Page 125 of Rejected By the Alpha

“It’s not that serious,” I said with a forced laugh.

But it was.

I didn’t know why or how, but every single time I moved, a sharp pain split through my chest. Something inside me had longed for Davix for so, so long, even though I didn’t want to admit it. And now, everything hurt.

“It is that serious,” she said. “I know what it feels like to lose a mate, but to have one reject you is so much worse. If he wanted to do it, he had weeks. Fucking weeks! He could’ve done it before he got closer to you, before the bond started to strengthen.”

“I’m not a wolf,” I said, shaking my head. “So, it doesn’t affect me that much.”

Lie.

Lie to stop the pain.

Lie so she wouldn’t keep bringing it up over and over and over again.

While I wasn’t a wolf, the pain still festered inside me. I couldn’t imagine what this pain must be like for someone who didn’t have human blood. My body ached badly, and I didn’t even want to move. I wanted to sleep for a long time.

And maybe one day soon … I’d get that wish and never wake up.

“Stop lying,” Hazel said, calling me out and forcing me to confront reality. “It hurts. I know it does. I can see it in your eyes, the way that your body is moving. He hurt you, and you’re allowed to be angry at him for it. He’s a dickhead.”

“But—”

“No buts. He’s a dickhead, and he knows it too. That’s why he ran away like a coward.”

Someone banged on the front door, and Hazel rushed over in a huff, yanking it open.

Silas leaned against it with his hands in his pockets and a smug look on his face. “Look at you, princess. All pissed and flustered. I kinda like⁠—”

“Ember is here,” she said quickly, stepping aside so Silas could look into the room.

I raised a brow at the exchange, trying to get my mind off Davix, and stood. “I’m going⁠—”

Hazel walked over to me. “Not by yourself.”

Silas stepped into the room and shut the door behind him, eyeing me. “What happened? Where the hell is Davix? I’ve been looking for him all morning. And why does she look like shit?”

From across the room, Hazel hurled a pillow at him. “Shut your mouth.”

“Thanks,” I muttered to him. “Exactly what I want to hear on my birthday.”

Hazel crossed her arms. “If you’re going to be a dick too, you can leave.”

“Who else has been a dick to you?” he said. “That’s my job.”

“I swear to the Goddess, I’ll kill you right now”—she flared her nostrils—“if you don’t quit it.”

“Goddess,” he mumbled, sitting down on the couch. “It was just a question.”

Hazel pulled Pumpkin into her arms and headed toward the door. “I’ll tell you on the way home, but I want to get Ember and the girls home for the day. You’re going to walk through the forest with us to make sure nobody attacks.”

He raised a brow. “You asked me to come to be your security?”

“Yes,” she said, glaring at him. “Now come on.”

Daisy stood by my side as I pushed myself to my feet. I didn’t want to be here any longer, and I especially didn’t want to still be here when Davix got back. Who knew what he’d come back smelling like? Probably another girl.

“Can you walk?” Hazel said. “Sorry, I should’ve asked before.”