The Rejected Alpha's Vengeance

"Which one do you prefer?" Rukiya dared possessively, and Hawi knew she couldn't resist it anymore. The longer she stalled the longer it would take before she got her feedback from Malika.

She knew Malika wouldn't just hate Elodie like that because she suggested the rejection. Hawi needed to know what it was that Malika had found out about Elodie, that had triggered her so much to the point of wanting the woman dead.

"What if—" Hawi began but the eyes Rukiya was giving her told her that it was useless stalling. Besides, she couldn't stall for the whole day anyway.

"Alright, fine. Whatever I did was necessary. It was the only way I could think of, Rukiya, trust me," Hawi said and Rukiya took a step back instinctively.

Hawi always called her Ruru, never Rukiya.

However, she had, right now, which meant that this either had to be very dangerous or whatever they had was already a pipe dream. But was it really or was Rukiya just overthinking? Then again with Hawi, it was hard to tell.

"Are you talking to me as an alpha or as your woman?" Rukiya asked and Hawi smiled at the last bit, even though Rukiya was trying so hard not to think with her emotions.

It was heartwarming for Hawi, just hearing Rukiya call herself as Hawi's woman. But this was something they needed to discuss as leaders. Hawi couldn't keep on killing because it would raise questions and then everything would point back to her.

"As an alpha," Hawi said before gently pulling Rukiya a few steps away from the mess. She knew that as much as she wanted to get all flirty with Rukiya, Greyson was in danger, and Rukiya was at the center of it all.

"Okay. What is it?" Rukiya asked and Hawi ran her fingers roughly through her hair.

"You were targeted. You, not Greyson pack. You, Ruru. Someone wanted you dead because of me. While that sounds absurd in all the possible ways, the intel I got from the intruders suggested that someone is using you to lure me out of hiding.

"I didn't know how that is possible and how anyone outside of Greyson and Clarkson even knows that I'm still alive but they do, and they're willing to pay a huge price just to get to me through you.

"The fourteen that came today were just the beginning. And I know whoever sent them won't rest until they get their sure answers. I wish I could pinpoint one of my enemies and say it was them who did this.

"But I have a score of enemies, Ruru. I didn't get to keep my throne just because I was the good girl who ascended her throne at eighteen. I have made enemies out of very dangerous men who had always wanted to get to me.

"I never had a weakness they could exploit, or someone I would go to war for outside my family, Ruru,—" Hawi said earnestly.

"Until today," Rukiya added, her voice coming out in disbelief and slow anger.

She had never thought that there was a day when she would be considered anyone's weakness. It was thrilling and exciting and yet at the same time, it made her wonder what she was even supposed to do with that information at the moment.

She had always been the stronger one. The one who protected and fought battles. She had always been there that people were scared of and yet right now, it seemed like she had finally had someone who would cross the ocean on foot for her.

"Yes. Until today," Hawi said proudly like there wasn't a war waiting for her on the other side of the forest.

She knew this was about the safety of the Greyson pack and she wasn't going to be the reason a once peaceful pack was turned into a house of war. It wasn't her intention and she knew what she needed to do.

Even if it would break both their hearts. But would it really work?

Rukiya looked at the banished alpha before her and this time, she was staring at Hawi with the eyes of a reigning alpha.

For an alpha who hadn't had a pack in the past two years, Awuor Hawi had managed to defend herself and make her statement know sure it was in the most brutal of ways, but it went to show just how much Hawi valued the things she had marked.

She hadn't retired despite being a loner. She hadn't forgotten what it felt like to be in battle even though most of the time she had forced her acquaintances to hurt her.

"You should have told me," Rukiya said, trying to wrap her head around the fact that the woman before her had mutilated fourteen bodies and even fed on some of them. It was wild but it was what it was.

Hawi wasn't one to be messed with even if she was out and alone. She was more dangerous alone because she had no rules binding her to any pack. The intruders should have known better than to attack a lone wolf that had nothing to lose.

"I know. But they weren't many and I didn't want to bore you with this few wolves. I needed to know what they wanted and now that I do, you have to make a choice, as an alpha, Rukiya. You have to think with your brain and not your heart this time.

"If I stay in Greyson, the hostiles will come especially now that they know I'm here. I'm sure they won't tell a soul about my existence because they want to be the ones to release that news to the realm, but it still leaves Greyson in danger either way.

"However, if I leave Greyson, you guys will be safer. No one will come after you and I'll assign Mbali to be your extra security just in case. Whatever choice you make, I'll respect it," Hawi said and Rukiya let out a knowing laugh.

She had been used to Hawi always leaving without hearing what Ruru wanted, but at least this time, she didn't just disappear. It made Rukiya feel like there was some progress in their relationship, however little it was.

"If it's about security, I believe I'm safer at your side. Greyson is safer with you around, Hawi. I'd rather have you close than replace you with Mbali. You're stronger, more powerful, and have the ways of war.

"If you want me to choose an alpha, then I choose you. Whatever comes our way I know we can face it, as long as we're together. It doesn't matter how long it takes. We can do this together.

"There's my choice," Rukiya said with a smile on her face.

"Then gather your warriors, my beautiful alpha, we'll be going hunting soon," Hawi said gently to her woman.

Hawi was glad that they didn't fight today. She was glad that she didn't have to disappear because she was scared of what the future held for both of them.

Hawi felt relief once again, knowing that this time, she would be fighting alongside one of the best warriors in the realm. Together they would be unstoppable and that was all the encouragement that Hawi needed this time.

"Let's go home. And I would still love to hear what you have to say for yourself, standing stark naked before Elodie," Rukiya said with a pout, her dominant voice disappearing in the background as she went back to being the woman Hawi had left back home in bed.

She had missed Hawi and felt her heart shattering for a moment when she saw the kind of eyes that Elodie was using on Hawi.

Then again, Ruru was within her rights, given she didn't know that Hawi and Elodie could never have anything going for them outside of their friendship and sisterhood.

The two women wouldn't even get aroused with each other, so it was just useless, but Rukiya didn't know that.

"My breath still smells like roses, baby. Your scent is all over me. Even the ignorant would know that I am taken, my Ruru," Hawi said, as she kissed Rukiya lightly on the lips, before they walked back home, their hands entwined, and ready to face the incoming danger together.