Rejected by the Alpha, Marked by the Lycan King Chapter 3

The project moved fast.

But Liam felt it was too slow. More than once, he emphasized to Sarah:

"This is Chloe’s first project after her return. I don't want to see failure."

I watched this drama unfold with cold detachment.

After the negotiation that day, back at our apartment on the Upper East Side, Liam hesitated on the sofa for a long time.

Finally, he explained to me:

"We haven't gone public yet, after all. We haven't found the right timing."

"We’ll announce it to the Council later."

"Right now, our priority is to handle this project well."

I nodded, noncommittal.

I didn't remind him that the "priority" was supposed to be our upcoming coronation ceremony.

And I certainly didn't remind him that on that day, when the full moon rises, our bond would be completely severed.

During the project, Liam’s deliberate attempts to keep me and Chloe apart made Sarah suspicious.

While buying coffee at Starbucks, she asked me gossipy questions:

"Did you and Liam have a thing in the past?"

I smiled. "How is that possible? He’s an Alpha; I’m just an ordinary wolf."

Sarah curled her lip.

"He kept looking at you with those guilty puppy eyes."

"Obviously, he's an ex who hasn't fully cut the cord."

I paused, stunned, and thought about it for a long while.

Countdown.

10 days.

On this day, after a meeting, Liam actually offered to drive me back to the apartment.

This was a first.

"Your work ability really exceeded my expectations. You have the demeanor of a Luna."

Five years together, and this was the first time this Alpha had praised me.

My hand paused while packing files. I looked at him in confusion.

Liam hesitated for a long time before finally speaking:

"Is it still too late to do the makeup ceremony?"

I looked down, knowing he probably wanted to cancel.

"Let's just cancel it. There are only a few days left anyway."

I looked up at him, not exposing him.

Liam was stunned, as if he had received an answer he didn't dare believe.

He suddenly asked:

"Does your wolf not care?"

True. If it were before, driven by instinct, I might have lost control right there, begging for an answer.

Rejection causes physical pain to a mate.

I shook my head.

"What's there to care about? It's just a formality."

After a long silence, Liam spoke up again:

"How about in a few days, I take you to the hunting cabin in the forest to relax?"

I looked down at the moon phase countdown on my phone. Only ten days left. I declined.

The man’s hands on the steering wheel stiffened. He almost ran a red light.

"Then the beach at the edge of the territory? Or that fresh meat restaurant you’ve always wanted to try?"

Liam proposed several ways to relax, but I rejected them one by one.

By the time I got out of the car, the man's face had shifted from awkwardness and guilt to confusion and dissatisfaction.

Looking at his expression, I proactively suggested:

"How about we go visit the old apartment in Brooklyn?"

The old apartment was where Liam and I lived when we first got together, back before he awakened as an Alpha.

I did miss it a little.

Liam froze for a while, seeming to guess at my thoughts.

Even after I got out, he remained sitting in that black SUV.

He sat there for a long time.

A very long time.