REJECTED YET CHOSEN

Chapter 14

_Lyla’s POV_

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the large windows of Aaron’s house. I woke up to the soft rustle of curtains and the faint scent of pine lingering in the air. My heart still felt light from yesterday’s shopping trip but there was a nervous flutter deep inside me.

Aaron was already up. His side of the bed was empty but still warm. I stretched, my fingers brushing over the simple silver ring on my finger. It sparkled faintly, and every time I looked at it, a rush of emotions filled my chest—excitement, fear, hope.

Just as I sat up, the door creaked open, and Aaron stepped inside. He was dressed in a black shirt that hugged his broad chest and dark jeans. His messy brown hair looked like he had run his fingers through it a few times, and his piercing blue eyes met mine, making my heart skip a beat.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," he said with a smirk. He walked over to me.

"Good morning," I mumbled, brushing my hair out of my face.

Aaron leaned down, his lips brushing my forehead gently. "Get ready. My father is back."

Those words made my heart thump hard against my ribs. I had heard a lot about his father—the Alpha before Aaron took over. A strong, respected man. What if he didn’t like me? What if he thought I wasn’t good enough for his son?

I got dressed quickly. I chose a simple dress that Aaron had picked out for me during our shopping trip. It was soft, light blue, and comfortable. I stared at myself in the mirror, smoothing down the fabric and taking a deep breath before heading downstairs.

Aaron was waiting for me in the living room, standing tall and confident. Beside him stood a man who looked like an older version of Aaron. His hair was brown with a few streaks of gray, and his sharp blue eyes seemed to see right through me. His presence was commanding, like he didn’t need to say a word to demand respect.

When I approached, Aaron reached for my hand, lacing his fingers with mine. His touch gave me courage.

“Lyla, this is my father,” Aaron said, his voice steady. “Dad, this is my mate.”

His father’s eyes studied me closely, his face unreadable. Then he spoke, his voice deep and firm.

“I have heard that my son finally found his mate. It’s good to meet you, Lyla.”

I nodded, offering a small smile. “It’s nice to meet you too, Sir.”

His eyes narrowed slightly, as if sizing me up. “Which pack are you from?” he asked.

I swallowed, trying to keep my voice steady. “I am from the Moonshadow Pack.”

Aaron’s mother, always warm and kind, stepped in with a bright smile. “Let’s all have breakfast together,” she suggested, her tone lightening the tension in the room.

Aaron nodded. “Lucian, take my father’s bag upstairs,” he ordered one of the pack members who had been standing quietly nearby.

We moved to the dining room, where a long table was set with plates of eggs, toast, fresh fruit, and coffee. Aaron pulled out a chair for me before sitting beside me. His father sat across from us, his sharp eyes still occasionally flicking toward me.

As we ate, the conversation drifted from pack matters to Aaron’s father’s recent trip. But soon, the attention shifted back to me.

“So, Lyla,” Aaron’s father said. “When will your parents come to discuss the wedding preparations?”

My heart stuttered. I hadn’t even thought about wedding preparations. The idea of it felt distant, like a dream I wasn’t ready to face. I placed my fork down gently, my fingers slightly trembling.

“I… I’m an orphan,” I said quietly. “My parents died when I was little.”

For a moment, there was silence. Aaron squeezed my hand under the table. He was offering silent support.

“That is unfortunate,” his father finally said, his tone neutral. Then he added, “Do you have any other family members we can speak to?”

I shook my head. I could feel a knot tightening in my chest. “No. It’s just me.”

His father’s eyes lingered on me a moment longer, his gaze sharp, as if he was trying to see something hidden beneath the surface. But he didn’t say anything else.

Aaron quickly shifted the conversation. “How is your friend? The one you went to visit?”

His father leaned back slightly, his expression relaxing. “He is no longer ill. The doctors’ medicines didn’t work, but there was an Elder there who knew about herbal remedies. It cured him.”

“That is good to hear,” Aaron replied.

Then his father’s gaze snapped back to me. “When will you hold Lyla’s Luna ceremony?”

Aaron didn’t hesitate. “I’ll start the preparations right away. Now that you are back, we’ll do it as soon as possible.”

My heart raced again. The Luna ceremony. It felt overwhelming, like everything was moving too fast. Aaron must have noticed the tension in my face because he turned to me, his eyes softening.

“She is a bit nervous about the ceremony,” he said gently. “She is worried that the pack might not accept her.”

His father frowned. “There is no need to be nervous. Why wouldn’t the pack accept you, Lyla? They won’t dare go against their Alpha and Luna.”

Aaron sighed, his jaw tightening slightly. “She feels that way because she is an omega. She thinks the pack won’t accept her because of it. But I will punish anyone who dares to say a word against my mate.”

The moment those words left Aaron’s mouth, his father’s entire demeanor changed. His expression darkened, and his eyes hardened like ice.

“What?” His voice was sharp, cutting through the room like a blade. “Your mate is an omega?”

The room fell into a heavy silence. I felt my heart drop, my chest tightening painfully. Aaron’s grip on my hand grew firmer, as if grounding me, but his father’s anger was clear. His face turned red, his jaw clenched, and his fists balled on the table.

His piercing blue eyes locked onto me, filled with disbelief and something else—disappointment? Rage? I couldn’t tell.

I swallowed hard, trying to hold back the sting in my eyes. My mind screamed with doubts. Maybe I don’t belong here. Maybe I am not good enough.

But before anyone could say anything else, Aaron stood up, his chair scraping back sharply. His eyes burned with fury, his Alpha aura flooding the room.

“She is my mate,” Aaron growled, his voice low and dangerous. “And I won’t tolerate anyone, not even you, speaking about her like that.”

His father’s eyes narrowed and he stood up. The tension between them was crackling like a storm about to break.

“Aaron, you’re the Alpha of the BloodMoon Pack. You were born to lead, to command respect. And you expect me to believe that an omega is fit to stand beside you as Luna?”

“She is my mate and you have no right to insult her."

“You’re blinded by the bond,” his father snapped. “This is not about emotions. It’s about the future of this pack. Mates or not, she is not worthy of the title of Luna.”

Aaron’s fists clenched at his sides, his face dark with rage. “If you can’t respect my mate, then don’t expect my respect in return.”

His father’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “I am only thinking of the pack. And if you won’t see reason—”

He paused, his eyes flicking to me with thinly veiled contempt.

“—then maybe you’re not fit to be Alpha.”

The words hung in the air like poison.

Aaron took a step forward, his body tense with fury. “Careful, old man,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous. “Don’t forget who holds the title now.”

I sat there, frozen, my heart pounding, knowing that nothing would be the same after this.