Pursuing My Rejected Alpha
Chapter 15

Kinnon Youngshaper's eyes were burning with jealousy and rage.

He was thankful for Ronan's help in replaceing Lucien, but he in no way tolerated the closeness between them. Especially not after his and Lucien's marriage plan had been announced. Ronan should have known his place.

Kinnon stepped into the room and held out his hand to touch Lucien's chin.

"Lucien, how are you doing?"

A strange light flickered across Lucien's eyes when he caught sight of Kinnon. Instinctively, Kinnon withdrew his hand and retreated a few steps. That was the right thing to do.

A split second later, Lucien jumped off the bed and launched at Kinnon with an inhuman speed. Two sets of sharp, glinting wolf claws protruded from the pair of deformed human hands, aiming at Kinnon's neck and chest. "Lucien...!!!"

The claws missed Kinnon by a hairbreadth. If Ronan did not additionally hold Lucien back by his waist, Lucien would not have missed his target.

.....

All of them were shocked by the sudden aggression, especially Lucien. His body trembled in Ronan's arms, his voice broken from a mix of shock and regret. "I... Sorry, Kinnon, I..."

Ronan held Lucien tight in his embrace. He placed a kiss on Lucien's neck to soothe him.

"Ssshhhh... Sshhhhh, it is fine. Don't worry about it. Nothing happened."

Lucien struggled to breathe. His eyelids were so heavy that he could not keep his eyes open any longer. The man slumped against Ronan's body, his head resting on the latter's shoulder. He suddenly felt so tired. The one attack drained the little energy that he had. Ronan pressed a kiss against the side of Lucien's head.

"Rest, Lucien. Everything will be fine, I promise."

Lucien's claws disappeared, and he fell asleep in Ronan's embrace. Ronan sighed out of relief. He turned his head slightly in Kinnon's direction.

"Please leave, Alpha Kinnon. Lucien is not in a good state for a conversation."

Kinnon shot Ronan a sharp glare.

"Lucien is to be my Luna! If anyone should leave here, it should be you, Alpha Ronan."

Ronan put Lucien back to bed and tucked him in. He then rose to his feet and faced his rival.

"Someone has to take care of him, and at the moment you are the last person he wants to see."

Kinnon gritted his teeth.

Ronan was right, but did it mean that he should just let Ronan hang around his Luna shamelessly like that? No way.

"I will replace someone to take care of Lucien," Kinnon scowled. "I will not show myself before him until he gets better."

"I don't think that that is up to you," Ronan remarked. "This is Lucien's decision to make."

Kinnon scoffed. He grabbed Ronan's collar and shot him a scorching glare.

"So until he can make his decision, who will take care of him, you? Don't make me laugh."

His own blood pressure rising in response to Kinnon's words, Ronan also grabbed at Kinnon's collar and hissed at him. "At least his wolf likes me better than you."

Kinnon pulled his fist back and prepared to punch Ronan in the face, but then a booming voice rang out from outside. "WILL THE TWO GENTLEMEN PLEASE KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN? THIS IS A HOSPITAL NOT A BAR!"

The door was pushed open forcefully and a furious nurse stomped into the room.

Both the Alphas stared dumbfounded at the nurse. They still had their hands at each other's collars.

"YOU!" The nurse yelled while pointing at Ronan's face. "AND YOU!" Her finger moved like a blade and stopped at Kinnon's face.

"OUT! OUT! SETTLE YOUR BUSINESS OUTSIDE! DON'T DISTURB THE PATIENT!"

That was what she said, but her voice was loud enough to awaken dead people. It for sure dragged Lucien back to consciousness.

The two Alphas were kicked out of the ward unceremoniously.

"This was your fault," Kinnon hissed at Ronan once the door was slammed shut in front of their faces.

"How was that my fault? We were doing fine before YOU showed up!" came Ronan's answer.

"Whatever. I will arrange for a Healer from my pack to take care of Lucien."

Ronan scoffed.

"No need, my Healer is already in charge of Lucien for a week."

Kinnon raised an eyebrow. "The Night Prowler Pack can provide a Healer to take care of their Luna. Thank you for Alpha Ronan's good intention."

"Do you even care for Lucien's well-being? No wonder his wolf hates you. You are suffocating him."

That was the last thing that Kinnon wanted to hear. He was about to punch Ronan across his face when an elder female voice announced her presence, her tone carrying a hint of admonition.

"I care for my son's well-being. Can I take care of my son?"

For the second time that day, the two Alphas were caught off guard.

Alice Clearwater passed both men an icy look before she disappeared behind the door. Annalynne who accompanied her mother gave them brief nods before she too entered the ward.

Kinnon and Ronan were left outside, cursing softly more at themselves than at each other.

The grouchy nurse came out, and she did not look too happy to see the two troublemakers outside of the ward.

"The patient is resting," she announced while looking down her nose at both men. "Please learn to conduct yourself properly before you show up at this hospital again."

Ronan and Kinnon were thus kicked out of the hospital for the night.

It was a first for both Alphas to experience such crude treatment. As Alphas of renowned packs, they were used to being worshipped by their pack members and even enjoy comparable adoration from werewolves from different packs.

Kinnon raked his fingers through his hair. He shot Ronan one last glare before they both went back to their respective cars.

"Don't you think that you are so special because Lucien's wolf chooses you, Ronan Silverback," he growled. "You don't deserve him at all."

Ronan chuckled. "And you think you deserve him more than me? How arrogant."

A cynical smile spread on Kinnon's face. "I never hurt him the way you did."

Ronan's smile drained from his face. Kinnon turned around and laughed all the way to his car. For some reason, Ronan did not feel at ease. He was 99% sure that Kinnon spouted some bullshit to provoke him, but the remaining 1% nagged at his conscience. Did he really do something to hurt Lucien badly?

On the night of their eighteenth birthday, all werewolves would be paired with their wolves. They met their wolves in a dreamscape and woke up to them as life companions as well as the ability to shapeshift into said wolves. It marked their first step into adulthood.

Every werewolf pup was excited to hear about this story. All of them greatly anticipated their eighteenth birthday, all the while praying to the Moon Goddess to bestow them with the strongest, the coolest, and the bravest wolf of all time. The wolf of the wolves! The king of the wolves!

Unlike the others, Lucien prayed for a wolf that was in touch with his sensible nature. Either the Moon Goddess misheard his prayer or wished to reward him, Lucien ended up getting paired with Landon, one of the strongest and fiercest wolves of his generation. Landon was the kind of wolf that most alpha werewolves dreamed to be paired with. He was not only strong but also beautiful, with a ferocious but at the same time enchanting character. Very much like a double-edged blade that kept his owners on their toes at all times. Only the bravest ones should attempt to wield it.

That was not all.

Landon was extremely willful and stubborn. Although young Lucien was supposed to retain control over his body, he often lost against Landon in the early days. Landon then randomly forced Lucien to transform just so he could go around and have fun in a wolf body. Only when he got bored would he let Lucien return to his human body.

It was not after several months had passed that Lucien developed enough mental fortitude to master his own body and gain Landon's acceptance. Even then, Landon was never submissive toward Lucien. It was simply not his nature. A wolf like Landon was meant to walk side-by-side with Lucien. That was also what Lucien had in mind. A companion and not a pet.

It was rare for a wolf who already left to return to his paired human being, but it did happen in some instances throughout the history of werewolves. The process was pretty much the same as the first time. It involved a pair of a human being and a wolf that tried to accommodate to each other in order to occupy the same body without breaking into a fight. It was a painful but also rewarding process in the end.

Lucien's fever worsened throughout the week. He was barely lucid enough to respond to people who came to his bedside and spoke to him. The only one who stayed by his side at all times was still Landon, who he had to come to peace with. Unfortunately, for Landon peace only came if Lucien adhered to his bidding.

.....

'I want you to break the marriage promise to that Alpha of Night Prowler Pack,' so the wolf demanded.

Coincidentally, Lucien wanted the exact opposite and would like Landon to agree with him.

'A promise is a prom ise, Lucien insisted. 'He is a good person. He will take good care of us. And our pack.'

Landon snorted.

'Ronan can do that as well.

Not Ronan again.

'I can almost understand why you were unable to rely on him seven years ago. He was just a pathetic little pup back then. But look at him now! Why didn't you take him into consideration?'

It was not as if Landon did not know why. The reason was still the same as the one seven years ago.

'Landon, Ronan is off-limit,' Lucien declared.

'Who says that?'

'I do.'

Landon sometimes wished he could beat Lucien up in a fight. If they did not share the same body, he might do that a few times just to make a point.

'I will never accept Kinnon Youngshaper and his wolf as our mate. Remember that.'

'Landon...

'Unless you want me to leave again?'

Lucien sighed.

'Of course not. We are a team.'

A delighted growl was heard coming from the wolf.

'Then as a good teammate, you will listen to me!

Landon seemed to have mistaken teammates for subordinates.

'As teammates, we should come to a compromise,' Lucien pointed out.

'I am all about compromises. Just don't hang around Kinnon Youngshaper anymore!

'I don't think that's an option.'

'Why not?'

I am going to be the Luna of his pack.

'Then you will be known as the Luna who kills the Alpha on the first wedding night.

'Don't test me, Lucien. You know I am more than capable to do it!

Of course he was. He already proved it on the night Lucien and Kinnon wanted to consummate their relationship.

And on the day Kinnon came to visit him in the hospital.

Landon's hostility toward Kinnon stemmed from his determination to stay with Ronan. It was almost unfair to Kinnon how Landon was so at ease with Ronan.

Is it because of the fated mate connection?

After all this time, why?

Ronan...

"Ronan..."

Lucien breathed out the man's name in his sleep, unaware that the very man was sitting at his bedside at the moment. Ronan was looking through a report that Milroy put together by his request. Ronan looked up as soon as he heard Lucien calling out to him. He set the papers aside and went to sit at Lucien's bedside.

"Hey..." he whispered at Lucien, but the latter did not respond.

He was still unconscious after all.

Ronan pulled the blanket to Lucien's chin and tucked his arms in.

The man on the bed was red in the face due to a high fever. There was a slight crease on his forehead and his eyelashes fluttered restlessly. It looked like he was plagued by a nightmare. "Ronan..." He called out again.

Ronan patted Lucien's head. His skin felt hot against his cold hand.

"I am here," he whispered. "Don't think too much about anything else, Lucien. Just rest."

He himself did not think that he could rest that night. Not after what he read.

Ronan's memory about the day remained vivid even after a long time had passed.

He still remembered what a great summer day it was. Not too hot and not too dry. It was a good day for a picnic. Or a date.

He never thought that it would turn into something else instead.

Something so devastating.

"Breakup? But why?"

The eighteen-year-old Ronan Silverback back then could barely believe his ears.

"Why, Lulu, why?"

He grabbed the youth in front of him and shook his shoulders in exasperation.

Lucien's expression was so cold, devoid of the slightest emotion. His lips were pulled into a thin, hard line.

.....

In the few weeks that they spent together as a couple - no, even before they started dating - Ronan had never seen Lucien look at him like that. As if Ronan was a nuisance. As if Lucien could not wait to be done with him. "I want to become the Alpha of my pack," he said. "And you will be the Alpha of yours. Our paths were set in stone years ago before we were even born."

"But... But we are..."

We are fated mates.

We are supposed to be together.

Lucien, don't you love me anymore?

Thinking back, maybe he should have said all that. Then maybe Lucien's resolution would crumble and they would stay together instead of breaking up.

But no, Ronan did not have the confidence that Lucien loved him.

The boy that he loved so much spoke so casually about breaking up at their secret dating spot. Ronan thought that maybe he was wrong all along. Maybe Lucien did not love him that much. Maybe it was all his wishful thinking.

One sentence of rejection was all it took to break Ronan's heart. Lucien on the other side did not look affected at all. The last thing that Ronan remembered about Lucien was the relief on the latter's face before he turned around and left Ronan to deal with his broken heart on his own.

"Mr. Silverback, we are here."

Ronan opened his eyes in the present time and glanced at the Werewolf Council Headquarters that towered high in the middle of North Ridge Forest.

It was the highest building in the middle of a small werewolf settlement, but it did not immediately draw attention.

Why?

Because there was a huge Moon Goddess statue that was even higher than the building right behind it. The Moon Goddess was the goddess of all werewolves. The statue had her eyes cast down with a gentle smile lacing her lips.

Ronan stepped into the building and marched toward the reception table. Two young she-wolves stood up to greet him right away.

"Alpha Ronan," they greeted politely. "May we inquire about the reason for your visit this time around?"

Ronan took his sunglasses off and smiled at both ladies.

The two she-wolves swallowed hard. The smile on the Alpha's face was beyond mesmerizing. It could render any women powerless, and force them into submission. But then they would quickly sober up once they looked into Alpha Ronan's deep-set, hooded hunter eyes. There was no warmth within.

A few years ago, Dane Silverback literally had to force the Alpha position onto his hedonistic son while the latter was busy living the best part of his life. Society had split opinions about Dane Silverback's sudden decision to step back. It might just mean the doom of the Infinite Eclipse Pack.

He should have passed the Alpha position to another alpha in his pack. Someone who was a lot more responsible.

The werewolf community waited nervously for something big to happen after Ronan ascended the throne.

Their wait was ultimately proved to be futile.

There was nothing worth licking their paws for.

That was not even the most surprising thing.

Ronan continued enjoying his life but at the same time was able to manage the pack well.

After being saddled with the unwanted responsibility, Ronan never once came to the council to seek his father's counsel.

Some would claim that Ronan Silverback was such a capable Alpha that he did not need to rely on his father to rule over a big pack. After all the Infinite Eclipse Pack remained standing even after months had passed. Dane Silverback must be proud.

Some others would whisper about the dysfunctional father-son relationship between Dane and Ronan Silverback. They never saw eye to eye. Everyone knew that.

And yet there Ronan was, visiting his father for the first time since the latter joined the Werewolf Council.

The Alpha was led to one of the elevators by an attendant. Another attendant already waited in front of the elevator when they reached the floor.

"Alpha Ronan Silverback, please follow me," the second attendant said while bowing deeply.

Ronan was taken to one of the council's private meeting rooms. Four cream-colored single couches were laid around a circular tea table. A bookshelf was built into one of the walls. There was even a small window that overlooked the small werewolf community that resided in the North Ridge Forest.

Ronan leaned against the window frame and stared out of the window.

He did not need to wait long before Dane arrived.

"Fancy seeing you here," Dane's voice was heard behind Ronan's back. Ronan turned around and met his father's g

Dane gestured toward the couches. They each took a seat across from each other. "What a surprise."

s gaze.

Ronan leaned back on his couch and gave his father a diplomatic smile.

"Can a son not visit his father?"

Dane raised an eyebrow.

"Most certainly. Then again when did you become so attached to this old man?"

Ronan chuckled.

Indeed, there was no use putting up performance when there were just the two of them.

Ronan placed some papers on the tea table between them and pushed them toward Dane.

Dane had his arms crossed in front of his chest. He did not look as if he planned to take a look at the papers on the table.

"Even if you don't want to take a look at them, I will still ask you about them."

The Alpha steepled his fingers together, his elbows resting on the couch arms comfortably.

The way Dane Silverback eyed the stack of papers on the table was rather amusing to him.

Eventually, Dane Silverback deigned to give the stack of papers the briefest glance.

"So?" He placed them back on the table, their treacherous content facing up for both of them to see. "What is it about?"

"If Father is not going to tell me what happened, then let me just ask how come the Silverback Corporation owned 65% of Clearwater Finance's shares?"

Dane Silverback rang a bell at the side of the tea table and the floor attendant appeared at the door right away.

"Yes, Mr. Dane?"

"Bring us both two cups of coffee. Black, no sugar."

.....

"One," Ronan corrected his father.

Dane pulled a smirk. "Suit yourself."

Ronan hated black coffee. Too bad his father never cared to remember.

"Answer me."

"This is a business deal from the past, I don't remember the details," Dane Silverback answered lightly. "It was only one of the many acquisitions that Silverback Corporation did. It was nothing special."

Ronan chuckled.

"I see."

Ronan leaned forward and tapped on the papers.

"It just happened to be seven years ago, near the end of August."

It was, to be exact, one day before Lucien broke up with Ronan.

The father and son engaged in a heated staring contest, none of them refused to budge. It was the attendant with a cup of coffee on a tray that eventually broke the deafening silence in the room.

"Mr. Dane, your coffee."

"Hm. Put it down."

The attendant put the cup of steaming coffee on the table. He gave Ronan a curious look and quickly looked away when the latter stared at him.

"Excuse me," he stammered before he took his leave.

"That is not all that I found," Ronan said while watching his father drink his coffee. "A large sum of money was transferred from your personal bank account to Gordon Clearwater's on the very same day. What a coincidence, don't you think?" "Indeed, I don't remember at all," Dane smoothly lied through his teeth. There was even a shameless smile on his face. If Ronan did not know better, he would have punched the smile out of his father's face.

"Since you don't remember, I have taken the liberty to buy 55% shares of Clearwater Finance with my own money."

Dane's smile disappeared like a wisp of smoke, replaced by severe lines that indicate his utmost displeasure at hearing the news.

He was now sitting upright on the couch, glaring at his son.

"You dare to steal from Silverback Corporation?!" He shouted in disbelief.

"Heh."

A chuckle escaped the Alpha. Why would he even need to steal?

"I bought the shares at the current share price. Not a cent less," Ronan declared.

"You lied," Dane decided.

"I didn't. If you are interested, you can go and check it out."

Theoretically, Dane Silverback should not be privy to the corporation's insider information anymore after he retreated from the CEO position. Practically, he had access to any information he wanted and Ronan knew that.

"No need," Dane said through gritted teeth. "You are now the CEO of the Silverback Corporation. Build or destroy it, you can do whatever you want now."

Ronan shook his head in a mocking manner. "I am just here to share with you the latest news about my personal acquisition. Oh, and..."

Ronan rose from his seat and placed his hands on the table, leaning close to his father. He could smell some fright in Dane's breath and it pleased him immensely.

"Don't you dare use your influence on the Clearwater family anymore. Particularly on Lucien."

That was what he came to say. Ronan's fingernails scraped the surface of the table when he picked the financial report from the table. Without a single word of goodbye, the son walked toward the door.

A clattering sound was heard when the ebony table shook. A moment later, the coffee cup fell on top of the carpeted floor. The black stain spread like a blooming flower, ruining the otherwise immaculate fur carpet.

"Ronan!!!"

Ronan stopped in his track and turned to look at Dane. The latter stood up straight and glared at him with unconcealed anger.

"When will you finally grow up?" he chastised. "When will you stop chasing after that boy's shadow???"

Ronan tilted his head backward, looking exceptionally handsome with a smug grin on his face.

"I grew up, Father. That's why I do not listen to you anymore."

"You...!!!"

Dane Silverback was outraged.

Ronan turned to leave, but he suddenly remembered something else. Hatred flashed in his eyes when he looked back at his father and said something else.

"Ah yes. If you want an obedient son who listens to everything that you have to say, then maybe you should make that boy from just now your heir."

He was naturally referring to the floor attendant.

Ronan slammed the door in front of his father's face. He could hear muffled sounds coming from inside the room, presumably his father who was launching curses at him. Sad, but Ronan did not care anymore. Some distance away from the room, the floor attendant stood and waited. When Ronan walked past him, he kept his eyes down.

Ronan did not bother to give him another glance. A careful observation just now sufficed to see that the young man inherited some facial features that were inherent to the Silverback family's good looks.

That was not all.

Around his neck was a golden chain locket with the Silverback family's sigil on it, depicting a silver wolf howling at the moon. It was a token of love that Dane Silverback distributed to all the women who bore his children, legitimate or not.

Ronan tossed his locket into the trash can ages ago when he learned about his father's infidelity.

Ronan never disillusioned himself with the thought that one day his relationship with his father would improve. The more they saw each other, the less they could tolerate each other.

It thus came off as a surprise when his father picked him to be the next Alpha to the Infinite Eclipse Pack. Dane Silverback sired enough illegitimate alpha sons and daughters out there to make one of them his successor.

These sons and daughters were additionally more than happy to serve their father in that sense. Unlike those bastards, Ronan never once insisted on being the Alpha. His only qualm if any of his illegitimate half-siblings became the Alpha was that he would not feel comfortable enough to remain in the pack.

Then again, it didn't matter. Ronan always had the option to leave the pack and become a rogue werewolf.

Given the broken marriage between Dane Silverback and his Luna, the werewolf community might not even criticize Ronan.

And yet there he was, the rightful Alpha of the Infinite Eclipse Pack.

On the day of his coronation, an elder once told him that it was proof of Dane's fatherly love. Ronan remained unconvinced then, as he was now. What fatherly love would compel his father to destroy the relationship between him and his fated mate?

When Ronan arrived at the hospital in the late afternoon, Lucien was wide awake. He was lying on the bed but his eyes were wide open. The window curtains were drawn aside to let some remaining sunlight in before the sun set.

Lucien had his eyes trained on the scenery outside of the window. The setting sun colored the clouds and the sky in various shades of red and orange. It produced a sight that was both beautiful and mesmerizing. Lucien could not take his eyes away from the beautiful painting that nature created every day.

.....

Knock, knock.

Lucien turned his head in the direction of the door. His gaze fell on Ronan who had a bouquet of red carnations in his arm.

"How are you feeling?" The Alpha asked him.

"Fine."

Lucien's eyes followed Ronan's figure as he emptied a glass vase, filled it with water from the bathroom, and put the carnations inside.

"You haven't been here the whole day," Lucien remarked.

Ronan was mildly surprised to hear Lucien's words.

"How do you know? You were still largely unconscious yesterday."

"I can feel you," Lucien answered without thinking. He regretted it as soon as the words left his lips, but there was no takeback.

Ronan merely gazed at Lucien for a few seconds before he went to sit on a chair in front of the bed.

Taking Lucien's hand in his, Ronan gazed at Lucien's beautiful face.

"I have something for you," he blurted out.

Lucien furrowed his brows at the man in front of him. "What is it?"

Ronan took out an envelope from inside his coat pocket and handed it to Lucien.

"What

is this?" Lucien asked warily.

"Open it," Ronan urged him.

Lucien tore the envelope open and found a folded-up document inside. He straightened it and the first words that he read caused his eyes to go round from surprise.

"This is..."

Ronan pressed at Lucien's hands.

"Keep reading."

It was an asset transfer notification from Ronan Silverback to Lucien Clearwater. The asset in question was 55% share of Clearwater Finance.

Clearwater Finance.

Just reciting the two words in his heart was enough to make Lucien's body tremble. Clearwater Finance was once the bread and butter for the whole Silent Walkers Pack. Losing Clearwater Finance was the beginning of the pack's decline. Now Lucien was holding a document that stated that he, effective starting today, held the majority of Clearwater

Finance's shares.

Ronan bought the shares under his name and gave them to Lucien free of charge.

Lucien was horrified.

He pushed the document into Ronan's hands.

"Are you crazy, Ronan Silverback? Take the shares back!"

Ronan grinned at the man on the bed.

"Sorry, I don't have enough money to buy the shares from your hand. I am poor now."

"You...!"

Ronan clasped both of Lucien's hands in his. "Sorry, Lucien. I didn't know."

Know what?

About what happened seven years ago?

Lucien swallowed hard.

Did Dane Silverback tell Ronan? No, unlikely. He would never.

Lucien remained silent as he stared at Ronan and waited for him to say what he wanted to say.

The Alpha raised his hand and caressed Lucien's cheek gently. His hand felt cold against his feverish skin.

'He knows,' Landon spoke to him. 'He found out the truth.

'No,' Lucien disagreed. 'I don't think so!'

There was no reason at all for Ronan to suddenly launch an investigation for something that happened seven years ago. The agreement between his father and Ronan's father was a tightly guarded secret. Ronan was not supposed to replace out at all.

The wolf growled in displeasure at Lucien's pessimism, but he did not go berserk. He merely succumbed to the joy of being touched by Ronan. Meanwhile, Ronan was still trying to coax Lucien.

"I hurt you without knowing. I am sorry."

"

"I was stupid and immature."

Ronan lowered his head and sighed.

"Lucien, say something. Can you ever forgive me?"

Lucien only had one thing to say. "I will not tell you anything."

I will not tell you that I am also sorry.

I will not tell

you that you were indeed stupid and immature.

I will not tell you that I do not need to forgive you.

The one who should ask for forgiveness is me.

Unfortunately, I cannot tell you anything.

So I will keep the secret forever and carry it to the grave.

Ronan rose from his seat and hovered over Lucien. Their faces were so close to each other that he could count the eyelashes over Lucien's beautiful, glassy eyes.

"I will not tell you anything," Lucien repeated in a whisper.

Their lips lightly brushed against each other.

Ronan's warm breath blew softly against Lucien's skin, causing his heart to beat faster against his chest.

"You don't have to," Ronan whispered back at Lucien and leaned in for a kiss.