Capítulo 40

Phoebe closed the link as Reed spoke, "Well... this is unexpected."

"I'll say," Jason seconded.

"No. You don't understand. Lily..."

"Was rejected by her first mate," Phoebe nodded.

"How did you...?"

"Wolves recognize their own."

Reed blinked slowly, understanding, "You were also rejected."

Phoebe nodded, feeling Jason's embrace tighten. He hated any sort of reference to her first mate, but the memory barely stung now. His love and care overshadowed anything she felt before meeting him. She was far more interested in Lily's story.

"Her first mate was one of our warriors," Reed explained. "She met him on her eighteenth birthday. He was a bit of a playboy, but he was also two years older than her, which means..."

"He already knew she was his mate," Phoebe surmised.

"And he still carried on with his relationships," Reed wrinkled his nose in disgust. "He rejected her immediately, saying a warrior needed a strong she-wolf, not some nerd, and she shouldn't be taller than him either."

Phoebe shivered at the male's callousness, but the irony was not lost on her. Lily was rejected because of her height, and William feared rejection because of his. Aloud, she said, "So what happened to this warrior?"

"After the rejection, he didn't change. He flaunted his affairs in front of her. I couldn't let anyone do that to my sister, so I sent him to a pack in Texas we share ties with."

Phoebe was glad Lily had such a caring brother.

"Lily has locked herself in her lab for over two years," Reed said. "This is the first time I managed to drag her out."

Phoebe nodded. She was no stranger to sleepless nights locked in her room with her books after her rejection. Though she never told her parents about it, she was certain they knew. Prior to her rejection, they took most of their meals at the packhouse. Afterwards, all their meals were conducted at home.

Reed stared at his sister as she cuddled in William's lap. He held her close, nuzzling and kissing her as if in pure rapture. Reed only knew the other Alpha through brief encounters and official meetings, so his knowledge was limited. He did recall William and Jason were good friends and close allies, so it gave him some measure of comfort that his sister was in good hands. Though, from the look of it, William had no intention of letting his new-found mate go.

"So..." Jason cleared his throat, "there is an Alpha meeting scheduled later, but I would like to speak with you privately before then."

"Oh, but neither of you have had breakfast," Phoebe said.

"We'll take something up with us," Jason kissed her temple.

Reed hesitated, looking over at his sister.

"Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on them," Phoebe assured him.

Reed smiled, gratitude. Knowing Phoebe suffered a similar humiliation made him certain she would indeed watch over his sister. Perhaps she could even talk to Lily about her rejection. Talking was the one thing not even Chloe could coax from her sister-in-law. Jason gave her another quick kiss before the Alphas departed, heading for his office.

Phoebe watched them go before looking over at William and Lily again. As her gaze swept the dining hall, it landed on another she-wolf slipping in. Máni pressed forward, eager for the confrontation to come. Phoebe was less enthusiastic, but she wouldn't let the other interrupt the new bond. This was as much for Lily's future happiness as it was for William's.

Camilla had hurriedly showered and quickly changed into a short skirt and tube-top. She had to speak to William and convince him it was all a mistake. His complex about his height made it easy to manipulate him. Once she convinced him no other female would want him, he would gladly return to her arms.

Then she would challenge Phoebe for her title. Once she proved Phoebe was nothing but a weak, wolfless human, she would have Jason eating out of her hands. Then both Alphas would be willing to fight each other for her, and Camilla could pick the winner as her mate. It was the perfect plan.

She sauntered into the dining hall, ignoring the stares and snickers directed toward her. Camilla wouldn't let anyone shame her. She had chosen her future and wouldn't be satisfied with anything less. Her gaze swept the room, looking for one wolf. She figured he would be hiding in the corner, so she wasn't surprised to see him tucked in a secluded nook.

What did surprise her was the lean she-wolf cuddled in his lap. His mouth hungrily devoured her, sucking hard on her marking spot. Her lean form convulsed with pleasure, grinding against him, trying hard not to moan out loud as those around them tried to ignore the smell of their mutual arousals.

Camilla's face turned beet red at the audacity of another taking advantage of her empty seat. Growling, she moved to confront them, only to find herself pulled away and shoved into the kitchen. Her wolf whimpered, tucking its tail even before she turned to face the wolf who accosted her and found Phoebe blocking her path. Her eyes shimmered silver as she eyed Camilla with a frown.

"Now, I know you weren't about to cause a scene in there," Phoebe said, "were you?"

Camilla's wolf retreated even further, leaving her to confront Phoebe alone. They stood in the kitchen out of sight of the visiting Alphas and Lunas, as well as the majority of the Blue Moon pack itself. Only the kitchen staff was present to bear witness, though they kept their eyes averted and busied themselves with their work.

"What business is it of yours?" Camilla sneered, but shivered under Phoebe's steady gaze.

"This is my pack, and I will not tolerate anyone disrupting it," Phoebe growled softly. "I also will not tolerate a she-wolf who doesn't know her place."

"William..."

"Alpha William to you," Phoebe corrected. "He has found his fated mate. There is no place for you at his side. There never was. You were only ever keeping that place warm for another."

Camilla felt her face warm. She wanted to scream, to throw things, but Phoebe's steady, piercing gaze held her in place as her Luna aura made her wolf cower and retreat until Camilla couldn't even sense it.

"You really shouldn't be surprised," Phoebe admonished. "You knew this was going to happen from the moment you rejected your own mate."

Camilla stiffened. She hadn't told anyone about her fated mate. He had been the pack's gardener and approached her with a bouquet, declaring his love and devotion. Camilla had wrinkled her nose in disdain. Fighting her wolf, she rejected him. She knew she deserved better. She deserved to be loved and worshipped like a Luna and pursued William with no second thoughts. When she heard her mate left the pack completely broken, she hadn't shown any emotion or attachment.

"H-how did you know that?"

"A wolf recognizes its own," Phoebe smiled, but there was no warmth in her expression. "It also recognizes those that offend it. Just as I recognize the rejected, I also recognize their rejecters."

Camilla bit her lip. No one had ever called her out on her past actions before. Phoebe's eyes reflected her amusement.

"Your fated mate would have worshipped you and treated you like a queen," Phoebe admonished her. "He's here if you care to see him."

Camilla felt the blood drain from her face. He was here? In this pack?

"Don't expect him to be happy to see you," Phoebe cautioned. "He has his second-chance mate. She's a nurse and a wonderfully caring she-wolf. They are having their first pup soon."

Camilla was shaking. How could this be? He was supposed to pine for her forever while she reveled in the love of the pack as their Luna. Her wolf shuddered at the news. For as long as Camilla had pursued William, it had pined for its mate.

"..What do I care about that loser?" Camilla scoffed, though she found it difficult to maintain her bravado as her wolf mourned.

"Is he the loser?" Phoebe asked. "You're the one who is alone."

Camilla wanted to growl, but the weight of Phoebe's aura held her in place.

"I've already asked the maids to move your things to a new room on the third floor. It'll be down the east wing. I suggest you stay quiet for the rest of the weekend and think long and hard about where you will go now. I doubt very much you'll be welcomed back at Winter Moon, and you won't be tolerated here."

With that, Phoebe finally released Camilla from her aura and left the she-wolf to consider her options. There were plenty of Alphas, Lunas, and Betas she could plead to let her join their ranks, though they were all aware of her situation. Still, one might take pity on her.