The Rejected Alpha

Chapter 2

Zayde's Point of View

The moonlight shines in through my window, making stripes appear across the floor and the walls.

I lay in bed, my sheets tangled around my legs, as I stare up at the ceiling.

With a sigh I roll onto my side once again, my heart beating restlessly, my mind a mess, as the familiar weight of the prophecy press down on me.

If I close my eyes, I can hear the prophecy clearly.

"From the shadowed moon, the chosen one, a child of fur and fangs, born from the two of the first families to walk the earth, shall rise, marked by a power unseen by mortal eyes, the Moon Goddess herself, a glowing silver star. He is the Silver Wolf, the bane of night's pale lord. He will rise strong against the un-dead horde destined to once and for all eliminate the un-dead creature stalking the night and restore what was devoured. Guided and aided by the Moon, the path to victory will be revealed.

From the ashes, vengeance takes its flight. The coming darkness, from shadows deep, a crimson tide will rise, and the fangs of night will claim the moonlit skies. When crimson thirst seeks to quench itself upon the pack, and the fanged ones move to erase the werewolf track, then shall this chosen werewolf awaken. His howl will shatter the stone walls of their dominion, his claws will tear through their immortal skin. He will be the spear, the pack's salvation, for in his heart burns the ancient spirit of wolfish liberation. But beware, Silver Wolf, for the vampire's venom runs deep.

From the echoes of the ancient ones a warning heeds, beware, for the price of knowledge is great.

Temptation and deceit will stalk you in your sleep. Only through unwavering loyalty and primal instinct can you fulfill your destiny and ensure the werewolf race does not go extinct. The fate of your kind rests upon your shoulders, etched in the stars beneath the haunted, silver moon.

Beware the eclipse, when darkness reigns supreme. For on that night, the prophecy's fulfilled dream."

And with it, the voice of the moon goddess, echoing in my mind: “The chosen will rise, but from whom will the blood flow?”

Her words keep haunting me, like so many things she says, I can't decipher it.

All I know is that it is linked to the fate of the werewolf race and the threat of the vampires that want to wipe us out.

The Blood Moon pack, the entire werewolf race, relies on me, and I can’t let them down.

The soft rustle of leaves outside my window catches my attention, pulling me out of my thoughts and back to the present. I glance at the clock on my nightstand. 2:37 AM.

I should have been asleep a long time ago, but how could I sleep when my mind is a jumbled mess? My wolf stirs restlessly inside me, a reminder of our connection to the land and the people that we need to protect.

To be honest, the prophecy isn't the only thing on my mind tonight. There is another presence, one that has been creeping into my thoughts more than I will like to admit.

Chloe.

My sister's best friend and my Gamma's twin sister..

Since the day she came into our lives, she has captured my attention, igniting something deep within me. She is beautiful, vibrant, and her laughter can light up the darkest corners of my soul.

A part of me wants to reach out to her, to pull her into my world, but I fight against that urge.

She is only a few months away from her eighteenth birthday, and I refuse to chase after something that could lead to heartbreak for the both of us if we were not meant to be.

I know my parents story. I plan to wait for my mate. Getting involved with Chloe now will only hurt us all if we don't turn out to be mates.

But still, everyday I find myself longing for the comfort of her presence, for the warmth of her laughter filling the empty spaces in my chest. I want to be near her, hear her voice, her laugh, smell her scents... But it is getting harder and harder to control myself around her, so it is easier to just avoid her.

Maybe a run outside will help clear my head. I can use the fresh air, a moment to breathe without the weight of my responsibility suffocating me.

I sit up with a sigh, running a hand through my tousled hair before throwing my legs over the edge of the bed. I slip on an old shirt and some shorts before making my way out my door.

The silence in the house is almost deafening, broken only by the occasional creak of the old wooden floors. As I quietly make my way down the hallway, the old floors creak, and the familiar scent of the packhouse fills my senses, grounding me. The pack house is always so peaceful at this hour, a stark contrast to the chaos that usually surrounds us.

As I step outside, the night air is chilly and alive with the sounds of the forest. Crickets chirp, punctuating the silence, and I can hear the distant rustle of leaves as the wind blows through the trees.

I quickly make my way to the treeline and strip down before I shift into my wolf, letting him take over. He stretches his limbs, letting some of our tension ease before he takes off running through the woods.

I don't know how long we have been running when we head towards the edge of the woods, where the moonlight pours over the clearing like liquid silver. My wolf hands me back control and I shift back to my human form. Leaning against a tree, I let my eyes wander over the area.

It really is beautiful, the kind of sight that makes you believe in magic. But neither the sight in front of me, or the run can calm my thoughts.

All I can think about is Chloe.

What would it be like to have her here with me? To hold her, to kiss her? I let out a soft sigh, running a hand through my hair.

As I imagine her here with me, a familiar scent surrounds me and I shake my head, thinking that my mind is playing tricks on me.

“Zayde!”

The voice is soft, melodic, and it sends a jolt through me. I spin around, and my heart racing when I see her standing at the edge of the clearing.

I blink my eyes, trying to clear my mind, but I realize my mind isn't playing tricks on me. She is really here. Chloe is really here.

I let my eyes wander over her, taking in every little detail. She looks beautiful standing here under the moonlight, her strawberry blonde hair cascadin around her shoulders like a waterfall, her eyes sparkling with hope and uncertainty as she stares at me.

"Chloe? What are you doing out here?”

I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

“I couldn’t sleep.”

She says shrugging, and steps closer to me.

"You really shouldn't be out here all alone. It's not safe."

"I can handle myself. Besides, I am not alone. You are here."

I frown at her and she smiles, shaking her head.

“I thought I might find you brooding somewhere in the pack house.”

“Brooding? Me?”

I smirk, trying to lighten the mood, but it feels forced.

“Yes, you. You’re always brooding.”

She says, folding her arms over her chest, a playful glint in her gaze.

"Anyway, when I came down I saw you heading for the woods and shifting into your wolf. I knew it was only a matter of time before you came here. This is your favorite spot after all. Here, I folded your clothes. I thought you might need them."

She says, holding out a pile of folded clothes I didn't even realize she was carrying.

I chuckle and nod my head.

"Thank you. I appreciate it."

I say but I don't move as we stare at each other in tense silence. She breaks the spell when her gaze starts to wander, and I suddenly realize I am still standing naked in front of her.

I feel my ears start to heat up, and I immediately grab my shorts on the top of the pile, turning my back towards her and slipping them on.

I hear her chuckle from behind me.

"So modest... I don't know why you even bother to hide from me. I've seen it all before."

She says teasingly, and I spin around to look at her, my eyes squinted.

"What?"

She shrugs, her big eyes blinking innocently up at me, but I see a mischievous glint in them as she gives me a sweet smile.

"So, what’s bothering you this time? The prophecy? The vampires?”

She asks, changing the subject. I frown at her, but quickly realize she isn't going to elaborate on what she said previously, so I decide to let it go.

“Is it that obvious?”

I ask, sighing as I run a hand through my hair.

"Yeah, to those of us who know you well.”

Her honesty catches me off guard.

"I can see the worry in your eyes, the permanent tension in your shoulders."

She says softly.

“There is just so much at stake.”

I glance away, not wanting her to see the turmoil in my eyes.

“If I fail… If I can’t protect our people… I don’t even want to think about it.”

She steps closer, her presence calming the storm inside of me.

“You’re not going to fail. You’re strong, Zayde. You’re the Alpha. The chosen one.”

“The chosen wolf.”

I correct, a bitter edge creeping into my tone.

“The burden of that title is heavy.”

“Then let me help lighten it.”

Her words linger in the air, and I feel that familiar pull towards her again, an unyielding connection that both exhilarates and terrifies me.

“Chloe, we have talked about this. You are young. You have your whole life ahead of you. You don’t understand what you’re asking. You don't want to get involved.”

“Maybe not, but I can try. I want to be there for you. I want to help you.”

She takes another step forward, and I can see the determination etched onto her face.

“You’re carrying this weight alone. You don’t have to.”

My heart races as I shake my head.

“You’re not ready for this life. It’s dangerous.”

“Neither were you when you became Alpha, or when the prophecy was forced on you.”

She shoots back, her voice steady.

I can’t argue with that. This path was thrusted upon me even before my birth, and every day since has been a fight for survival of the werewolf race.

“Zayde… Stop fighting it. Just let me in.”

I swallow hard, torn between the desire to protect her and the undeniable pull of my wolf.

“You’re my sister’s best friend, you're my Gamma's twin sister. I can’t...”

“Can’t what?”

She interrupts me, frustration creeping into her tone.

“Can’t care about me? Can’t want to be near me? Because I feel it too, you know. I feel the pull too.”

Her admission hangs in the air between us, thick and electric.

“Chloe…”

“Zayde, I’m turning eighteen in two months. You can’t keep pushing me away.”

Her voice drops to a whisper, the vulnerability in her eyes making my chest tighten.

“What if we are meant to be? Will you still try to push me away?”

I take a step back, wrestling with my wolf and the instincts that urge me to pull her close, to claim her.

“You don’t know what you’re saying.”

“Don’t I?”

She steps forward again, closing the distance I tried to create between us.

“I have felt this pull for as long as I can remember. There is something between us, and you can’t deny it.”

My wolf growls at me, demanding that I give in, that I claim what I want. But fear holds me back.

“Zayde.”

She says, her voice softer now, almost pleading.

“I won’t let you face this alone. We can do this together.”

The temptation to take her into my arms is overwhelming. I can almost envision a world where she stands beside me, where we fight against the darkness together. But the reality of my duty lies in front of me, like a shadow over our potential.

“Chloe, you know as well as I do that the prophecy is true. I am supposed to unite the werewolf race, to defeat the vampires threatening our existence. I don't want you to get pulled into it, if you and I are mates... They'll come for you... To hurt me...”

“Then we’ll face it together!”

There is fire in her eyes as she stares at me.

“Continuing down this road will end up putting you in danger. I won't risk that.”

I say, shaking my head. My voice barely above a whisper.

"Let me decide that for myself!”

She steps closer again, her body pressing against mine, her breath warm against my skin.

“I’m not afraid of your world, Zayde. I want to be part of it. I want to help you.”

I hesitate, torn between my instincts and the fear of losing her.

“I can’t let anything happen to you.”

“Then don’t.”

She reaches out, placing her hand against my chest, her touch igniting a spark within me.

“Fight for me. Fight for us.”

The moonlight surrounds us, and for a moment, the weight of the world fades into the background as I stare into her eyes. It is just us, two souls intertwined by destiny.

A howl echos in the distance, forcing me back to reality as it reminds me of the realities we need to face.

“We should head back.”

I say reluctantly, breaking the moment between us. I step back and let her hand fall between us. She stares at me for a second before she sighs and nods her head.

“Fine. We can go back.”

She agrees, but her voice is laced with determination.

“But I’m not going anywhere, Zayde. Not now. Not ever. So stop pushing me away.”

The certainty in her words wrap around me like a warm embrace, and for the first time in a long while, I feel the weight of the prophecy shift ever so slightly, as if the universe was aligning in our favor.

I don't say anything as we silently make our way back towards the pack house, slowly walking side by side.

As we walk, I can't help but glance down at her. Her words repeating in my head and I can’t shake the feeling that our journey is just beginning.