Page 39 of Rejected By The Alpha Heir

“Are you ready for your ascension to Alpha?” I ask, avoiding the question. “The ceremony will be soon. Once you’ve completed your mating to…Sylvie.”

“I think I am as ready as I’ll ever be,” he says abruptly. “I’ve trained under my father for years. The transition should be smooth, with minimal disruption to the pack. Will you stay for the ceremony?”

The idea of watching Austin complete the mating ceremony with Sylvie and take his rightful place as Alpha of our pack withherby his side actually makes me feel physically ill.

But I can’t deny him this. I’m not strong enough to resist it. So, even though I know it will hurt, I nod my head.

“I’d be glad to be there for you,” I say softly. “You’ll make an excellent Alpha, Austin. I’ve always known that. And Sylvie, she will be a good Luna.”

Austin coughs. “Perhaps. But she doesn’t come to the role as naturally as you did, and my parents haven’t warmed up to her yet.” He elbows me, and I look over at him in surprise. “I think they’ve always held out hope that you’d come back.”

I look away. It does us no good to talk like that. Not with things the way they are.

“Do you ever think about when we were kids?” he asks suddenly.

I blink at the change of conversation, but I give him a small smile. “Sometimes. We had so many adventures in these woods.”

He brightens and nods. “That time we ran all the way to the waterfalls and then got lost coming home. My father was so mad at me.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Why? It’s not like we left pack lands. He met us at the gate, and he gave me some snacks since I was so hungry. He didn’t seem angry at all!”

He turns to me in surprise. “He was mad because I could have hurt you. You could have been injured because of my irresponsible behavior.”

I think about that for a moment. I knew the Alpha and Luna were fond of me, but I had no idea that my safety had been such a high priority for them when Austin and I were kids.

“I had no idea,” I admit, toeing my foot in the dirt.

“They’ve always adored you,” Austin adds.

“It was hard to leave them. They are a good Alpha and Luna pair. They lead us well,” I say.

Something in his expression softens. For a moment, I wonder if there is an understanding in him that wasn't there before.

"I never knew you felt so conflicted about leaving," he says quietly, almost to himself. There's an odd regret in his tone that throws me off balance again.

My gaze flickers to his face before I return to staring at the darkness of the forest. "Not everything is meant to be shared," I reply cryptically. “Some wounds are better left untouched.”

"Maybe," Austin says. I sense him shifting next to me on the rock, turning his body toward mine. "But perhaps sharing could've made the burden easier for both of us."

It’s an unexpected level of honesty from Austin, and the pull I feel toward him seems stronger than ever.

He’s so close. My wolf is desperate for us to touch, brush hands, anything. I look down at his lips for a moment, wondering for a brief second what it would feel like if he kissed me again.

But the image of Sylvie sneering at me earlier pops into my mind.

He’s not mine.I gave him up and moved on. He’s promised to Sylvie. I have to accept that.

I exhale and look away.

"I think we've both carried our burdens long enough," I say, forcing an impartial tone. "It's time to move on."

"I agree," Austin replies, his voice quiet yet firm. "That includes finding happiness."

My heart clenches at his words. I look at him sharply and see that he is still looking out at the forest, his expression unreadable.

"Happiness..." I repeat softly, a sad smile on my face. That seems like a concept so far removed from the reality I’m being forced to accept. Ever since we were paired, I’ve associated happiness withhim.

"Yes," Austin says, turning to look at me again. His gaze is intense, filled with emotions I can’t quite decipher. "You deserve it, you know. We both do."

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