Rejected By the Alpha (Forbidden Alpha Kings #5)

3. Kaylee

3

Kaylee

A dull humming of pain wakes me from the darkness, the scent of my home being the first thing I notice as soon as I come to my senses.

“Good, you’re awake, Kaylee.” Turning to the sound of the voice, I see Miss Amelia standing before me as she removes pictures from frames, and carefully sets them into a box. She is meticulous in her packing, making sure not to bend the only images I have left of my parents.

“I don’t want to hear you protest. David and I already renounced our status as members of Oak Fur and packed away our house,” she cuts me off as I open my mouth, her hazel eyes staring into mine. I want to say something, to make her change her mind, but Miss Amelia is an alpha-blooded wolf. Once she makes up her mind, there is no turning back.

“Ramos and Lucas went too far, and you deserve better. I will not stay here while they destroy the pack my ancestors built,” Miss Amelia states, as I slowly push myself into a sitting position on my couch. Looking around the room, I notice the pictures of my parents and me taken from the wall, the frames sitting on the floor beside the table Miss Amelia uses.

“But Ramos is your brother. Wouldn’t you want to stay here?” I ask Miss Amelia, getting a scoff in return.

“Ramos is a power-hungry bastard. The only reason he is alpha is because of the law in Oak Fur that a she-wolf can’t be leader. Otherwise, I would have been the alpha,” she explains, giving me a small smile.

“Why are you here then? If you are determined to leave, shouldn’t you be packing?” Deciding not to fight with Miss Amelia—one of the only wolves standing up for me—I change the topic to her own packing.

“David and I already packed. You’ve been unconscious for five hours, and it’s currently three in the afternoon. He and the pups are loading the trailer, while I came to help you out.” Shocked, I turn to see the clock on the wall, and sure enough, it is three in the afternoon. I woke up at nine-thirty this morning. Woke up thinking that I would be mated and made Luna in a few weeks’ time. I gasp as pain shoots through me. Everything feels so fresh and raw, and thinking about what just happened amplifies the pain. My mate rejected me, harmed me. He abandoned me when I needed him, all because of a betrothal. Not only that, but Alpha Ramos banished me and kicked me from Oak Fur.

“Shh, it’s okay, Kaylee.” Miss Amelia is at my side, her hands cupping my face as she wipes away tears.

“I-it hurts!” I whimper, my breath coming in ragged gulps as sobs wrack my body.

“I know, baby girl. It’s going to hurt until you or he mates another wolf. Right now, I need you to be strong. Do you think you can be strong?” I nod to her question, getting a relieved smile in return.

“Good. Breathe with me. In. Out. In. Out.” Her voice is calming as she instructs me how to breathe again. It grounds me, and soon the pain lessens until I am able to breathe easily.

“Good. You are going to hate me for saying this, but we only have nine hours left before they hunt us off of Oak Fur land. I need you to force what just happened aside, and pack. Do you think you can do this?” she explains, as soon as I can breathe again. I hesitate to answer, as packing away everything means leaving behind my parents for good. But if I don’t, I will be killed.

“I-I’m not sure,” I state, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath.

“But I can try.” Opening my eyes, I find Miss Amelia staring at me with pride. She stands from the couch and ruffles my hair with her hand.

“Good girl. Now go. I will get all the pictures packed; you get packed away what you want to keep. We leave in four hours.” With her prompting, I push off from the couch and make my way to my bedroom, where I find everything I need to pack my things away. I should consider myself lucky. Most newly-made rogues get an hour to pack before they are hunted, and are not able to take many of their belongings with them. I was given nearly a full day.

Resigned to my fate, I change into a sundress from my closet and throw Lucas’ torn and bloodied clothes in the trash. I hate knowing that his scent still lingers on me, with the pain he just put me through. Hate knowing I gave myself to him the moment we realized we were mates, thinking he would mark me right then and there, and we would be together like the goddess intended.

The pain comes back with a vengeance, and I stumble, nearly falling to my knees beside my bed. I feel like my chest is being constricted as the broken bond demands to be fixed. But I can’t do it. Lucas doesn’t want me, he made it clear. Oak Fur doesn’t want me, Alpha Ramos made that clear. Tears fall from my eyes once more as I try to breathe, try to focus on the moment right now.

I can’t control what just happened. Can’t turn back time and stop myself from giving myself to Lucas, nor can I stop the rejection. I can only control what I do from here on out. My breath comes easier as I force down the pain until the tears stop once more and I find my strength again. I stand on shaky legs and take another deep breath.

I will do what Miss Amelia told me to do, and push my emotions aside. Right now, I need to be strong. I need to keep myself together long enough to make it out of Oak Fur alive. I remind myself that other than Simon, I have no one left here. Opening my eyes I feel a strange sense of calm wash over me and get to work.