All Chapters of Rejected by My Mate, Claimed by the Brooding Alpha CEO: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Silas began his investigation immediately. By Tuesday morning, every security team member who’d been hired in the past three months was under scrutiny.“Twelve new hires,” Silas reported during our morning briefing. “Eight for perimeter security, three for close protection, one tech specialist. All came with excellent references, clean backgrounds, extensive experience.”“So how do we identify which one is the plant?”Marcus asked.“By looking for inconsistencies. Small details that don’t quite add up.” Silas pulled up files. “I’m running deep background checks-not just criminal records, but financial transactions, travel history, communications. If someone’s being paid by Adrian, Lydia, or Thomas, there will be evidence.”“How long will that take?” I asked.“Days, possibly a week. These things can’t be rushed without missing something.” Silas looked apologetic. “In the meantime, we’re operating under the assumption that all new hires are potentially compromised.”“Which means what

Sage’s POVMonday morning brought exactly the backlash Eleanor Moonhaven had predicted.By the time I woke up, three conservative Alphas had issued public statements condemning my “dangerous and uncontrolled use of Luna power” during Sunday’s incident.Alpha James of Northern Ridge: **Luna Sage Thorne froze over thirty wolves in place-including security personnel who were only doing their jobs. This level of power, used without restraint or oversight, proves our concerns were valid. She is a threat to pack autonomy and individual free will.”Alpha Marcus of Silver Lake: **Controlling another wolf’s body against their will is a violation of the most basic pack laws. Yet Luna Sage did exactly this to dozens of wolves simultaneously. The prophecy warned of unmatched power-but power this great is indistinguishable from tyranny.”*Alpha David of Blackwood: “We called for oversight months ago. Yesterday’s incident proves we were right. Luna Sage must submit to formal Luna council evaluatio

The sunrise bleeds through the curtains in shades of amber and rose, but I’ve been awake for hours. My hand rests on my stomach, feeling our son shift and turn, blissfully unaware that today might be the day his mother loses everything she’s fought to become.“You’re thinking too loud,” Kael’s voice rumbles against my back, his arm tightening around me. “I can practically hear the catastrophizing from here.“I’m not catastrophizing. I’m… strategically considering worst-case scenarios.”“Same thing, oatmeal.” His lips brush my shoulder, and despite everything, I smile. He’s the only person who can make that word sound like the most precious endearment. “What’s the current disaster your brain has conjured?”“Oh, you know. The usual. I lose control, accidentally influence the entire council, they bind my power, the prophecy fails, our son grows up normal instead of the most powerful Alpha in generations, and also I pee myself in front of everyone because pregnancy bladder is real and te

The Conference Center looks different in the morning light. Less imposing, maybe. Or perhapsI’m just too numb with exhaustion and anxiety to care anymore.Kael insisted on driving me, though he’s agreed to wait in the car per Luna Victoria’s instructions.The compromise took twenty minutes of argument and ended with him threatening to follow me inside anyway until I pointed out that defying the council’s direct order would only hurt my case.“I’ll be right here,” he says now, gripping my hand across the center console. “If you need me-if anything happens-you call me immediately.”“I will.”“I mean it, Sage. I don’t care what Victoria said about coming alone. If they try to bind your power without letting you have support-”“They won’t.” I hope I sound more confident than I feel. “This is just the verdict. They’re not going to ambush me with a binding ceremony.”His eyes say he’s not so sure, but he kisses me anyway-deep and possessive and full of everything he can’t say. When we br

Morning comes too quickly. I’m groggy and off- balance, the threatening text from last night playing on repeat in my mind. Kael notices immediately, because of course he does.“You didn’t sleep,” he says, brushing hair from my face. “Bad dreams?”“Something like that.” I force a smile. “I’m fine. Just processing everything from yesterday.”His eyes narrow. He doesn’t believe me, but before he can press, his phone rings. He glances at the screen and sighs. “Marcus. Probably calling about the evaluation fallout.”“Take it.” I sit up, grateful for the reprieve. “I need to pee anyway.”In the bathroom, I stare at my reflection. Dark circles under my eyes, pale skin, tension in my jaw.I look like someone carrying secrets.Because I am.I pull out my phone, finding the screenshot from last night. In the harsh bathroom light, the words look even more ominous.*The real test hasn’t even begun.*I should tell Kael. Right now. Walk out there and show him the message and let him handle it.But