Rejected at the River, Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 03

Rejected at the River, Claimed by the Lycan King Chapter 03

In just five hours, he’d left me behind twice for the same reason.

He gave me a light kiss on the forehead, then put on his coat.

At the door, he looked back at me standing in the shadows and said, “Clean that up. I need to go handle things.”

“Give me a week at most. Once I’m done, I’ll come back and pull the boat. We’ll finish the mating ceremony.”

I didn’t tell him that in seven days, I’d have to leave forever and go marry the Lycan King.

The door clicked shut.

I sat in the dark living room, then got up and grabbed my suitcase from the corner.

He wanted me to clean up the mess.

But my rideshare was already here.

The next morning, I went from the hotel to the school to submit my withdrawal application.

The dean looked at the paperwork, full of regret. “Elowen, if you just hold out until graduation, you can stay on as an instructor.”

“Why would you drop out three months before the finish line? Throw away your whole future like that?”

My chest clenched. All the bitterness came rushing back.

I used to be so excited about staying on after graduation.

Being in the same city as Cillian, seeing him every day.

But Moonbrook Pack’s rules were what they were.

I hated giving up the future I’d worked so hard for, but I couldn’t let my grandmother down again. She’d already risked her life for me once. I wouldn’t let her do it again.

At least I’d have food and shelter for the rest of my life.

When I couldn’t find the words to explain why I was crying, the dean sighed heavily.

“I’ll approve the withdrawal.”

“But the research project you signed up for has already been approved. According to the rules, you have to complete at least one experiment to officially finish.”

“I heard the new project will wrap up in seven days. That shouldn’t interfere with your plans to leave, right?”

I stood there frozen, my thoughts drifting back.

For years, I’d been working on my final project while killing myself studying for medical certifications.

All so I could be by his side every day.

Now, none of it mattered.

“Dean, I’ll stay until the experiment is done.”

I went to Blackthorn Pack’s pack hall and walked in.

Because of Cillian, I knew most of the people here.

Everyone was busy with their own tasks. Cillian was leaning over, guiding Hazel through some work.

His arms wrapped around her, showing her step by step.

Their bodies pressed together with no space in between.

Soon, someone noticed me walk in.

“Luna.”

A few people in the office looked up.

They greeted me, but their eyes kept sliding toward the woman cuddled up next to Cillian.

Hazel quickly pulled away from him, acting shy.

“Luna, don’t overthink it. Alpha was just showing me how to do something.”

I ignored the challenge in her eyes and just nodded.

Then I looked straight at Cillian. “What’s my assignment?”

He was all business at work. Distant and cold.

His face behind his glasses showed no emotion.

I knew that once Cillian got into work mode, he didn’t consider anyone else.

I picked up a notebook and got ready to write, but then I stopped.

Because Hazel interrupted Cillian again while he was busy. “I still don’t get it. Can you show me again?”

Cillian hated being bothered while working.

Plenty of betas had been yelled at for it before.

I didn’t think Hazel would be any different.

But the next second, he stopped what he was doing and pulled her back into his arms.

Someone nearby said, “Alpha’s whole cold attitude? That stopped like a year ago.”

But just recently, I’d seen posts online complaining about how cold and emotionless Cillian was.

I looked away.

I kept my head down and copied the data, holding back the blurriness gathering in my eyes.

No wonder he’d lied to me for five years for her.

He’d been treating her special from the very beginning.

When Cillian noticed I seemed upset, he looked over at me.

But his body was still pressed close to Hazel’s.

“Focus on your work. Don’t get jealous over nothing.”

I shook my head lightly.

“I’m not jealous.”

She was the she-wolf he’d bonded with, after all.

Who was I to get upset?

Then I felt a sharp cramp in my lower belly.

I forced myself to the water dispenser to get some hot water.

But the display clearly said ten degrees Fahrenheit. The barrel was full of ice water.

I figured everyone was just too busy with the experiment and had set the temperature wrong.

I was about to change it to forty degrees when someone grabbed my wrist.