REJECTED YET CHOSEN

Chapter 26

_Dorian's POV_

For the next few days, I kept a close eye on Camilla. I watched her every move, listened carefully to her conversations, and even checked her phone when she was asleep. But she was careful. Too careful. Her call history had been wiped clean, and the only numbers saved in her contacts were mine and her parents’. That meant whoever she had spoken to was not someone she regularly contacted—or she was hiding their number somewhere else.

She hadn’t left the packhouse, nor had she met anyone suspicious. That only meant one thing: her ally was someone within my pack. The thought made my stomach churn. Someone close to me, someone I trusted, was working against me.

I needed to find out who.

Today, I found her in the kitchen, surrounded by a few pack members. She was standing near the counter, her arms crossed, looking down at the chief cook with a disgusted expression.

“This food is awful,” she said while wrinkling her nose. “Honestly, I don’t know how you all eat this.”

The cook, an older woman named Martha, lowered her head in submission. “I am sorry, Luna-to-be. We have been using the same ingredients and methods as always.”

“Well, then you need to change them,” Camilla snapped. “I can’t be expected to eat this tasteless garbage every day.”

Some of the younger omegas standing nearby exchanged nervous glances. One of them, a timid girl named Lila, spoke hesitantly. “I thought the stew tasted fine, my Lady…”

Camilla turned sharply, glaring at her. “Oh? So now a mere kitchen maid thinks she has the right to tell me what is good and what is not?”

Lila’s face paled. “I-I didn’t mean—”

“Enough,” Camilla interrupted, her voice dripping with disdain. “I don’t want excuses. I want better food. How hard is it to follow simple instructions?”

Martha’s hands clenched into fists, but she kept her head lowered. “We will do our best, my Lady.”

“Your best isn’t good enough.” Camilla scoffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “From now on, I want more variety. More seasoning. And none of this overcooked nonsense. If you can’t handle that, then maybe you shouldn’t be working here.”

I had heard enough.

“Camilla,” I said firmly, stepping into the room.

She turned, her eyes widening in surprise before she quickly masked it with a sweet smile. “Dorian, darling. I was just—”

“Stop it,” I cut her off, my voice cold. “We are not here to cater to your special preferences.”

Her smile faltered. “I was just making a suggestion to help improve—”

“No, you weren’t,” I said, my jaw tightening. “You were insulting and belittling them. That is not how we treat our pack members.”

She looked around, as if just now realizing that others were watching. Her expression shifted to one of wounded innocence. “I didn’t mean it that way, Dorian. I only wanted to make things better for everyone.”

I crossed my arms. “If you don’t like the food, then don’t eat it. But I won’t allow you to treat my pack members like they are beneath you.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line. “Are you seriously taking their side over mine?”

I stepped closer, lowering my voice but making sure everyone could still hear. “I am taking the side of what is right. You are not the Luna yet, Camilla. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can do whatever you want.”

Her eyes flashed with anger, but she quickly composed herself. “I see,” she said, lifting her chin. “I didn’t realize my opinions meant so little to you.”

I exhaled sharply, feeling the weight of the tension in the room. “Your opinions matter. But respect matters more.”

She didn’t respond. Instead, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the kitchen, her heels clicking against the floor. The moment she was gone, the tension in the room lifted. Martha let out a shaky breath, and the omegas exchanged relieved glances.

“Thank you, Alpha,” Lila whispered.

I gave her a nod before turning to Martha. “Continue as you always have. The food is fine.”

She gave me a grateful smile. “Yes, Alpha.”

As I left the kitchen, I couldn’t help but think about how Camilla had reacted. She was furious—but was it just because I had embarrassed her in front of the pack, or was it something more? I needed to be careful. She was already planning something behind my back. Now, she had a reason to resent me even more.

I had to find out who her ally was before it was too late.

For the next few days, I continued watching her closely, but she was careful. She didn’t make any secret phone calls, didn’t meet anyone in private. She acted normal—too normal.

But I knew better.

I just had to wait for her to slip up.