Chapter 0005

SEBASTIAN.

“Are you still brooding? You know Seb, I’m tired of having to nag you to get stuff done when you were always on top of it all. Why even reject her if you can’t deal with it?”

I look up at Jai, my Beta and also my best friend, but I choose not to answer him. It’s been 4 months since she accepted my rejection and left this pack.

“I didn’t think she’d accept it.” I mutter, flipping my phone distractedly between my fingers. 

Jai scoffs. “Yeah, you just decided to hurt her for no real reason and wanted her to beg you to keep her? You hurt her by going back to your ex.”

I know…

But what I don’t get is why did she accept it so easily? I’ve known Zaia since before I found out she was my mate. She’s always been a girl determined to get what she wanted, and she had always had a crush on me… 

How could she simply just walk away without even trying to fight for me? It left me feeling as if she was in a hurry to get rid of me.

“You know, man, since we’re on the topic, you really need to talk to Annalise and stop her from coming to the Pack Hall.”

“And why should I do that?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

He shakes his head, “It’s one of the reasons I’m here, as your beta. Everyone wants me to talk to you.”

“Spit it out.” I growl.

He looks at me seriously. “She causes problems with everyone here. The cleaning staff, the cooks, the guards, even the gardener’s man. She’s trying to tell them how to do their jobs. I swear, since she’s joined the pack, she’s become even worse of a nightmare.”

“Well, I’m sure they can deal with her. I have more pressing matters to deal with than getting involved with such meaningless matters.”

He scoffs. “Really man? Like this is the menace you want to make your Luna?”

The pack has all been against it, no one is ready to accept her as their Luna, let alone as a member of this pack. 

“I am the alpha. The pack should learn to accept what I say.”

“You are an arrogant alphahole. No one will ever accept her. On top of that, you aren’t ready to publicly tell anyone you are divorced. Heck, just last week you told the Alpha of the Crimson River pack that your Luna was visiting family. What is that all about?”

I don’t respond, my brows furrowing. I have kept Annalise and the divorce a secret for now, because my father will not be pleased.

None of this has gone as planned. My hands were tied and at the time I saw no other solution but to reject her.

“Are you even listening to me? Your parents will be back from their holiday soon. I for one want to be present when you tell them that you divorced our beautiful Luna because they will find out, even if you command the pack members to keep it a secret.”

I glare at him as he continues, unphased by my rising anger.

“Seriously though, Zaia was the one for you. She was gorgeous. I don’t even see what you see in Little Miss Plastic Annalise. Zaia was perfect, her hair, the way it bounced with every step. Remember how it used to fall over her eye, no matter how many times she’d push it back? Kinda like tempting you to do it for her? And the Goddess made her for you. She was your destined mate man.” 

I frown at him, a flare of jealousy rushing through me. “The Goddess isn’t always right.” But he still continues. 

“Ok fine, her hot looks should have been enough. I mean her body, she was perfect, and by that, I mean those curves. Damn, you’re crazy not to want to be enjoying that-”

I snarl as I slam my phone on the table. “Watch it!” I growl.

He jumps a little, shocked at my outburst. My chest heaves as I try to control my rage. “That’s my woman you’re talking about.” 

“Your ex-woman Sebastian, your ex. You rejected her, remember?” 

My eyes flash dangerously. Jai might be my best friend, but right now I am tempted to break his damn nose and ruin that pretty-boy face of his.

“I don’t care. She was my mate. That is something that won’t change.”

He raises an eyebrow, storming to the door. He’s angry, but his wolf won’t allow him to disrespect me - his Alpha - further. 

“Right. Only you have Annalise now. I’m not going to claim her Seb, but if someone does, you have no right to stop it. You rejected her.” 

The door slams shut behind him as he leaves me alone in my office.

I curse, slamming my fist into the table.

My life has always been complicated, the situation with this pack, my family, their dictating ways and things I don’t want to go into.

When I found out Zaia was my mate, I didn’t know what to feel… She was too good for my lifestyle, too good to be a part of the King family.

The secrets that even three years in, she never knew of… I’m certain if she knew them, she herself would have probably rejected me long ago. 

Secrets I wanted to protect her from at all costs.

Dad had put down the ultimatum that I would only get the business and pack if I found and married my destined mate. Someone who happened to be the sister of my girlfriend.

Broken-hearted, Annalise had suddenly left without even allowing me to explain.

I don’t think Dad had expected me to actually find my destined mate, but I did and he had to honour his words. 

I never wanted her to fall for me. I kept her at arm’s length to begin with, planning to divorce her a year into the marriage. Not planning to consummate the marriage, either, but her innocence, her beauty and her confidence won me over.

Before I realised it, we were a real couple. I fell for her, just as deeply as she had fallen for me.

I loved her, and I still do…

But the day Annalise returned, and told me she had been kept captive for three long years, had shaken me. She had managed to escape, but when she told me she had overheard them mention the one who had ordered her kidnapping; I had lost it.

It was none other than Zaia. I didn’t believe it straight away. How could I?

I had first checked our bank statements. Sure enough, every month, she was paying an isolated bank account a large sum of money.

With my money.

She had fallen to such levels just to keep Annalise away from me, and her true colours were revealed when she had accepted my rejection so easily. Only someone cold-hearted was capable of that.

I’m getting angry again, and when the door slams open, I almost want to punch the intruder in the face.

“Knock!” I snarl at Jai.

“No Seb, you’re going to want to see this.” He says, he’s pale, his heart thudding as he holds out the file in his hand. I frown as I stand up and snatch the file he was holding in his hand out to me.

“Beta Jai! Please don’t!” 

I glance up as Doctor Scott rushes in, Zaia’s friend… I haven’t seen her around in a while, but with Zaia gone, there’s no need for us to meet. Her face is paler than Jai’s and she freezes when she sees the file in my hand and I frown.

What exactly is this?

I’m about to flip it open when, to my surprise, she rushes forward and snatches the file from me.

“It-it’s nothing Alpha, please let me go.” She whispers, glancing towards the door.

I’m seriously not in the mood for this.

“Fine, whatever, just get out!” I snap, glancing at the file in her hand.

“No,” Jai says, stepping in front of the door and blocking her path. “Trust me, man, you will want to see that file.”

I cock a brow and look between them. “Just show me the file, doctor.”

“Please don’t do this. Client privacy is not a joke!” She exclaims.

“That report involves him. She is his wife.” Jai says coldly.

“She is not his wife anymore,” Valerie says coldly.

Zaia?

My eyes snap to the file in her hand before I step out from behind my desk. She backs away from me, fear clear in her eyes.

“What are you hiding?” I ask. 

Is Zaia alright?

Right after she had accepted the rejection she passed out, I had caught her before she hit the floor. I was about to take her to the hospital, but I was also in pain from the rejection and Jai had taken her instead.

I had wanted to visit, but her mother had refused me, saying I had done enough damage. Annalise had offered to go, and Zaia and her mother had simply humiliated her. She had come back in tears.

I know Zaia had been to the hospital the day before the rejection as well. Was she sick?

Was that why she rejected me?

A sliver of worry and guilt rushes through me, and I snatch the file from Valerie.

“Please Alpha!” She begs.

Ignoring her, I flip it open as I turn my back on her and scan the file.

My heart thuds as I stare at the top of the report.

POSITIVE PREGNANCY RESULT

I scan the rest of the file. Never have I read anything faster in my life. 

Jai and Valerie’s arguing in the background fades away as my heart beats violently.

Pregnant…

Twins…

High Risk…

I look up at the shouting duo, my ears ringing with the revelation, and just as Annalise rushes in, I choke out the words that I can barely believe myself.

“Zaia’s pregnant…?”