Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by the Apex

Chapter 5 - Trespasser

Clara's POV

Two security guards stepped into my office, their boots heavy against the floor. David looked over his shoulder at them, his eyes widening with panic.

"Clara, wait," David pleaded, turning back to me. "You can't do this. I came here to make a deal. I came here to offer you everything."

"You came here without an appointment," I replied, keeping my voice flat. "That makes you a trespasser."

David slammed his hands on my desk, leaning forward with desperation bleeding into his voice. "I will give you anything you want. Name your price. I'll sign over half of Silver Holdings right now. Just hear me out."

Kaden moved closer, standing just behind David's right shoulder. The threat in his posture was clear, his arms crossed and his dark eyes fixed on the back of David's head.

"You don't have anything I want," I stated, closing the manila folder Kaden had given me earlier. "Your company is worthless. Your credit lines are frozen. Your investors are pulling out. Silver Holdings will collapse before the year ends."

David flinched, his jaw tightening. "How do you know about our investors?"

I didn't answer him. I just leaned back in my chair, watching him spiral.

"Clara, please," David begged, his voice cracking. "I made a mistake three years ago. I was an i***t. I didn't realize what I had. But we can fix this. We can rebuild together. I'll make you my Luna again. I'll announce it to the Elders tomorrow."

Kaden let out a dark laugh behind him. David spun around, glaring at the rogue Alpha.

"Something funny?" David snarled.

"You are," Kaden replied, stepping forward until he towered over David. "You threw her out like garbage, and now you want to make her your Luna again? You aren't worthy to breathe the same air as her."

David's hands curled into fists at his sides. He turned back to me, ignoring Kaden's insult. "Is this what you want? To humiliate me? To watch me beg?"

"I don't want anything from you, David," I said, standing up from my chair. "I stopped wanting anything from you the night you had my clothes thrown onto the driveway."

David stepped back as if I had struck him. His mouth opened, but no words came out. He stared at me, finally seeing the cold, unforgiving woman I had become.

The security guards moved forward, grabbing David's arms. He didn't fight them at first. He just kept staring at me as they pulled him toward the door.

Halfway across the room, David suddenly yanked his arm free from one of the guards. He turned around, pointing a shaking finger at me.

"You think you've won?" David shouted, his voice echoing through the office. "You think you can just throw me out like I'm nothing? I am still an Alpha. I still have power. The Elder Council will hear about this. They'll hear about everything."

Kaden took a step forward, but I held up my hand, stopping him.

"Let him talk," I said, crossing my arms. "I want to hear this."

David's face twisted with bitter rage. "Our rejection was never formalized. You never went before the High Priestess. You never completed the blood seal. According to ancient pack law, you are still bound to me. You are still my mate."

The room fell silent. Kaden looked at me, his dark eyes narrowing. The security guards hesitated, unsure of what to do.

David smiled, a cruel, desperate expression spreading across his face. "I'm going to file a petition with the Elder Council. I'm going to invoke the old laws. And when I do, they will force you to return to the Silver Pack. They will force you to merge your assets with mine. You built this empire, Clara, and now it's going to save my pack whether you like it or not."

I stared at him, my blood running cold. I knew about the old laws. I knew the rejection ritual had never been completed. But I never thought David would be desperate enough to use it against me.

"Get him out of here," I ordered, my voice tight.

The guards grabbed David's arms again, dragging him toward the door. He didn't fight them this time. He just laughed, a hollow, manic sound that echoed through the room as they pulled him out.

The heavy doors slammed shut behind him. The silence that followed was suffocating.

Kaden walked over to my desk, his expression serious for the first time since he arrived.

"Is it true?" Kaden asked, his voice low. "The rejection was never formalized?"

I didn't answer. I just stood behind my desk, gripping the back of my chair until my knuckles turned white.

My office phone buzzed. I pressed the speaker button.

"Clara," Sarah said, her voice rushed. "Julian is on line one. He says it's urgent."

I picked up the phone, pressing it to my ear. "Julian."

"Clara, I just got word from my contact at the Council building," Julian said, his voice tight with barely contained anger. "David is on his way there right now. He's filing an emergency petition to invoke ancient pack law. He's claiming you're still bound to him."

I closed my eyes, letting out a slow breath.

"Clara," Julian continued, his voice dropping. "If the Council accepts his petition, they could force you to return to his pack. They could force you to merge Apex with Silver Holdings. You need to get a lawyer. Now.”