Rejected by My Alpha Mate; Nyra's Awakening

Chapter 8: Chapter 8: The Mess We’ve Created

"Dad?" fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

Adrian’s gaze drops involuntarily to his own shorts first. That was a really close one. At least he managed to cover up before his eyes snap back up to meet his father’s dark gaze.

"What are you doing here so late?"

Alpha Darius’s authoritative tone fills the condo before he even fully walks in. His face first scrunches when he takes in the mess in the living room, then his gaze falls on Anna... and his eyes grow even darker.

"Miss Hale, can you leave? I need to talk to them. Alone."

"But it’s 2:00 a.m..." she tries to argue, glancing at Adrian for help.

Adrian avoids her eyes, looking guilty. "Just send me the Uber details. I’ll take care of it."

"Adrian--"

"I said you leave!" Alpha Darius cuts in, befir she can complain again, his voice clearly leaving no rooms for questions.

She rolls her eyes, making dramatic sounds as she grabs her stuff and storms out.

Nyra almost smirks at the scene. Now her sister knows exactly how it feels to be left out.

She doesn’t have time to gloat, however, because the door slams shut as Alpha Darius stalks deeper into the condo.

"Hosting a party barely five hours after you moved in is highly irresponsible!" He doesn’t waste time with pleasantries. "But what were you still doing with her!? Do you have any idea what people are saying about us now?!" freewebnσvel.cøm

Before Adrian can utter a response in his defense, his father thrusts a phone toward him.

Nyra leans in too, ignoring the way her chest flutters as Adrian’s scent hits her nose.

There’s a video playing on a loop--filmed by John during the housewarming.

But it’s not the video that’s the issue.

It’s that the idiot didn’t check it before posting it online: in the background, Anna is draped all over Adrian, and they are kissing passionately.

Nyra almost snorts out loud. Even the caption is stupid.

What the fuck is "Alpha Life"?

The comments section, however, is even worse. And numbers are growing every second.

"Wait, isn’t he mated now?"

"Defective mate rejected already?"

"The Alpha heir seems irresponsible."

"Pack leadership is becoming a joke."

"What was the Goddess even thinking?"

Nyra facepalms, mumbling curses under her breath-- she had told him not to host the party in the first place, now they are both being tied to his mess.

"It is spreading like wildfire across every pack network and social circle," Darius continues, his voice edged with displeasure. "It’s quickly becoming a scandal. Your mother and I have been receiving calls all night!"

"God!" Adrian mutters under his breath. "John is so fucking stupid-"

Alpha Darius continues, ignoring the comment.

"A few elders are already questioning your commitment to the Goddess’s will. The future Alpha cannot appear to be rejecting his fated mate so publicly and blatantly. It undermines the entire pack’s stability."

Adrian runs a hand through his messy hair.

"I’m sorry, Dad. It was just a stupid party. John’s an idiot. I’ll tell him to take it down immediately."

"Too late for that," Darius interjects smoothly, stepping forward. "The damage is already done. We have to find a way to fix it!"

He pulls out his phone, calling the Luna.

She picks up almost instantly, as though she’d been waiting.

"They’re on speaker, honey."

"Okay. Okay." She sounds furstrated and tired over the phone. "I’ve sorted it out, but there will need to be a press conference tomorrow morning in the academy hall."

Her voice grows even more serious, and Nyra realizes for the first time just how terrifying the Luna can be when she’s angry.

"There will be an official announcement: Nyra is your Goddess-chosen mate. You will stand together, smile for the cameras, answer questions appropriately, and present yourselves as the most loving couple in all of Moon-Crest. No more slip-ups, Adrian. This is not optional!"

Nyra’s stomach plummets.

"A press conference? With cameras, reporters, and the whole pack watching?"

How did she go from being the most invisible girl in the entire pack to this...?

Plus, she can’t even stand being in the same room with him privately, how do they expect her to pretend in front of several cameras?

It’s going to be a huge mess for sure.

"You don’t have a choice," Darius cuts in firmly, his Alpha aura pressing down on them both. "Pack law and optics demand it. The bond must be honored publicly."

"Exactly!" Luna Selene adds over the phone. "Nyra, I’ll be there by ten to prepare you. We need to make sure you look the part of the future Luna."

Nyra is already dreading it.

"Okay." She mutters, shooting Adrian a look that reads, ’this is all your fault!’

Adrian’s jaw clenches visibly, but he nods once, reluctantly. "Fine. We’ll do it. But this is ridiculous."

Darius gives them both a long, measuring look, his eyes narrowed in warning.

"Fix this. Or the pack’s confidence in the future leadership will crumble. I expect perfection tomorrow." He exhales loudly. "And for goodness sake, get rid of that girl!"

When he finally leaves--after giving them an earful--silence falls heavy and awkward between Nyra and Adrian in the now-quiet condo.

"Perfect," Nyra mutters, crossing her arms tighter. "Now the whole pack gets to watch us pretend to be something we’re not. Thanks to your idiot friend and your little show with Anna."

Adrian shoots her a sharp glare, silver eyes flashing. "Don’t! I’m fucking hungover, I can’t deal with your bullshit right now!"

"My bullshit?" Nyra scoffs, stepping closer despite the glare. "You’re the one who keeps humiliating me in front of everyone. Then I come home to Anna on her knees for you. And now we have to lie to the entire pack just to save your image?"

Adrian’s picks up a can of beer from the floor, and throws into the trashcan. "Rules are rules..you signed the contract." He snorts, "Besides, you also had a good fucking time with your Alpha too, didn’t you?"

Nyra’s eyes narrow. "Are you jealous?"

Adrian freezes for half a second. Just half a second, but Nyra notices.

Then he quickly scoffs to cover it up. "Don’t flatter yourself."

He grabs another empty can from the counter and shoves it into the trash harder than necessary. "Why the fuck would I even be jealous? You can do whatever you want with your Alpha. I don’t care."

She can’t feel anything from the bond, like Adrian’s shut her completely out from his feelings. She rolls her eyes.

Fuck him and his wolf then.

She ignores the flexing of veins on his arms, the way his sharp nose seemed to scrunch everytime she walks pased him. The nerve to be upset when she’s even helping him clean up.

Completely exhausted and drained, they both finally retire back to their rooms for the night, almost at the same time...like their wolves are in sync.

Nyra argues internally that it’s just because of the hectic day they have planned tomorrow.

Speaking of the press conference..just how the fuck are they supposed to pretend in front of so many people?

Her and Adrian? Together? In front of hundreds of cameras?

Tomorrow’s bound to to be a huge disaster.