Page 36 of Rejected By the Alpha

They waited for me to begin, but when I was unable to answer, they turned to Leah. She gave them an explanation of what had happened with her parents while they listened intently.

“It’s a good thing that they left before things got too physical,” Jasper said. He turned to me. “To be honest, you showed much more restraint than I would have if I were in your shoes. But that doesn’t mean this is over.”

“There will surely be consequences from Sparkle Hollow,” Nile added. “No pack takes a threat against their pack mates lightly, no matter how wrong the actions may have been.”

“I’m so sorry. This is all my fault,” Leah said quietly.

“No.”

All three of us alphas had spoken in sync. I gave them a look of gratitude that they were sticking up for my mate after everything that had just happened. The risk to their own alliances was tenuous because of us, but they were still standing by our sides.

“No matter what the response is from Alpha Lex and Sparkle Hollow, we will be behind you,” Nile said to Leah.

“You two should get some sleep,” Jasper said. “Let us know if you get any calls or messages. We’ll be on standby.”

“Thank you,” I said.

They left. I was glad that Leah had called them, but now that we were alone, I was ready to get some answers from her.

“Leah, we need to talk,” I said.

“You’re right,” she sighed.

I patted the spot next to me on the couch, inviting her to sit, and angled my shoulders toward her. As she sat next to me,I saw how guarded her stance was. Her shoulders were hunched as she stared at the floor, hands between her knees.

“Help me understand,” I began. “What happened between you and your parents?”

She took a shaky breath and closed her eyes.

“My parents are the reason I was an outcast in Sparkle Hollow. I was never allowed to have friends. If anyone showed me kindness, they were quick to put a stop to it. From the time I was a small child, I was forced to rely only on them for love, affection, and friendship.

“By the time I was four, the verbal abuse began. Physical abuse followed soon after. Any form of disobedience—any mistake—was met with a harsh punishment. They made me believe that they were doing it for my own good, and because I had no one else to turn to, I accepted that. I believed that I deserved to be punished—that it was the only way to become the daughter they wanted me to be. If I could do that, then maybe someday they would love me.”

Her voice began to break as she poured her heart out to me, and I could tell that she had never spoken about any of this before. I reached out and squeezed her hand gently, letting her know that I was listening.

“My best friend, Sienna, was the only person who ever put up with my parents long enough to become my friend. They were scared of her, and of her coven, and that was why they couldn’t force her to leave,” Leah continued.

“Did she know what your parents were doing to you?” I asked quietly.

Leah shook her head. “It wasn’t until I met you that I realized my life could be different. I fell in love with you soquickly that it felt like a fairytale,” she said with a sad smile. “You told me I could leave Sparkle Hollow with you someday, and the thought of being with you and being free from my parents gave me the strength to continue living under their thumb.”

My heart sank as I realized where her story was heading.

“And then you left,” she said with a quiet sob. “I felt so alone and so defeated that I wondered if life was even worth living anymore. Sienna helped me realize that I still had things to live for, but it was a long road. While I was recovering from my heartbreak, my parents were even crueler than usual.”

She shuddered at the memory, and I lowered my hand from hers. I had never imagined that my departure could have caused such pain to someone as perfect as Leah. Guilt riddled me as feelings of worthlessness filled my heart. No wonder she had been so opposed to our marriage. I had destroyed her happiness without any explanation and left her to the cruelties of her parents.

“I’m so sorry,” I mumbled. “Those words don’t even come close to expressing the remorse I feel for the pain I put you through. I never should have left. I don’t deserve you and wouldn’t blame you if you hate me for the rest of your life.”

I didn’t expect a response from her, but she surprised me by turning toward me and lifting my chin to meet her gaze.

“I don’t hate you,” she said, shaking her head as if it was out of the question. “These past few weeks with you have been some of the best of my life, and today, you showed me more support than I ever dreamed of. You were willing to fight for me.”

“I will always fight for you,” I whispered.

The look in her eyes transformed as she processed my words, and I sensed that everything between us had just changed. With her hand still resting on my cheek, she moved toward me, softly placing her lips against mine.

I inhaled her sweet scent, feeling the soft pillows of her lips moving against mine as our kiss deepened.

---