Page 32 of Rejected and Regretted

A sigh broke through his lips. “I want to tell you the truth, Avril. About what happened in the past.” My eyes widened in a mix of confusion, shock, and curiosity. Noticing it, he added, “Perhaps it will help you understand my concern for you.”

While my interest was certainly piqued, a part of me insisted on warning me that this could just be another one of his games. Still, I motioned with my hand, signaling for him to begin. Maybe I just wanted to see where he was going with this.

“Five years ago…” Koen started, and I could already feel cold shivers running through my body. It always happened whenever I was reminded of how helpless I had felt back then. “When I rejected you, it wasn’t personal.”

“Sure. An alpha like you could never be with an omega like me,” I pointed out bitterly.

To my bewilderment, he shook his head. “Actually, it’s more complicated than that. My father was adamant I should take Nerine as my mate. She was from a prestigious pack, and a political marriage between us meant our packs would be more than neighbors - even more than allies.”

“It would make your combined packs a force to be reckoned with, not only amplifying Whispering Hills’ strength, but offering it stability and security,” I concluded, not at all impressed by his revelation. After all, I had already figured that out when he told me the truth about his engagement to Nerine.

Despite being momentarily surprised by my understanding of politics, he continued, “Yes. And my father refused to passhis title to me unless I agreed to his conditions.” Now, that was slightly more intriguing, though not really mind-blowing. It did sound like something his asshole of a dad would do.

Unamused, I told him, “I get it. You had to reject me to keep your pack.”

“Not just that,” he promptly replied, catching me off guard. “I rejected you and stood by my father when he exiled you because I knew he would have you killed otherwise.”

At last, I was taken aback. It was no secret Rockwell was a tyrant, but I didn’t think he would go as far as taking my life for something that was out of my control. I didn’t choose to be mated to Koen - hell knows it would be different if it was up to me.

Though appalled for a minute, I quickly shook it off. It would take more than Koen’s heroic excuse of rejecting me for my own safety to make me feel any sort of sympathy for him. There were other options much more humane than exiling a pack member whose counterpart had just awakened.

Crossing my arms, I muttered, “That still doesn’t excuse what you did.”

“I know,” he exhaled guiltily. When I glanced into his eyes, I saw nothing but honesty. “At the time, I thought it was the best decision. If it’s any consolation, I do regret it, Avril.Deeply.”

His words ignited a flicker of hope inside me. Even Kea perked her ears up. Despite how much I hated it, I couldn’t help but feel like a lovesick teenager again. I cursed my own body as my brain tried to remind my stupid heart we hated Koen, and we didn’t care about what the future would hold for us if he hadn’t rejected me.

Yet that small, hopeful flicker soon died as he spoke again.

“Leaving you, a fledgling, to fight for your own life in the borderlands was cruel,” he observed, his gaze falling to the ground just in time for him to miss how he shattered somethinginside me.Fledglingswere how shifters who had just connected with their wolf were called throughout a period of a week while they adjusted to moving, fighting, and generally living with their animal side.

I immediately felt stupid as I realized he didn’t mean he regretted rejecting me, but rather exiling me. As an alpha, he felt for failing a fellow pack member - that was all. He wasn’t regretful about what he had done to me as his mate. It was obvious, wasn’t it? Besides, I hated him. Why did it affect me so much to be reminded of how he never wanted me? I didn’t want him either.

“That’s why I’m constantly looking out for you now,” he concluded, unaware of the emotions raging inside me. “I abandoned you when I should have protected you. But you can count on me from now on, Avril, I promise.”

Koen took a step in my direction, and despite how badly I wanted to move away from him, my feet wouldn’t obey me.

“Let me make it up to you, for everything,” he proposed. “For the past, for my actions, and on behalf of how my pack has been treating you since you returned.” After a brief pause, he stretched his hand out to me. “Let me take you to the city for a nice, relaxing evening. Then, I’ll stay out of your way, if that’s what you want me to do.”

Initially, I was reluctant to take his hand, but the last line of his deal was quite tempting. What did I have to lose? I mean, aside from having to spend the rest of the evening in Koen’s company. I could either play along and pretend I sympathized with him, as earning his trust would facilitate my job, or I could finally push him away at the end of the night so I could properly focus on my mission. It was a no-brainer.

And I desperately wanted to convince myself that was the only reason why I accepted to go with him.

21

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A V R I L

“Come on out, Alpha!”I heard Theo chant from the other side of the door. “Let’s see the pretty outfit you picked for your date.”

“It’s not a fucking date!” I grunted, swinging the door of the suite’s bathroom open.

The second I came into view, my two friends, who were sitting by the side of the bed, shot me horrified looks. When I told them that I was going into the city with Koen, they started giggling like preschoolers. They insisted on staying in my suite to help me get ready.

I thought they were just teasing me, but it seemed they had truly expected me to dress up. It was obvious they didn’t think I looked my best with my usual black hoodie and jeans. Well, if anything, I hoped my former mate would share their opinion - the last thing I wanted was for him to assume I was trying to look pretty for him.

“Are you seriously wearingthat?” my beta grimaced, his disgust evident as he pointed at my clothes.

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