REJECTED YET CHOSEN

Chapter 16

_Lyla's POV_

After Aaron’s comforting words and warm embrace, I felt a fragile sense of calm settle over me. But as soon as he stood up, his face shadowed with a hint of regret, I knew he had to leave.

“I have an important meeting,” he said softly, brushing his knuckles gently along my cheek. “I don’t want to leave you, but I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

I nodded, forcing a small smile even though my heart clenched. “It’s okay. I’ll be fine.”

He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. His lips lingered there for a second longer, as if reluctant to let go. Then he straightened, gave me one last lingering glance, and left the room.

The door clicked shut, and the silence that followed felt heavy.

I stayed in bed for a while, staring at the door, half-expecting him to come back. But he didn’t. My heart still ached from earlier. The cruel words of Aaron’s father echoed in my mind. I didn’t have the courage to leave the room. What if I ran into him? Or the pack members who looked at me like I didn’t belong?

I couldn’t face that.

So, I stayed.

Eventually, I decided to distract myself. I turned on the small TV mounted on the wall, flipping through channels mindlessly. The voices and colors on the screen were just noise. I wasn’t really watching. My thoughts kept drifting back to the dining room, to the way Aaron’s father had looked at me—with disgust and disappointment.

I hugged a pillow close to my chest, trying to push the feelings away.

Then, there was a soft knock on the door.

I froze, my heart skipping a beat.

“Lyla,” a gentle female voice called from the other side. “It’s me, Aaron’s mother. May I come in?”

I hesitated. My heart raced with anxiety. Why was she here? What did she want?

Taking a deep breath, I managed to say, “Yes.”

The door opened slowly, and Aaron’s mother stepped inside. She was graceful, her presence elegant yet warm. She wore a soft smile, but there was something else in her eyes—concern. In her hands, she held a small box.

She closed the door behind her and walked over to the bed. She sat beside me. The mattress dipped slightly under her weight.

“I hope I am not disturbing you,” she said softly.

I shook my head quickly. “No, it’s okay.”

She gave me a gentle smile, then glanced down at the box in her hands.

“I wanted to talk to you,” she began, her voice calm and soothing. “About what happened earlier… I am so sorry for the way my husband behaved. It was wrong of him.”

I swallowed hard and my fingers tightened around the pillow. “It’s fine,” I whispered. “I understand why he feels that way. He just wants the best for Aaron and the pack.”

She shook her head firmly. “No, Lyla. It’s not fine. That is not the way to treat someone, especially not the woman his son loves.” Her voice held a quiet strength, filled with conviction. “Please, don’t take his words to heart. He is stubborn and set in his ways, but with time, he’ll see what we all see—that you’re perfect for Aaron. That is why the Moon Goddess chose you for him.”

Her words made my chest tighten. A warmth I hadn’t expected bloomed in my heart. I blinked quickly, fighting back tears.

“I hope so,” I whispered, my voice shaky.

She reached out, her fingers gently covering mine. “I know so,” she said softly.

Then she looked down at the small box in her lap, her expression softening even more.

“I brought you something,” she said and opened the lid. Inside was a pair of beautiful ruby bangles. They gleamed under the soft light, deep red stones set in delicate silver. My breath caught. They were stunning.

“These,” she said, lifting them gently from the box, “are a family heirloom. They have been passed down from mother-in-law to daughter-in-law for generations.” She turned to me, her eyes warm and kind. “And now, it’s time for you to have them.”

I stared at her, my heart pounding. “For me?” I whispered.

She nodded with a gentle smile. “Yes, Lyla. These are yours now.”

Tears welled up in my eyes again, but this time they weren’t from sadness. They were from something else—gratitude, acceptance, maybe even hope.

She took my hands and slid the bangles onto my wrists. They felt cool against my skin, but their meaning filled me with warmth. “Thank you,” I whispered.

She squeezed my hands gently. “You’re welcome, dear. I want you to know that not everyone feels the way my husband does. You’re part of this family now. I see how much Aaron loves you, and I see how much you love him. That is what matters.”

I nodded. “It means a lot… what you have said. I was starting to feel like maybe I didn’t belong.”

She shook her head softly. “Oh, Lyla, you belong. You’re exactly where you’re meant to be.”

We sat together for a while, just talking. She asked me about my life before meeting Aaron, about my favorite things, and even told me stories about Aaron when he was younger.

“He was such a stubborn child,” she said with a laugh. “Always trying to prove he was strong, even when he scraped his knees or got into trouble.”

I smiled, picturing a younger version of Aaron, his determined blue eyes probably just as intense even then.

“He is still stubborn,” I joked softly.

She laughed, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “That’s true. But it is that stubbornness that makes him fight so fiercely for the people he loves.”

I nodded, thinking of how he had stood up to his father because of me. My heart swelled with emotion. After some time, she stood up and smoothed out her dress.

“I should let you rest,” she said kindly. “But remember, Lyla, you’re not alone in this. I’m here if you ever need to talk.”

“Thank you,” I whispered again, my voice filled with gratitude.

She leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of my head before leaving the room.

As the door closed softly behind her, I looked down at the ruby bangles on my wrists. They sparkled in the light, a beautiful reminder that maybe… just maybe… I was starting to belong.

And for the first time that day, I smiled.