Rejected by My Stepbrother, Desired by His Alpha

I fell in love with my stepbrother.

He chose someone else.

So I did what any smart wolf would do—I disappeared into the most brutal academy in the North, where weakness means death and emotions are a luxury I couldn't afford.

Four years later, he's on his knees outside my door, begging me to come back.

"Sia, please. I made a mistake. I need you—"

But before I can answer, a hand fists in my hair from behind. The new Alpha pins me against the wall, his cock already hard against my ass.

"You're not going anywhere," Kaelan growls, his fingers sliding between my thighs. "This pussy belongs to me now."

Cain's still begging outside.

And I'm coming apart under Kaelan's hands, realizing too late—

I never escaped anything. I just traded one obsession for another.

Sia's POV

"Sia, have you lost your mind?"

My stepfather looked at me, his brow furrowed. "You're actually going to do this? Leaving? There are a dozen elite academies in the South where you'd be safe. Why the hell do you want to go to that frozen wasteland up North?"

"My mind is made up, Alpha Aldric," I replied calmly, even though my heart was hammering against my ribs. I made sure to address him by his title. He had been my stepfather for seven years, but I had never been his daughter. "I'm going to the Northern Lycan Academy."

Aldric rose to his feet, pacing back and forth. His gloved hands clenched into fists behind his back.

To any regular pack member, the Northern Lycan Academy was a death sentence—a brutal slaughterhouse where only the vicious survived.

"Listen to me, Sia," he said, stopping right in front of me. "I can find a good match for you here. A strong warrior, a comfortable life. Why throw all that away? Besides, Cain will never allow it."

At the mention of his name, a familiar ache instantly flooded my chest. I stared at his boots, remaining silent.

Cain. My stepbrother. The future Alpha. He was the only reason I had endured the Blackrock pack for seven years. But now, he wasn't anymore.

The memory from two weeks ago still burned in my throat like acid.

It was the spring festival—the day I finally gathered the courage to confess my love to my stepbrother. But before I could even hand him my letter, Cain had walked into the square with Samara, a wealthy Southern noble's daughter. In front of everyone, he paraded her around and claimed her as his Chosen Mate.

Later that night, I caught them in the garden. Cain had her pinned against the stone wall, devouring her mouth with a fierce, possessive hunger I had never seen on him before. Worse, Samara was holding my crumpled letter in her hand. They had found it. They knew. By the next morning, my desperate love had become the entire pack's favorite joke.

I looked up at Aldric. "Alpha, Cain's permission isn't required. I am leaving."

By the time I reached the main house, dinner had already started.

Before I even stepped into the dining room, Cain's cold voice cut through the hallway. "Take her plate away. If she actually cared about this family, she'd be on time. We're not waiting for her."

I froze in the doorway. Cain didn't even look at me. He was leaning close to Samara, meticulously cutting the meat on her plate, and that quiet devotion made my chest tighten.

"I'm here," I said quietly.

Cain's hands paused. He raised his head, his sharp grey eyes staring at me with obvious annoyance. "Where the hell were you? Your phone went straight to voicemail. You're eighteen years old, Sia. Can you stop acting like a dramatic child and making everyone deal with your pathetic bad moods?"

Before the festival, Cain would have saved me a seat. Now, I was just an embarrassing stain on his perfect life.

Samara leaned into his shoulder, her smooth hair brushing his chest. "Oh, let it go, Cain, honey," she purred softly. "She's here now. Don't let this ruin our dinner."

My throat burned like fire. I kept my posture straight and forced a small nod. "I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

I couldn't swallow a single bite. The moment dinner ended, my mother, Elena, cornered me in the hallway, dragging me into a dark corner.

"Sia," she whispered, her hands trembling. She had always been a coward, surviving by making herself invisible in Aldric's house. "Aldric told me about the Northern Academy. Is it true?"

I stared at her anxious face. "Yes, Mom."

Her shoulders instantly relaxed. "Oh… thank the Goddess," she murmured. "That's… that's probably for the best."

A bitter laugh almost choked me. She wanted me gone. My broken heart was a liability to her happy marriage.

Seeming to realize how wrong it sounded, my mother quickly grabbed my wrists. "I just mean… Cain and Samara are getting married soon. You staying here, after writing that pathetic letter… it will bring shame to this family. Please promise me you won't make a fool of yourself again. Don't cross the line."

Her words felt like a silver blade twisting straight into my heart.

"You don't have to worry, Mom," I whispered, pulling my wrists away. "I won't be in their way ever again."

I locked my bedroom door and finally let the tears fall, hot and fast.

I walked over to the bed and picked up the worn, tattered stuffed wolf sitting on my pillow. It was the only thing I had left from my childhood. Seven years ago, my biological father was the fiercest lead warrior of the Moonlight Pack. He died a hero, giving his life to protect our people from a rogue massacre.

Shortly after, my mother panicked. To secure a roof over our heads, she married Alpha Aldric. We had arrived here as charity cases. Cain had been the only one who welcomed me back then. I had mistaken his protective kindness for love. What a joke.

I clutched the toy tightly to my chest, burying my face into the fabric. The sorrow in my chest slowly hardened into a cold, unbreakable resolve. Let Cain marry his chosen bride. Let this pack keep laughing.

My transfer papers were already signed. In one week, I would leave this territory forever, and they would never have to look at my face again.

Pounding. Pounding.

A sudden, heavy sound against my bedroom door made me stiffen.

I wiped my face quickly, tossing the toy onto the bed. Before I could even reach for the handle, a familiar voice tore through the wood.

"Sia. Open this door right now."