Reject Me, My Alpha

Chapter 4

Annabel POV

The doctor returned to the examination room in less than an hour.

He was wearing a fresh pair of gloves and was carrying another glass tube.

Mrs. Ann stood near the door.

The doctor looked at me.

“We need another sample.”

I remembered what he had said earlier. He had found something unusual about my blood, but he had refused to tell me exactly what it was.

“Why do you need another sample?”

“We need to confirm the first result.”

His response even made me feel more worried.

I climbed on top of the narrow examination table and lay down.

The doctor pulled the small examination light closer. Its brightness made me squint.

He prepared the needle and placed the glass tube beside him.

“Give me your arm.”

I held out my left arm.

He tied a band around my upper arm. It pressed tightly against my skin.

Then he cleaned the inside of my elbow with cotton.

I looked away as the needle went into my skin.

A few seconds later, blood began filling the tube.

The doctor watched it closely.

When he had collected enough, he removed the needle and pressed a clean piece of cotton against the spot.

“Hold this.”

I pressed the cotton against the small wound.

He placed a strip of tape over it.

I pulled my sleeve down.

“Is that all?”

He nodded.

“For now.”

I looked at him.

“What does that mean?”

He picked up the tube.

“I need to examine the sample.”

“What did you find in the first one?”

He hesitated.

“I can't give you any answer now until I'm certain about the result.”

He walked toward the door with the blood sample.

Mrs. Ann moved aside to let him pass.

I climbed down from the table.

Mrs. Ann looked at me.

“Come.”

I followed her out of the room.

The medical wing was quiet.

I could still feel the small sting in my arm.

We walked down the hallway until we reached the end.

Mrs. Ann stopped.

“You can wait in the garden.”

I looked at her in surprise.

“The garden?”

“You are not leaving the estate.”

“I know.”

She pointed toward the path.

“Stay there. I will come for you when I'm ready.”

She turned and walked away.

Then I headed toward the garden.

The night air was cooler outside.

Everything was quiet.

A concrete bench stood near the fountain.

I sat down.

For the first time since Jane had accused me, no one was standing over me.

I lowered my head.

The events of the evening came back one after another.

Jane walked into the dining hall.

Her accusation.

The elders remained silent.

My hands tightened together.

For two years, I had learned how to endure this house.

I knew when to speak.

I knew when to remain quiet.

I knew when to walk away.

But tonight, I realized that my silence could not protect me anymore.

Tears gathered in my eyes and streamed down my face. I quickly wiped my cheek."

I didn't hear anyone approach until a voice came from behind me.

“Annabel.”

I looked up.

Van was walking toward me.

His eyes went to my face.

He sat beside me, leaving a little space between us.

“You shouldn't be here.”

“Neither should you.”

“I am allowed to stay in the garden.”

He looked toward the house.

“Mrs. Ann allowed you?”

I nodded.

“She told me to wait here.”

Van leaned forward and rested his hands on his knees.

“If she sees me here, she will probably be angry.”

“I don't think she will be happy about it.”

He gave a quiet laugh.

Then his expression changed.

“I hate this, Annabel.”

I looked at him.

“What is that?”

“Watching what they do to you.”

He stared at the fountain.

“Every day, I see you make yourself smaller around them.”

I said nothing.

“You stay quiet when they speak to you.”

His voice was low.

“You do whatever they tell you, even when they treat you badly.”

I looked down at my hands.

“What else am I supposed to do?”

“Fight back.”

A tired smile touched my lips.

“I have been enduring it for two years.”

“I know.”

“Every day.”

“I know.”

I turned toward him.

“You don't understand.”

“Then tell me.”

I looked away.

“I learned a long time ago that fighting back only made things worse.”

Van was silent.

“I wanted peace,” I continued. “So I kept quiet. I did what they wanted. I stayed out of trouble.”

I swallowed.

“That was how I survived.”

Van looked at me.

“I saw it.”

I met his eyes.

“I have always seen it.”

Something in his eyes made me stare at him longer.

But his anger wasn't directed at me.

It was directed at the people who had hurt me.

Neither of us spoke.

Silence settled between us.

I became aware of how close he was sitting.

The small space between us disappeared when I shifted on the bench.

Our shoulders touched.

I should have moved away.

But I didn't.

Van looked at me.

His eyes stayed on mine.

Then his gaze dropped briefly to my lips.

He looked away again.

“Van...”

“I know.”

He turned back to me.

“I know I shouldn't be doing this.”

I could have moved away.

Instead, I stayed where I was.

His hand lifted slowly.

He stopped before touching my face.

I watched him.

When I didn't pull away, his fingers gently touched my cheek.

He brushed away the tears that remained there.

I looked into his eyes.

His face was close to mine.

I could feel his breath against my skin.

My heart began beating faster.

He leaned closer.

I didn't stop him.

Then footsteps sounded behind us.

Van immediately pulled away.

I moved back too quickly and nearly slipped from the bench.

I caught myself with one hand.

Van stood and moved to the other side of the bench.

A woman stepped out from behind the hedge.

She was one of Bruce's assistants.

She looked from me to Van.

Her breathing was slightly uneven, as if she had hurried to find us.

“Annabel.”

I straightened.

“What happened?”

She took a breath.

“Jane's result is out.”

My stomach turned.

She looked toward the house before continuing.

“The medical examination confirmed that she suffered an attack.”

I stared at her.

She looked directly at me.

“Alpha Bruce wants you in his study.”

I stood.

“Now.”

I looked at Van.

His expression had changed.

The warmth that had been there moments ago was gone.

Whatever had just happened between us would have to wait.

I followed Bruce's assistant toward the house.

This time, I knew I wasn't walking back to my room.

I was walking toward Bruce.

And he had just been given medical proof that Jane had been attacked.