Rejected

“I didn’t push her. I really didn’t push her. I swear it.” I mumbled for the umpteenth time. 

“I know, Ma’am. You don’t need to keep repeating that. I know you’d never hurt her like that.” Anna reassured me for the umpteenth time, holding my quivering hands tighter. 

I was barely breathing. My hands and legs were wobbly. I already ran out of tears, and that’s the only reason why my eyes weren’t pouring them down anymore, but best believe there are tear streaks on my face. 

The memories of the blood that had stained the spot where she landed invaded my mind, making me shudder. 

I can’t get it out of my head. She looked so in pain and she was screaming that I’d killed her child. Ryan’s panicked gaze and angry eyes on me made the moment more horrendous for me. That has to be the most horrid experience of my entire existence. 

She was rushed down here to the Pack’s hospital. I insisted on staying and waiting. Anna and I were brought into this cozy office because the doctors didn’t want me waiting in the hallway. 

But it wasn’t really a big deal for me. I’ll wait outside in the cold, I don’t care. As long as I get to know Juliet’s gonna be okay and that she’s not gonna lose her baby. 

“Why do you think they’re taking so long in checking her?” I asked Anna. I sounded like a terrified kid, looking for an adult to assure me that everything’s gonna be alright. 

“I don’t know. But…I’m sure she’s fine. She wouldn’t die.”

“Right?” I nodded optimistically. “And her baby is gonna be alright too?”

“Sure, Ma’am. So try to relax a bit. The doctors are great. They’re gonna save both of them.” She smiled, squeezing my heart. The gesture sent a bit of calmness to my spine and I was gonna relax a bit. 

But then, the door opened with a force and Ryan barged inside. He looked feral. It’s the angriest I’ve ever seen him. 

“Ryan…” I whispered, standing up alongside Anna. 

“Would you please excuse us?” He said to her. She hesitated, looking at me for approval. 

I nodded to her that it was okay to leave us alone. But in reality, I was scared. Ryan looked unhinged. For the first time ever, the idea of being alone with him in a room didn’t sound appealing. 

She left and shut the door behind her. 

“Ryan…”

“How dare you try to hurt my child?!” He barked, backing me off against the wall and throwing a fist into the wall, right behind my ear. 

I gasped at his action, shutting my eyes. When I opened them, he was panting with an unrecognisable murder instinct. Something I’ve never seen in him in all the years we’ve been together. 

Who is this and what happened to my sweet and lovable Ryan?

“You were angry at her? You hated that she was taking your place? You wanted revenge? Is that it? Is that why you tried hurting my child?!” He yelled in my face, slamming that fist into the wall again. 

I gasped again. My heart was thundering hard but I fought for words to defend myself with. I’d never forgive myself if I stayed silent and let him get away with his accusations. 

“Was she taking my place? I thought you reassured me that my place was secured for me. You said nothing was gonna change. You said you were only fulfilling the elder’s wish. So why should I hurt her, when you already promised that she’s not a threat to me?”

“Don’t play dumb, Larissa. I’m sure you felt jealous seeing that I was spending more time with her. I’m sure the idea of her child being my heir made your bitter heart shrink. And that’s why you pulled that ugly stunt on her.”

“Is that the kinda woman you think I am?” I was beyond flabbergasted to hear him spew such bitter words about me. “We’ve been together for years. Did you never really know me, Ryan?”

He clicked his tongue and shook his head. “I know people change. I know situations as messy as this can mess with anyone’s head and make them do really nasty shit.”

Wow. I was dumbfounded. At the very least, I would have sworn he’d believe my innocence. I spent years showing him my selfless love for him. Why would he ever think that I’d hurt his child? Why?

“If that child had died, you have no idea what I would have done to you.” He breathed out coldly. 

But somehow, I found warmth in his cold words. Knowing the pregnancy was intact made me feel very relieved. 

“I’m trying not to hate you for this, Larissa. But I’m still very disappointed in you. It’d be nice if we gave each other some space for now…”

“Ryan…”

“I won’t be spending nights with you anymore so don’t wait up for me.” He concluded. His words felt like a dagger was plunged into the deepest part of my heart. 

He took a few steps towards the door but I stopped him quickly. 

“Why don’t you just officially reject me and free us both from this bond? It’s better than sharing the same house but not seeing each other.”

“Don’t be silly, Larissa. I’m never gonna reject you. You’re still my Luna, just not my favorite woman anymore.”

His last words gave my heart the final blow. I felt my breathing slowing down and I was almost choking. 

He didn’t care about the damage his words were causing me. He just left.

Anna rushed back in, holding me before I could slump. 

“Ma’am! Are you alright?”

My sight was growing dizzy but I was struggling to keep my consciousness. 

“You need to get some rest. Let me take you home.”

“No, not yet.” I stopped her. “Please take me to Juliet. I need to see if she’s okay.”

Anna did as I instructed and led me to Juliet’s room. She was awake, reading a book. She snapped it shut when she entered. 

I gestured at Anna to leave and she did. Juliet was looking at me with those unreadable eyes, and it made me hesitant. 

But somehow I found my words. “How are you feeling?”

She shrugged. “How did you think I’d feel after you pushed me down the stairs?”

“That’s the misconception I think we both need to clear up. I didn’t push you down those staircases, Juliet. You grabbed my hand forcefully. I only shrugged off your grip.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” She rolled her eyes, dramatically flipping her hair. Then her eyes found me again and now they were haughty. “You pushed me, Larissa, because you were bitter about the fact that I’m gonna give Ryan his heir. That’s the narrative everyone’s believing and that’s how this story is gonna be remembered forever.”

I gulped hard, looking at the pretty devil sitting on that hospital bed. She smirked and continued reading her book, completely ignoring the fact that I was still in the room.

Anger and resentment surged into my heart like never before. I left the room and the driver took Anna and me home. 

All through the ride, I harbored the most malicious thoughts for Anna. It’s the first time I’ve ever felt such bitterness towards anyone.

All I could think about was how to get back at her for this. 

“You didn’t touch your food, Ma’am,” Anna noted. Dinner had been served an hour ago but I was lost in thought. 

I was trying to come up with the nastiest revenge against Juliet. But I still couldn’t think of anything remotely scandalous. It’s my first time trying to be evil so I’m not quite sure how to go about it. 

“What do you know about Juliet?” I asked Anna. 

She furrowed her brows. “Well, she’s an Alpha’s daughter and her daddy…” she stopped, folding her lips like she was scared to say something. 

“Tell me, Anna. What happened to her Daddy?”

“Well,” she looked around and dropped her voice to a whisper. “Her Daddy is the infamous dark Alpha of the West. He’s known to be ruthless and would slit the throat of anyone who dares slander him or even glance at him.” She shuddered. 

My interest piqued. “Really? He’s that much of a monster?”

“Yes, he’s the devil himself. But…he’s hot too.”

“Hot?” I was amused by her choice of words. 

“Hold on,” she took out her phone and swiped through the screen before handing the phone to me. “There he is.”

I was lost at the sight of the demigod on her screen. He wasn’t hot. That was an understatement. He was…a complete demigod. Is he even real?

“His looks precede his evil dealings, and that’s why the ladies flock to him even though they might not make it out alive. They don’t care, as long as they get a taste of him. But he’s a real devil, believe me, Ma’am.”

“Sure,” I replied, breathlessly, still lost in looking at the photo. And then I got the dirtiest, nastiest idea on how to get my revenge on Juliet, and it made my heart race a thousand miles faster.