The Alpha's Rejection

CHAPTER 5

MILLIE

For the first time in my life, I don't see ice in Leander's eyes. I see brimstone. His hands are fisted tightly, veins bulging as they struggle to contain his rage. Tendons at his throat contain a scream. Eyes black, muscles rippling. He's trembling. He's utterly terrifying, and I love it.

I smile, thriving with joy as he towers over me, his shadow casting over me like the warm summer rays of the sun.

"You want to do this the hard way?" he asks me with a voice so deep that it echoes in my chest and arouses goosebumps across my skin.

"When has it been easy with you? You made me the woman that I am when you humiliated me years ago."

He growls. "We were young. We made mistakes!"

Every part of his being is affected by his rage. When Alphas get this unhinged, empires fall. Another woman would tread lightly, but I'm as bloodthirsty as he is. My mother is sick, I've been kidnapped, I can't shake my attraction for Leander, and there's an infuriating spark of hope in my heart that we can make things work. After years of trying, I couldn't suffocate that light. And that drives me utterly mad.

"We?" I grit. "There is no we. No soulmates. No Alpha and Luna. There's only a desperate, selfish man and a woman who's happy to become just as deplorable to make his life hell. You made the fucking mistakes. I welcome you to prove me wrong. Explain why you turned your back on me and told me I wasn't enough. Explain why you were repulsed when I was at my most vulnerable. Go on!"

His hand snaps out, hooking on the arm of the couch and yanking the furniture forward until our foreheads are pressed together.

"I moved the sun and the moon to win the Alpha title. I get whatever I want; if I want you, your antics won't deter me. Scream all you want. I'll cut down anyone that comes running to the rescue. Let the Moon Goddess come herself. I'll paint the walls red with her blood, too."

I gasp, recoiling away from him. The blasphemy, the arrogance! How can he disrespect the moon? Doesn't he fear our maker?

He straightens, separating our faces. The fire is fading, and ice is returning.

He doesn't answer my questions. Doesn't explain his repulsion and rejection. All of this apprehension would end if he gave me a reason. But he can't. He won't. And I hate that he has that power over me.

He stomps away, shifting right as he walks out of the house, the porch groaning under his beastly weight. He takes off into the woods.

I move my hand to my chest, where my heart thunders. I stand on shaky legs, the adrenaline tapering off. Hurt and anger make a dangerous cocktail.

I walk upstairs, my hand tightly gripping the railing. "Emilli," I say as I stand by the bedroom and brush a hand through my hair.

I pity her. I pity any woman who gets entangled with Leander, including me.

She steps outside, eyes downcast. She seems respectful of me, but she owes me nothing.

I step closer. "Eyes up. Chin high. Pride higher."

She nods softly, and innocence sparkles in her eyes. It's beautiful. Like a vase in Leander's living room, pure and fragile. I wonder if this is what my eyes would've looked like if I hadn't been shattered by him.

"Thanks for your help. I need one last favor. Can you tell me why Leander chose you as his Luna?"

She cringes as if thinking of a memory from years ago when, in fact, mere days have passed.