Too Late, Alpha: You Rejected Us Both

Chapter 1 The morning sun beat down on the royal training grounds of King Alistair's estate, casting long shadows across the dirt arena. I wiped a thin bead of sweat from my forehead, keeping my breathing steady and controlled. I had my silver hair tied back tightly, out of my face, and my eyes—bright blue and focused—were locked on the three warriors circled around me. I didn't take these sparring matches to show off. In fact, I hated the crowd gathered at the edge of the ring, hating the feeling of dozens of eyes tracking my every move. I just wanted to finish the drill and get back to my cottage. "Again," the lead trainer called out. Before the three elite warriors could fully coordinate their rush, I moved. I ducked beneath the first warrior's swing, using his own momentum to throw him off balance. In a single fluid motion, I swept the legs of the second, and before the third could react, I disarmed him and pinned his arm firmly behind his back. The fight was over in less than ten seconds. Silence fell over the spectators. Whispers broke out among the guard recruits, marvelling at how easily I had taken them down. I immediately released the warrior's arm, stepped back, and picked up my towel without giving the crowd a second glance. I hated the attention. Ever since my public humiliation three years ago, I preferred to remain invisible—calm, unobtrusive, and left alone. "Romona," a voice called from the edge of the grounds. I turned to see a royal messenger wearing King Alistair's seal. "His Majesty requires your presence after your quarters check," the messenger announced, holding out an official scroll. "It is a compulsory directive regarding diplomatic aid." I took the scroll, my chest tightening slightly as my eyes scanned the formal seal. Alistair had taken me in three years ago when I fled into his territory, broken and desperate. While the rest of the realm knew my blood was exceptionally rare and capable of extraordinary healing, no one—not even Alistair—knew the true origin of my hybrid heritage. To Alistair, I was a valuable asset and a formidable elite warrior. To the rest of the world, I was just a quiet enigma. I excused myself silently and walked back toward my secluded cottage at the edge of the royal territory. The moment I pushed open the heavy wooden door, the tension in my shoulders melted away. "Mama!" A small pair of arms wrapped tightly around my knees. My calm, guarded exterior vanished, melting into pure warmth as I reached down and lifted my three-year-old son into my arms. "Hey, little one," I whispered, nuzzling his cheek. Noah giggled, his soft hands reaching up to play with my silver hair. He had inherited my exact shade of silver, a trait that stood out clearly. But when he looked up at me, his deep green eyes sparkled—eyes that belonged to only one man. His sharp facial features, even at three years old, were a mini, unmistakable mirror of Alpha Renner. I held him tight, a familiar wave of fear washing over me. Renner had no idea Noah existed. Three years ago, after he publicly rejected me during our bonding ceremony, I had fled into the night, discovering only later that I was carrying his child. Protecting Noah from the pack that cast me out was the sole reason I endured every agonizing day of training. A sharp knock at the door shattered the quiet moment. A royal guard stood outside. "Commander Romona, King Alistair expects you immediately. The directive involves your former home—the Ash River Pack." My blood ran cold. Absolute dread coiled tight in my chest. Ash River Pack. Return to Ash River? Return to the place where my heart was shattered, where I was publicly stripped of my dignity, and where Renner ruled? I squeezed Noah tighter against my chest, my heart hammering violently. The fear of returning wasn't just about facing the humiliation of my past—it was the overwhelming terror that if I set foot on Renner's land, he might look into Noah's green eyes and realize the truth.