REJECTED YET CHOSEN

Chapter 13

_Dorian’s POV_

I never thought that Lyla would leave the pack. When I rejected her, I believed that she would stay. She was just an omega—weak, timid, and ordinary. She should’ve been at my mercy, grateful for any scraps of attention I gave her. That’s how it was supposed to be. But she ran away.

At first, I didn’t care. Let her sulk somewhere in the woods, I thought. She would come crawling back eventually, realizing no one else would want her. But days passed and she didn’t return.

That’s when I sent my warriors to find her. I expected them to drag her back, begging for forgiveness. Instead, they came back with news that made my blood boil.

“She is at the BloodMoon Pack,” one of them reported, his eyes lowered like he was afraid to meet mine.

I frowned. “What do you mean, at the BloodMoon Pack?”

“She is with their Alpha. Aaron.”

I stood so fast that my chair scraped against the floor. “Aaron?”

The BloodMoon Pack was powerful. Their Alpha, Aaron, was known for being ruthless and cold. Some said he was cruel, hungry for power, and quick to destroy anyone who stood in his way. Why would a man like that choose someone like Lyla? She wasn’t strong or special. She was nothing.

But he hadn’t just taken her in.

“She is his Luna,” the warrior added hesitantly. “His future Luna.”

Those words hit me like a punch to the chest. I felt something sharp twist inside me, a mix of anger and disbelief. This couldn’t be real.

Why would Aaron, a powerful Alpha, choose Lyla—a weak omega—as his Luna? It didn’t make sense.

Unless…

Unless this had been planned all along.

The thought crept into my mind. What if Lyla had been working with Aaron from the start? What if she had been his spy, pretending to be the fragile, useless omega while feeding him information about my pack?

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms.

“She tricked me,” I muttered while pacing the room. “She used me.”

It all fit. That’s why she would run to Aaron after I rejected her. She didn’t leave because she was heartbroken. She left because her mission was done.

I sent my warriors back with a message for Aaron.

I know about Lyla’s betrayal. Send her back to me.

I expected Aaron to respond with fear or maybe an apology. Instead, his reply came back sharp and clear.

“Lyla is my future Luna. I don’t want to hear anything bad about her.”

That was it. No explanations. No apologies. Just a cold dismissal.

I was furious. I slammed my fist against the wall, the sharp sting of pain doing nothing to cool my rage.

“How dare he?” I growled. “How dare he speak to me like that?”

But beneath the anger was something else—frustration. I couldn’t attack the BloodMoon Pack, not without risking everything. Their army was large. Their warriors were fierce. A war with them would cost me more than I was willing to lose.

And all for Lyla?

No. I had to find another way.

I called my Beta, Marcus, into my office. He was loyal and smart. He was someone I trusted to carry out my plans.

Marcus entered, bowing his head slightly. “Alpha, you called for me?”

I nodded, gesturing for him to sit. “We have a problem.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Lyla?”

“Yes,” I snapped. “She is with Aaron now. He is claiming her as his Luna.”

Marcus frowned, clearly surprised. “But… she is an omega.”

“I know,” I said through gritted teeth. “Which means this isn’t about her. It’s about me. Aaron is trying to send a message.”

Marcus leaned forward. “What message?”

“That he can take whatever he wants. That he is stronger.”

Marcus stayed quiet for a moment, then said, “Do you want to declare war?”

I shook my head. “No. Not yet. I won’t waste my warriors on that traitor.”

“Then what’s the plan?”

I leaned back, my mind racing. “We’ll get her back another way.”

Marcus nodded slowly. “How?”

I didn’t have an answer yet. But I knew one thing—I wasn’t going to let Lyla win. She thought that she could escape me. She thought that she could betray me and run into the arms of another Alpha. But she was wrong.

“She’ll come back,” I said quietly, more to myself than to Marcus. “One way or another, she’ll come back.”

Marcus stood. He was waiting for my final orders.

“Keep an eye on the BloodMoon Pack,” I said.

“Watch their borders. I want to know everything—who comes and goes, what Aaron is planning. And if Lyla ever steps outside that territory…”

I didn’t finish the sentence. I didn’t have to.

Marcus understood.

After he left, I sat alone in my office, staring out the window. The sky was dark. There were clouds heavy with the promise of rain.

I thought about Lyla—her soft eyes, the way she had looked at me when I had rejected her. She was so weak and vulnerable. I had hated that look back then. It made me feel disgusted.

But now?

Now I missed it.

She will be my prisoner, I thought bitterly. She was always my property.

And I was going to make sure she never forgot it.