I Rejected My Alpha Mate

I stormed into the Luna Suite, my anger radiating in waves. The sight of Sienna's family lounging in my space, treating it like some cheap motel, sent my blood boiling.

"Get out," I snarled at Sienna's uncle, who was still sprawled across my couch. "Now."

The man just smirked, taking another bite of his food. "The Alpha said we could stay."

"I don't care what Lucas said. This is my territory."

"Zoe." Lucas's voice came from behind me, warning and commanding. "They're guests."

I whirled to face him, my eyes flashing. "Guests? They're destroying my things! Look at what they've done to my scent-marked items!"

A low growl built in my throat as I advanced toward the intruder. I grabbed his arm, intending to physically remove him myself.

"Enough!" Lucas roared.

The Alpha Command hit me like a physical blow. My knees buckled as the weight of his power pressed down on me.

"Stop," he ordered, his voice laced with that special tone that no wolf could resist.

My body froze against my will. Luna howled in protest, clawing at the mental barriers I'd built to contain her power.

Lucas moved toward me, his expression hardening as he physically restrained me, gripping my wrists.

"You will not harm them," he growled, his face inches from mine. "You're being uncharitable to the weak. As Alpha, my word is law."

The violation of my free will sent shockwaves through my system. I felt something crack inside me—not just my heart, but the carefully constructed walls I'd built to hide who I truly was.

"Lucas," I whispered, "you're hurting me."

He released me abruptly, stepping back. "I'm doing what's best for the pack. Sienna needs protection."

I stared at him, seeing clearly for the first time. "And what do I need?"

---

Three days later, I was packing my belongings, preparing to leave this place that had never truly been mine. The guest room they'd relegated me to felt like a prison, but I'd endured it long enough.

I heard footsteps on the stairs and paused, my hand hovering over the clothes I'd been folding.

"Zoe."

Sienna's voice drifted up from the bottom of the grand staircase. I looked down to see her standing there, her expression unusually calm.

"What do you want?" I asked, descending a few steps.

She waited until I was halfway down before speaking again. "I know you're pregnant."

The words hit me like a physical blow. I froze, my hand instinctively moving to my stomach. I hadn't even suspected...

"How did you—"

"I can smell it," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper. "The change in your hormones. It's disgusting."

"Sienna—"

"Lucas doesn't want a half-blood pup from a rejected mate," she hissed, dropping all pretense of innocence. "He only wants pure bloodlines. Our bloodlines."

"You're lying," I said, but doubt crept in. Had Lucas known? Was that why he'd been so eager to move me out of the Luna Suite?

"He's been with me all along," she taunted. "Even before you came."

I lunged forward, fury blinding me. "You manipulative little—"

A sound from below made us both freeze. Lucas was coming up the stairs.

Fear flashed across Sienna's face before she composed herself. "Help!" she screamed, throwing herself backward dramatically.

I reached for her instinctively, but she grabbed my arm, yanking me forward with surprising strength.

"Let go!" I shouted, trying to break free.

Instead of letting go, she pulled harder, using my momentum to drag me down with her.

"No!" I cried, realizing her intention too late.

We tumbled down the stairs together, but I twisted my body mid-fall, taking the brunt of the impact to protect my stomach.

The last thing I heard was Sienna's theatrical sobbing as darkness claimed me.

---

Beeping machines pulled me from the darkness. I blinked, trying to focus on the sterile white ceiling above me.

"Zoe?" A gentle voice called my name.

I turned my head to see Dr. Elena Cross, the pack healer, standing beside my bed. Her eyes were red-rimmed, her expression grave.

"What happened?" I croaked.

She took my hand, her grip warm but trembling. "I'm so sorry, Zoe. The fall... the trauma was too severe."

Something cold settled in my stomach. "The baby?"

"You lost the pup," she confirmed, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I tried everything I could."

A sob tore from my throat, raw and primal. Luna howled in agony within me, the sound echoing through my mind.

"Where's Lucas?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

Dr. Cross hesitated. "He's with Sienna. She has a sprained ankle."

Of course. Even now, even after this, he was with her.

Something shifted inside me. The grief crystallized into something harder, colder.

"Zoe?" Dr. Cross touched my arm. "Are you alright?"

I stopped crying abruptly, feeling Luna surge forward. My eyes flashed silver—the unmistakable glow of the Lycan line.

"No," I said quietly. "I'm done running."

The windows of the hospital room cracked as Luna's howl tore through the night, a sound of such raw power and rage that even the Moon herself seemed to tremble in response.