Page 49 of Rejected By My Shadow Alpha
"Because it is," I replied, firmer now. "I've spent years denying what's mine. She's my mate, my bond mate, and I'm done pretending like that doesn't matter."
Lena tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable. "You do realize members of the pack will never approve. Some of the pack already question your leadership—tying yourself to Alfred's daughter."
"I understand their fear," I said, steadying my voice. "But Ruby shouldn't pay for her father's sins. She's nothing like him.The pack will see that, just like Alex did." I paused, letting the silence hold the weight of what I wouldn't say. Then quietly, "I lost her once because of this prejudice. I won't let it happen again."
Lena nodded slowly and leaned backwards. She took another sip of her coffee and let the silence settle between us. "You have a good heart, Alpha, and I understand how hard this must have been for you. You can always count on my support."
I studied her. Her calm and warm expression melted my heart. She could be useful in my quest to fish out the person behind the attacks. "Thank you, Lena," I replied with a nod.
"You are welcome, Alpha." She replied and stood up, "Now, if you will excuse this old lady, I need to check on some of our supplies with the storekeeper. She picked up her mug and tablet and walked to the door.
A thought flashed through my mind, "Er..Lena," I called. "You said some of the pack are already questioning my leadership. Would you mind telling me who they…"
My phone buzzed against the desk, the screen lighting up with a red-coded alert. It was the underground network emergency protocol—a request for emergency surgical assistance. I stood up, gathering my device and striding to the cabinet for my surgical tools.
"I'm sorry, I have to go," I said, grabbing my coat. "Can we have this conversation some other time?"
Lena nodded and stepped outside the door. "It's fine, Alpha. Be safe."
I grabbed my keys, shut the door, and headed out, my strides quick and hurried, off to save another rogue wolf.
The clinic air was cold and sterile, thick with the sharp tang of disinfectant, hitting me like a wall the moment I pushed through the door. I burst in, my heart thudding, scanning thespace, ready to wash my hands fast and head to the OR, but then I froze.
Ruby was there.
She stood by the chart table, gloved hands flipping through patient notes, her hair pulled back in a loose twist and enclosed in a bouffant cap. Her presence struck me harder than the emergency alert. She looked calm on the surface, composed and collected, but her shoulders were stiff, her energy coiled tight like a bowstring.
Then she looked up.
Our eyes met.
She stilled for a second. Then something flickered across her face—confusion first, then a flash of guardedness. "Drew, what are you doing here?"
"Ruby, I…" I started, taking a step toward her.
"Wolfsbane22, we need you in the OR," a nurse called from behind me, her tone urgent.
The air turned to stone. I didn't have to look at her to feel the way her body went rigid. But I did, and I saw her pupils dilating and her nostrils flaring. Betrayal descended like a storm cloud. She blinked once, like it hurt to see me. Her lips parted slightly, but she didn't speak. She didn't have to. Her silence was louder than any scream.
Then she turned, back straight, shoulders squared, and walked toward the OR like she hadn't just been gutted.
I had because I'd just watched trust die in her eyes.
Shit! I had this coming. How foolish of me to keep my identity as Wolfsbane22 from her. I had been selfish, and now things could go worse than I had imagined between us.
The surgery that followed was a blur of sterile movements and cold silence. We worked in tandem, fluid, efficient, and professional, but there was no warmth in it. Her fingers moved with mechanical precision. Her eyes never met mine. Her jawwas clenched so tight I could see the tension down her neck. The air between us crackled with things left unsaid.
I tried to focus on the patient and on saving the mangled rogue on the table, but all I could think of was her voice, soft and vulnerable, as Moonleaf, telling me about the nights she didn't sleep and her fears for her daughter. All that trust she'd handed me like a gift, and I'd worn a mask the entire time.
When the final suture was done, she didn't wait. She turned away without a word, tossed her gloves into the bin, and turned her back to me, her hands already in the sink, washing away all stains.
I slipped out first, heading into the small back office to breathe, to think, if that was even possible anymore. The walls were too close and my chest was too tight. The air smelled of blood and antiseptic and something else.
Regret.
The door slammed open behind me. Ruby stood in the doorway, flushed with rage, her breath ragged, chest heaving.
"You lied to me," she said, her voice trembling with fury. "Wolfsbane22…that was you?"
