Rejected and Claimed by his Best Friend, Book 1

Chapter 10

Remi

The evening air was thick with anticipation as I stood on the balcony, staring out at the vast expanse of forest that surrounded the Crescent Moon Pack’s territory. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale glow over the trees. It was a rare moment of quiet before everything I’d been preparing for came crashing down.

Alice had come a long way in such a short amount of time. The girl I had first found on the edge of the Silvermoon pack’s land was different now. Stronger, more confident, but still vulnerable. The girl who had been broken, rejected, and abandoned by those who should have protected her was slowly beginning to piece herself back together.

But I couldn’t help the worry that gnawed at me. Despite her strength, she was still healing, and the pain of the past hadn’t fully left her. I could see it in the way she sometimes stared off into the distance, her mind clearly somewhere else. And then there were the moments when her eyes darkened with uncertainty or fear, as if the weight of everything she had endured was too much to carry alone.

I knew the war between the Silvermoon pack and ours was inevitable. Josh would make sure of it. His rejection had only pushed Alice further from his grasp, but it had ignited something else within him. Anger. Obsession. And I knew he wouldn’t stop until he had her back, no matter the cost.

I’d been training Alice hard, and I knew she was ready in every way that mattered. But there were still gaps. Emotionally, she wasn’t fully there yet. Her bond with Winter was strong, but it wasn’t enough to shield her from the weight of what lay ahead.

“Alice is going to need more than just physical strength,” I muttered to myself, pacing back and forth on the balcony. I hadn’t told her yet, but I had a plan. A risky one. I was going to take the battle to Silvermoon, not just for Alice, but for everyone who had been hurt by their cruelty.

I heard the door open behind me and turned to see Alice standing there, her expression uncertain. She had a way of sneaking up on me, even though I was always aware of her presence.

“Hey,” I greeted her, my voice softer than I intended. “You okay?”

She nodded but didn’t come any closer. Instead, she stood there, arms crossed over her chest, as if she were unsure whether to trust her own instincts.

“I’m fine,” she said quietly, though I could see the tension in her shoulders. “I was just thinking... about what you said earlier. About Silvermoon. I don’t know if I’m ready, Remi. I don’t know if I’m strong enough to face them again.”

I could hear the fear in her voice, the vulnerability that she still refused to show most people. She wasn’t asking for reassurance, but I gave it to her anyway.

“You’re stronger than you think,” I said, stepping toward her slowly. “And you don’t have to face them alone. We’re a pack. You have me. And you have Winter. You’re not just some lone wolf anymore, Alice.”

Her eyes flicked up to mine, and for the first time in a long while, I saw something shift. She believed me. She was starting to believe in herself.

“I’m ready,” she whispered, more to herself than to me, but I heard it. The determination in her voice. She was beginning to accept her power, and I could feel the bond between us tightening in response.

Before I could speak again, Alice stepped forward, her eyes steady on mine. “You’re not the only one who’s been preparing,” she said, her voice stronger than before. “I’ve been training too. I don’t want to be the weak link anymore, Remi. I won’t let Silvermoon walk all over me again.”

My heart swelled with pride. Alice was starting to become the woman I knew she could be—strong, fierce, unbreakable.

I reached out, placing a hand gently on her shoulder. “And you won’t be. I believe in you, Alice. I always have.”

Her lips curved into a small but genuine smile, and for a moment, everything felt like it might just be okay.

But I knew better than to believe in false hope. The battle was coming, and I couldn’t afford to be naive. The Silvermoon pack wouldn’t just back down because Alice and I were stronger now. No. They would come for her, and they would try to tear her down.

I could feel the tension in the air, thick with unspoken promises and impending danger. The storm was coming, and there would be no way to avoid it. But when the time came, I would protect her. With everything I had.

I didn’t need to tell her that, though. Alice had always known she wasn’t alone.

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