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Chapter 22
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ALPHA REJECTION Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-ThreeVeronica's POV“We should let her go. She has done nothing wrong.”“We are not holding her captive.”“We both know she will never make it out of the labyrinth on her own.”Zephyr turns to regard me, eyes filled with curiosity and something akin to jealousy.“What are you proposing, Vee?”“We have to help her. You did so when she was in the forest. It won't hurt to do it again.”Zephyr moves away from the window where he's been standing for the last hour, entertained by Jenna's futile efforts to make it out of the labyrinth.“I don't want her to leave... At least not yet.”“Why? Why would you want her to stay here? You understand that she is a guest, and she has to remain here of her own choosing?”“That's why we have to give her reasons to stay.” Zephyr responds with a smile, looking utterly pleased with himself.I shake my head disapprovingly at him.“I'm not voting for deception any more. She doesn't even trust us anymore... Let's not do that.”“Then, find a bet
ALPHA REJECTION Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-fourJenna's POV“You don't have to cry. If you come with me, I can help.” The familiar voice causes me to tense up and for tears to cease.“You are deceitful. How can I trust the things you say?”I turn to eye Veronica, who looks at me with nothing but regret and kindness in the depths of her eyes.“I understand that it is wrong to lie. But you must understand that you are a stranger here, and we needed to be sure that we could trust you.”“Did he actually even feed off of you, or was that a lie too?”“We take turns feeding the alpha; I didn't lie about that. But he would never have harmed me.” A blush coats her cheeks at her words, and she looks down in an attempt to hide her reddened cheeks. ”At least not in the way you thought.”“I really don't care about you or your alpha anymore. I want to get out of here. You said you could help me—maybe help me get out of here.”“It's pretty simple. The only way out is to follow the paths where the fireflies are.”“What do you m
ALPHA REJECTION Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty FiveJenna's POVVeronica's home isn't anything like Zephyr's sprawling mansion. And the sight of her simple home, with fire flickering in her fireplace, a well-used chair and a simple bed makes me feel more comfortable than I have in days.“I know it isn't as tasteful as Zephyr's mansion.” Veronica says as she gives a self-conscious smile, gesturing at the little space that houses everything she needs.“Zephyr's home is gorgeous.” I admit, because even though I may not really like the man, I won't fail to tell myself the truth. “But yours makes me feel more at home; I think I like simplicity a lot.”Veronica beams at my words. And then she almost skips towards a large bowl of food she had placed on her centre table.“I made broth before I stepped out this morning; if you'd sit, I can make it warm for us again.”“Alright.” I settle on the only sofa chair in the room and look around; there's a collection of clothes in a corner of the room, neatly arranged. The bed, tucke
ALPHA REJECTION Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-sixVeronica's POV“We have decided to make our pack feel like a home for you.” I say it in a softer, gentler tone. “Though lying to you was wrong, Zephyr needed to know your heart had purity.”“So is he now?” Jenna challenges, an edge in her voice. “I guess that's left for him to answer.” I reply. Silence falls between us, and I pick up the spoon that I had not realised that I'd dropped and go back to eating. But the now cold food tastes like sand in my mouth. I push the plate aside and get up. Jenna, who had long since abandoned her own meal, has moved to the window that overlooks my morning farm, bathed in the soft glow of the sunset. The room is quiet, and tension reigns supreme. I wonder what the young woman is thinking. Even though I am curious to know where she'd come from and why she'd left, I don't ask. Zephyr had warned me not to do so. Her eyes radiated an indescribable anguish and sorrow that profoundly touched my heart.“This place is lovely.” Jenna wh
ALPHA REJECTION Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-SevenJack's POV“Something happened.” I mutter loud enough for Jordan, who has appeared beside me, to hear.Jordan and I share matching looks of worry, and I crouch down to assess the footprints better. “Do you think that she was attacked?” Elise asks tearfully.I do not answer her fearful question, afraid of instigating more worry and tears. I turn to the small crowd who have gathered around me and address them. “We have to hasten our search; Jenna could be in real danger.” I look down again, following the footprints that lead south with my eyes. “There's a small footprint right here. And several other larger imprints to show that whoever had decided to camp here had been attacked.” Violet speaks up for the first time since our last conversation at the border. I turn to her, noting that her eyes are already on me, cold and challenging. “I don't think it is wise to continue this search, not if this lady had been taken right here.” She concludes.“I don't think she
ALPHA REJECTION Chapter 28
Chapter twenty-eightJenna's POV“Will you teach me?” I ask, and my skin prickles with trepidation at what Veronica's response will be.“We have never really been keen on teaching weaklings how to defend themselves.”“I'm no weakling.” I growl, my wolf rousing for the first time since I was brought here. My wolf's presence fills me with happiness. I didn't realise how much I missed her.Veronica takes a cautious step back, her hands lifted in the universal sign of surrender.“I may lack knowledge of combat, but I am no weakling. I will fight you back with every strength within if you try to come for me. I only need to be trained.”I move towards the window, drawn to the scenic farmland and the golden look that twilight has cast upon the land. This might as well be my favourite view in all of Duskhowl.“We do not train people who might use our strategies against us.” Veronica replies, her chin lifted naughtily, as if did dare me to challenge her.“That's quite selfish of you.”“I would
ALPHA REJECTION Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty NineJenna's POV That night, after Veronica pushes out a constructible iron and transforms it into bed and invites me to use the one I'd come to see, the one that looks more comfortable, and feels just as comfortable when I lay my body on it, finding sleep becomes impossible.Veronica appears to have dozed off as soon her head touched the sheets, her even breathing goes to shows that, and the fact that she isn't tossing and tossing like I am.I stare wide eyed up at the ceiling, thinking about tomorrow morning and how my first training would be.I think about the earlier events of the day and how I had almost left there, certain that Zephyr was not the broad shouldered savior that I had thought him to be.Now, I was in the home of his beta, enjoying her hospitality. Even though I still had my niggling doubts about Veronica, it was apparent that she was kind meant me no harm.All evening, she had done everything to ensure my comfort. Even the way she had converse with m
ALPHA REJECTION Chapter 30
Chapter ThirtyJenna's POVI watch Veronica mix what she calls dough until she achieves a liquid consistency that makes her grin with satisfaction.Now, we fry this. She announces, scooping the thick liquid in smaller quantities and frying it in a large pan. The sweet fragrance hits my nostrils, causing my stomach to growl noisily.Hungry already? Veronica chuckles as she flips the pancake.I shake my head no, but even I know that that is a lie. I wish we knew how to do this back in our pack. There's so much we would have done with our limited resources.Veronica nods. That's why we are sometimes grateful that we met the humans and that Zephyr had somehow gotten to meet Christabel in the forest. With the tools they'd brought, life has been so much easier.I see that. I say, moving around Veronica's room and studying the beautiful furniture there. This morning, I finally take notice of little paintings hung on the furthest part of the room.I move closer to take a better look, realisi
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ALPHA REJECTION Chapter 158
Jack's POV The house is too quiet, even with the faint hum of activity outside. The younger ones explore the space, their laughter and chatter muffled by the walls. It feels wrong—unnatural—to hear those sounds without the rustling of leaves or the distant howls of the pack in the background. Eldris stands in the doorway, his arms crossed and that familiar, calculating look on his face. He doesn’t say anything right away, but I can feel the weight of whatever’s on his mind. “What is it?” I ask, leaning back against the worn chair. “The younger ones,” he starts, stepping into the room and sitting across from me. “They’re restless. Eager to learn. I’ve been teaching them what I can, but it’s not enough. Jack, we need to consider sending them to school.” The words hit me like a blow. “School?” I repeat, leaning forward. “You’re talking about sending our kids into human schools? Among them?” “Yes,” he says, his tone calm and resolute. My fingers tighten around the armrests. “Y
ALPHA REJECTION Chapter 157
Jack’s POVThe days pass in a blur of unease and fascination. Each morning, we wake to a world that feels alien—smooth floors beneath our feet, no damp earth or leaves clinging to our skin. The house itself is strange, with its glowing orbs that light up the night and its doors that shut with a tightness that keeps the wind and cold completely at bay. On the first day, Eldris shows us how to use the objects around us. He calls them “appliances.” A box that keeps food cold without ice, a stove that heats without fire, and strange fixtures in the walls that bring water at the twist of a handle. It’s all overwhelming, but there’s no denying how useful these things are. For the pack, adapting to human ways is harder than I expected. Eating from plates with knives and forks feels unnatural, but Eldris insists we must. “If you want to pass as human, you must live like them,” he tells us. “They eat with tools, not their hands. They use furniture, not the ground.” At first, the pack res
ALPHA REJECTION Chapter 156
Jenna's POV The sharp crack of wood splintering jolts me awake, the sound echoing through the inn like a gunshot. My wolf growls deep inside me, her instincts flaring to life. Something is wrong. I’m out of bed in an instant, yanking open my door just as Eleanor appears in the hallway, her expression grim and focused. “They’re here,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper. “Humans?” I ask, already knowing the answer. She nods, her gaze darting toward the stairs. “Armed. Council dogs."My blood runs cold. The council wasn’t wasting time—they’d sent their human hunters to flush us out. “Wake Caleb and Mia,” I say, my voice hard. “I’ll find Greta." Eleanor nods and disappears down the hall as I race toward Greta’s room. The old wolf is already awake, her sharp eyes scanning the darkness. She doesn’t ask questions—she doesn’t need to. “We’re under attack,” I tell her. “You need to take Mia and run. Get her out of here." Greta frowns, her jaw tightening. “And leave you behind?
ALPHA REJECTION Chapter 155
Jenna’s POVThe soft knock at my door jolts me awake, my wolf stirring restlessly at the disturbance. The inn is usually quiet at this hour, but the urgency in the sound puts me on edge. I swing my legs off the bed and pad to the door, opening it to find Eleanor. She stands with her arms crossed, her eyes holding a strange mix of calm and tension. “Come with me,” she says softly, gesturing for me to follow. I don’t question her. Something in her tone tells me this isn’t about the spy we’d uncovered earlier—it’s something else. I throw on a sweater and trail her down the creaky stairs, out the back door, and into the crisp night air. Eleanor leads me toward the cluster of trees at the edge of the inn’s property. There, in the faint moonlight, two figures emerge—a young man and a woman, their clothes worn and their faces etched with fatigue. “They showed up tonight,” Eleanor says, stopping a few steps away from them. “They need help." I glance between the strangers and Eleanor, my
ALPHA REJECTION Chapter 154
Jack's POV The forest opens before us, the dense canopy giving way to the edges of human civilization. For days, we’ve trudged through the wilderness, the ground uneven and slick with fallen leaves, but now the terrain changes. The air smells different—cleaner yet tinged with the faint aroma of smoke and something else I can’t place. Ahead, Eldris halts and raises his hand, signalling us to stop. His sharp eyes scan the horizon, and I follow his gaze. Just beyond the treeline, the human settlement comes into view. It’s nothing like I expected. “Is that... brick?” Violet whispers, her voice unsteady. She steps forward, her amber eyes wide with disbelief, her usual guarded demeanour replaced with genuine curiosity. I nod slowly, though I can hardly believe it myself. The structure ahead is a small house, built from smooth red bricks that seem unnaturally uniform. The roof is sloped, its tiles perfectly aligned, and a strange reflective material covers the windows. The whole thing lo
ALPHA REJECTION Chapter 153
Jack's POV The forest breathes with life as dawn breaks, the air crisp and laden with the earthy scent of dew-soaked leaves. I rise before the others, my senses attuned to every sound. The pack sleeps in scattered clusters, their forms wrapped in blankets and cloaks against the chill. Last night’s feast brought a rare sense of calm, but it won’t last. It never does. I stretch, my muscles tight from days of travel, and take a moment to survey the clearing. Eldris is awake too, perched on a fallen log near the edge of the camp. His eyes are distant, his posture stiff, as though he’s wrestling with thoughts; he doesn’t dare voice. It’s not unusual for him to keep to himself, but something about his demeanour today feels different. I approach him quietly, my footsteps deliberately light to avoid waking the others. He doesn’t flinch or startle as I sit beside him, his gaze fixed on the horizon. “Couldn’t sleep?” I ask, breaking the silence. He shakes his head. “Not much use in it thes
ALPHA REJECTION Chapter 152
Jack's POV The scent of the buck is sharp in the air, cutting through the familiar tang of the forest. My senses sharpen, every sound and movement amplified. Days of empty bellies and restless nights have made the pack restless, but this kill will change that. It has to. I raise a hand, signalling the pack to halt. “Quiet,” I whisper, my voice low and firm. They freeze behind me, their eagerness palpable, their breaths hushed. Eldris, as always, stays a step behind the group, watching with his usual calm detachment. His presence still stirs unease, though I’ve made it clear that he’s staying. His knowledge of the forest and Nightspire’s plans is too valuable. The buck comes into view—a magnificent creature, its antlers spreading wide, its body taut with strength. It grazes in a small clearing, blissfully unaware of the predators lurking just beyond the trees. My heart quickens, but my movements remain deliberate and precise. I glance back, meeting Violet’s eyes briefly. For a mome
ALPHA REJECTION Chapter 151
Violet’s POV The pack trudges onward, exhaustion creeping into every step. Jack leads at the front, his movements steady despite the weariness I know he must feel. I linger near the back, my mind clouded not by fatigue but by the whispers of the tether. It coils around my thoughts like smoke, its voice soft and insidious. ‘Eldris doesn’t belong here,’ it murmurs. ‘He’s dangerous, a shadow in the fold.’I shake my head, trying to dispel the thoughts. But the tether persists, weaving doubt into every corner of my mind. It knows how to press against my insecurities, exploiting the fact that Eldris has been with us for days yet remains an enigma. When the pack pauses to rest near a shallow river, I feel the tether’s presence stronger than ever, a cold weight in my chest. Wolves fan out to gather firewood and prepare for the night, but I stay rooted in place, my gaze fixed on Eldris as he speaks quietly with Asa. ‘You should tell Jack,’ the tether urges. ‘Convince him to rid the pac
ALPHA REJECTION Chapter 150
Jack’s POVThe pack finally stops for a rest after hours of trekking through the dense forest. The sun hangs low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the clearing where we gather. The younger wolves sprawl out on the ground, exhaustion evident in their movements. Some older wolves take watch, their eyes scanning the tree line for any sign of danger. I stand near the edge of the group, observing, calculating, and trying to find a moment of peace in this chaos. Eldris, as always, is nearby, his presence a mixture of comfort and intrigue. He’s been with us for days now, ever since he arrived with news of Nightspire’s plan to declare war. His knowledge has proven invaluable, though I’ve yet to fully decide if I trust him. He has a way of knowing too much, of seeing too far ahead. Still, I can’t deny the truth in his words or the insight he’s offered. “Jack.” His voice breaks through my thoughts, low and deliberate. I turn to face him, finding his pale blue eyes already fixed on
