The Lycan’s Rejected Mate
Chapter 182

Caliana's

POV

As soon as I reached the manor, the Alpha approached me, eyeing me suspiciously, he was sniffing the air around and I realized late that I should have bathed before anyone saw me. His eyes glowed gold as he approached me and I unconsciously took a step back.

He grabbed my hand and pulled me closer to him

"Who were you with and why do I smell another man on you?" He growled and I swallowed, not knowing what to say. I couldn't tell him that I met with Alpha Henderson. If he forbids me from going back there? I won't get the answers. I struggled to get out of his arms but his grip is tight.

"Aubrey and I took some food at the new construction site and someone got injured so I helped out," I lied, looking him in the eyes. I've always been a terrible liar so I made sure to calm my breathing.

He immediately let me go a little rougher than he intended, I stumbled and almost lost my balance but he caught me. He looked at me with apologetic eyes and removed the strain of hair that was on my forehead. "Did you go for a run today?" He asked, gently and his tone surprised me.

"Yes,"

"Don't go anymore, there has been a sighting of intruders,"

"Are we safe?" I asked. He sighed and traced his thumb on my lips with his fingers.

"Don't worry, we are fine," I knew we'll be fine, no one would dare attack the fiercest pack in the region, it was the strays outside our borders I was worried for, they are vulnerable

"The strays outside the border are whom I'm worried for, they might be a target," I said and he narrowed his gaze on me, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

"You're concerned for them?" He mumbled more to himself than me. I nodded. I put my hands on his palm, and he looked down at them. I almost withdrew them but he held them right where they were.

"We need to help them, replace them a small place within the safety of the gates," I said. He was quiet, thinking and his face was stoic.

"They are not..." I cut him off before he finished talking,

"I know, not your priority but I feel responsible for their well being. They are on our borders and they are children there, Alpha, children who are Love's age,"

I was shocked when he crashed his delicious lips on me, he bit my lower lip when I wasn't moving with him and I did, softly and carefully. He was gentle and his hands were on my sides.

I was panting for breath when he pulled away.

"Tell me what you need me to do for them,"

My lips parted in shock and he watched me with slight amusement, he cut me again before I can even formula any words, "They shall earn their keep here and I'll observe, then we'll see the way forward," I was only nodding my head vigorously at what he said and a huge smile was plastered on my face. He turned to leave but I grabbed his hand,

"Thank you, Alpha Edward,"

"You're welcome," he said and went on his way. I screamed in excitement and rushed to the servants' entertainment room to share the good news. I found them watching a telenovela, they enjoyed watching these on their break.

"Guys, please pause. I have good news to share!" All seven of them looked in my direction, anxious.

"What is it,"

"The strays on our borders," I began, wanting to be dramatic

"Oh that.. are they still there?" Sighed Lena, drinking her tea most elegantly.

"I hope they've moved," The chef's assistant said.

"No," I said.

"Anyway, they are coming in the pack!" I announced, ecstatic but they grimaced while others frowned upon that.

"The Alpha agreed to let the rogues in the pack?!" Juanita asked, shocked.

"Yes, are you not happy with the news?" I asked them.

"Luna, you're too kind to them, we don't know what crimes they committed for them to flee or be banished from their packs," Lena said.

"And also, who knows how many diseases they are carrying around, it's really unsafe for you,?"

Everyone in the entertainment room had a negative thing to say about them and I wasn't having it anymore. I growled, using my Luna authority and they whimpered.

"Who are you to judge?" I crossed my arms against my chest and looked at all of them. "You don't know the truth about their lives or why they found themselves in such awful circumstances because you have not bothered to speak to them," I said.

"It could be your relatives there, your mother, sister, brother, nieces, or nephews!" I pointed out, they were all barring their necks, and I realized I was exuding a predominant aura. I was angry, my memories took me back to my friend, Tristin, we grew up together but he was banished by my brother for defending me and calling him out on his bullshit. I never heard from him since and we have no idea how he survived in the world without a pack. An angry tear escaped my eye as I thought about him, he was barely twenty-one when he was banished for no proper reason. "We are sorry, we didn't mean to upset you," Lena's voice was gentle but I shook my head.

"Please don't mind me," I forced a small smile, exiting the room. I thought about Tristin, I should have done something and I could have done something, maybe challenged my stepbrother but I didn't. More tears started falling from my eyes and I had a hard time holding in my sobs.

I sat under the spiral staircases, trying to self-soothe. Why was I feeling so emotional, it's been a while since I cried like this.

'It's not your fault, you weren't even Eighteen years old yet and Dad had just passed away!' my wolf said.

'I still should have done something, anything and now we don't know if he's dead or alive,' I cried louder.

'Tristin is alive,' she assured me. Most wolves don't survive once they are banished.

'Cali, he was a crafty wolf, I sat there until I stopped crying, deciding to go to my room now when I saw my Alpha in the grand foyer next to the piano, he was watching me quietly. I was flustered that he saw me bawl like a child and wanted to run away from there as fast as I could but I didn't make it past the third stair when he grabbed my wrist.

"You don't have to run from me,"