Rejected at the River, Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 04

Rejected at the River, Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 04

Cillian picked up a cup and poured Hazel a glass of ice water first.

Then he poured one for me. “Hazel runs hot. She only drinks ice water. The dispenser’s always set like that.”

“Don’t change it.”

Then he turned away.

He didn’t see the notification light up on his phone.

Calendar reminder: [Baby is on her period today. Remember—no cold water.]

But he’d clearly forgotten everything.

I held the cup but didn’t drink.

The cold seeped through my palm and spread down, making the pain worse.

“Cillian, I need to leave for a bit.”

My face was pale. Anyone could see I wasn’t okay.

But Cillian kept staring at his computer screen. He didn’t even look up.

Hazel stood nearby, her eyes full of obvious mockery.

“Luna, we’re all busy here. Now that you’re here, try not to hold everyone back.”

Cillian straight-up denied my request to leave.

I pushed through the whole day on pure willpower.

When everyone else finally left, I looked at the data I still needed. I tried to push through a little longer, but everything went black and I collapsed on the floor.

Right before I passed out, I saw Cillian come back. He’d left not long before.

He stopped about six feet away from me.

The pack hall lights were already off. It was too dark for him to see me lying there.

But he grabbed Hazel’s jacket, which she’d left behind. “Don’t forget your things next time.”

I watched them walk out together, then lost consciousness.

I didn’t wake up until the middle of the night. I barely made it to the pack hospital.

When I opened my phone, the feed had already updated.

Cillian didn’t come back to our apartment tonight.

He was at a karaoke bar with Hazel.

A nurse saw the post and her eyes lit up. “You have Alpha Cillian’s girlfriend on your feed!”

She was practically glowing over the couple.

I’d never made a big deal about dating Cillian for five years, but I’d never hidden it either.

I didn’t realize that in everyone else’s eyes, Hazel was his other half.

Then again… they really did bond.

My grandmother called. “Elowen, can you make it back by the day after tomorrow?”

I said, “Yes.”

“I won’t be late.”

Then Hazel slammed into me out of nowhere. “Luna, Alpha is focused on his career. How come all you think about is love and marriage?”

“Can’t you just think about him for once and not be so desperate to get married?”

The impact shoved me back. My lower back slammed into the corner of a table.

The sharp pain shot straight to my eyes and made them water.

Cillian came back, saw what happened, and frowned. But all he did was pinch Hazel’s cheek.

“I know you mean well. But I promised Elowen I’d bond with her.”

When Hazel snorted, he laughed.

“Relax. I promise I won’t let it get in the way of work.”

Once Hazel was calmed down, Cillian turned to me.

“She’s young and speaks her mind. She just cares about me. Don’t hold it against her.”

I nodded.

Then I quietly moved away when he tried to rub my lower back.

Soon, the experiment was done.

There was only one day left before I had to marry the Lycan King.

I opened my phone.

My withdrawal was approved.

I wrapped up my work and closed the door.

Cillian said he’d wait for me at the pack hall entrance.

But when I got there, the entrance was empty.

A message from him popped up on my phone.

[Hazel passed out from period cramps. I’m taking her to the hospital.]

My face didn’t change. I locked the screen.

I went back to the hotel, packed, and booked a flight home two hours from now.

On the way to the airport, cars streamed past outside.

Then my silent phone lit up.

It was a screenshot from Cillian of the joint payment method I’d set up with him. He’d spent three hundred sixty-eight dollars on a plane ticket.

[You’re not leaving until tomorrow. Why’d you buy a ticket for today?]

I didn’t reply.

I sent the money back and removed myself from the joint account.

A few seconds later, he texted again. [You’re mad? Because I didn’t wait for you?]

[Hazel passed out. I’m her boss. I couldn’t just leave her.]

When I didn’t answer, he sent another screenshot of a ticket.

[I’ll come with you.]

But the flight was for tomorrow morning.

[She needs me right now. I’ll be there tomorrow. I promise.]

Don’t bother.

[We’re done.]

He didn’t reply.

And Hazel posted a new update. [Can you believe it?! I said I wanted Lobster Risotto, and he literally went out and got it!]

I tapped once and unfriended both Cillian and Hazel.