The Alpha’s Rejected Bride
Chapter 25

I lazily open my eyelids and stretch my limbs. I grab the remote and open the curtains. I groan as the sunlight glares on my skin.

I feel light in my heart like I released something that was burdening me.

'Hey,' I try to speak to the inner me but she doesn't respond and I can't feel her. Did she vanish? Or

maybe I just imagined her? No. She's there, she mentioned she sleeps a lot and only feels strengthened when Rayan is near.

Oh my goodness! Rayan!

I jerk up, I hold my cheeks.

The Prince kissed me on my forehead. His lips are still lingering there. I'm smiling.

The door swings open and Rhodes walks in. She looks at me intrigued.

"Wow, you're... awake, and smiling to yourself," she notes.

"Good morning," I greet cheerfully, getting out of bed.

"Good morning, my beautiful lady," She replies.

"Let's get you ready for the day," she pipes. I walk to the walk-in closet and she follows.

"I want to look cute today," I tell her. She stops going through my clothes and looks at me.

"You look... happy, did something happen with the prince?" She inquires. I blush.

"No," I mumble. Looking at the accessories that don't even interest me.

"And the blush on your cheeks?" I gasp exaggeratedly.

"Can't I just be happy without Rayan's involvement,"

She continues to rummage through my clothes.

"Maybe he kissed me," I confess. I feel heat course through my body when I think about it.

" What, how was it?!" She asks eagerly. I hold her arms and look into her eyes.

"Oh, Rhodes! It was so nice, his lips are soft. They are still lingering on my forehead," I say in a dreamy voice.

She squints her eyes" Forehead? That's disappointing," Her smile falters and she goes back to whatever she was doing.

We pick out cute high-waisted jeans and navy blue off-shoulder tops and blocked heels. Before going to the bathroom, I sit in front of the closet mirror and Rhodes brings my hair in the middle then puts a band to hold it.

My bath is lavender-scented just how I like it.

I take my time to scrub my body and play with the bubbles a little, childish but I like it., I feel hands in my hair.

"I like your hair, lady Lucy," I hear Rhodes' voice.

I close my eyes momentarily and enjoy the bath.

"So... today I'll be out of the castle for some work in the countryside. It's a two-three hour drive so don't expect to see me till tomorrow because you'll be sleeping when I get here. I will ask someone to come in as my replacement," she tells me.

"Okay," I reply. That's good, I'm also planning to leave the castle to look for work. The last time I

mentioned it to Rhodes, she was vehemently against the idea, giving me excuses like I'm still not strong enough and that I should rest more.

"Sit here," she pulls out an arms chair that is in front of the mirror.

I'm sitting as Rhodes dries my hair, we take about twenty minutes styling my hair since it was all tangled but alas, we manage and it looks cute. Two long French braids.

She lightly does my makeup, since I don't like a caked face, finishing my look with a pink lip gloss.

"Rhodes," I call gently.

"Yes, my lady," I get to my feet and wear my jean, then she helps me in my shirt and shoes.

I'm hesitant to ask but I have to

"Can one get a wolf after the age of sixteen?"

I bite my lips, Rhodes is very intelligent and knowledgeable about wolves.

"No, it has never happened before," she answers as she continues to inspect my outfit. I notice she

does that a lot. She always wants me to look just right.

"Oh," I'm disappointed by her answers.

"Anything the matter?" She looks concerned. I shake my head and smile.

"No, I'm fine," I say and leave. I walk downstairs for breakfast, as we walk to the dining the maids bow

respectfully, as usual, I don't know why they do that since I'm not royalty.

I'm alone at the table but soon joined by Enol. He is wearing black jeans, a white t-shirt that shows his muscled features, and white canvas.

He smiles.

"Morning, you look nice,"

"Thank you,"

I clear my throat as the food comes.

"Isn't jasper joining us?"

I ask. Enol has a sly smile on his lips.

"No, he rarely has breakfast because he leaves early for work, you know that,"

his look is scrutinizing. I only nod. Honestly, it's Rayan I what to see and know his whereabouts but if I ask, Enol, he won't stop teasing me.

"Um, um. What about the king and queen," I almost facepalm myself. The youngest prince squints his eyebrows.

"Rayan has left the city," he says and continues to eat his egg omelet, my heart skips a bit at the mention of Rayan.

"I wasn't asking about him," I mumble.

He has that playful and doubtful look that I don't like.

"I came to your suite to say goodnight but you weren't there, where were you?" He asks.

I gulp.

"Garden," I keep my answer short.

"Rayan went to the garden too, did you run into him?"

I'm red, I can feel the blood rushing to my face! Why is he asking me all these questions?

"He was surprisingly in a good mood and let me borrow his jeep Wagler to use today. I think he should

be going to the garden more,"

The little...argh know we were together last night! He just wants confirmation!

I keep quiet as he talks about the brand of a car his brother lend him.

"Enol, when is Rayan coming back?"

"Finally, I thought you'll keep the question inside. It must have been burning you to ask!" He muses. I roll my eyes

"In five days," That's far! And why didn't he mention it last night? I was excited about our date. "Is he alone?"

"No, he's with father, Jasper, Darren, and some high-ranking generals and alphas. It's royal business," That gets my interest. Why would they gather far from Royal city? Dad once mentioned that their headquarters Is here.

"Isn't the headquarters here, though?"

"It is, they usually hold their long meetings in one of the skyscrapers but mom and Dad suggested it isn't ideal this month,"

Why would they think that? The king rarely leaves the city.

"Why wouldn't it be Ideal?"

"Well," he scratches the back of his head uncomfortably. " That man.. um," I'm surprised. Enol loss for words? This is new.

The maids start to clear the plates,

"What?"

"That guy, the beta alpha is the current alpha of the pride pack,"

I swallow, they were scared that Josh will know I'm here.

"We just didn't know how you would react to seeing him or if he caught your scent because the alphas

always visit the royal castle for lunch during their stay in the royal city," he explains.

Josh, all the love I had for him Is slowly fading. Thinking about his betrayal hurts, he used me to get my father's title. He didn't love me.

"They shouldn't have done that for me,"

"Nonsense, you are part of our family, and your feelings matter plus, Rayan thought it might reopen old wounds and you might -," He stops and looks around. The guards are stationed in the corner of each room, very quiet, oftentimes I forget they are always around.

Enol makes a sign that interprets me jumping off a building. I laugh a bit.

"That will never happen again," I assure him.

"Good,"

"Does Rayan think that?"

He nods affirmatively.

"Oh," "Can you drop me off in the city center on your way to college?" The main city is about ten-fifteen minutes away from the castle.

"Going shopping? Great! You need to get out more, I'm sure you feel suffocated in your suite the whole day. Brother recently opened a new mall downtown, it's amazing,"

Everything about the royal city is top-notch and amazing. It shows just how wealthy the pack is. The pride pack had great buildings and infrastructure but nothing can compare to this here.

"I'm not going shopping. I'm going to look for work," I inform him happily. His expression turns sour. "Like work, work?"

I nod.

Enol almost chokes on his saliva. I look at him worriedly.

"Are you okay?"

One of the staff rushes to put a glass of water in front of him. He drinks it all.

"Work? Are you trying to kill me?"

I'm confused.

"Why would I?"

"Lucy, you can't work," he sounds like it's the worst thing in the world.

"Sure I can! I'm always locked up in here watching movies. It gets a bit exhausting," I confess.

Ever since I stopped going to my sessions, I haven't stepped out of the castle. As much as I love it, I need

to make myself useful. Everyone is doing something except me.

"But you can't go out and work as a normal civilian,"

I laugh a bit.

"I'm a civilian,"

"No, you're not!" He argues. I raise my eyebrows at him, a little hurt.

"I'm not because I don't have a wolf?"

Enol's eyes soften.

"Of course not. I meant you're the -" he stops without finishing his sentence.

"Future what?"

He keeps silent.

"Just wait for the king and Rayan to come back, or talk to mother before you find work,"

"Enol it's no big deal honestly," I say. He sighs in defeat.

"This is a bad idea but what did you study in school?"

"I specialized in pediatrics. I was in my last when you know what happened," I don't have to mention it.

I'm sure he already knows what means.

I went to college at the age of sixteen, immediately after getting my high school diploma.

"Oh, that's nice. I think you should talk to Jasper, he might help. He sometimes works at the hospital if

he's not too busy at the company,"

"How many hospitals and clinics do you have here?" I ask. Enol looks confused.

"Aren't they just the same thing?" He looks genuinely lost. I chuckle and shake my head.

"How many?"

"I only know the ones I have visited,"

"Which is?"

"Twenty-one! And out of them, 18 have banned me," he laughs.

"Why did they? You're a prince,"

"I'm a prince mischief," he winks. I roll my eyes.

"21? That's a lot," I say to myself.

"I think they are more, we are a big pack, Lucy,"

Indeed, back home we only have two hospitals and three clinics.

A few minutes later, we are leaving the castle. There is a nice big car waiting in the driveway for us.

I look over to Enol. He is smiling like a feline and rubbing his hands together like a villain who is concoction an evil plan.

The prince opens the passenger door for me. He helps me in.

I see the huge gate start to go up and we pass through. I smile and look back at the huge mansion fading away