Rejected Mate's Revival

Five years passed in a blur of pack duties and daily visits to the medical facility. My mother's room had become as familiar to me as my own bedroom—the same antiseptic smell, the same soft beeping of monitors, the same vacant look in her eyes when she woke.

"Mom," I whispered, taking her hand in mine. It felt smaller somehow, fragile. "Today's a good day, isn't it? Do you know who I am?"

She blinked slowly, her gaze focusing somewhere beyond my shoulder. "April?" Her voice was thin, childlike. "Is that you, sweetie? Where's your father?"

My heart clenched. Five years, and still no improvement. The healers had tried everything—or so they claimed.

"The doctors say her condition is deteriorating," I told Tyler later that evening, watching him review pack documents at his desk. "They're not sure why."

He didn't look up from his papers. "These things happen, April. Brain damage isn't always reversible."

"But they said her wolf should be healing her." I persisted, moving closer. "Dr. Cross mentioned something about unusual toxicity levels in her bloodwork."

Finally, he raised his eyes to mine. "The doctor is doing her best with a difficult case. Your mother's injuries were severe."

I noticed how he avoided my gaze when he spoke about her treatment. Had I always been so blind?

---

The archive room was dusty and rarely used. I'd come to retrieve some old territorial agreements for Tyler's signature when I noticed a misfiled folder marked "Bradley Incident."

My hands trembled as I opened it. Inside were reports I'd never seen before—detailed accounts of movements near our territory in the days before the attack. My eyes caught on a name that appeared repeatedly: Sabrina Spencer.

"Suspicious communications detected between S. Spencer and known rogue mercenaries," I read aloud, my voice barely audible.

There were maps, transcripts of intercepted messages, even photographs of Sabrina meeting with men I recognized as rogues from wanted posters.

My blood ran cold. Sabrina—Tyler's chosen mate before me. The woman who still lived in our pack house, who smiled to my face while her eyes held something darker.

I gathered the documents with shaking hands and made my way to Tyler's office.

---

"Tyler," I said, pushing open his door without knocking. "I need to show you something."

He looked up, irritation flashing across his face before he masked it with concern. "What is it, April?"

I placed the documents on his desk, spreading them out so he couldn't miss the evidence. "Sabrina orchestrated the attack on my family. These are the proof."

His expression changed instantly—not shock or surprise, but something harder, colder. "Where did you get these?"

"From the archives. Tyler, she killed my father. She's the reason my mother—"

"Enough." His voice dropped an octave, filling the room with Alpha power that made my knees weak. "You will not speak of this to anyone. That's an order, Luna."

The Alpha command hit me like a physical blow. My wolf whimpered inside me, forced into submission by the compulsion.

"Tyler, please," I begged, tears streaming down my face as I fought against the command. "She destroyed my family. How can you protect her?"

His aura flooded the room with oppressive dominance. I couldn't breathe, couldn't stand. I collapsed to my knees before him, my body betraying me as the mate bond forced compliance.

"I said enough." He gathered the documents, tucking them into a drawer he locked with a key he kept on his chain. "You're forbidden from accessing the archives again."

---

I found Beta Marcus in the hallway later that night, his expression carefully neutral as I approached.

"Can I speak with you?" I asked, glancing around to ensure we were alone. "About something important."

"Of course, Luna." His tone was respectful but distant.

I leaned closer, lowering my voice. "I think Sabrina was behind the attack on my family. There's evidence—"

"Luna." He cut me off, his eyes darting toward Tyler's office door. "I don't think this is appropriate."

"Please," I whispered. "Just listen."

Marcus sighed, his shoulders tense. "I'm sorry, Luna. But my loyalty is to Alpha Tyler. If he hasn't acted on this information, there must be a reason."

"He's protecting her," I insisted.

"Then that's his decision to make." Marcus straightened, his expression closing off. "You should trust his judgment and focus on your Luna duties."

The betrayal of pack hierarchy cut deeper than I'd expected. Even Marcus, who had been kind to me over the years, wouldn't stand against Tyler's authority.

When I returned to our bedroom, Tyler was waiting. He sat on the edge of the bed, his expression unreadable as I entered.

"Marcus told me you were spreading rumors about Sabrina," he said quietly.

I touched my mating mark unconsciously, seeking comfort from our bond. His eyes followed the movement but he said nothing, the distance between us growing palpable as the silence stretched on.