Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by the King

The next morning, I woke to an empty bed, the scent of Amazon’s fading presence lingering in the air. The aftermath of last night’s pack gathering hit me harder than I expected; my stomach churned violently, as if my wolf was clawing at me from the inside. The pain was relentless, a constant reminder of the illness that was slowly consuming me. I wished, more than anything, for an escape—but there was none.

I slid off the bed and onto the floor, fumbling for the painkillers I kept hidden in the drawer. They were expensive, imported from the Lycan Kingdom, and my supply was dwindling fast. I swallowed two, my hands trembling as I checked my account balance on my phone.

Less than $10,000.

This was all I had left—money I’d saved before I became Luna of the Blue Moon Pack. It was ironic, really. Amazon, as Beta, had access to the pack’s resources, his wealth practically limitless. Yet, as his mate, I couldn’t even afford the medication that might prolong my life.

After calculating the costs of the pack’s private healing center, I decided to switch to the public one. Clutching my appointment slip, I made my way to the examination room, my steps slow and unsteady.

The healer looked up as I entered, his expression shifting from professional to surprised. “Mikayla?”

I forced a smile, though it felt brittle on my lips. “Ashton, it’s been a long time.”

Ashton, the pack’s Gamma, was someone I’d known since I was a pup. He’d always been like an older brother to me, protective and kind. His gaze softened as he glanced over my medical records.

“Where’s Amazon?” he asked, his voice tinged with concern. “Facing this alone—it’s too much. You need your mate by your side.”

I shook my head, the motion making me dizzy. “He’s busy with pack duties. It’s fine. I’ve done this before. I can handle it.”

Ashton’s eyes narrowed, his wolf likely sensing the lie in my words. “You used to cry at the smallest pain. You’re not fine, Mikayla.”

I forced another smile, though it felt more like a grimace. “I had someone to spoil me back then. Now…”

I trailed off, unwilling to let the vulnerability show. Ashton, ever perceptive, changed the subject.

“I need to do a full assessment of your condition. Today’s not the day for treatment—come back tomorrow.”

I nodded, grateful for the reprieve, and got to my feet. As I turned to leave, he called after me.

“Wait. How about we grab something to eat? It’s been too long since we caught up.”

I hesitated, then nodded. A meal with Ashton sounded better than returning to an empty house.