I Rejected You, Alpha

ELEIA’S POV

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After Aiden told me everything that happened while we pulled up the cars, he left once more to go get the children and I was in charge of getting them places to sleep. My heart shattered for those kids more than I was angry with Alpha Reece and his mate, my aunt’s sister, Margot.

Aiden told me about her acting like she didn’t know anything, but how could she not? It was her home, the place where she lived and was daily. Did she not notice the random children?

Did she not hear their cries or giggles?

Aiden said they had no sign of malnourishment or bruises, but that’s only what he saw from a quick glance in a mission.

I quickly called all women to the patch of grass in front of the castle and I paced impatiently as everyone arrived in drips and drags. It was less than ten minutes before everyone arrived and I was thankful that they all came in such a hurry.

These people have lives, chores and jobs, yet when I asked for help, they all came, supporting me.

“My family.” I announce as I climb onto a chair, “I am so thankful for all of you gathering by my request.” I smile as my eyes flick over the hundreds of faces, “I know not everyone can help with what I am about to ask, but I only need at least twenty open homes to orphaned children. You don’t need to adopt, just foster until we find a home, but these children are up for adoption too. They were found in a pack in a basement and we are yet to know their conditions. I know this is a big ask, but I believe we can all help. I too recently took in an orphan, I think you might have seen her, Cleo.” I smile at the thought of that precious girl.

“Please come forward or raise a hand if you can help, this is not compulsory, but the help would be appreciated.”

My eyes start to sting as more than enough women raise their hands and come forth and my hands press together against my lips.

I suck my lips into my mouth, blinking away the unshed tears in my eyes as I let out a shaky breath to control my feelings.

“Thank you, if you who can help please hang around here, that would be great and please, the women who can’t help, don’t feel guilty because you don’t have the space. I appreciate you all for coming and the rest can go.” I climb down and the whispers and talk get louder as the rest of the women leave.

I would never judge someone for being unable to take a kid in, not everyone can do it and not everyone has the space to do it either. It’s a rough life, but I am grateful for those coming.

“Can we move to the shade under the tree?” I ask as I start to walk and a group of about fifty women follow me. It’s honestly overwhelming to see how much they are willing to help and I love it, I love every bit of it.

“Please, have a seat.” I stand in the middle and they all surround me before sitting down. Most of them are young women, and the rest are in their forty or fifties, but none the less, we as wolves stay in great shape and they could easily sit down and get up. Hell, most of these older women can beat these younger ones in a fight.

“So we’re waiting for Aiden to return with the children, he first brought the luna into custody along with their alpha that’s already here and we have a few tests to do before we decide on a punishment.” I gulp down the lump of my throat as Penelope walks out, staring at me as I said that. Her eyes are glistening with unshed tears, her jaw tight and her lips pursed into a thin line.

My heart breaks for my aunt, especially because she is so kind and loving, yet she didn’t know what her sister was involved in.

They seem close, but I can’t let family overrule my judgment- but then again…what if it were Rosie?

I don’t have a real sibling, not by b***d, but Rosie is my sister, my soul sister. We are tied by a bond that’s unbreakable and not even I know what I would have done if it were her.

“Kill them!” a woman yells, a few agreeing by loud screaming of a “Yeah!” and my heart wants to sink.

I can’t tell these women who they are, just because I want to protect my aunt from everything, because killing someone is one thing, but abusing children is another.

Not even I can understand how she can plead innocent, it is her home…She’s lying, but a part of me does want to believe her. For my aunt.

I want to believe that she’s innocent, I want to believe she didn’t know and she’s a victim too, but as Aiden said, we’ll have to do a lie detection test and I will have to speak to my aunt about this.

“No, we have ways to deal with this. I know the frustration, I was one of those kids too, and I hate it.” I say all while staring at my aunt, “But they will get what they deserve, I promise.” I force my gaze away from my loving aunt and glance around, “Please stay here while I get food made for the children and discuss under yourselves if you want to back up, because there’s only twenty children and you all are more than enough. Thank you.” I walk out of the circle, carefully stepping over each person as I walk up to my aunt, “Can we talk?” I ask and she stares at me, the white of her eyes red from how much she cried and I hate myself for making her cry.

I know it’s not my fault, but then again…we were the ones who took her sister into custody.

She whips around and storms off and I take that as a no.

I don’t blame her for hating me at this very moment, I would hate the person who took Rosie too.

I sigh and make my way to the kitchen, ordering twenty ham and cheese sandwiches for the children before I go check up on my own.

“I sit with Arlen for a few minutes while Felix and Cleo play cars in front of me, bumping into each other while making car noises. I smile as Felix has his car jumping over Cleo’s and even though it’s impossible, I love how possible it is in his little mind.

The door slowly opens and a maid sticks her head in, “You said to call you when they arrive.” she mutters in such a low whisper that I barely hear her over the noises Felix is making.

“Oh.” I stand up, “Come on kids.” I smile and Felix frowns as he looks up at me, “Where we going?” he asks, slurring his words as he speaks quickly. “To meet friends.” I smile and he sighs as he drags his body to his feet and Cleo takes my hand before he could, “I want to hold mommy’s hand!” he yells, his tiny hands fisted beside him. “Felix, you can hold my hand on the way back in, how does that sound?” I ask as I squeeze Cleo’s hand when she tries to let go. I could feel her anxiety, I could smell the sourness of her mood.

“Okay.” he sighs, tossing his head back as he drags his feet lazily over to the door.

I smile down at Cleo and she finally glances up at me, “Don’t be afraid, he won’t ever hurt you.” I smile and we walk down the stairs, Felix already forgot about the issue and he was running up and down, making noises as he held his arms stretched out. “Felix, calm down.” I yell as he darts out of the house, “Felix, slow down!” I jog after him, Cleo’s little legs barely keeping up and I let go of her hand for a split second, running after my son. I scream when he runs in front of a car, my heart stopping as I freeze and my tense body relaxes when the car screeches as it breaks just in time.

Felix starts to cry and the door swings open, Aiden jumps out, not bothering to close it as he runs to the front of the car, bending down onto one knee as he grabs Felix, not aggressively, “Are you okay?” he asks as I finally take in a deep breath, “Are you hurt?” I glance back and look at Cleo staring at them with big eyes, “He’s okay.” I mutter and rush down the few steps before kneeling down next to Felix and Aiden brings him into a hug as he just cries.

He’s not hurt, the car did not even touch him, but I think he’s frightened and in shock. The car was inches away from driving over him and if it were someone else, I bet they would have hit him.

“He’s okay.” Aiden mutters as he rubs Felix’s back.

Aiden’s eyes are locked on mine, his orbs are filled with fear and regret, guilt and anger, hurt and confusion and most of all, relief.

“Come on baby.” I pull Felix out of Aiden’s arms while mind linking the nanny. I thought that it would be good for them to meet other kids since they weren’t going to school and they needed to socialize, but right at this very moment, I could not handle sorting these children while mine almost got hurt.

The nanny arrives in a minute and takes Arlen, Felix and Cleo with her back into the castle and even though I felt so happy to have them around, it was now ruined. I know he didn’t get hurt, but he could have. I know that we can’t keep them safe forever, but it is my job. He was just excited, it was just an accident, an accident no one got hurt in and I’m so relieved about it but after this…Aiden and I am going to have to teach them about life, the dangers and fighting because no matter how difficult it is to teach children, it’s more important for them to know how dangerous the world is, not the world itself, but the people in it, the people with monstrous souls, broken hearts and some with nothing inside them, no regret, no love, no nothing.

My children will not be like that… they will know how to love, grow and be kind, to feel bad when doing something wrong, to feel happy when helping someone else.

They will have a better life than I will.