Lahat ng Kabanata ng Rejected By The Alpha, Now Pregnant With His Baby: Kabanata 61 - Kabanata 70

“We… don’t know exactly,” my mother admits. “The alpha is new. Not from East Hills originally, but apparently, he’s here to strengthen the alliances. All we know is that he’s… reputable. Comes from a good family.”My jaw clenches. “A good family,” I repeat. “Well, that’s a relief. And when exactly am I expected to go through with this… arrangement?”“Soon,” my father says, a note of finality in his voice. “The elders want it done quickly. They’re eager to, uh, solidify things.”Solidify things. Great. Just what every girl dreams of.My mother reaches out with a pleading look in her eyes. “Please, Izzy. I know this is a lot to ask, but—”I shake my head. “No, don’t ask. You’ve already made the decision.” I let out a slow breath, crossing my arms. “Fine. I’ll go through with it. If this is what it takes to keep our family safe, then that’s what I’ll do. But just know…” I lower my voice, making sure they hear every word, “you better hope this alpha’s as good as you think he is.”My mothe

She doesn’t flinch, doesn’t even blink. “Watch me.”There’s a fire in her that I hadn’t expected, and I can’t help but admire it, even if it’s directed at me. But this isn’t just about her or me. This is bigger, and she needs to understand that.“I don’t think you understand.” I take a step closer until we’re nearly nose to nose. “If you back out, if you refuse this arrangement, your family will be shunned from the pack. Everything your father’s tried to protect, all the debt he’s supposedly repaid with this… it’ll mean nothing. They’ll lose everything.”She works her jaw, but she doesn’t look away. I can see the struggle there—the loyalty, the need to protect her family, and the frustration of being used as a bargaining chip. I get it. But I also know that backing down now would be a mistake I can’t afford. The council expects loyalty and cooperation from me. This is my first test as alpha, and I’m not about to fail it by rejecting their decision.“So that’s it?” Her voice is low, bi

With one last look, she turns to leave. Her footsteps are quiet as she slips out of the room, leaving me alone. I take a deep breath, glancing at myself in the mirror one last time, at the girl who somehow managed to grow into herself despite everything. I’m not that timid bookworm anymore. I’m stronger now, and maybe, just maybe, that will be enough to get me through this.But as I turn away from the mirror, all I can think about is the boy Alec was back then—and the man he is now, the one waiting for me at the end of the aisle.The ceremony itself is a blur, like I’m moving through a heavy fog. My dress weighs on me like a thousand-pound cloak, and each step down the aisle feels like I’m walking into a trap that snaps shut behind me, inch by inch.The crowd’s chatter fades as I take my place beside Alec. The reality of it all finally hits home. The vows, the traditions, the faces watching our every move, looking on with expressions that range from delighted to calculating. My mother

“Doesn’t it?” I fire back, my tone cold. “Because that’s exactly what it looked like. While the rest of us were here, dealing with everything the demons left behind, you were conveniently out of reach. You didn’t know half of what we went through.”“Maybe I didn’t,” she snaps. “But you don’t know what I went through, either. I came back, didn’t I?”“Oh, yeah, sure,” I say, sarcasm dripping from each word. “You came back when it suited you. After you’d had your fill of wherever-you-went, you waltz back in and expect everyone to pretend like nothing happened.”Her hands are clenched into fists, her eyes flashing like she’s barely holding herself together. “You don’t get it. Justbecause I wasn’t here doesn’t mean I didn’t care. I love this pack as much as you do.”“Do you?” I challenge. “Because it sure doesn’t look that way. All I see is someone who leaves when things get rough, who thinks she can come and go like none of it matters.”“Don’t turn this around on me, Alec,” she snaps. “Ju

IsadoraI am not a morning person. Not by a long shot. So if I’d known being married to Alec Thornton meant I’d be roused by hushed voices and the smell of burnt coffee before the sun has hardly come up, I might’ve signed up for another extended sabbatical instead.I crack open one eye as the voices reach me, faint but insistent, filtering up from downstairs. I sit up, tugging the blanket around my shoulders, and strain to make out the words. No use from up here—this house is way too big. But the curiosity eats at me, and before I can second-guess myself, I’m slipping out of bed and moving toward the door.I step into the hallway, careful not to let the floors creak under my feet as I edge down the stairs. One voice, unmistakably Alec’s, carries a hint of tension, and the other—a lighter, more playful tone—I recognize as belonging to his sister, Jade.I creep down, stopping just before the last step, hidden but close enough to finally hear them clearly.The voices float up from the ki