Page 12 of Rejected by My Stepbrother Alpha (Billionaire Shifter Club #1)

R ooftop View

Ivy

The sunrise was beautiful atop the tallest building in the city. The sky was a riot of colors as the sun made its ascent—deep orange, pale yellow, dark purple, and maroon. I tried to focus on the beauty of the sky and the twinkling lights of the buildings surrounding me.

But all I could think about was last night.

Memories from the mating ceremony kept running through my head.

The piercing bite of the knife as I cut my hand.

Asher’s look of dismay and the way he had stumbled back when he realized I was his Fated Mate.

The agonizing pain in my chest after Asher broke our bond.

Even now, my heart still throbbed with pain.

How was it still beating after what Asher had put it through?

How could Asher sleep with me, pretend like we hadn’t spent the night together, and then reject me in front of everyone?

The judgmental whispers of everyone in the pack after Asher rejected me were a constant buzzing in my ear.

How could I ever face them again? Everyone—including the man whom the Moon Goddess had chosen for me—thought that my mother and I were greedy gold diggers.

Even I had suspicions about my mother having nefarious desires, but I’d never had any ill intentions toward Russell or Asher.

I sighed as I leaned my elbows against the smooth metal of the hotel roof railing.

I'd spent most of the night running through the woods in my wolf form. When the forest began to wake up, I found a clothes station in one of the waterproof metal containers that were spread throughout our woods. As I dressed in black shorts and an oversized pink shirt, I thought about how good an idea it was to have these kinds of stations in a shifter community. My old pack didn’t have them.

When I started wondering if they had been Asher’s idea, I began to run again, this time in my human form.

As the sun began to peek through the clouds, I had a strong desire to see the sunrise.

The tallest building in the city was a fancy hotel—thankfully not the one that the gala had been held in.

I didn't even want that slight reminder of Asher.

But even now, as I stood on the roof, staring at the sunrise, a soft breeze caressing my face, the only thing on my mind was him.

Was it possible to love and hate someone at the same time? Even though he had broken it in half, my heart still seemed like it was beating just for him.

For the rest of the morning, I watched the sun rise until it was directly above me, and the sky was a bright teal color. From the sun’s location in the sky, I guessed it was around noon. My pale skin was already hot from the sun, and if I stayed out here for much longer, I'd have a nasty sunburn.

I couldn’t stay on this roof forever.

As much as I wanted to hide away, I needed to face the aftermath of the mating ceremony.

And I needed to visit Russell in the hospital.

After I visited him, I could figure out what came next for me.

I knew that I couldn't live in the same house as Asher.

Not after everything that had happened between us the past month.

I turned around to leave, but the movement made my stomach twist painfully. I groaned in agony, bent over, and threw up on the ground.

I began to do some quick mental math.

Oh no…

After I washed up the mess I had made on the roof, I went back to Russell’s house to grab my wallet.

Thankfully, the house was quiet. I’d been afraid of running into Asher or my mom.

Even though I needed to shower, I didn’t even change out of the clothes I’d gotten from the station in the woods.

The errand I needed to run couldn’t wait.

With trembling hands, I went to one of the pharmacys close to Russell’s house and kept my head down, hoping no one would recognize me as I bought what I needed.

When I left the store, I slipped my purchase into my pocket, threw the plastic bag away, and went back home.

When I opened the large wooden front door, the first thing I heard was loud classical music bursting from the black speakers located throughout the house.

Shit.

This wasn’t good. Growing up, I always knew when my mom was in a bad mood—which was often.

She would always play classical music at full volume.

The pieces she preferred had fast tempos and seemed to always be on the verge of losing control.

There was something about the almost manic way the instruments sounded to me that always put me on edge.

I tiptoed up the stairs and down the hall, trying to be as quiet as possible.

Maybe I could make it to my room before she noticed that I was home.

As I passed her and Russell’s room, I clutched my purchase from the store that was hidden from view in my pocket.

My hand began to sweat around the object.

“Ivy!” my mom yelled, thundering out of the master bedroom.

Damn it.

I spun toward her, and my eyes widened as I took in the frilly, long, black dress she was wearing.

I’d never seen her wear that before. I didn't even know that she owned something like that. My mom’s wardrobe mostly consisted of neutral colors.

I looked past her into the room and noticed a suitcase overflowing with clothes sitting on their king-size bed.

Anxiety gnawed at my empty stomach .

“Mom, what’s going on?” I asked.

My mother crossed her arms and leaned against her bedroom door. “Russell died this morning,” she told me flatly.

“W-what? Are you serious?” I asked, and tears pricked at the backs of my eyes.

Sorrow and guilt shot down my spine.

Why hadn’t I visited him in the hospital?

Now, I'd never have a chance to say goodbye to him. We hadn’t been particularly close, but he had always been kind to me. Asher must be devastated right now.

“Oh, save the waterworks,” my mom snapped and rolled her eyes. “I haven’t even told you the worst part.”

“Russell dying isn’t the worst part?” I demanded incredulously.

“No, the worst part is that Asher convinced Russell to change his will back at the last minute. We aren’t going to get any of his money, assets, or a cut of his business.

We have to move out of this beautiful house.

We’re going to be broke again!” My mother said, like it was the worst thing in the world.

Anger flooded into my bloodstream, giving me a rare feeling of courage.

“Really, Mom? Is money all you are about? Your husband just died, and money is the only thing you can focus on?” I shook my head in disgust. “I’ve always had my suspicions, and I've been too afraid to say them out loud, but not anymore. You're a greedy gold digger. You only married Russell for his money, didn’t you?”

Instead of seeming offended, my mother let out a sharp, cold laugh.

“Of course, I did. Don’t tell me you thought I was actually in love with that man?

This past year has been about money, Ivy.

Goddess, don't tell me you're that naive.” She put her hands on her hips.

“But, I think I have a plan that will save us from living on the streets.

You have to seduce Asher and convince him to take back his rejection and marry you.

That way, when you're his wife, we'll both be able to live off of Russell's estate.

You've already laid the groundwork for seducing him.

I've seen the way you guys look at each other.”

I shook my head slowly back and forth, still processing the fact that my mother was even more selfish than I could ever imagine.

But I was done being passive when it came to her. If I didn't stand up for myself now, then when?

Adrenaline pulsed through me as I stalked toward my mother.

Her eyes widened in surprise.

“There is no way in hell I'm going to do that,” I said through gritted teeth, staring her down.

I never wanted to see Asher again after he toyed with my feelings and rejected me.

“I refuse to trick a man into marrying me.

I'm not a ruthless, gold-digging bitch. I'm not you.” I took a step closer until we were an inch apart.

My hands shook with rage, and the hair on my neck raised like it always did before I shifted into my wolf.

But pride was also flooding through me. This was the first time in my life that I was standing up to my mom.

She bared her teeth at me, and her eyes narrowed. “First of all, back up.” She put her hands on my shoulders and gave me a hard shove, pushing me back against the wall.

Since she had taken me by surprise, I flew back, and my head hit the wall with a loud thud.

Shit!

My head spun, pulsing with pain.

“How dare you!” I said and pushed off the wall, walking back to her to show her I wasn't scared.

“No, Ivy, how dare you insult me after everything I've done for you over the years, you ungrateful little bitch!” she snapped, her voice steadily rising.

“It's your fault that we're in this situation in the first place. I told you that you needed to visit Russell in the hospital! Asher probably used that as a way to convince his dad to take me out of his will. How are we supposed to live without that money? How can we afford our way of life?”

“Gee, Mom!” I yelled, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “I don't know…let's think real hard about this…oh, I know! Why don't you go out and get a real job instead of thinking up ways to scam another millionaire? You're a narcissistic liar, and I never want to see you again!”

My mom's face turned red with rage, and a fierce growl ripped from her mouth. Her hand shot up and she slapped me across the face .

Pain exploded on my cheek, but I wasn't going to allow her to see that she’d hurt me…in more ways than one.

“You will regret treating me this way,” she said, spun on her heel, walked to her room, and slammed the door shut.

I stood there and stared at the door as one tear slowly rolled down my stinging cheek.