”

“You’re alive,” she said firmly. “And you’re with me now.”

Relief washed over me, but it was mixed with exhaustion. My whole body felt heavy, like every step I had taken had finally caught up with me.

Just then, the doctor walked in. He was middle-aged, with glasses perched on his nose. He checked my pulse, asked me to breathe in and out, and gently touched the bruises on my arms.

“She’s fine now,” he said after a moment. “Just a few scratches, dehydration, and exhaustion. Nothing serious.”

“Can I take her home?” Aunt Kira asked quickly, as though afraid someone would stop her.

“Yes, of course,” the doctor said with a small smile. “Just make sure she rests for the next few days.”

After settling the bills, Aunt Kira helped me out of bed. My legs wobbled, but she held me steady as we walked out of the hospital.

The moment we reached her home, my eyes widened in disbelief. The house was huge! It was the modern houses I've only got to hear stories about in our pack. The buildings around looked like mansions, each one more impressive than the next. Compared to the simple huts and wooden houses in my old pack, this place was another world entirely.

I stopped at the doorway, staring like I’d stepped into a dream.

“Come in, child,” Aunt Kira said with a small chuckle, noticing my wide eyes. “This is your home now.”

Inside, everything sparkled. More like the whole thing was pointing lights into my eyes. The floors were smooth and polished, the staircase went round and round till it got to the top, and the living room had a large television set that nearly covered one wall. Cushions lined the chairs, I've not sat on them, but I could imagine how soft and warm they'd be. I’d never seen such things up close before.

I followed Aunt Kira quietly, still overwhelmed. She guided me to the dining table, where a cup of tea and a plate of bread waited.

“Eat,” she urged softly.

“You must be hungry.”

I nodded, picking up the bread slowly, almost like I was afraid it would disappear. The tea was warm, and the bread soft. As I ate, Aunt Kira walked back into the room with something in her hands.

It was a cake. A small round cake, with three lit candles on top.

“For your birthday,” she said, placing it gently in front of me.

I froze, staring at it. Nobody had ever celebrated my birthday before, not like this. My throat tightened as tears stung my eyes.

“Go on,” she said softly.

I closed my eyes, made a small wish, and blew out the candles. For the first time in years, I felt like I was truly seen.

When I looked back at her, she was holding out an envelope. “Here,” she said.

I took it with trembling hands, curious and nervous. Slowly, I tore it open. My breath caught in my throat as I read the first line.

It was an admission letter. For university!

Oh my God! I cannot believe this.

I looked up at Aunt Kira, my eyes wide. “Wha....what is this?”

She smiled. “Your mother sent me your exam results last year. She told me to start making arrangements. She begged me to give you a chance at a future. And now… it’s ready. You’re to start tomorrow.”

I gasped, holding the letter tightly. “She planned this… all along?”

“Yes,” Aunt Kira said softly.

I pressed the letter against my chest, my mouth trembling. “Am I dreaming, Aunt Kira?”

She chuckled gently and reached out to pat my cheek. “No, Seren. You’re not dreaming. This is real.”

She stood up then. “Come, let me show you your room.”

I followed suit.

When she opened the door, I nearly gasped. It was beautiful, large, with soft curtains, a wide bed covered in fluffy blankets, and a wardrobe that looked like it belonged to royalty.

On the bed lay a brand-new phone. Aunt Kira picked it up and handed it to me. “You’ll need this. Life here is different, and you’ll need to stay connected.”

I took it carefully, marveling at its size. It was far bigger and sleeker than the small old phone my mother had used just for calls.

“Now,” Aunt Kira said with a smile, opening the wardrobe, “I thought you’d need clothes for school. So I prepared a few things.”

My jaw dropped. Dresses, skirts, tops, jeans, rows of beautiful clothes hung neatly, many of them the kinds I had only seen on the Alpha’s sisters back home.

“Try this,” she said, holding up a pair of bum shorts and a crop top.

I slipped into them shyly, my heart fluttering. When I came out, she looked at me with pride. “Beautiful,” she said simply. “You look beautiful.”

Maybe it was because Aunt Kira had no children of her own, but the way she looked at me was so full of care and warmth. For the first time, I felt like I belonged somewhere.

That night, after exploring my room and staring at the phone for nearly an hour, I jumped onto the bed. The mattress was soft and warm, hugging my tired body. I felt spoiled when Aunt Kira even brought my dinner to my room. It waspaghetti and meatballs, steaming hot.

I ate until I was full, licking the sauce from my lips. It tasted far better than anything I had eaten back in my old pack.

When I finally lay down, my eyes grew heavy with sleep. The room was quiet, safe, and warm. I thought to myself, Maybe this is what it feels like to live a dream.

Until I heard it.

A rustling sound, just outside the window.

I froze, my heart pounding. Slowly, I sat up and turned toward the noise. It grew louder, like footsteps in the grass.

Before I could move, the window burst open. Strong hands grabbed me, pulling me out of the bed. I screamed, struggling, but the grip was too strong. My hair was yanked, my body dragged across the floor.

I twisted, desperate to see who it was.

And then I froze. It was Alpha Amit.

His eyes burned with fury as he leaned closer, his breath hot against my cheek.

"You think I won't find you?"

“You can never escape from me,” he whispered.

My blood turned cold. Panic swallowed me whole. Without hesitation he dragged m

e closer, his wolf lowering itself to the ground. In one swift motion, he forced me up onto its back, climbing behind me.