Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by the King

My phone buzzed; it was Cassius calling. This was our usual time for our nightly check-in, but I couldn’t bring myself to answer. Instead, I sent a quick text: *I’m at the pack infirmary.*

Before he even arrived, his voice echoed through the sterile halls of the infirmary, urgent and desperate. "Kya! Kya, where are you?"

The sound of his voice brought back the memory of his proposal to Lana, a moment that still twisted my insides. Despite his clear anxiety, he stumbled over the threshold but quickly regained his footing, rushing toward me. His face was etched with concern, his chest heaving as though he’d run the entire way. "Kya, are you alright? Was it your low blood sugar again?"

I nodded faintly, too weak to speak. He emptied his pockets, dumping all the chocolates he had into my trembling hand. But my grip was too weak, and each piece slipped through my fingers, clattering to the floor. The sight of his worry clashed violently with the image of him on one knee, offering a ring to someone else. My heart ached, the bond between us—once so strong—now felt like a frayed thread.

Then, Lana walked in.

Her presence was like a cold breeze, chilling the room instantly. Her demeanor was calm, almost detached, a stark contrast to the passion I’d seen between her and Cassius earlier. My jaw tightened as I glared at her. "What are you doing here?"

Her voice was sickeningly sweet, grating on my nerves like nails on a chalkboard. "Cassius told me about your low blood sugar. I rushed over to bring you some sweets."

Cassius chimed in, his tone light, as if this were the most natural thing in the world. "Yeah, we bumped into each other at the pack gathering today."

My anger flared, hot and uncontrollable. I reached for the IV needle in my arm, ripping it out with a sharp wince. I shoved Lana toward the door, my voice trembling with fury. "You’re not welcome here."

But Cassius caught my wrist, his grip like iron. He yanked me back, and I lost my balance, collapsing to the floor. The wound on my hand reopened, blood seeping through the bandage. Any trace of his earlier gentleness was gone, replaced by a cold, simmering anger. "Kya, we just ran into each other by chance. Is this really something to be jealous about? What if you’d hurt Lana with that push?"

I was the one lying on the ground, weak and bleeding, yet all he could think about was Lana. My body felt like it was made of lead, but I summoned every ounce of strength I had left. I dragged myself up, leaning heavily against the wall for support. My voice was hoarse, barely more than a whisper, but it carried all the pain and defiance I felt.

"If you two aren’t leaving, then I will."

As I stumbled out of the room, Lana’s voice followed me, sweet and cloying. "Brother, is she going to be okay?"

The words twisted the knife deeper, but I kept walking, my resolve hardening with every step. The bond between Cassius and me might still linger, but I refused to let it define me anymore.