Rejected: Found By Another

Chapter 11

THIRD POV.

The Black Creepers pack house has been in complete disarray for the past two days.

The news of little Kaida's murder and the person behind it spread far and wide to the point that it was all everyone spoke and thought about.

Kaida, the Alpha's little sister, was a ball of sunshine whom no one could find a reason to complain about. Kaida was respectful, kind, and friendly toward everyone in the pack, and as far as everyone was concerned, no one should ever have a reason to harm a soul that pure and innocent.

To think that out of everyone out there who could possibly harm Kaida, it had to be her own brother's mate; that was something the entire pack still struggled to wrap their heads around.

Lyanna, the former Alpha Lucien's mate, and the former Luna of the Black Creepers, grew up as an orphan with the stigma of his brother's choices hanging over her head. Due to this, her rise to the Luna position was met with mixed reactions from the pack members.

While most were happy that the alpha had finally found a mate, not many were quite satisfied with his choice of a mate. There were some who believed that Lyanna wasn't deserving of the title and position of being Luna.

Those were the people who now made things even worse as they started to spread rumors of their own about Kaida's death and why they believed that Lyanna was responsible.

Some even went to the point of claiming to have caught her in the act. Some said that they saw her intentionally bang her head on a tree just to make it look like she was attacked.

Nearly the entire pack was more than happy to see the downfall of the former Luna Lyanna, and were glad to see her that she was no more. They hoped that now that whatever potion she'd used on their alpha to make him fall for her had lost its potency, he could now see more clearly and therefore go back to their highly respected beta and hopefully future Luna.

As the night fell on the second day of Kaida's death, Lucien sat in his office, Zarina on his lap as they made burial arrangements for his little sister.

The one his so-called mate had been heartless enough to murder so mercilessly.

No matter how hard he tried, Lucien couldn't bring himself to forget the scene he'd walked up to that night. The image of his little sister lying cut open on the ground with her heart ripped out of her chest like that, that image would no doubt be haunting Lucien's dreams for the rest of eternity.

Even now, Lucien could feel the anger taking over him as he felt the memories wash over him once more.

"How could she?! How could Lyanna be so cruel as to do something like that to an innocent child?! If she had issues with me, she should have come after me, why choose to visit that punishment on my little sister?!" Lucien said angrily and Zarina shrugged.

"Some people just cannot be trusted, Lucien, no matter what. It's obvious she's meant this pack harm all along, and what do you expect from someone who grew up without the love and affection of a family? Of course, she has no idea what that bond feels like." Zarina said and then placed her hand on Lucien's arm, her voice turning soft as she spoke.

"I know this is a very difficult time for you, Lucien, but I want you to know that you don't have to go through it alone. You have me, Lucien, I'll always be here to support you." Zarina said, slowly running her hand up and down Lucien's arm as she spoke and Lucien's lips shifted into a slight smile as he brought up his arms and wrapped them around her middle from behind.

"You know, Zarina. I don't think I'll ever be able to thank you enough for your support. You've always been there for me ever since we were kids, always looking out for me and lending me a shoulder when I need one. Even while I was someone else." Lucien said and then sighed heavily as he leaned into his seat, taking Zarina with him.

"You do know I regret it don't you?"

"Regret what?" Zarina asked as she started to run her fingers through his hair.

"Everything." Lucien said.

"I regret everything, Zarina, everything since the day I made that grave mistake of leaving what we had for that she devil I called a mate. I shouldn't have chosen her over you. I shouldn't have left you for her after everything we've been through together. I should have seen through those fake smiles and kindness of hers through to her true nature."

"You can't keep blaming yourself for what happened, Lucien, it wasn't your fault. What's done is done and now we only have one option, and that is to move forward. At least for the sake of the pack." Zarina said, playing the ever-supportive mate as she continued to run her fingers lazily through his hair, and Lucien nodded.

"Yes. Yes, Zarina, you're completely right. We're going to have to move forward. On that note, what do you think about us finalizing our bond?" Lucien said and Zarina's fingers paused in their movement as she pretended to consider his words.

"What do you mean, finalizing our bond? Are you—"

"Yes, Zarina. I'm asking you to be my mate. That is if you would still have me after everything I've done to you. The pack needs a Luna. I need a mate, and right now I don't want anyone else besides you. You're good for me, Zarina, you complete me." Lucien said, cutting Zarina off and Zarina shook her head in fake disappointment.

"Lucien, I can't. I mean, you just lost your sister and she's yet to be buried. And you've not even recovered from Lyanna's betrayal. There's just too many issues on the ground to be talking about stuff like this. What would the pack think if we were to officially bond as mates?" Zarina said, all the while mentally praying to the moon goddess that Lucien would stubbornly stand by his decision.

Zarina knew her prayers had been answered when Lucien shook and grabbed her chin as he spoke.

"You don't have to worry about what anyone in this pack would say, Zarina. They already love and admire you. The whole pack saw your potential; I was the one who was foolish enough to overlook it and for that, I'll never apologize enough. But I need you, Zarina. The pack needs you."

"I don't know what to say, Lucien." Zarina said, wanting to keep up the pretense a little while longer to make things even more believable.

"Just say yes. Please, Zarina." Lucien said and Zarina waited for a few moments before nodding

.

"Alright, Lucien. I accept."

Lucien immediately pulled her into a hug, completely unaware of the large, satisfied smirk that broke out on Zarina's face as he thanked her repeatedly for taking him back, promising to make up for all the pains he'd put her through when he left her for Lyanna.

Finally.

Zarina thought as she hugged Lucien back.

Back to her rightful position at last, thanks to Lyanna's stupidity, and this time, she was here to stay.