The Alpha's Regret: The Luna Who Defied Rejection

1. LAYLA

"Get her! " I heard as an arrow whizzed passed my left check drawing out blood.

Branches slapped against my face as I sprinted through the forest, lungs burning with each breath. The footsteps behind me were getting closer. Whoever they were , they weren't stopping and neither would I.

The wind howled through the trees, but I could still hear them.Heavy, relentless footsteps , closing in on me.

I had to keep running. I had to get to him.

My mate . My Alpha. Drake

He was the only one who could help me, the only one who would protect me. I stumbled over a fallen log , nearly crashing to the ground, but my legs kept moving, powdered by adrenaline .

My wolf growled in frustration , begging to shift but I couldn't.

Not now ,not when I was so close.

The Packhouse was just ahead, beyond the clearing. If I could make it there ,I had be safe. I knew that Drake would be there . He had to be.

I burst through the treeline panting hard . Relief surged through me at the sight of the Pack's lights glowing in the distance. But something was wrong . The usual guards weren't at the border. Instead, there was laughter....music ?

I froze for half a second, confusion and fear colliding in my mind. What's happening?

The footsteps behind me snapped me back to reality. No time to think. I bolted across the clearing,my heart hammering. Whatever celebration was going on, it didn't matter. I needed Drake. He would stop whoever was chasing me.

I could barely hear my own thoughts over the pounding of my heart as I pushed past the edge of the trees and into the Pack's territory.

The lights were brighter now, the music louder. Voices floated through the air -cheerful, carefree voices that didn't fit in with the terror gripping my soul.

I stumbled into the Pack's courtyard, gasping for air. A few pack members glanced my way ,their smiles faltering a bit when they saw the state I was in. But no one stopped, no one questioned me.

My head spun as I took in the scene before me.

It wasn't just any celebration. It was ...grand . Decorations hung from every corner, table lined with food and drinks.

The pack members, talking, laughing ,dancing oblivious of the danger I had just escaped.

My stomach twisted as dread clawed at me ? Why wasn't anyone on guard? Why was everyone acting like this was a festival ?

I pushed through the crowd , ignoring the curious stares , my eyes scanning for him. For my Drake.

I needed to find him. He had to say something to me. He had to help me.

Suddenly, a young man stepped in my way, concern flickering across his face. "Are you okay ? You look like -"

"I'm fine." I snapped, pushing him aside before he could finish. I didn't have time to explain. I didn't have time for anything except for Drake.

The further I went,the louder the laughter grew, the more uneasy I felt. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was horribly wrong.

I rounded the corner towards the main hall, my breath coming out in short, ragged bursts. The large doors were open ,light spilling out into the courtyard. My heart pounded in my ears as I stepped inside,the voices inside growing louder.

I stopped dead in my tracks.

It was a -

Gracious moon goddess,this just can't be happening.

I felt like I was in the wrong place.

It was a Mating ceremony.

No....it couldn't be.

I stood there frozen ,my body refusing to move as I took in the scene before me.

People were gathered in elegant dresses, sharp suits, their attention fixed on the stage at the front of the hall.

I stood there, frozen, my body refusing to move as I took in the scene before me. People were gathered in elegant dresses and sharp suits, their attention fixed on the stage at the front of the hall.

And there , standing beneath the arch of roses,was ... Drake.

My mate .My Alpha. The only man I had given my heart and virginity to.

But he wasn't alone.

Beside him, holding his hand and smiling up at him , like she was the center of his universe was her.

Sophia.

The woman he said he had no connection with.

The woman everyone saw as his Luna. Everyone except me.

I blinked ,my heart shattering into a thousand jagged pieces as I tried to make sense of what I was seeing. My legs refused to move. My voice caught in my throat. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think . I couldn't feel anything.

All I could do was stand there and watch, as my mate, the man I had been running to for safety, stood with another woman, preparing to make her his Luna.

The ceremony had already started.

The truth hit me like a tidal wave, drowning me in it's cold , merciless reality.

Drake had chosen someone else.

I took a step back ,my mind reeling ,heart racing as the betrayal washed over me.

It was like I had been struck by lightning, every nerve in my body was on fire. How could he ? How could he do this?

Tears prickled at the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them back.

No. I wouldn't cry. Not here. Not in front of them.

I turned to leave ,but my feet felt like lead. I couldn't move, couldn't escape the burning sensation of my world crumbling around me.

I had come here for help, for him and instead I had walked into the worst moment of my life.

"Drake," I whispered,though no one heard me.

But then, from the corner of my eye,I saw him move.

Drake turned slightly and for a brief agonizing second,our eyes met. His expression unreadable,his jaw tight. But he didn't say anything. He didn't stop the ceremony. He didn't come to me.

And that was when I knew .

It was over.

Everything I had believed, about mates , about destiny, about us was a lie.

My knees buckled,and the weight of betrayal was too much to bear.

"Why?" I whispered,my voice lost in the noise of the celebration.

But no one answered.

He looked at me. Drake .

His eyes fixed on me.

"Layla." He said a smirk on his lips. " What are you doing here?"

I had tried to forget the past .

But as I stood there ,numb from seeing my mate with another woman, memories of that fateful day flooded my mind .

We were just teenagers when it all happened.

The day I lost everything

FLASHBACK

"Layla! Run! Don't look back!"

My mother's voice rang out ,her usual calmness shattered by fear, my heart racing,my wolf clawing at me, begging to be let out. But I couldn't. My parents had told me not to shift . Not yet.

Wolves. Dozens of them.

My father's howl echoed through the forest ,a warning and a plea.

He and my mother were the Guardians Of The Moon ,a title given to those who were responsible for the protection of the Alpha and his family and sworn to protect even the future Alpha with their lives .

"Go, Layla! " My mother screamed, her eyes wild as she fought off one rogue after another.

I hesitated,my heart breaking at the sight. How could I just leave them?

And then, I saw him . Drake.

He was barely seventeen,still growing into the role of Alpha, he wasn't so strong yet.

My breath caught as one of the wolves lunged at him from behind.He didn't see it . He was surrounded.

My legs moved before I could think.

No. Not him . I won't let them take him too.

I darted forward , ignoring my mother's scream behind me . She wanted me to hide ,I couldn't .Not when I saw him, about to be killed.

I grabbed a fallen branch , wielding it like a weapon ,as I charged forward into the circle , striking the rogue, just as it's jaws closed around Drake's neck.

The wolf yelped, stumbling back ,and for a split second, Drake's eyes met mine.

"Layla, what are you doing here ?" He gasped.

I didn't have time to answer.

Another rogue lunged at me , knocking the branch from my hands . I hit the ground,the breath knocked out of me .

My wolf growled inside me , but I still couldn't shift. Not yet.

Drake was beside me in an instant , his claws out as he tore at the rogue.

"Get out of her , Layla! Go!"

But I wasn't going anywhere. Not without him.

I pushed myself to my feet, my limbs trembling. "I'm not leaving you!"

More rogues closed in , and for a moment,I thought it was over.

There were too many of them. We were surrounded

That's when my father's howl pierced the air again. It was a sound I would never forget. A sound of pure , agonizing grief.

I turned,my blood running cold as I saw him fall

"Dad!" My scream tore through the forest, but he didn't hear me.

My mother was next ,her wolf went down under the weight of three rogue wolves ,her silver fur stained with blood.

I felt something shatter inside me

"Layla,no!" Drake's voice was distant, drowned out by the rush of panic and grief that flooded my mind.

I ran towards my parents, but my legs buckled. The world spun around me as everything slowed down.

And then, out of the corner of my eyes ,I saw the rogue leader charging at Drake. Drake was distracted, fighting off another wolf, completely unaware of the danger behind him.

I couldn't let him die too.

Without thinking, I threw myself in front of him, just as the rogue's claws slashed through the air .

Pain exploded through my body as the claws raked across my sides , the force of the attack sending me backward.

I was falling, the cliff's edge was closer than I had realised.

My fingers clawed at the duet , desperate for something to hold on to , but it was too late.

The last thing ,I saw before I tumbled over the edge was Drake's face - his brown eyes wide with horror, his mouth open in a scream I couldn't hear.

I fell into darkness.

_________

I don't remember how long I was unconscious. When I woke up , I was lying at the bottom of the ravine, my body broken ,my clothes soaked with blood . Every inch of me screamed in pain.

I tried to move but my limbs couldn't respond. I tried to call out for help ,but my voice was gone. All I could do was lay there ,gasping for breath ,as the world slowly fade in and out of focus.

Eventually someone found me. I don't know how long it had been - hours maybe days, but when I woke up again ,I was in a strange bed , bandage wrapped around my torso and the air heavy with the scent of herbs.

But something was wrong .

I couldn't feel her . My wolf .

She was...gone.

I tried to shift to call her forward , but there was nothing. Just a cold empty void where she used to be.

Panic surged through me, but before I could scream ,the door opened ,and Drake stepped into the room . His face was pale,his eyes haunted. He didn't say anything at first,

When he finally spoke,his voice was hollow . "They are gone , Layla... Your parents."

FLASHBACK ENDS

I felt my world collapse .

Tears blurred my vision as the reality of it all hit me. My parents were dead .I had lost my wolf due to how deep the injury was .

I looked up at Drake , pain and silent anger bubbling up inside of me.

"What is this ,Drake ?" My voice trembled as I raised a shaky finger towards them . " You chose ...her ? The Beta's daughter? Over me?

His face twisted with hatred and disgust, but he didn't answer. He didn't have to.

I thank the Moon Goddess everyday that you are not blind, Layla" he sneered , pulling Sophia close. She wrapped her arm around his ,and he gazed at her with a tenderness that stabbed at my heart . " This is Sophia - the woman I love . The only one my heart truly beats for ."

"But I'm your mate,choosen-" I stuttered but he couldn't let me finish.

"Enough!" He said.

"Drake , please," I gasped,my heart pounding my chest . " You can't do this!" I've given you three years of my life!"

Again he cut me off. " You gave me nothing!"

My eyes opened wide with shock.

"I gave you my body ,my soul, everything! I almost died for you ,Drake. I lost my wolf ! Because I tried to save you . And this is how you repay me ?"

He scoffed, his eyes cold and mocking. " Really, Layla? What do you expect me to do ,throw myself off a cliff in guilt ? You think your scars and your pitiful sacrifice mean anything to me?" He smirked. " You are ugly and wolfless."

My breath hitched in my throat, and I almost passed out from the shock.

"I had the scar on my face.... because of you." I stuttered

There was amusement in his eyes. " So ,is that the reason why you tried poisoning me ?"

I couldn't utter a single word, before I could blink , guards came to my sides,leading me away .

I struggled. I cried. I begged .

Nothing.

"Stop!"

Finally the moon goddess had heard me.

He looked at me and said those words that shattered me.

"I, Alpha Drake Collins Thaddeus, reject you, Layla Diana Montez, as my mate.You are nothing to me now- banished from this pack . Forever." He turned his back on me , " Oh,and don't even think of taking anything with you. Not a pin."

What choice did I have? When your own mate looks at you like... you are less than dirt... What's left to fight for?

The one I had loved for three years. Drake - the Alpha of Silver Crescent, the man I thought would chose me as his Luna- had thrown me aside like yesterday's trash.

I thought I could endure anything for him. Three years of being overlooked , waiting for him to see me . To love me. But when his cold eyes met mine at the ceremony.... I knew. I was never going to be enough.

I had begged silently for him to consider, to change his mind but nothing.

Ugly and wolfless

That what was he had called me.

The tears couldn't stop as I was been led out of the pack very early in the morning. Allowing me to spend the night was the only good he had done for me.

The pack was no longer my home and I cried silently as we got to the ends of the pack ,guards flanked by my sides like I had committed a heinous crime.

I couldn't stay ,it was better I leave,not with all that humiliation. As we approached the outskirts of the pack, I passed the spot where we first met as kids.

My chest tightened. How foolish I had been, believing that I would ever be enough for someone like him.

The moon goddess had cursed me with a mate who never wanted me.

The rain drizzled down, cold droplet biting into my skin like needles .The scent of damp earth mingled with the distant hum of another pack made my head spin.

We got to the farthest part of the pack ,where my aunt and uncle lived.

They had always been kind to me,and they were the only family I had left. My uncle was leaning on a stick ,a testament to the injury he had suffered during the rogue wolves attack. My aunt's eyes swelled with tears when she saw me.

"Oh,Layla, I'm so sorry. You deserve so much better than this ," She whispered,her voice thick with emotion as she hugged me tightly.

"If only there was more we could do for you ." Her embrace was the only comfort I had left ,and it nearly broke me.

But I couldn't let myself fall apart . Not now.

"I'll be fine ,"I lied , though my voice wavered. " But I have to go . Staying here only makes things worst."

My uncle hobbled over, placing a hand on my shoulder. "We will always be here for you no matter what."

"May the moon goddess be with you." My aunt said wiping her eyes.

I nodded,but the weight of the truth sank deeper. I had nowhere to go. No pack would accept a banished wolf . I was destined for the human world now,where no one knew about mates, packs, or the pain of rejection

The guards stopped, staring at me with all the hatred in the world.

They said nothing but I knew my journey begins now. I gave a small nod . It was dawn but the sky was still quite dark as I trudged southward. My only companion were the clothes on my back and the dull ache in my chest.

The rain began to pour , soaking me to the bone, but I didn't care.What was a little rain compared to the storm I had felt in my heart?

I walked for hours on end , passing through some packs which I know I can't settle in ,and continued south.

It was late evening when I got to the last pack in the south, the hunger gnawed at me. My stomach rumbled loudly and the scent of food in the air made my mouth water.

I was in an organized buzzing street with restaurants and stores. I got into the nearest to save myself from the rain and hunger , water dripping from my hair and clothes.

I hadn't eaten since yesterday,and my legs felt weak.

The warmth of the place hit me instantly, but it didn't soothe the hollow pit in my stomach . I scanned the room , trying to find a corner where I could sit and think about my life and that was when I saw him , looking vaguely familiar.

Sitting at a distance , casually sipping his drink ,was the young man who has stopped me to ask if I was alright when I ran into the mating ceremony.

His dark hair was tousled slightly and there was an air of arrogance about him ,like he knew he could command everyone in the room without saying a word.

His eyes locked onto mine ,dark and unreadable,and for a moment,I froze . What was he doing here ? My heart raced as I searched for an escape route,but my legs refused to move.

He might report me to Drake.

Before I could turn and leave,he stood up and approached me. His smile was fast but charming as if he was amused of me standing there , drenched and pitiful.

"Hey," he said with a smirk." We've crossed paths before,right ? You remember me ?"

My throat was too dry to speak ,so I nodded weakly. He gestured towards an empty seat and I followed ,too exhausted to protest or ask questions.

"You look like you haven't eaten in days," he said with a teasing smile. " Let me guess , you've been running for a while?"

I didn't respond,my mind too clouded with exhaustion and confusion. My stomach betrayed me by groaning loudly and his grin widened.

I wondered what was that for.

"Have something to drink," he said but I shook my head. " I will get you something to eat then." He said .

I sighed, biting back the wave of hopelessness that threatened to spill over. What was the point of fighting now? Even though something kept tugging me to leave , I felt I should just stay .

I didn't have the energy to argue ,I took the drink he had given me and gulped it all down ,it quenched my thirst instantly.

He waved over the waitress and ordered something for me.

The smell of food was overwhelming but before I could even think about eating, the dizziness hit me.

"I.... I need to go to the bathroom," I managed to mumble as I tried to stand . But as soon as I took a step ,the room tilted sharply. I grabbed the edge of the table to steady myself,but my vision darkened and the last thing ,I saw was the stranger's figure moving towards me before everything went black.

____

When I opened my eyes , I wasn't in the restaurant anymore, the lights from the bulbs overheard illuminated the room and I was lying on a bed. Panic seized me ,my heart racing.

Where was I?

"Ah, you're finally awake ." His voice came from the shadowed corner of the room ,calm and collected, as if he had been waiting for this moment.

He sat there casually, legs crossed, looking every bit of composed as he had looked earlier.

"I'm sorry....for a being a burden," I muttered, embarrassed. " What happened?

"You passed out." He said ,his tone casual but his eyes searched mine. " I couldn't just leave you there . Maybe it's fate ,maybe not ,but I figured you could use the help ." he said with a shrug. " I brought a physician to check on you "

A physician? I frowned, feeling an odd heaviness in my body

"What did they say?" I asked nervously.

"It seems there's something you don't know..." He paused, watching my reaction carefully. "You're pregnant."