Mystery of the Rejected Alpha ✔

Chapter Forty-Seven

Alina

But how could I possibly lose something that didn't even belong to me? I pondered all the time. The visual of James wounded up, unconscious in bed never left my mind, not that I ever left his side either.

It has been fifteen days.

Fifteen days since that incident.

He took a bullet for me.

The atrocious situation that currently enveloped us has no definite escape. The sudden disappearance of our pack members, certain packs getting burnt down to ashes, the appearances of abandoned wolves sneaking into our territories and mostly the changes in the Book of Myths. It felt like we were stuck in a prism of dismay, with no proper exit or answer.

"You should stop stressing like that." I heard Drake state. "You stressing like that won't matter unless he can sense your mate bond which considering his situation seems rather vague." I looked at him. He was still sitting at the far end, eyeing me.

I shrugged in response. I didn't have words to comprehend a coherent sentence.

"We are all bothered-" Drake started again, "- and vulnerable. There is something ahead, a danger, we are not being able to foretell. Even our sorcerers warned us about the predicaments, yet there is no solution."

I nodded. "I really am curious about the bullet that pierced him," I said looking at James.

James had responded earlier today and the first thing he said was my name. He was still in slumber and had not regained his full consciousness, but the sudden movement of his closed eyelids as he moved a little restlessly while calling my name, had shocked Drake and I equally. Luckily for us, Hailey was not in the room while James called out for me. Frankly, I was at a point where I didn't even care about her presence. It was all James that mattered to me.

It has been six hours since then and James was still unconscious. His movements came to a halt soon after the rapid flicking of his eyelids and, raspy short breaths as he called out my name.

I missed the butterflies that I felt every time his honey brown eyes looked at me. I yearned for him to call my name again, yearned to see his honey-brown orbs again.

Just don't leave me this time.

"Our healer confirmed that it was indeed a silver bullet coated with Wolfsbane. The healing herbs are slowly having an effect on him." Drake said looking at James who was still asleep. His wounds had already started to heal and the bandage around his torso got removed earlier today. He laid in a tee-shirt that Hailey had gotten him after his bandages came off. The tee-shirt, however, smelt like Hailey and I was ready to rip it off of him. The reek of some other female on what belonged to me infuriated me.

But it's Hailey who bears his mark. I reminded myself.

"What are you beating yourself about?" Drake asked. I looked at him for a second, bearing a blank expression on my face I replied, "I don't know what's happening anymore. I think I really should consult with Ron and Neil."

He shook his head soon after, "You can't mind-link your friends while you are in our territory."

I nodded soon after. "I know. I was suggesting a formal discussion between the packs."

The door creaked open and Jace walked in through the door. He was holding a jar with green herbs inside. He placed the jar on the bedside table and eyed James. "How's my brother?" He asked, "Heard he responded?"

Drake hummed, "He sure is taking his time. Are we supposed to increase his dosage?" Drake asked looking at the jar himself.

Jace nodded and looked at me soon after. "So, Alina, tell me-" He paused, "-How long are you planning to stay here?"

I sensed the mockery in his tone and avoided any external reactions. I knew he was testing me, trying to provoke me to spill information.

"As soon as he regains his consciousness."

"Ah, a firm answer from the Late Alpha Brynn's daughter." He smiled, "I expected nothing less from you. Can you tell me why you ran away from your original pack?"

I flinched at his tone. His question brought back many snippets from the past. The production of wolfsbane, Stacy, my rejection.

"You knew something was wrong back then, didn't you? That's why you ran away. You ran away to protect yourself from something." Jace catechised. I gasped at his calculations and shook my head soon after.

"Oh, you did. You ran away cause you sensed your misery and thought fleeing would help redeem it."

I was not going to let him mess with my mind. I was not the one at fault here. The situation itself at that time had called for it. My own brother had no faith in me. Stacy was obsessed with her greed and her hatred towards me led her to consume Wolfsbane.

But who produced the potion that day?

Again I had no answer.

"After your rejection, James searched for you. Do you know that?" Drake added. "He searched for you for years. Even though he was mated to Hailey, he still longed for you, waited for you. The very first day you meet after the rejection, he gets shot."

Drake ushered Jace to sit next to him which Jace obliged. I blankly sat there absorbing each and every word they said.

"No one really cares about love or mate bonds when you yourself are in danger. The most natural instinct is to defend yourself first." Jace continued, "My little brother here," he pointed at James, "-is foolish."

I raised an eyebrow at him. I felt cornered with all their accusations.

There was an awkward pause that lingered on maybe for a minute too long.

"You do realise that bullet was originally meant for you?"

I lowered my head and gave them a simple nod.

Yet again, I was left speechless.