Alphas burden

No. He’s not ours. We don’t want him because he doesn’t want us.

My wolf doesn’t understand. If he doesn’t want her, why did he attack the offensive male? She liked that. He is strong, a good fighter. She scents the air to find which direction he’s in. To see his wolf and run with him.

No, I growl.

She flicks her tail at me, pacing through a patch of ferns. There’s something she’s focused on, but I can’t figure it out.

With the reminder that Caden’s out there somewhere, the aching throb of the incomplete bond returns. I stagger, flopping to my side, panting deeply. My wolf doesn’t like this feeling. Her a

I lay prone for a long time. Too long. Something could get us like this. A bear, another pack member. I’m just laying here feeling sorry for myself.

No. A broken bond won’t be my end.

I’m stronger than this. So is my wolf.

With effort, I make it to my feet. We wobble a moment, enduring another wave of pain. Stupid mate. He did this to us. He doesn’t get to hurt us anymore.

Bit by bit, the aching cavernous emptiness in my chest becomes bearable. Not gone, but a dulled throb of a freshly healing wound scabbing over. Bearable if I grit my teeth. Ignorable if I pretend it doesn’t exist.

I haven’t survived this long after everything changed to allow something like this to break me now.

As awful as being rejected is, I’m stronger than my despair. Being at odds with this pack has never been easy. I’ll survive being rejected by my mate because I’m good at picking up the pieces.

I don’t need Caden.