REJECTED YET CHOSEN

Chapter 12

_Lyla’s POV_

After what happened at the training grounds, Aaron decided to take me shopping. Maybe he thought it would help me feel better. I wasn’t sure if buying things could fix the ache in my chest, but I didn’t say no.

We got into his sleek black car. The seats were cool against my skin, and the faint smell of pine mixed with the scent of Aaron filled the air. He started the engine, and the car hummed softly as we drove out of the pack grounds.

For a few minutes, we sat in silence. The only sound was the quiet hum of the car. Then Aaron spoke.

“I sent Dorian’s warriors away."

I turned to look at him, my heart picking up. “You did?”

He nodded, his jaw tight. “I told them if they dared to come back, they would face my wrath.” His tone was sharp, like a warning carved into stone. “I also told them to inform their Alpha that you’re under my protection now.”

My breath hitched. His words felt heavy.

Aaron glanced at me. “You are the future Luna of the BloodMoon Pack.”

Those words made my chest tighten. Future Luna. It sounded unreal, like it belonged to someone else.

“I don’t want to hear anything bad about you,” he continued, his fingers gripping the steering wheel slightly. “Not from them. Not from anyone.”

My heart thudded louder. I wasn’t sure what to say, so I blurted the first thing that came to mind.

“Your mom is really sweet,” I said quickly, hoping to shift the mood. “She’s kind and warm.”

Aaron chuckled softly. “Yeah, she is. But my dad? He is the strict one.”

I smiled a little. “That explains a lot.”

His eyebrows lifted slightly. “Oh? What’s that supposed to mean?”

I grinned, feeling bold. “You’re kind of strict too, you know.”

Aaron laughed. It was a low, warm sound that made my chest flutter. “Strict? I’m not strict. I just know what I want.”

I rolled my eyes playfully. “Yeah, sure.”

His smile grew, and he shot me a quick glance. “Careful, Lyla. Keep teasing me, and I might have to prove just how ‘strict’ I can be.”

My cheeks burned, and I quickly turned to look out the window, hoping he wouldn’t notice. But I felt his gaze linger for a moment longer before he focused on the road again.

When we arrived at the shopping mall, my heart raced again. The building was massive, with tall glass doors and bright displays. People walked in and out, dressed in fancy clothes, laughing like they belonged there.

Aaron led me inside, his hand resting lightly on the small of my back. His touch was warm through the thin fabric of my shirt and this sent tiny sparks down my spine.

We entered one of the shops, and I immediately felt out of place. The floors gleamed, the walls were lined with clothes that looked way too expensive, and the air smelled like luxury.

Aaron moved confidently, picking out dresses, running his fingers over fabrics like he knew exactly what he was doing.

He stopped at a soft blue dress with delicate embroidery. Holding it up, he studied me for a second, his eyes trailing from my face down to my shoes and back again.

“This would look good on you,” he said, handing it to me. “Try it on.”

I hesitated. “I don’t know…”

He smirked. “Are you afraid it’ll look too good, and I won’t be able to take my eyes off you?”

My face flushed. “No! That’s not—” I stopped myself, realizing I was falling right into his teasing trap.

His grin grew wider. “Go on, Lyla. Unless you want me to keep staring at you like this.”

I grabbed the dress and headed to the fitting room. My heart was racing faster than it should’ve been.

When I put the dress on and looked in the mirror, I barely recognized myself. It hugged my figure perfectly, the color making my eyes stand out. I took a deep breath and stepped out.

Aaron was leaning against a wall, scrolling through his phone. When he looked up, his phone slowly lowered, and his eyes locked on me.

For a moment, he didn’t say anything. Then he smiled—soft, but with something else in his gaze that made my heart skip.

“I was right,” he said, his voice lower now. “You look beautiful.”

I looked down, pretending to fix the hem of the dress, just to hide my burning cheeks.

“You have good taste,” I mumbled.

“Oh, I know,” he said smoothly.

My head snapped up, and he laughed at my stunned expression.

After buying the dress—and a few more things Aaron insisted on—we found ourselves in front of a jewelry store. The display sparkled with rings, necklaces, and bracelets, all looking too expensive to even breathe near.

Aaron stopped walking and pointed to the rings. “Pick one.”

I blinked. “What? Why?”

“I want to buy you a ring,” he said simply. “As a sign of our bond. Like an engagement ring.”

My heart stopped for a second. “Aaron, that’s not necessary—”

“If you don’t pick one, I will,” he interrupted, arching a brow like he dared me to argue.

I sighed and looked at the glittering rings. My fingers hovered over a simple silver band with a small diamond—not too flashy, not too expensive. I pointed at it.

Aaron picked it up, then gently took my hand. His fingers were warm against mine as he slid the ring onto my finger. The simple gesture made my heart race more than I wanted to admit.

“It looks perfect on you,” he said softly, his thumb brushing over my hand before he let go.

I stared at the ring, feeling something heavy and light in my chest all at once.

We shopped a little more, with Aaron picking out more clothes than I thought I would ever own. Then his phone rang. He answered, his face shifting into a more serious expression.

After hanging up, he turned to me. “We need to head back. Something urgent came up.”

I nodded. “That’s okay. I have bought more clothes than I ever imagined anyway.”

He chuckled, taking some of the bags from me. “Good. But next time, I’m picking out more dresses. I like seeing you flustered.”

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t stop the smile tugging at my lips.

As we walked back to the car, I glanced at the ring on my finger. It sparkled under the sun. It was simple, beautiful, and somehow meaningful.