Rejected by My Alpha Now He Replaced Me with a Copycat Luna novel Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Raven’s POV

The moment the words left my mouth, the five pairs of eyes locked onto me like I’d just sprouted wings or announced I was secretly the Queen of England. Maybe my Exorcist reference had flown right over their heads-though, given the way Asher’s face looked like it had been used as a punching bag, the comparison wasn’t exactly a stretch.

Then, like a dam breaking, Dexter let out a loud, unrestrained laugh, the sound rich and warm, bouncing off the gym walls. Kael followed, his deep chuckle rumbling through the space, and even Ezra-stoic, unreadable Ezra-let out a quiet huff that might’ve been amusement. But it was Nox who truly surprised me.

With a perfectly deadpan delivery, he adjusted his glasses and said, “Seems like as good a day as any for an exorcism.”

A grin split my face before I could stop it. “And that’s why you’re officially my favorite today.”

Dexter’s expression twisted into exaggerated betrayal. “Excuse me? I was just your favorite five seconds ago.”

I shrugged, feigning indifference. “Sorry, buddy. Nox earned it.”

His scowl deepened. “Oh, come on, luv-”

I couldn’t help but laugh, but the sound died in my throat as my gaze landed on Ezra. He was watching me with that unnerving intensity of his,

like I was some puzzle he was determined to solve. My stomach tightened.

Taking a breath, I forced myself to meet his eyes. “Look, I’m sorry for freaking out the other day. I don’t know if you guys realize this, but your

reputation isn’t exactly sunshine and rainbows.”

Kael arched a brow, the ghost of a smirk playing at his lips. “Awful, huh?”

I snorted. “I mean, you’re literally called The Reapers. That doesn’t exactly scream ‘friendly neighborhood protectors.’ More like ‘avoid at all costs unless you want to wake up in a ditch.””

Kael rolled his eyes, but there was no real irritation in the gesture. “That’s not what we call ourselves.”

I tilted my head, considering. “Funny, because the rumors I heard painted you as some elite group of mercenaries who take down entire criminal empires before breakfast.”

Dexter’s grin turned downright smug. “I like that version.”

“Of course you do, buddy.”

He growled, but there was no real heat behind it.

Kael exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “We are a security firm. We pick our jobs carefully. One of them happened to involve dismantling a cartel in Chicago. They were the ones who started calling us The Reapers. I guess the name stuck in certain… circles.”

Interesting. I wondered how much of that was the polished, PR-friendly version of the truth. Because I knew damn well they weren’t just some run-of-the-mill security team. They were shifters-wolves, to be exact. That meant heightened senses, unnatural speed, and strength that gave them an edge no human could match. And if they were taking down cartels, I had no doubt they’d faced worse-supernatural threats that would make even hardened criminals piss themselves.

Still, I kept my tone light. “Well, if a drug cartel is the one naming you after death incarnate, I guess you’re doing something right.”

Kael’s smirk widened. “Exactly my point.”

Ezra took an unsettling step closer, his nostrils flaring almost imperceptibly. My muscles locked instinctively-years of hiding my true nature had trained my body to react before my mind could process the threat. The scent wards I maintained, the ones that masked both my wolf and the faint trace of magic in my blood, were woven tight. They only ever faltered when exhaustion dragged me into unconsciousness too deep to control. Still, I did a quick internal sweep just to be certain. Everything felt secure.

Turning toward Ezra, I flashed him my most dazzling smile-the kind that usually made men either stutter or run. His aqua eyes narrowed slightly, thrown off balance by the sudden shift in energy.

“If I smell like stale beer and fryer grease,” I said breezily, jerking my thumb toward Dexter, “blame this one. Left me drowning in dirty plates

while he flirted with the ice machine.”

Dexter made an indignant noise. “Traitor.”

But Ezra wasn’t distracted. His head cocked at an unnatural angle, the movement purely lupine-a predator testing the wind. Some shifters walked the line between human and beast with effortless grace. Others, like Ezra, seemed perpetually balanced on the razor’s edge, one slip

away from letting the wildness take over.

“Your smell… weird,” he murmured, the words rough with the growl simmering beneath them.

Dexter’s towel snapped through the air, smacking Ezra square in the chest. “Oi. Rude. That’s no way to talk to a lady. Shut your damn mouth before you scare off the only decent bartender we’ve had in years.” He jerked his chin toward the weight racks. “Go bench press your existential crisis like a normal person.”

I didn’t wait for Ezra’s response. Turning on my heel, I headed for the treadmills, but not before catching the way Kael’s gaze tracked my movement. The back of my neck prickled. What had Ezra detected that I hadn’t?

Marty materialized beside the speed bag, his knuckles taped and glistening with sweat. “Damn, girl. You training for a title fight I ain’t heard

about?”

I didn’t break rhythm, my fists flying in sharp, controlled bursts. “Just working out some frustrations.”

He grunted, adjusting his stance. “Heard about them stuck-up bitches at the bar. Want me and the boys to have a chat with ’em?”

The genuine offer warmed something in my chest, even as I slowed my strikes. “Appreciate it, but they got the message. Doubt they’ll be back anytime soon.”

“Good.” His scowl could’ve peeled paint.

I unwound my wraps, the fabric damp with exertion. “I can handle my own problems, Marty.”

Marty’s keys jingled as he spun them around one finger. “Knowing you can knock a man’s teeth out don’t stop me from worrying, sister,” he

muttered.

I grinned despite myself. “Sure, AUNT Marty.”

He snorted, heading for the door. “Kael’s closing up tonight.” The way he said it-half statement, half question-had my shoulders tightening.

Unease coiled in my gut. Ezra’s comment had set my nerves on edge, and the fact that all five of them had lingered through my entire workout wasn’t helping. Kael drilling techniques with Rodriguez, Asher methodically destroying a heavy bag, Nox curled over his laptop like a tech-savvy gargoyle-it felt less like coincidence and more like surveillance.

But I’d be damned if I let them see me sweat.

“Perfect,” I called after Marty, forcing lightness into my tone. “Tell Rod I want to work on ground techniques next week. He owes me a rematch.”

That had him returning my grin. “You got it, sister. See you.”