Rejected by the Alpha’s Lie

Rohan was convinced I couldn’t live without him.

And honestly, it wasn’t surprising he’d think that way. After all, everyone knew how wildly in love I was with him. He was tall, muscular, and commanding—a dominant Alpha with the kind of aura that made others bow their heads in respect. People said I was lucky to have landed him, as if he was a prize that only came around once in a lifetime.

Once, after a fiery argument with Rohan, I crashed at my friend Mauricio’s place. Mauricio, a Gamma warrior, tried to comfort me, “Alpha Rohan is quite the catch. A bit of a temper is normal for an Alpha—don’t be so high-strung about it.” Everyone seemed to think that as long as the Alpha was interested in being with me, I should ignore his faults, let things slide, and not hang onto old grievances.

But I wasn’t with him for his status or power. I was there purely for love.

Rohan and I grew up in the same pack, and back then, he’d narrowly escaped a rogue attack that left him with depression, causing him to withdraw. I painstakingly helped him through that darkness, turning him into the confident Alpha everyone admired. He depended heavily on me then. Wherever he went, he wanted me there beside him. He often said, “Aurelia, thank you for always being there.”

Eventually, we took our mate bond, and I moved into his home as his Luna. One pack gathering, we went out to celebrate the full moon run, and the rogue who had attacked him earlier tracked him down, seeking revenge. I happened to witness him being ambushed. I shielded him with my own body, taking the brutal assault meant for him.

My wolf form was brutally crushed, and I blacked out from the pain. When I came to in the pack healer’s den, I was told I’d never shift again. Rohan, with tears streaming down his face, looked at me and said, “Aurelia, I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you from now on.”

Losing my ability to shift was a devastating blow, but his words offered some comfort. I hung on because of him, trusting in what he’d said. Yet, less than a month later, he started not coming home much, and we ended up sleeping in separate rooms. He’d said it was because he was afraid he’d accidentally hurt me in his sleep. I bought it at the time.

But now I realize that wasn’t the real reason—he had already begun to see me as a burden.