Page 9 of Rejected By The Alpha Heir

But this is what our life has dealt us. We’re promised to each other.Fated.

Our choices have been made for us. By our parents, the universe, the pack, hell, even the Moon Goddess herself.

I’ve come to terms with her presence in my life by accepting her as an unfortunate inconvenience. A physical representation of not only my status as Alpha-heir but the reality that my freedomhas been stolen by Fate. She is my responsibility, as are all of my pack members, but I can’t allow her to be more.

I purposefully look away and try to concentrate on my friend next to me.

“I think we should send a scouting party out to the east just to make sure that border is locked up,” Vincent continues, blissfully unaware of my inattention.

I nod. “Do it.”

These are the kinds of concerns I should be focusing on. Our border, the safety of our pack, the intelligence that keeps coming in about our rivals…not, mymate.

He tries to add something else, but I brush him aside. My eyes are glued across the fire to where Yelena is being dragged out onto the dance floor by a small group of children and some of our warriors. Her lithe body moves side to side, in time with the music as the pups dance around her. She looks ethereal, the way she throws her head back and howls at the moon with the kids is…stunning.

I feel a small tendril of shame start in my core. I’ve treated her like shit, and yet she continues to do her duty to me and our pack, with kindness, respect, and grace. It would be way easier if she were cranky, or obstinate, or needy…

But she’s not. She’s accepted every decree that I’ve given her, even when I know she hates it. She has served our pack well.

She will be the perfect Luna.Submissive, selfless, and obedient.

I kick a pebble across the grass in frustration. Yelena may be the perfect Luna on paper, but at the end of the day, the ideaof trading my freedom for a lifetime of living with someone so meek and bland makes me want to punch something. How could she be okay with just signing her life away because Fate told her to? Why doesn’t she ever push back?

I grumble when my view of her is blocked by more couples joining the dance party. I want to keep watching her, but if I stare too long, I’ll attract attention. I’ve done well to keep a very visible divide between us. If that changes, the entire pack will start to gossip.

It’s not fair to me and it’s not fair to her.Better to leave things as they are.

“You should ask her to dance, Austin,” Vincent says, looking at where my attention lies. “She’s your mate, not your enemy.”

I scowl at him and shrug. “I don’t dance.”

Vincent smirks at me. “You’re quite hard on her, you know. There are better ways to be hard for your mate. Remember that, my friend.”

I roll my eyes and take a deep breath to keep from snapping at him. As my most trusted advisor and one of my closest friends, Vincent always knows which buttons to push.

He claps me on my shoulder and moves toward the dance area where his own beautiful mate, Giana, is waiting for him. They are well matched and I’m happy for them. They will bring much strength to our pack through their family ties.

Vincent and Giana twirl effortlessly around the fire, lost in their own little world.

They are one of the lucky few who fell in love first and then Fate confirmed their bond and destiny. I wish that had happened for Yelena and I. Perhaps it would be easier for me to accept if I had chosen her first before Fate chose her for me. I drain my beer bottle and another person hurries over to replace it.

Yelena is still dancing, her willowy frame bending and swaying to the music. I go to turn away, lost in my thoughts, when I see him approach her. Suddenly, there’s nothing else going on at this party more important than watching this interaction.

His name is Jimmy, and he’s one of our loners, pack-less wolves who stay with us for a time in exchange for their mercenary services.

And she ismine.

Most of our packmates know better than to approach Yelena to dance. Or, if they do, it’s always in a group.Always.

But this asshole has swaggered up to her as if she’s any other available female. He’s smiling at her, laughing with her.

Rage flows through me when he offers her his hand and gestures toward the music. I go to turn away, causing the packmates around me to look around.

I don’t care what they do. All I care about is Yelena and whatshedoes.

She pauses and looks uncertain, clearly uncomfortable with the rogue wolf’s advances.Good girl.

Jimmy is undeterred and I grit my teeth. She looks over toward where I am, clearly looking to see my reaction, and I school my face, giving her only my normal stony glare.

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