It All Started With A Rejection

Emily’s POV

The moment my eyes fluttered open, a cold gust of wind swept through the forest, and I was greeted by Luke’s impatient scowl.

Where am I?

"Emily, get out of the car. Can you hear me?" His voice was sharp, cutting through the eerie stillness of the wilderness.

I blinked, dazed, my body aching. It all rushed back to me—the growls, the blood, the moon's pull. I came back to life…

Luke and I were heading back to the pack’s territory, deep in the heart of Blackwood Forest. It wasn’t my first time returning, but this time... something had changed.

Just like in my former life, Luke received that dreaded call from Ayla. His expression hardened, and without a second thought, he pulled over, shoving me out of the car and into the middle of the dark road.

"Find your way back to the village on foot," he said coldly, not bothering to meet my eyes. "I have something urgent to handle."

I looked around. The forest road was empty. A cold mist hung in the air. It wasn’t the first time Luke abandoned me like this. In his mind, Ayla was always more important. Always the one who needed him more.

“Seriously? On foot? What kind of game are you playing this time, Luke?” I muttered under my breath, but he had already turned his attention to the road ahead. The low rumble of the engine followed as he prepared to leave me behind—again.

He threw one last glance at me, his voice a growl now. "When you get back, tell them I was called back to the woods for an urgent matter. Understood?"

I swept a hand through my tangled hair, letting out a long breath. "Why don't you explain to them yourself? Or better yet, tell them you're running to see Ayla, like you always do."

Luke’s face darkened. His eyes, cold and piercing, flashed dangerously. "What’s your problem, Emily? You know how serious Ayla’s condition is. She’s barely surviving the curse. And this has nothing to do with her."

I met his gaze, my voice calm but firm. "Because, Luke, I’m tired of this. Of you leaving me behind. Let's stop pretending. We need to end this."

He froze, eyes wide, as if he couldn’t believe what I had just said.

"Emily... are you saying you want to leave me?"

I nodded, feeling the weight of years of abandonment lift off my chest. "Yes. Ayla needs you more than I ever will. After all, you’ve already been acting like you’re not part of this life. Once I'm gone, you won't have to hide it anymore. You can be with her openly."

Luke stared at me in disbelief. For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of regret in his eyes. But he quickly shook it off, his jaw clenched. Without another word, he slammed the door, revved the engine, and disappeared into the night, leaving me standing alone under the watchful moon.

Luke and Ayla had been inseparable once, back in their days as young wolves. They grew up in the same pack, shared the same dreams of running wild beneath the full moon together. After graduation, they were supposed to start a new life as mates. Everyone thought they were destined for each other.

But fate had other plans.

One night, Ayla disappeared without a trace, and Luke was left broken, confused. He searched for her for years. He was a shell of himself when we met—he found comfort in me, or maybe he just saw a ghost of her in my eyes. Either way, we mated, but it was clear I was only ever a replacement for her.

I didn’t know who Ayla was at first. Luke only ever called her "a friend." One night, shortly after our mating ceremony, he got a call. The kind of call that makes your heart stop.

"I need to go," Luke had said, his voice distant. "A friend of mine... she’s hurt."

I was naïve. I asked if he wanted me to come with him.

“No. I can handle it,” he said, and left me standing alone in our house, staring at the flickering firelight. He was gone all night.

The next morning, he returned looking haggard, haunted. His eyes, usually cold and distant, were filled with something I hadn’t seen before—fear and guilt. It wasn’t until later that I learned the truth.

Ayla, my Alpha’s first love, had returned.