Rejected By My Fated Alpha

The sharp crash startled Maverick, his Alpha instincts kicking in as he hastily pulled on his ceremonial jacket, ready to rush back to the pack infirmary where I lay. But before he could step out, a panicked scream echoed from the bathroom. He froze, torn between his duty to me and the urgency in that cry.

He turned back, his tall frame filling the doorway as he glanced at the rogue werewolf, Siena, who stood there with fear in her eyes, her ankle swollen from the fall. She looked like a cornered rabbit, vulnerable and pleading. Maverick hesitated for only a moment before scooping her into his arms, his muscles flexing under the weight of his decision. He carried her to his car, his voice firm but laced with concern. "I’ll take you to the infirmary, but you must not cause trouble for my Luna."

Meanwhile, Kylee, the pack’s skilled healer, had already found me near the sacred fountain where I’d collapsed. She helped me back to my bed in the infirmary, her hands steady and reassuring. My condition was critical—a rare werewolf disease had left me weak, and the recent transfer of Maverick’s healing essence had left my body in a fragile state. The fall had only worsened things, and the lead healer warned that I might need intensive care if my vitals continued to decline.

When Maverick finally arrived, his Alpha aura was unsteady, his eyes bloodshot and his face etched with guilt. He took my hand in his, his grip firm but trembling. "Hallie, I’m so sorry," he murmured, his voice heavy with regret. His eyes, usually so commanding, were filled with something that might have been love, but the faint scent of Siena’s floral perfume clung to him, and the sight of her lipstick on his collar was a glaring reminder of the betrayal I’d been trying to ignore.

The pain in my chest flared, my wolf whimpering softly in the back of my mind. Maverick’s presence, once a source of strength, now felt suffocating. My vitals began to plummet, the machines around me beeping frantically. Maverick’s eyes widened, and he barked at the healers, his Alpha tone sharp and urgent. "Do something!"

They rushed me back into the emergency room, where I remained for a full day and night. Through the fog of my exhaustion, I could see Maverick pacing outside the door, his tall, muscular frame rigid with tension. He gripped the lead healer’s arm, his voice low but desperate. "Do you need more of my essence? I’ll give it. Whatever it takes."

The healer shook his head, and Maverick’s face paled, his Alpha aura dimming for the first time since I’d known him.

I lay there, my thoughts a chaotic storm. He cares, doesn’t he? His concern, his willingness to sacrifice—it had to mean something. But then why? Why was he with her? Why was Siena, a rogue with no pack, no standing, so important to him that he’d risk everything?

My wolf stirred again, her voice faint but clear. *He’s lost, Hallie. But you can’t let his weakness destroy you.*

I clenched my fists, the pain in my chest deepening. Maverick might have been my mate, but the bond between us was cracking, and I wasn’t sure it could ever be repaired.