Page 134 of Rejected By the Alpha

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I wanted to make sure that she was real. I know how much her dying hurt you, and I didn’t want you to have to go through all that pain again,” Pavel said. “You love her, and I just want to see you happy, dude.”

My lips quivered, and I cried silently. Why was Pavel so sweet? It wasn’t fair.

I wanted to hate him for bringing her here, for ruining everything. I wanted to hate Cade for choosing her and not me. I wanted to hate her for still being here. But how could I? It was clear that this was how it was supposed to happen.

Pavel being a good friend. Cade with a mate. And Lilliana alive.

“I have to get Ember’s gift,” Pavel said, shuffling to the door. “I’ll be back.”

Before Cade could ask him another question, Pavel was out the front door. I watched through the window as he disappeared into the woods, biting back another sob.

Why … how … what was happening? Why couldn’t today … be my day?

Why couldn’t⁠—

Someone banged on the back door so hard that I could hear it trembling on its hinges.

I could smell Davix’s scent before anyone opened the door. My entire body froze. Cade pulled open the door, and I glanced over the railing to see Davix storm into the house, his eyes wide in fury.

“Where the fuck is he?” Davix growled.

“Davix,” Hazel said, reaching out for him.

Davix shoved her off, completely ignoring her and everyone else in the room. He stormed toward Cade and lifted him into the air by the neck. “You little shit. You’d better not have known about what he was doing to her.”

“Get your hands off me,” Cade growled, shoving him back.

But Davix didn’t let go. “Where the fuck is he? Where’s Pavel?”

Lilliana wrapped her arms around Davix’s torso from behind, and another surge of jealousy crashed through me. Davix broke the grasp immediately and turned around, seething through his canines.

“Don’t touch”—he stopped and sucked in a breath—“me. Lilliana … what are you …”

“Davix,” she cried, tears spilling down her cheeks. “Davix, I can’t believe it’s you.”

When she wrapped her arms around him, Davix hugged her back for a mere moment, his brows furrowing together, as if things hadn’t processed yet inside his head. I stared at him from the stairs, tears wavering in my eyes.

Why did it have to be this way? Why had he rejected me? And this morning too?

“Lilliana,” he breathed, and then his gaze found mine.

The first person to actually notice me here.

He released her and shoved her away, scowling at Cade. “Where the fuck is he?”

“Davix,” Lilliana said. “It’s me.”

“No, it’s not,” he growled. “It’s not you.”

“It is her, Davix,” Hazel said, stepping forward. “She’s alive.”

“How?” Davix snarled. “How the fuck is she alive? Do you hear what you’re saying?”

Hazel nodded. “I know … it’s crazy. I know we buried her. But …”

“This is not our sister,” Davix said. “Our sister died years ago.”