Rejected by Her Mate Claimed by Four Alphas novel Chapter 244

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Clara’s POV

“You’re not pregnant, Luna.”

The words hit me like a wave. Relief and disappointment tangled together in my chest until

couldn’t tell which feeling was stronger.

“You’re sure?”

“Completely sure. The blood test is definitive.” He set the paper down on his desk. “However, your symptoms are real and concerning. The nausea, the missed cycles, the exhaustion. These are all signs of severe stress affecting your body.”

“So it’s just stress?”

“Stress is never ‘just’ anything, Luna. Your body is reacting to extreme emotional and physical strain. If you don’t address it, the symptoms will get worse.” He looked at me seriously. “When was the last time you took a full day of rest?”

I couldn’t remember. Before Darius left? Before the revelation about the mate bonds? Everything had been one crisis after another.

“I’ll try to rest more,” I said, though we both knew it was a lie.

“At least try to eat regularly and get proper sleep,” Dr. Mitchell said. “And if the symptoms worsen or you experience anything new, come see me immediately. Understood?”

“Understood.”

He handed me a small bottle of pills. “These will help with the nausea. Take one before meals.”

I took the bottle and left the medical wing, my mind spinning.

Not pregnant. I wasn’t carrying Darius’s child. There was no biological tie forcing us together, no innocent life caught in the middle of this mess.

I should have felt pure relief. Instead, part of me felt oddly hollow. Like I’d lost something I never actually had.

Would a baby have made things simpler or more complicated? Would Darius have stayed if there was a child? Or would the other Alphas have fought even harder, unwilling to let me go despite the pregnancy?

I walked slowly through the pack house corridors, barely seeing where I was going. Pack members

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nodded as I passed, but I hardly registered them. My thoughts were too loud, too chaotic.

What did this mean for my decision? Without a pregnancy tipping the scales, I was back to the original question. Who did I choose? Who could I bear to lose?

My wolf stirred restlessly. She still wanted all of them. Still didn’t understand why we had to pick just one. But human society didn’t work that way. Werewolf traditions didn’t work that way.

Except Lucien had suggested there might be another way. That maybe tradition could be

challenged. That maybe love didn’t have to be exclusive.

But even thinking about it felt dangerous. Like hoping for something impossible and setting myself

up for more pain.

“You look pale.”

1 jerked my head up. Killian stood a few feet away, watching me with those calculating green eyes.

I’d walked all the way to the garden without realizing it.

“Just tired,” I said automatically.

“Tired of this situation, or tired of us?” He sat down on the bench beside me without waiting for

permission.

“Both.”

He nodded like he’d expected that answer. “I’ve been thinking about yesterday.”

“And?”

“I was too aggressive. The threats weren’t fair.”

I blinked. Killian never apologized. Never showed weakness.

“Why the change of heart?”

“Because I realized something,” Killian said, leaning back against the bench. “Winning you by force or manipulation isn’t winning at all. It’s just another form of losing.”

I didn’t know what to say to that.

“I’m not withdrawing my claim,” he continued. “But I’m done fighting dirty. When you make your choice, I want it to be because you actually want me. Not because I cornered you into it.”

Before I could respond, rapid footsteps pounded on the garden path. Derek, the senior warrior, appeared. His face was tense.

“Luna Clara,” he said, slightly out of breath. “The border patrol just sent word. There’s a group

requesting entry to the pack lands. They’re asking for you specifically

My Alpha instincts kicked in immediately. “Who are they?”

“A woman named Mira. She claims to be Alpha Ronan’s mate. She’s brought family and warriors with her. About fifteen total,”

Ice flooded my veins. I glanced at Killian, whose expression had gone carefully blank.

“Where’s Ronan?” I asked Derek.

“He’s been informed, Luna. He’s on his way to the border now.”

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“Does she know about us?”

Killian’s jaw tightened. “Word travels fast in the werewolf community. Someone must have seery you two together. Talked.”

“How many warriors are with her?”

“Her father, two brothers, and the rest are warriors from her old pack,” Derek said.

This was bad. Really bad. If Mira’s family thought their daughter was being disrespected, they

could challenge my authority as Alpha. Start a conflict between packs.

“They’re at the eastern border,” Derek said. “Waiting for permission to enter.”

“And if I refuse them entry?”

“It would be seen as a declaration of guilt,” Killian said quietly. “Like you’re hiding something.”

“But if I let them in…”

“She’ll confront you,” Killian finished. “Probably publicly. She’ll want everyone to see.”

I stood up, forcing my spine straight despite the nausea churning in my gut. The pills from Dr. Mitchell were still in my pocket, unused. “Then I let them in. I’m not hiding from anyone.”

“Luna,” Derek started, looking uncertain.

“I’m the Alpha here,” I said firmly. “This is my territory. If she wants to come onto my lands and make accusations, she can do it properly. Through the correct channels.”

Killian’s eyes gleamed with something like approval. “You’re going to make her formally request an

audience.”

“Exactly. I’ll grant it. But on my terms, in my pack house, with witnesses present.” I looked at Derek. “Tell the border patrol to escort them to the main pack house. Formal reception.”

Derek nodded and left quickly.

“Killian, spread the word to the senior pack members,” I said, my Alpha voice coming through clearly now. “I want witnesses for whatever’s about to happen.”

He left without argument.

As I walked toward the pack house alone, my mind raced. This was going to get ugly. Mira would be hurt, angry, probably looking for someone to blame. And I was the easiest target.

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But I was also the Alpha of Shadowcrest. I’d fought for this position, killed for it, bled for it. I want

to let anyone walk into my territory and disrespect me without consequences

part of me understood exactly why she was angry.

time I reached the pack house, warriors were already taking positions. Word had spread Pack members lined the halls, whispering, watching. Some looked supportive. Others looked icious.

he pack was dividing already, and Mira hadn’t even arrived yet..

I ignored them all and headed to my room. I needed to look strong, confident, unshakeable. Even if inside I was falling apart.

As I changed into a more formal attire to really fit into the Alpha role, I caught sight of myself in the

mirror. Pale skin, dark circles under my eyes, hands that trembled slightly as I fastened buttons.

I looked like someone barely holding it together.

Because that’s exactly what I was.

But I’d learned something in the months since Jaden’s betrayal and since I started living with Darius. Sometimes you had to fake strength until it became real, and sometimes the mask was all that stood between survival and destruction.

So I put on the mask.

down to the main hall, Killian was waiting. Lucien appeared moments later

es out,” Killian said.

an?” I asked.

the border,” Lucien said quietly. “He’s trying to talk to her before she gets here.”

at won’t work,” I said. “She didn’t come all this way to be talked down.”

Good.” I took my seat in the Alpha’s chair at the head of the hall. The position of power. “Let’s get this over with.”

The pack members filed in, taking positions along the walls. The tension was thick enough to choke on. Everyone knew something big was about to happen.

Then the doors opened.

And Mira walked in.

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