I Rejected You, Alpha

AIDEN’S POV

—

I was fuming as I exit the house, seeing Stefan’s foot on the vile woman’s neck as she laid with her stomach flat against the grass, but how Stefan was holding her captive was not the reason for my murderous mood, no. It was her face, the knowing look in her eyes as her pale blue orbs met mine, the fear that covered her face and the way she squirmed to try and free herself.

I could hear her pleads to Stefan, begging him to let her go, but as my gaze lifts to my best friend, his eyes are wide and focused on the little humans behind me. The sound of their feet pattering follows me and I swiftly turn to them, making them all freeze in their tracks, their heads pulling back as their eyes widen.

“Before we go, I need you all to know that these people will never hurt you, so don’t be afraid of the luna, okay?” I smile, my eyes glancing over their innocent scared faces. “Stay here until I come and get you.” I smile before turning back to Stefan and I strut toward them.

I ravel in the sight of her fear, her hands pushing against the ground as she tries to over power my beta, but she fails miserably and resorts to tears for sympathy, or she might be actually frightened, but that I don’t care about.

As I approach them, I lower onto my haunches, brushing the hair out of her face as she swats my hand away, “How could you do this?” I ask in a surprisingly calm tone. “Do what?” her voice shakes as she speaks. “Treat children that way?”, “What way? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” she tries to shake her head, but it barely moves as it’s pressed to the ground.

“Then why did I find them in the basement?” my shoulders lightly rise and fall as I stare her down, “I, I didn’t know…” oh how she pleads innocent is beyond the line of calm and I grab a fist full of her dark hair, pulling her up onto her feet. She lets out a cry, but something about it just sounds fake. Her painful cry sounds forced and her face barely shows any pain.

“Tell me the truth.” I grit out, tilting her head back and she growls at me, “I’m sorry.” she immediately apologizes for growling at me.

Her eyes are narrowed, her chin wobbling as she tries to plead with me, but how could I just forgive her.

I let go of her hair, shoving her back and Stefan grabs her by the arms, “Put her in the car.” I grit out, glancing back at the kids, “I need someone to stay with them until I get to the castle to send more cars to come get them.” I glance at the three guards standing in front of me, all of them standing with their hands behind their backs.

“So, who will it be?” I ask, “I’d be happy too,” one nods, “Me too,” the other mutters, “Anything you need, my King.” the last one nods too and I feel very empowered at this moment, “Good, you.” I turn all my focus to the last one who answered, “You come home with Stefan and I and the two of you stay looking after them. I want no harm coming to them, understand?” I deadpan and they nod.

They don’t wait and turn to the kids, walking to them and the other one goes to the car, “I’ll be right back.” I tell Stefan and I walk over to the children, “Why don’t you guys go sit under that tree and stay with my two guards, JJ and Lucas, I will come back with transportation.” I smile and the little girl that was the bravest of them all comes running forward, clinging to my leg and my head tilts down as I look at the top of her head, “Promise?” she asks as she glances up at me through a hooded gaze, “I pinky promise.” I hold out my pinky and she strangely looks at it.

Awkwardness falls over me and I let my hand fall to my side, “I promise.” I smile down at her and she returns a smile, her little teeth showing and I notice one missing.

“I’ll be back.” I say as she pulls away and runs back to the group that’s walking to the shade of the trees.

–

Arriving back at the castle, Roman and Penelope are standing there, their arms crossed and worry covering their faces. I slowly get out of the car, my eyes not leaving theirs once as I open the back door and pull Penelope’s sister out. I watch as my mate’s aunt’s face falls in fear as I tightly hold onto her arm and drag her towards the Castle, “Penelope, help me!” she tries to reach for her sister and I pull her back, clicking my tongue three times as I hold up my finger to Penelope who tried to reach for her sister, “Don’t, she’s a criminal just like her mate.” my wide eyes narrow as Penelope stares at her sister with shock, “I didn’t know!” her sister screeches, hurting my ears. “She didn’t know.” Roman tries to help his mate out and I start to laugh, “Don’t be ridiculous, do you honestly believe that? How could she not know that there were twenty kids in her f*g basement?” I grit out, seething. I could feel my anger trying to take over, but I was not going to let it win, not right now.

“Aiden, as the former King, I must advise…”, “Exactly.” I interrupt him, “Former king.” I deadpan, “I am the current one and I know family is important that is why I will have a lie detection test set up, if it were someone else, she’d be long dead.” I shrug and pull the woman into the house.

‘I’m home.’ I inform Eleia through the mind link as I head straight for the dungeons.

I freeze in shock when Penelope’s sister freezes, “Margot.” Reece breathes out, his hands holding the bars once more. It smells a lot cleaner in here and I think it’s because Eleia had people come and clean it. I stare at the woman, named Margot.

I feel kind of an i***t for not even asking for her name, but then again, I wasn’t there for introductions. I was there on an investigation.

As I try to pull Margot closer, she stops in her tracks after every tug, her eyes filled with fear as her chin trembles. Her eyes eventually meet mine and she shakes her head, “What are you doing with my mate?” Alpha Reece bellows, slamming his hand against the reinforced steel bars. “Shut up.” I roll my eyes and look at her, “Don’t make me hurt you.” I sigh, I might be able to grab her hair and shove her lightly, but never would I hit a woman. I know I shouldn’t man handle her either, but I can’t come forth as soft either.

“Don’t put me in there with him.” she whispers, pulling her arm back. “What? Margot, why?” Alpha Reece’s voice becomes lower, his eyes growing darker with each passing second as he stares at her. “You know why.” she grits out, her eyes swelling with tears and I can’t tell if she’s acting or if she’s really angry with him.

“I don’t, didn’t you let the King in?” He asks with furrowed brows, “I did.” her lips twitch up, even though her mouth is smiling, her eyes are filled with disgust, darkness and anger.

“I don’t…” Alpha Reece shakes his head in confusion, “Where did that f*g kids come from Reece?” she reaches forward, the anger radiating off her fueling her energy and I pull her back as her hand reaches out to him and he stares at her with wide eyes, “What. what do you mean? What kids?” the slight glance he gives me doesn’t go unnoticed and she breaks out into a sob, “You’re a monster!” she yells going for his cell again but I pull her into my chest, her hands grabbing my shirt firmly as she starts to shake.

As a person with a heart and that cares for people, it’s difficult to see her like this but as a leader, a person who promised those children to protect them, I can’t fall for this.

With a heavy heart. I pull the cell door open next to Alpha Reece’s and shove her inside, locking it and I slip the key out of the gate and strut off.

I don’t have time for their fighting and I could hear them bicker as I walk out of the dark, cold dungeon.

“Aiden.” Eleia gasps as I slam the door shut behind me. “What did you find?” she asks as she struts over to me, hugging me tightly like I have been gone for days. My arms wrap around her automatically as a sigh escapes my lips.

“Enough proof.”