CHAPTER 4 : I REJECT YOUR REJECTION

Selina stepped in, flanked by two pack warriors. Her voice was cold and sharp.

"Take her. Now!"

Bella tried to resist, but she was no match for the warriors. They dragged her away while Selina smirked.

Meanwhile, Roland sat comfortably across from Alfred, pretending to be relaxed.

"Alpha Alfred," he said with a smile, "I thought we wrapped up the treaty talks yesterday. Is there something else you wanted to discuss?"

Alfred nodded, serious. "Yes. I’m looking for one of your pack members. Name your conditions for handing them over."

Selina, seated nearby, raised an eyebrow. "And who’s the lucky person that caught your attention?"

"Bella," Alfred said plainly. "The girl I saw at the pool yesterday."

Selina scoffed. "But she’s just a maid."

Roland laughed lightly, putting on an act. "No, no… Let me think… Bella, you said? I don’t know anyone by that name."

He glanced at his men, giving them a silent signal. "But we do have someone the pack calls… ‘bitch.’ Maybe that’s who you mean."

With that, Roland waved his hand, and the guards pulled off the cover of a large iron cage at the side of the room.

Alfred's heart nearly stopped.

Inside the cage, bruised and weak, sat Bella.

He jumped to his feet. "Bella!"

Her eyes filled with tears. "Alfred… help me."

Alfred turned to Roland, fury burning in his gaze. "What did you do to her?"

Roland shrugged, sipping his drink. "She opened her legs for some guy and got herself pregnant. I’m just giving her what she deserves."

Without hesitation, Alfred stormed to the cage, gripped the iron bars, and ripped the door open with raw Alpha strength.

Alfred pulled open the cage and rushed in, kneeling beside Bella. Her face was swollen, her lips cracked, and bruises covered her arms. He gently untied the chains from her wrists and ankles.

“Don’t worry,” Alfred said softly, holding her close. “I’m here now. You’re safe.”

Bella’s lips trembled. “Alpha Alfred-”

“I’m gonna get you out of here,” he said firmly.

With one arm around her back and the other under her knees, Alfred carefully lifted Bella out of the cage. The room was dead silent, but tension filled the air like a storm about to break.

Suddenly, Roland stepped forward, his eyes dark and angry.

“This is my territory!” Roland shouted. “She is my servant! I was teaching her a lesson. You have no right!”

Alfred turned slowly, eyes glowing with rage. “I’ll decide what right I have,” he snapped. “I’m done asking.”

Then his voice dropped, but the weight of his words hit like thunder.

“She’s pregnant with my pup. I’m taking her with me. And that’s final.”

The pack gasped.

Roland’s lips curled into a cruel smile. “You can’t take her with you, because…” he grabbed Bella’s wrist, “she’s my mate.”

Bella’s eyes widened. “I’m your… mate?”

Alfred growled. “You disgusting bastard. How dare you bind her to you?”

Roland leaned in close to Bella, whispering with venom. “Don’t fool yourself, Bella. You’re just a maid. Did you really think you could become a Luna?”

But Bella, with all her strength, stood tall beside Alfred. Her voice shook, but she didn't look away.

“I refuse to be your mate.”

Roland froze. “What?”

She raised her chin. “I, Bella White, reject Roland Hill, Alpha of the Wolfsbane Pack, as my mate!”

Immediately, Roland screamed in pain. His hand clutched his chest; his knees buckled.

“You bitch!” he howled. “You think you can break our bond? Fine!”

He grabbed her wrist tightly. “Well, I, Roland Hill, reject your rejection!”

The room seemed to shake. The energy between them snapped like lightning.

“That’s it!” Roland roared. “None of you is leaving today!”

Alfred’s eyes changed. His inner wolf had taken over. He stood tall, growling, ready for battle.

Roland shifted too, bones cracking, fur ripping through his skin.

“Let me teach you a lesson, Alpha,” Roland hissed.

They clashed. Fists and claws. Snarls and blood. The fight was wild, brutal. But Alfred was stronger. He pinned Roland down and beat him until Roland could no longer stand.

Roland coughed, blood dripping from his mouth. “She’s just a fucking maid! You really want her that bad?”

Alfred kicked him hard across the jaw. “How dare you call her that?”

Roland groaned under his boot.

Bella rushed over. “You’re hurt,” she said, voice soft, eyes full of fear.

“I’m fine,” Alfred said, touching her face gently. “Let’s get out of here.”

As Alfred turned, holding Bella’s hand, Roland grabbed a silver knife from the floor and rushed at them.

“NO!” Bella screamed.

Roland drove the knife forward, but Alfred turned just in time to shield Bella. The knife stabbed deep into Alfred’s back.

Blood poured.

Bella screamed again, catching him as he stumbled.

“You bastard!” Alfred growled. With a roar, he turned and punched Roland so hard, he flew across the room and landed hard on the floor, blood dripping from his mouth.

Roland laughed, lying there, defeated but still wicked. “You think you can take her away from me?” he wheezed. “As long as she has the branding on her face… I can track her down.”

Bella touched her face, suddenly remembering the small glowing mark above her cheekbone, a burn mark Roland gave her years ago.

But Alfred walked to her. Calmly. Gently. He placed his glowing hand over her face.

“Not anymore,” he said.

His Alpha power flowed through his palm. The mark sizzled, then vanished like smoke. Bella gasped as the mark disappeared.

Alfred turned back to Roland, now barely conscious on the ground.

“She’s no longer a maid,” Alfred said coldly. “From now on, she belongs to no one… but herself.”

Alfred said to Bella, "Let's go." And she left with him.

Roland, still lying on the ground, blood at the corner of his mouth, growled weakly, “This isn’t over, Alpha Alfred...”

Alfred didn’t look back.

They arrived at a quiet house on the edge of his territory, far from the pack's eyes. It was the same place Alfred once stayed with Bella. The air was peaceful, but their hearts were still racing from everything that had happened.

Bella sat beside him with the first aid kit in her hand. Guilt filled her eyes.

“You got hurt because of me,” she whispered. “I don’t even know how to thank you.”

“There’s no need to thank me,” Alfred said, watching her carefully. “I promised I was going to take you with me.”

Bella slowly unbuttoned his shirt, her fingers trembling. She tried not to look at his chest, but Alfred noticed and smiled gently.

“Go on,” he said.

She hesitated like she was about to pull her hand away. But he gently caught her wrist.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

She shook her head. “Nothing.”

She took some cream and leaned in. As she gently applied it to the wound, Alfred groaned in pain. Bella panicked.

“Did I hurt you? I’ll be more gentle…”

“No need,” he said, holding back a smile. “You’re doing great.”

He leaned closer, looking deep into her eyes. “Do you want me?”

Bella’s eyes widened. Before she could reply, he kissed her again, this time, deeply. She gasped against his lips, and her hand slipped over his wound.

He groaned, but when she pulled away to apologize, something strange happened.

The wound began to heal, right before her eyes.

Bella stared. “Your injury, it’s gone.”

Alfred looked at her in amazement. He gently took her hand. “You healed me.”

“I… I don’t know what’s happening,” Bella whispered. “How do I have this power? I don’t even have a wolf yet.”

Before Alfred could respond, there was a knock at the door.

Alfred’s Beta, James, stepped in quickly. “Alpha Alfred, we need to talk. It’s urgent.”

“Speak,” Alfred said, still holding Bella’s hand.

Bella tried to stand up and give them some privacy. But Alfred stopped her. “Stay. Whatever he has to say, you deserve to know too.”

James cleared his throat, glancing between them. “We’re approaching Moonshadow Pack territory. How do you plan to introduce Ms. White to the elders?”

Alfred’s tone sharpened. “Get to the point.”

James hesitated. “She’s a maid. The elders will never accept her as one of us.”

Bella lowered her head. “Alpha Alfred, I’m not going back with you.”

“What?” he turned to her, eyes wide.

“I’m grateful you saved me, truly. But I won’t cause you more trouble.”

Alfred opened his mouth to speak, but she continued, “The elders… the pack. They’ll never see me as worthy. And I don’t have a wolf. I can’t be a Luna.”

Alfred stood. “Then I’ll disguise you as my Luna.”

Bella blinked. “Alfred…?”

He stepped closer. “Don’t worry. I’ll handle it.”

James tried to interrupt. “Alpha, you just secured your place as Wolf King. If the elders find out your Luna was a maid…”

“She’s not a maid,” Alfred snapped. “And all you have to do is keep that secret.”

He looked back at Bella. His voice softened. “Bella, your safety and our child mean everything to me. The best way to protect you is if you stay with me. Trust me. Please come back with me.”

Tears slid down Bella’s cheeks. Her thoughts raced.

Don’t be carried away, Bella.

He’s only doing this because of the pup.

You were lucky enough to escape Roland, don’t start hoping for more...

But she wiped her tears and nodded. “Alright. Teach me how to be a Luna.”

Alfred finally arrived in his pack with Bella.

In the night, Bella was sleeping, and felt a movement of someone's hand moving slowly and smoothly on her face. She opened her eyes a little and said, Alpha Alfred, is that you The moment she opened her eyes, it was Roland. He grabbed her neck, laughing and said, You think you’re safe now, bitch? Soon, your pathetic past will come to light.

Bella panicked, no!

He yelled, You're mine. My mate, forever.

Bella opened her eyes. It was a dream, but immediately Bella looked up and saw a lady standing in front of her.