REJECTED YET CHOSEN

Chapter 41

_Lyla's POV_

The dining hall was quiet. A few pack members sat at the long tables, chatting softly as they ate. The delicious aroma of roasted meat and fresh bread filled the air, but my appetite was gone.

Aaron wasn’t here.

I waited as long as I could, hoping he would show up. But as the minutes passed, my chest grew tight. He had been so busy all day and now he wasn’t even coming to dinner.

Elena, one of the pack members, placed a plate in front of me. “Luna, you should eat.”

I forced a small smile. “Thank you, Elena.”

But I barely touched the food. My mind was elsewhere. I kept thinking about the conversation I had overheard. Who was Aaron talking about? What was she supposed to do? And why did he sound so angry?

When I couldn’t sit there any longer, I stood up and left the dining hall.

By the time I reached our room, the night had grown colder. The wind outside howled softly, rattling the windows. I sat on the bed, hugging my knees, staring at the door.

Aaron still hadn’t come.

I waited.

Minutes turned into hours.

Finally, the door creaked open.

Aaron stepped inside. His broad shoulders were tense. His brown hair was slightly messy, and his shirt was wrinkled. He looked exhausted, but more than that—he seemed… angry.

I waited for him to come over, to press a kiss on my forehead like he always did. But he didn’t.

He barely looked at me.

“I’m going to take a shower,” he muttered and walked straight into the bathroom.

I blinked, watching the door close behind him.

Something was wrong.

He was never like this. Even after long meetings, he would always pull me into his arms and ask how my day was. But tonight, it felt like I wasn’t even there.

The sound of running water filled the room, but it did little to wash away the unease creeping into my chest. I tried to shake it off, convincing myself that I was reading too much into things. Aaron was an Alpha—his days were full of responsibility, and it was natural for him to be exhausted.

But then why did it feel like something was wrong?

After a while, the water stopped, and he stepped out of the bathroom, dressed in dark pajama pants and a loose t-shirt. He ran a towel through his damp hair before tossing it onto a nearby chair. Without a word, he sat down on the bed beside me.

I hesitated before speaking. “I know you’re tense,” I said softly. “Something is bothering you.”

Aaron let out a small sigh and rubbed his hand over his face. “I’m just tired,” he said. “It’s been a long day with pack meetings.”

I bit my lip, debating whether to push further. But the words tumbled out before I could stop them.

“I heard you yelling earlier.”

His body stiffened. “What?”

“I wasn’t eavesdropping,” I added quickly. “I was just walking past your study, and I heard you. You were yelling about a woman who got caught. You sounded really angry.” I paused, choosing my next words carefully. “What happened? What did she do wrong?”

Aaron’s eyes darkened for a moment before he let out a short, humorless chuckle. “It’s nothing, Lyla. Just a small mistake. Nothing to concern yourself with.”

I shook my head. “Aaron, everyone makes mistakes. You shouldn’t punish her too harshly.”

Something flickered across his face. It was brief, but I caught it—a shift in his expression, like he was caught off guard. Then, just as quickly, his features smoothed into something unreadable.

He sighed and leaned back against the headboard. “You really are too kind sometimes,” he murmured. “It wasn’t anything serious. One of our pack members—Sophia—was supposed to deliver a message to an allied pack, but she was careless. She got caught by rogue scouts before she could complete the mission.”

I frowned. “Is she alright?”

“She is fine. She managed to talk her way out of it, but it could’ve been dangerous. We can’t afford slip-ups like that, not with tensions rising.”

I let out a relieved breath. “That makes sense. But still, you shouldn’t be so hard on her. I am sure she was just trying her best.”

Aaron gave me a small smile. “I know. And I am not a tyrant, Lyla. I don’t punish my pack members without reason.”

I nodded, feeling slightly reassured. Maybe I really had overreacted.

A moment of silence passed before Aaron suddenly reached for my hand. His fingers laced with mine, and when he looked at me this time, his expression had softened.

“Let’s not talk about this anymore,” he said gently. “There are more important things to focus on. Like our wedding.”

I smiled faintly. “It’s happening so fast.”

He chuckled. “I can’t wait to make you my wife.”

His thumb brushed over my knuckles, his eyes filled with something warm and possessive.

“We’re going to have a beautiful life together, Lyla,” he continued. “We’ll build a strong pack, and we’ll have children who will carry on our legacy.”

I stiffened slightly. “Children?”

“Of course.” His smile widened. “I want a big family with you.”

I swallowed, glancing down at our intertwined hands. “Maybe we should wait a little while.”

Aaron’s expression faltered. “Wait?”

“I just mean… I don’t know if I am ready yet.” I hesitated, my voice barely above a whisper. “Being a Luna is already a big responsibility. And bringing a child into this… it’s a lot.”

Aaron’s grip on my hand tightened slightly, his jaw clenching. “There is no perfect time for children, Lyla. We’ll figure it out together. I’ll help you.”

I pulled my hand away gently. “It’s not that simple.”

His eyes darkened. “Why don’t you want kids?”

His voice had changed. It was sharper and laced with something I couldn’t quite place.

I flinched at the intensity in his gaze. “It’s not that I don’t want them. I just—”

“I need an heir, Lyla.” His voice dropped, low and firm. “I’m the Alpha. My bloodline must continue.”

My breath caught in my throat. The warmth from moments ago had disappeared, replaced by something colder… something demanding.

His face had changed too. His jaw was tight, his eyes hard. It was like I was looking at a different man.

I opened my mouth, but no words came out.

Aaron exhaled sharply and ran a hand through his hair. When he looked at me again, his expression softened—just slightly.

“Sorry, sweetheart,” he murmured. “I shouldn’t have said that. I am just stressed and exhausted.”

I forced myself to breathe. “Aaron…”

He reached for me again, his fingers brushing against my cheek. “Let’s not argue about this now,” he said. “We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”

I nodded hesitantly. “Okay.”

“Good.” He leaned over, pressing a quick kiss to my forehead before shifting away. “Goodnight, Lyla.”

I lay down beside him, staring at the ceiling long after his breathing evened out.

Something about tonight didn’t sit right with me.

I wanted to believe him. I wanted to trust that this was just exhaustion speaking.

But deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was changing between us.

And I wasn’t sure if I liked it.