Rejected by the Alpha's Shadow

After Clark, the Alpha of the pack, had publicly rejected me, ending our secret romance, I was ready to leave the pack behind. The sting of his dismissal still lingered, but I refused to let it break me. I straightened my shoulders and approached him in the packhouse, where he sat at his desk, his dominant aura filling the room.

"I’d like to request three days off, Alpha," I said, my voice steady despite the knot in my stomach.

Clark paused, his pen hovering over the paper. His dark eyes flicked up to meet mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of something—regret, perhaps? But it was gone as quickly as it appeared. "Is this leave for a pack transfer?" he asked, his tone sharp and probing.

Feeling a pang of guilt, I shook my head. "No, Alpha. It’s personal."

He raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "Then how do you explain your résumé landing at my other pack’s territory?"

My heart skipped a beat. He knew. Of course he knew. I quickly snatched back the leave request, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. "I’ll write a resignation letter and submit it elsewhere," I muttered, turning to leave.

Before I could take a step, Clark was on his feet, his hand gripping my wrist with a firmness that sent a shiver down my spine. He pinned me against the desk, his towering frame looming over me. His voice was low and unwavering, carrying the weight of his Alpha tone. "I won’t approve any resignation letter." His gaze bore into mine, intense and unyielding. "And you’re not allowed to leave me."

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The next morning, mist rolled in through the window of the packhouse, casting a soft, gray light over the room. I lay in bed, coughing into the crook of my arm, my body wracked with fever. Clark stirred beside me, his large frame shifting as he sat up. On the floor, our clothes lay scattered haphazardly, a testament to the night before.

Despite my obvious discomfort, Clark showed no concern. He leaned over me, his hands roaming my body, his lips claiming mine with a possessiveness that left me breathless. Even in my weakened state, I couldn’t deny the pull of the mate bond between us, though it only made the situation more painful.

When he was finally satisfied, he pulled away, his expression cold and detached. "The driver called out sick today," he said, his voice devoid of warmth. "I’ll drop you at the pack’s training grounds."

His stern demeanor made it seem as though our closeness had never happened. I touched my forehead—it felt even hotter than before. "Could I possibly… take today off?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"No," he interrupted sharply, as if preempting a demand. "I can only drop you at the nearest intersection." His tone left no room for argument.

He was anxious that someone might uncover our affair, and I knew this was a relationship destined to remain in the shadows. "I’m just feeling unwell and want a day off," I insisted, my voice trembling.

Clark continued tying his tie, his gaze fixed on the mirror. "Ailani, do you think it’s appropriate to request leave from me?" he asked, his voice cold and dismissive.

We were separated by several ranks in the pack hierarchy; it truly wasn’t appropriate. Clearly, he didn’t care about my health. But I also knew this was my own doing. When Clark and I had first started, he laid down the ground rules. The pack was no place for romance, especially for him as Alpha. Being with a subordinate had already broken his rules for me.

He would never cross boundaries to openly claim me as his mate, which meant our relationship could only ever be a secret. When I first heard his rules, how did I feel? I suppose I was too caught up in the thrill of him accepting my confession. Even under such circumstances, I had been willing to take the plunge willingly. Now, I was paying the price.