Pregnant and Rejected by My Alpha

The morning light filtered through the stained glass windows of the council chamber, casting colorful shadows across the faces of the five pack elders seated before me. Their expressions were a mixture of concern and something I hadn't seen in this room before: desperation.

"Lady Rose," Elder Elena Blackwood began, her weathered hands folded neatly on the polished table. "We've asked for this private meeting because... because we need to discuss the future of Shadow Ridge."

I remained silent, waiting. The silence stretched uncomfortably before Elder Marcus, the oldest of the council, leaned forward.

"The pack is failing under current leadership," he said bluntly. "The Silver Creek alliance collapse was merely the latest in a string of disasters."

"Disasters," I repeated softly.

"Colson is not fit to lead," Elena continued, her voice dropping to a whisper despite our privacy. "We've tried to guide him, but he's beyond guidance now."

I studied their faces, noting how they avoided my gaze. "What exactly are you proposing?"

Elena took a deep breath. "Would you consider... taking over?"

The question hung in the air between us. I could feel their hope, their desperation for a savior.

"No," I replied simply.

Their faces fell, but I wasn't finished.

"I will not become Alpha of this pack," I clarified. "But I will demand a Tribunal to judge Colson's fitness to lead."

"A Tribunal?" Elder Marcus's eyes widened. "That hasn't been invoked in thirty years."

"It's time," I said, rising from my chair. "The laws exist for a reason."

As I left the chamber, I heard their whispered thanks behind me. The political protection that had shielded Colson for so long was crumbling away.

---

The training grounds echoed with the sounds of sparring wolves. I walked the perimeter with my enforcers, checking the safety equipment and noting the sloppy maintenance.

"These weights aren't secured properly," I pointed out to the Gamma in charge. "If they fall—"

A crash interrupted me as a stack of weights toppled, sending metal plates sliding across the floor. One caught Colson's leg as he approached, slicing through his pants and into his flesh.

"Damn it!" he cursed, clutching his bleeding calf.

Without warning, a sharp pain shot through my own leg—a phantom echo of his injury. I gasped, my hand going to my thigh as the sensation burned through me.

The mate bond. It wasn't dead—just dormant.

Colson's eyes met mine, and I saw the moment he realized what had happened. His expression shifted from pain to calculation.

"Delaney," he whispered, limping toward me. "You still feel it, don't you? The bond between us."

I stood frozen as he reached for me, his fingers brushing my cheek.

"I made a mistake," he murmured, leaning closer. "We can fix this. We can start over."

His lips moved toward mine, and for a heartbeat, I remembered everything we had been.

Then reality crashed back. I kneed him hard in the groin, watching with cold satisfaction as he doubled over.

"The girl who loved you died the night you killed her pup," I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside me.

---

The great hall was packed for the monthly pack gathering. I stood at the front with Fletcher beside me, his presence lending weight to what was about to unfold.

"Before we begin," I announced, "there's a matter of pack security that requires immediate attention."

I nodded to my enforcer, who activated the holographic display. Numbers began scrolling across the screen—financial records, transfer dates, account details.

"For the past three months," I continued, "funds have been systematically drained from the pack treasury."

Gasps rippled through the crowd as the evidence mounted. Five million dollars, stolen in small increments, all traced back to the same access codes.

"Valeria Gibson," I said, my voice carrying to every corner of the hall. "Step forward."

She stood frozen, her face draining of color as Royal Enforcers moved toward her.

"This is ridiculous," she stammered. "Colson gave me access—"

"Silence!" I commanded.

The enforcers seized her arms as I projected the final piece of evidence—a recording of Valeria boasting to a friend about her "nest egg" for when she became Luna.

"Colson!" she screamed as they dragged her toward the dungeons. "Help me! Tell them it was your idea!"

The hall fell silent as all eyes turned to Colson. For a moment, I thought he might show some loyalty.

"Remove her," he said coldly. "I knew nothing of her theft."

Valeria's face contorted with rage and betrayal. "You bastard!" she shrieked as they pulled her away. "I'll make you pay for this! You hear me, Colson? I'll make you pay!"

As her screams faded down the corridor, I caught Colson's eye across the room. A flicker of fear crossed his face—he knew his turn was coming next.