The Rejected Alpha

Chapter 3 - Damien

A week has passed since the rejection Brooke handed him so heartlessly, Unable to function properly, James has convinced Damien to go and take a few days to get it together before the pack notices something is wrong.

He lies in bed day after day watching the sun rise and sets.

So deep in his thoughts it’s causing him agony, as the hours pass by still trying to wrap his head around that not just his mate but the packs Luna is able to resist such a strong bond.

She must really love him he thinks to himself.

Damien would be the first Alpha to be rejected or at least the only alpha that is known of in this vicinity.

When the others outside of his pack learn of this, problems will arise simply because Silvermoon is known for being the strongest pack but if it’s learned that Damien is unable to keep his mate by his side he will be seen as unfit.

The thought of all the potential issues that could come knocking on the door gave him a headache.

I need to fix this he think to himself again.

Damien is brought of out deep thought when he hears an unexpecting knock at the door.

hoping it was Brooke he rushes to the door only to be met by disappointment.

It was James.

‘Sorry to disappoint” James says after reading Damien’s face.

“I just wasn’t expecting anyone.” Damien says walking off leaving the door open so James can come inside.

James closes the door gently once he’s inside.

“If you want a drink, help yourself” Damien says attempting to be courteous.

“No I’m good, I’m just here to check on you.”

“I’m fine James”

“I would like to believe that.”

Damien turns to face James, slightly annoyed. He knows deep down that his beta means well but he’s in no mood for chit chat nor having to pretend he’s okay so that he won’t be pestered for a minute longer.

“I come in peace, I assure you.” James says quickly noticing Damien’s annoyance. He’s very good at reading his emotions even though his alpha hates it.

Damien sighs and takes a seat on his couch, James sitting opposite him.

“I know I suggested to take a few days off, but it’s been a week. People are noticing your absence. There’s only so long I can cover for you. You know that.” James says.

“I appreciate your concern James, but I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine, I do admire your stubbornness to convince me otherwise. But I am your right hand, I know you better than anyone else. This is my job.”

“Would you prefer I show my vulnerability for the pack to see” Damien’s questions an obvious point at sarcasm.

“No, Of course I understand that. But main pack members are noticing. You want me to keep latest revelations to myself but without letting the others know. We’re just running around like headless chickens.” 

James closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.

He opens his eyes and looks back at Damien.

“Your leadership is needed back at the packhouse, you’re no use to anybody out here”

He points out their current surrounding which is Damien’s private penthouse.

“It’s quiet here, gives me space to think without prying eyes.”

“Well… You’ve had time to think, now it’s time to draw up battle plans.”

“Battle plans?” Damien’s scoffed.

“It’s one thing for Brooke to reject you but it’s another if people learn of it.”

Hearing her name out in the open pained him but he remained focused.

“We need to get to the root of this problem, we can’t give up easily. And I’ve heard nothing on the dual front.” James says.

“I don’t understand.”

“Precisely. A week? And absolutely nothing has been said. Almost as if she’s fallen off the face of the earth.”

“You’ve sent out a search party?”

“No, of course not. I’ve been looking for her myself. I’d like to think I’m an excellent tracker.”

Damien sits back crossing his arms over his bare chest, in deep thought yet again.

There was a cold silence for a minute or so before James intervened.

“Something strange is going on, I don’t know what it is, but I can feel it.”

Damien is still sitting back staring up at the ceiling dancing in his thoughts.

“I’ve heard of mates running away because they’re scared or overwhelmed.” He says finally re-joining the conversation.

“Do you think that’s what is? A scared mate so overwhelmed she rejected you.” James questions.

Damien sits forward in eye contact with his beta again. 

“That’s just it, when she rejected me, I saw no hint of overwhelmingness or fright. There was no emotion at all.”

James felt a discomfort after hearing that, moving slightly in his seat, he sits forward.

“I haven’t heard of a destined mate feeling nothing. And there’s no acts of war just absolute silence.”

“As if… We’re supposed to sit here and wait.”

They’re in deep thought yet again before James stands up from the couch, the sudden move snaps Damien back into reality.

“Abel, Nick and Jason want to go to a club tonight. You’re going.” James says.

“No, I’m not.” He says in a flat tone.

“No, but you will. You need to prove to them that you’re fine and nothing is wrong.”

There was silence again, Damien is glaring which made his beta uneasy. He knows James is right, but he hated the idea of pretending to be social.

“Fine. Where?” 

“StripteaseX”

“A strip club? Let me guess, Nick’s idea?”

“Only Nick would suggest something so adventurous.”

They both smile at each other before he makes his way to the front door. 

“I’ll message you the details.” 

Damien nods his head acknowledging his words, James exits leaving the lonely alpha to be engulphed by his thoughts again.

He takes himself back to his bed and before he knows it a couple of hours have gone by. 

A text come through, making his bedside table vibrate softly. He picks it up to read James words on the screen. “11pm” with the strip club’s address.

It was still early allowing more time for Damien to go back to brooding at his blank ceiling wall.

A couple more hours pass and it’s almost 10pm, forcing himself off the bed he tries to make himself something to eat but unable to as his appetite has diminished over the past week.

Taking himself back up the stairs, he heads straight into the shower.

If he has to pretend to be fine he has to look the part.

Declining hygiene is a big giveaway, he scrubs himself as if the more he scrubs himself clean the more it will take away the pain.

He steps out the shower, wiping the condensation off the mirror before grabbing his toothbrush and brushing his teeth. He takes his shaving cream and applies it to his face then grabs his razor gently swiping the stubbles off his face.

He’s starting to look more and more like himself, though he doesn’t feel like it.

Walking into his closet, he picks out some clothes. He decided on black trousers and a black turtleneck jumper. He finds some shoes to match.

Throwing his luscious hair into a neat low bun and putting on some cologne on, he makes his way downstairs. Gulping on some water waiting for John his personal driver to arrive.

Damien couldn’t be bothered to take his bike out today. 

A few minutes pass by and he sees car lights beam through his windows.

Locking the front door after exiting before getting into the car.

the car ride felt like an hour, but it was only twenty-five minutes long.

Damien exits the car “I’ll call you when I need you back here”

“Okay, sir” replies John.

The high street that the strip club sits on was alive and roaring with laughter, drunken songs and the smell of fried food.

Making his way into the club he scans the room and finds James with the others.

They’re all cheery when they see Damien’s face.

“The women here are beautiful, you’re going to love it here.” Nick says with a grin on his face. He looks like a kid in a candy store.

Damien barely noticed the women even though this place is naked women central.

He sits down and beckons one of the waitresses over to order a drink.

When she walks off, he finally takes in the place he’s walked into. It wasn’t a cheap looking club, the women were exquisite, and it looked clean, spacious, no flashing lights.

It was a soft red to blue to violet light system, it felt intimate.

Abel, one of the higher up pack members was watching Damien for a moment.

“Is there something you need to say Abel?” asks Damien.

Abel chuckles lightly, showing his perfect white teeth.

“I mean no offence. Just… where have you been?”

James could overhear the conversation, but he pretends he’s focusing on the girl giving a pole performance up on the stage.

“Handling business” Damien responds irritated that he’s being questioned already.

Nick overhears too and jumps in the conversation.

“Without the pack?” Nick questions.

James becomes nervous with the questions and the obvious annoyance in Damien’s mood, so he decides to change the subject of the conversation.

“Oh come on guys! We finally get a day off to have fun and you want to discuss pack business?” James exclaimed with a grin on his face.

Abel smiles softly. “You’re right, apologies Alpha. We’ve all just been worried.” 

Damien places his hand on Abel’s shoulder. “There’s no need to worry.”

“That’s more like it! I’ll get us some more drinks.” James says then gets up to order five shots.

Jason was the only one not involved in the conversation, he was too busy being mesmerised by the woman on stage. It was quite the performance.

James returns with a smile on his face.

More girls were entering the club floor to tempt men into private dances, once they saw the boys in the corner they were swarming up. It’s safe to say the best-looking men in that club were the five pack members. 

Nick and Jason were loving the attention, Abel declined any dances, James felt slightly uncomfortable, and Damien was simply not in the mood.

Their shots arrived, they were bought over by this waitress. Her beauty caught the boy’s attention.

She delicately places the shot glasses on the table one by one from the tray she’s holding.

Damien couldn’t help but stare at her for a while, for a second his head stopped thumping from his obsessive thoughts. She is undeniably stunning but that wasn’t it, there was something different about her.

Who is she? Damien thought.

“Thank you” James says after she passes out the shots.

“You’re welcome” she replies.

Damien was taken back by her voice; it was sweet and soft. She had an accent, but he couldn’t place where it was.

“That’s an interesting accent” Nick says.

“Oh, I’m from England” she replies.

“You’re far from home” Damien intervenes, the rest of the pack members fell silent.

The pretty waitress looks at Damien for a moment before curving her lips into a smile.

“I am.” She replies.

“What’s your name?” Damien asks not breaking eye contact.

“Elisa.”