Rejected then Claimed by the Alpha King (Liam and Hope) novel Chapter 12

Chapter 2

Blair’s POV

The shop owner glanced at my red-rimmed eyes but thought better than to ask.

He quickly sorted through the documents, speaking respectfully. “We’ll finalize the paperwork as soon as possible. Once everything’s ready, we’ll notify you immediately about the departure to the island.”

Without hesitation, I signed my name and pulled a black card from my wallet. My movements were sharp

and decisive. As the payment went through, my hand didn’t tremble in the slightest-like the wolf inside me

had already stopped struggling and turned to ice.

Outside, darkness had swallowed the sky. The clouds hung low, and the air carried the metallic tang of a

gathering storm.

Back at the pack house, I stepped into the foyer-only to be hit with the warm glow of lights…. and the sound of familiar, yet foreign, laughter.

My pupils constricted.

Christian was sitting on the couch, smiling as he peeled an apple for Carrie. His fingers were long and

graceful, moving with the precision of someone sculpting a lover’s statue. My three brothers were sitting

nearby, loyal guards standing watch.

“Carrie,” Orion coaxed gently, “take the medicine.”

“It’s so bitter…” Carrie whined, her voice all sweet and delicate.

Zayden immediately pulled out a piece of chocolate from his pocket. “This was your favorite as a kid. I

always keep one on me.”

I stood frozen at the doorway, my fingertips digging hard into my palm. Blood slowly seeped out-but I felt

nothing.

“Blair?” Christian was the first to notice me. He got up and walked toward me. “Where were you all day? I

didn’t see you once.”

His voice was soft. Like he wasn’t the same man who stood right in front of me earlier-sealing the mate

bond with Carrie.

I didn’t answer. My gaze slid past him and landed on Carrie-the sister who’d once run away from her

wedding and shattered my entire life.

Christian followed my eyes, then offered a quiet explanation. “Carrie’s sick. Terminal. She just wants to

Chapter 2

Firstbase

8.82%

D

Launch now-bank setup in days.

OPEN >>

spend her last days with family. I know she was wrong to run back then, but she’s still your sister. For your

sake-

“For my sake?” I let out a laugh, cold and low. My voice rumbled into a growl. “Or is it because you never

actually let her go?*

His expression darkened. ‘Blair..”

“Blair Lysander-my eldest brother-stepped up. He reached for my head out of habit but froze mid-air, changing the gesture into a pat on my shoulder. “Carrie doesn’t have much time left. It’s not like our pack

can’t afford to take care of one more person…”

“‘Yeah,” Orion chimed in, “She’s been through a lot out there. She knows she messed up. But we’re family.”

“You’re the sensible one, right?” Zayden said from behind me, voice laced with pressure.

I clenched my jaw. My wolf snarled inside me, thrashing, ready to tear everything apart-but there was no outlet for her rage.

Finally, I muttered, “Fine.”

Finally, satisfied smiles spread across their faces.

“Keep Carrie company,” Christian said. “We’ll go prepare a room for her.”

After they went upstairs, Carrie slowly rose from the couch and walked over. Her face looked pale, but the

gleam in her eyes betrayed her delight.

“Blair, it’s been five years. I brought you a little gift.”

I instinctively took a step back. Every instinct screamed that something was wrong.

She smiled sweetly as she shoved a box wrapped in black ribbon into my arms-then, ever so thoughtfully,

lifted the lid.

“AH-!”

A pitch-black snake shot out of the box and sank its fangs deep into my wrist.

The pain hit me like lightning, tearing straight through nerves and bone. I almost screamed.

I flung the box away in pure panic-hitting her square in the shoulder.

She dropped to the floor with a dramatic shriek. “Ow! It hurts!”

Thundering footsteps echoed from upstairs. All four men rushed down-only to see Carrie on the ground in

Chapter 2

Firstbase

8.82%

Launch now-bank setup in days.

OPEN >>

tears, and me, standing in a pool of blood, venom dripping from my wrist.

“What the hell are you doing?!” Christian roared, shoving me aside.

I stumbled, crashing into the coffee table. Something in my ribcage cracked.

“She put a snake in the box…” I rasped, voice barely audible.

“Bullshit!” Zayden’s roar made my ears ring. “Carrie’s body is too weak-how the hell could she hurt you?!”

“Christian… Orion… please… I just wanted to make peace with Blair,” Carrie sobbed, crawling into Orion’s

arms. “I don’t know why she misunderstood me like this…”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify