The Alpha’s Rejected Bride
Chapter 28

Rayan

Pov

After ending the call with Lucy, I go to my minibar in my suite for a drink. Drinking as I think about her, these few weeks it's all I do. Does she know how precious she is?

Her beautiful face keeps replaying in my head. I mastered every curve of her body, I'm not a painter but I believe I can paint a vivid picture of her.

I'm glad I have expressed what I've been wanting for a long time. My mom is right, I can't continue living

in the past. I've been denying this bond for a long time and it wasn't easy, her smell drives us crazy.

A few hours earlier in that conference room when I saw the man who rejected her, I wanted to kill him, I could barely contain Rex, it's because of him, she almost died. I almost lost her but because of his rejection, I found her again. My Lucy, my mate, I will tell her that we are mates but for now, I just want her to fall for me the human way, her way.

She was worried about everything, at first I thought she just wanted to reject me but her reasons for worry is valid.

I'm smiling to myself like an i***t while looking at her picture on my phone. She is indeed beautiful. My wolf is happy that I have accepted her as mine.

I grab my phone to call my mother and she answers on the first ring.

"I've done it, I spoke to Lucy and expressed my feelings,"

"Omg, my baby I'm so happy!" She is screaming in happiness. It was her that encouraged me to accept the bond.

"I am too, I'm over the moon. She's so sweet. She called me her prince," I inform her. I like it when she calls me that.

We discuss for a while longer with my mother about the council accepting a human Queen.

"They will accept it, mother," I'm confident they will because I refuse to choose another bride who isn't Lucille Lavigne.

Mother is beginning to yawn every five seconds so I bid her goodnight.

After today, I make a promise to love and protect Lucy always. To cherish and never part from her.

of course, she's ours,' my wolf says.

Lucy pov

The days go by really fast and indeed, after a few working days, the HR at the general hospital called me. He said they will hire me and I can start work on Monday next week. I'm so excited.

Rhodes is still worried that I didn't tell anyone from the royal family except Enol but I plan to tell him on Sunday when they are all here

The queen sent me a bouquet of lavender flowers along with a message, that we shall have brunch by the lake, this time only the family will be in attendance.

Enol has been dedicated to attending college because he's scared they will punish him for allowing me

to work so he wants as little trouble on his list as possible.

Prince Rayan and I exchange text messages and FaceTime from time to time but I can't have him on phone for more than five minutes, he's so busy. He asks how my day is and how it's going. I receive random messages saying he misses me, and I blush profusely every time.

It looks like he was serious about wanting a relationship with me after all.

It's Saturday today, Enol has gone out with his friends and it's Rhode's day off, so she went to see her family.

I'm at the basketball court, with two servants that attend to me when Rhodes is not here. Meredith and Ara.

They are sweet and kind. Even now, they are cheering me on even though I'm failing miserably.

"One more!" Arabella cheers. She is a petite girl with massive blonde hair. it suits her while Meredith is tall about 5'11 ft with Brunnet hair and a model-type of body.

I try again but it goes way off.

They were right, my hands were not created to play basketball.

"Try again, lady Lucy," I scowl and shake my head. Meredith runs inside the court. She gets the ball, flips her hair then smiles.

"Watch closely and learn how to do it," she jumps as high as her long legs can go and scores, her hands holding the scoring ring and legs tangling.

I'm in shock, but I shake my head and start to clap.

As we clap, she curtsies and does a catwalk toward us. I sneeze once and twice.

"It's cold," I wince. I didn't warm up enough today, I'm wearing white sweatpants and a big shirt with air force canvas.

"Ara, please send someone to bring her a warm comforter and make her hot lemon tea," Meredith orders, Ara runs back into the castle to do as told.

Meredith wraps one hand around my shoulders in an attempt to keep me warm.

"Chill, I'm not dying. It's not like I haven't been cold before,"

I notice they are like that, whenever I complain about something, that thing is gone.

"I know but miss, you should understand that your temperature is not as warm as ours. I blame myself

for letting you wear that and now if you catch a cold, Rhodes will surely replace me for slacking,"

I stop walking to look at her. She is agitated.

"It's alright, no one will fire you," I smile. She shakes her head.

"I like working for you, Miss," she says. " you are kind to us,"

We walk back into the castle and as soon as we get in, a warm comforter is placed around me.

"Thank you," I tell the unknown woman.

We go to my suite and a few minutes later, Arabella walks in with a hot mug of chocolate. Meredith scowls as she takes it from her.

"I said lemon tea, not chocolate," she hisses.

"Well, I notice the lady likes chocolate," she says timidly. I smile and stretch out my hands to get the

mug, adding puppy eyes.

"Fine," she sighs and gives me the mug.

We put on a movie

"Have you seen squid games?" I nod. Enol made me watch it with him.

Ara is thinking and smiling. She goes to Netflix and put Red notice movie to watch.

We are all comfortable on the couch, and watching when my phone beeps. It's a text message from

Rayan. I smile and reply instantly.

He was asking if I'm well.

Getting bored with the movie, I go on social media accounts, and I see photos of Naomi. I'm on her display picture. This is huge, the girl loves herself too much to put on a face that isn't hers!

I log out and try to watch the movies, the girls are enjoying it a lot.

***

I don't know how but I find myself in bed. I groan and yawn. I hear a chuckle and get startled.

"Good morning, Lucille," prince Rayan greets me with a smile. He's sitting on a sofa across from me,

looking fresh and very handsome. I smile wide and sit up. It's been a while since I've heard someone call me that.

Lucille is a French name that means light. Mom was French and she gave me that name because I was the light in her time of darkness. Only dad and my aunt called me by it.

I'm smiling at the prince as he approaches, he sits on the side of my bed and kisses my cheeks. He strokes my hair.

"Hey, what are you doing here so early?" I ask, trying to hide my face with my hands, I'm sure it's a

mess.

"Don't hide, don't ever do that," he removes my hand.

I shake my head negatively but he insists "I want to look at your face, I always do,"

He keeps my hands in place. I abruptly get up and straddle him, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"I missed you," I whisper in his ear. I feel his hand slowly go around my waist, I'm sure my action took him by surprise.

I hear him sigh" I'm happy, I missed you too, my lady,"

We stay like that for a long time until the door opens.

I raise my head, Rhodes, Meredith, and Ara are frozen where they stand.

I clear my throat and prince Rayan releases his grip on me.

He stands up and the three ladies bow.

"My prince, we sorry for the intrusion, we didn't mean -" Rhodes starts but Rayan raises his hand to

stop her. He looks at me

"Get ready, I'll leave. It's almost 10. Mother and father are waiting in the garden," he says. I nod and watch him leave.

As soon as the door close behind us the girls run to me, squealing.

"Tell us, tell us," they probe. I smile

"Nothing to tell, the prince and I are getting to know each other better," I say with a blush. Their squeal

echoes throughout the whole room.

"I called it. I knew that there was chemistry between you," Meredith says excitedly.

"I'm so happy, I know how much you like him," Rhodes cheers but I hear the worry in her tone.

As the girls get my bath ready, I approach Rhodes in the closet.

"You are worried," I state, she turns to me and nods.

"I just don't want you to get hurt, my lady. I know what happened last time," she averts my gaze, sadly.

So she knows I tried to end my life too.

These couple of months, Rhodes and I have gotten so close. She's like a big sister I never had.

"I'm stronger now, I've trained my mind to be stronger," I assure her. She sighs and gives me one-sided smile.

"If Olivia tries anything to cause you trouble, I'll kill her," she warns, I smile and hug her. Rhodes is a warrior and a damn good one for that matter.

"So you knew about her and Rayan?"

"Yes. He's an alpha prince. So definitely, he's had one or two ladies to help him, you know, ease himself," she winks and goes back to search my outfit for the day. I blush at her words, she is so blunt, everyone here is.

I get ready for the day. It's still a bit cold so I wear a sweater dress that reaches mid-thigh and knee-high boots.

I let my hair fall and, put light lipstick and some color on my cheeks as my skin was looking pale. I look casual but classy.

Rhodes approves.

We leave the room and I find Rayan at the door.

"My prince!" I exclaim, a little happy to see him, okay, a lot. He is wearing a fitted white shirt, jeans, and smart black boots, his hair is a bit disheveled but it gives him that hot kind of look and he smells so good,

I love his cologne, but it's mixed with something else, maybe it's his natural musk.

Rayan takes my hand and kisses my temple.

"Ready?" He asks, I nod and we walk outside together.

I'm inwardly smiling as we walk, his hand is holding mine tightly.

He sighs and I stop to ask

"Are you alright?" He nods and picks a flower, he puts it behind my ear.

"These are your favorite right?" I nod.

He kisses my forehead and my fingers fly to touch where his lips were.

"Let's go," he says. Just in front of us, by the lake, there is a table set up nicely. The king and the queen

are there, even Jasper and Enol. They are all busy with their conversation.

I don't know if he wants them to know about us being in a relationship yet so I take my hand back, but surprisingly, he growls at me and takes it back.

He smiles" Better,"

The atmosphere is warm and loving around the royal family. The queen gets to her feet and pulls me

into a warm loving hug

"Hi," she is smiling at me. She is wearing a long white dress, and a little tiara on her head. She looks better today. I acknowledge and greet the others before taking my seat next to Rayan.

There is a lot of food on the round glass table.

Chicken burgers, salads, it's like an all-you-can-eat buffet. I love green grapes so I start with those. Everyone is in their conversation and stealing glances at us

Rayan has put a hand on my leg casually as we talk.

"So, since everyone is pretending not to be curious about what we are witnessing, I'm going to go ahead and ask," Enol manages to get everyone's attention. I brace myself, knowing the question he wants to ask.

"Are you a couple," Rayan looks at him and then at me.

"Are we? We are right?" Rayan looks so hopeful.

I squint my eyes and bite my lips

"Um, we are getting to know each other," I smile. Rayan frowns but nods.

"So you're not a couple," it's Jasper who asks.

"When Lucy is ready," Rayan tells his family.

I squeeze and look at jasper " We are a couple," I say confidently. Everyone is smiling.

The king and queen are ecstatic, they even toast to it.

"I knew it!

I can't help a smile on my face. I like when Rayan rests his hand on my leg, I don't even think he notices

his actions... It's sweet.

Minutes later we finish eating, I clear my throat and look at Enol for encouragement but he's shaking his head, knowing what I want to say. All eyes are on me.

"I got a job at the General Hospital as a pediatrician," I announce, clapping my hand in excitement, the

king frowns and massages his beard, eyes glued on his wife who scowls.

My eyes settle on Rayan, his face is blank. He is in deep thought.

"Why do you need a job anyway, we are rich," Enol says. I almost roll my eyes but this isn't about

money.

I squeeze Rayan's hand under the table, he is still calm.

"Well, I want to contribute around here too," I reply. The king's eyes soften and Jasper smiles but they

don't look too pleased.

"You don't have to work to do that my dear, you find a hobby like-," The queen smiles widely as though she remembered

"Yes, you can improve your basketball skills, Lucy,"

I flush at that, did she see me while I was failing miserably?

"Basketball?" Enol and jasper ask in unison

"she's horrible!" their mother chuckle and covers her lips with her fingers.

"Please, I want to work, I'm always alone here and -" I say but the queen cuts me.

"We understand, but Lucy, this isn't just about you working, it's about your security!"

"But we are in the royal city, it's the safest place on the planet," I argue. indeed, their security is top-

notch and no rogues would come here.

I'm going to get this job whether they like it or not, I'm tired of doing nothing all day.

They are all speaking against me working for security reasons but I'm adamant.

Suddenly Rayan growls, making me quiet.

"Lucy, there are no open wars against the royal family but we have enemies!"