Rejected by the Alpha's Shadow

Before Alpha Clark and I became involved, I had pursued him for what felt like an eternity. Because of him, I chose not to return to my father’s pack after completing my education. Instead, I applied for a Delta position in the Silverfang Pack, where he served as Alpha. Alpha Clark had always been aloof, even back when we were in school together. His expression was often unreadable, his aura cold and commanding, as if he were always above the rest of us.

When I first joined the pack, I tried everything to catch his attention, but my efforts were met with failure. If he stayed late organizing pack affairs, I’d linger at my post, pretending to be busy with patrol duties, waiting for him to finish. More often than not, he’d find me slumped over, fast asleep, after hours of waiting. In the pack hallways, I’d pretend to trip, hoping he’d steady me, but he’d step aside with a pointed look, maintaining his distance. During pack meetings, he’d remind me in his deep, authoritative voice, "Delta Ailani, it’s important to maintain professionalism within the pack."

Noticing he often skipped meals due to his responsibilities, I spent an afternoon baking ginger honey cake for him. But when I handed it to him later that day, he held the offering with a barely concealed disdain and tossed it aside, his sharp eyes narrowing. On evenings when I went to pick him up after pack gatherings, a slightly inebriated Alpha Clark would mistakenly call me by another Delta’s name. After several failed attempts, I thought of giving up. Yet, I couldn’t help but focus all my attention on him.

Things shifted during a pack retreat. During the day, I approached him, my voice trembling with hope. “Alpha Clark, is there really no chance for us at all?” He barely glanced at me, his tone cold and final. “None.”

Frustrated, I drowned my sorrows in drink that night. Fueled by the alcohol, I barged into his quarters, pouring out my feelings with reckless abandon. To my surprise, he was also intoxicated, and what followed was a night of chaos and blurred lines. The next morning, he stood tall, his alpha aura radiating as he said, “I’ll take responsibility for you.” But then he added, his voice firm, “But this stays between us. No one can know.” It was to be a secret relationship. And right after the retreat, he solidified his position as Alpha, his authority unquestioned. I took over his previous duties as Delta, but the gap between us seemed even wider.

The pack was stunned to see a fellow Delta suddenly become the Alpha’s confidante. Their attitudes toward my pursuit of him shifted from indifferent curiosity to something more calculating. At the time, I didn’t care. All I could think was how impressive it was for someone like Alpha Clark, with his lineage and status, to immerse himself in the daily grind of pack leadership.