Rejected When Life-Saving Herbs Became Rabbit Food

Silas, the Alpha of the Shadow Moon Pack, made three bids at the pack auction to secure the rare medicine that could save my father, only to turn around and give it to Phoenix Montgomery, his Gamma, to feed her pet rabbit.

I knelt in the pouring rain, pleading with him to show some compassion for the friendship and mentorship he once shared with my father. But instead of any empathy, I received the news that Phoenix had taken my place as his trusted advisor and was going to a new territory with him.

It wasn’t until the Healer delivered my father’s third critical condition notice that I finally reached Silas on the mind link. On the other end, Phoenix’s voice chimed in, “Alpha is in the shower. Want me to pass on a message?”

Gripping the phone so tightly my fingers turned white, I managed to say in an even tone, “Nothing urgent, just the rejection.”

...

After ending the mind link, I went straight to the pack lawyer to draft the rejection papers. Turning around, I noticed Arely, a Delta from our pack and one of my father’s former students, arriving with concern. They were shocked that something so significant had happened, and I was left to bear it alone.

I didn’t make any excuses for Silas. Instead, I hugged my knees and crouched in the corner. Just half an hour earlier, I’d seen a picture on his social media. There he was, spending all our savings on that rare medicine—with Phoenix, feeding her rabbit.

At first, I thought he hadn’t seen my countless messages, but he found the time to like and comment on his own post. This time, I could no longer fool myself. I realized our mate bond was over.

When my father was taken to the Healer’s den, I went to the pack hall to request a leave of absence. That’s when I finally saw Silas, who had rushed back from the new territory. It seemed like he didn’t even notice me as he headed straight to Bradley, the Beta.

“Beta, I’d like to recommend Phoenix for my project team, to work with me on the research.”

So that was it; he’d rushed back not for his mentor, but to make sure Phoenix replaced me. My pack members cast sympathetic glances in my direction before quickly looking away; everyone knew my embarrassment, except for Silas, who didn’t care.

Seeing the Beta remain silent, Silas impatiently turned his frown toward me. “Aren’t you supposed to be taking care of your father? Why hold onto this position? You should let it go.”

Days of stress left me dazed, and under Silas’s commanding alpha tone, I nodded numbly. Having achieved his goal, he made a curt bow to the Beta and turned to leave. The breeze from his swift departure carried the scent of the rose perfume he wore, filling my nostrils. My vision blurred, and I stumbled to the ground.

Everyone around cried out in alarm,