Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by the King

The new intern, an Omega in our pack, mixed up a patient’s medical history, which led to a severe allergic reaction. As her supervisor and a Delta warrior in the Red Pack, I had to take responsibility. I never expected Sam Burke, the Beta of the Blue Pack and my mate, to suspend me because of it.

"Lucia, what gives you the right to feel wronged? Her mistake is your responsibility!" he said sharply, his alpha tone cutting through the air like a command. "Apologize to the patient’s family and take the next week off."

With that, he casually put his arm around the intern’s shoulders and walked away, leaving me to deal with the fallout on my own. The weight of his words pressed down on me, and I felt my wolf whimper in the back of my mind, sensing the betrayal.

That evening, I stumbled across Sam’s Instagram post: a lavish necklace with the caption, "Comforting a hurt little one tonight." I thought it was a gesture meant for me, until I received a message saying he wouldn’t be coming home. In that instant, all my love and trust shattered.

This time, I’m really done with you, Sam.

---

When Sam came through the door, I was sitting on the couch, deep in thought. The sudden light startled him.

"Lucia, what are you doing here?" His voice was cold, yet I sensed an undercurrent of emotion. I wondered whether to accuse him of judging me without knowing all the facts or to question his "overtime" that involved gifts for another she-wolf.

Before I could say anything, a chipper voice came from behind him. It was Sophie White, the Omega intern.

"I didn’t expect to see you home, too. Beta Burke was worried I would take today’s reprimand too hard, so he took me to a movie to cheer me up. Please don’t be mad at him!" Her voice had a playful lilt that was both irritating and charming.

As she spoke, my eyes fixated on the necklace around her neck, the same one Sam had posted about. My heart felt like it had been violently shredded.

Sam was known for his cold, analytical demeanor. In training, they called him "The Grim Reaper" for his unyielding focus on duty. Today, he lashed out at me for the first time, for Sophie, without any explanation, and now he was comforting the cause of this mess.

The bruises on my back, thanks to an angry patient’s relative, throbbed painfully. Rage and injustice surged within me. Forgetting all decorum, I shouted like someone deranged.

"I took the fall for you! What do you have to complain about?"

Sophie seemed surprised by my outburst, and her eyes welled up with tears. She sniffed and bowed deeply. "I’m sorry, Delta Griffin, I didn’t mean to upset you!"

Sophie seemed as fragile as a reed swaying in the wind, unsteady and looking at Sam for support. A strong hand steadied her.

"Lucia, you’ve crossed the line," Sam said, his voice steady, his expression as calm as ever.

"How have I crossed the line? If Karsyn, a Delta in the Blue Pack, hadn’t caught it in time, that patient could have gone into shock under her care!"

Sophie’s tears started to fall, yet she maintained an innocent but resolute façade. "It’s my fault. I’ll apologize and make things right! Delta Griffin, please don’t be upset with Beta Burke anymore!"

As she reached out, I noticed the silver bracelet on her wrist—the one I had made for Sam’s birthday last year.

"How did you get this?" I demanded, pulling the bracelet off her wrist, ignoring her cries of pain.

"Lucia! Can you stop this madness?" Sam, who had been quietly observing, finally lost his patience. He pushed me onto the sofa, tending to Sophie’s hand with a concern I’d never seen before.

"Sophie’s hurt. I’m taking her to the hospital. Lucia, you need to calm down."

The door slammed shut, leaving me alone with the stinging pain in my back as I curled up, replaying Sam’s uncharacteristic worry over and over.

I had always believed I held a special place in Sam’s heart. It turned out, it was all in my imagination. My wolf growled softly, a mix of pain and anger, but I silenced her. This was a battle I had to face alone.