One

“You can’t just sit around all day. Come out now!” Mrs. Bea yelled, accompanied by the loud bang against my room door.

Getting up from the pile of rotten used clothes that served as my bed, I took a few steps to the door and unlocked it.

Mrs. Bea's face was crimson red with fury. “How dare you make me come to you before you start the day’s work?”

“I-I'm sorry,” I sheepishly apologized, shoving past her side to escape any more trouble from her.

“I didn’t ask you to leave yet, mutt.” She spat, completely ignoring the fact that I had a name.

Pivoting to her, I bowed my head in apology. “Sorry ma’am. What would you like me to do?”

“There is an important event in the pack house today, yet you were sleeping?”

“I wasn't sleeping. I'm sorry.” I was just scared. Like everyday. I was scared to get out.

“Dimwit. Ensure everything is perfect— the foods, drinks, deserts, and the entire place. Remember, this is very important to Alpha, so nothing must go wrong.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I replied.

“Speaking of Alpha, have you cleaned his room today?”

I began to tremble, knowing what was coming for me if she knew I hadn’t.

“Yes! I’ll head there right now.” Without wasting time, I scurried out of her sight.

Heaving a sigh, I went to grab the cleaning equipment when I overheard two pack females chatting.

“Since today is special, Alpha might find his mate again.” The first said.

“And it’ll definitely be me. I’ll make sure he doesn’t reject me.” The second boasted, twirling her hair around her fingers.

“I have more chances here.” The first retorted.

It was no surprise that these ladies were arguing over who was going to be the mate of our 25-year-old Alpha. Alpha Keegan was the cruelest, most arrogant, aggressive, ruthless, temperamental, cold, authoritative, and strongest Alpha that ever lived. He had earned his power by working hard and dominating territories because he was blessed with an undefeatable, strong, and large wolf.

However, Alpha Keegan didn’t have a mate. It wasn’t because he was cursed like me; the moon goddess had blessed him with at least 5 mates since his 19th birthday, but he has rejected every one of them, leaving them with the harsh rejection pain. I couldn’t imagine how they handled it.

“Where are you headed to?” A guard asked in a cold tone.

“To clean,” I replied, lowering my head.

“Don't waste time doing that; there's still a lot to do.” He opened the door to the section of the rooms of the high-ranked members.

"Okay." I didn't raise my head as I walked in. Being the lowest ranked member of the group, I couldn’t dare to lift my head to anyone. My whole life was an utter mess.

I had made the biggest mistake of my life by trespassing the strongest, largest, and the most aggressive pack in the country, as a rogue child. Accepted into the Dark Stone pack with high expectations, I ended up being tagged as cursed because I didn't have a wolf and my weakness contradicted the standard of the Dark Stone pack.

Life was meaningless for an Omega in such a mighty pack. No day passed by without me being beaten, shouted at, or punished for even the slightest mistake. I was always bullied by everyone in the pack; even children had the right to hurl insults at me and hit me.

I was the slave here, but mostly the slave for the Alpha.

“Is Alpha in his room?” I summoned the courage to ask a random pack member.

She stared at me from head to toe, not hiding her irritation one bit. “Don’t you have a brain? How will Alpha still be in his room when such an important event is going on?”

“Oh… so he’s out?” I needed to confirm.

She growled at me, indicating that I left her alone.

With a quick apology, I left her side, then pushed the door to the Alpha’s room open.

My entire body froze as I came face to face with Alpha Keegan who was in only a towel covering his lower half as water streamed down his huge biceps and to-die-for 6-pack abs, showing off his even-toned muscular body.

“What are you doing?” His husky voice made my entire body start quivering again.

Realization struck me that I had just entered into the room of Alpha Keegan of the Dark Stone pack while he was in. I fell to the ground in a bow. “I’m so sorry. I– I pro– promise… it was accidental.”

“You foolish omega. How dare you not knock? If I wasn't in a hurry, I'll have punished you, but you’ll definitely serve your punishment after the party. Get out now before I lose control!” He roared at me.

“Y-yes.” I quickly rose to my feet, picked my cleaning equipment, then ran out of his room.

Could this day get any worse?

***

I had arranged the entire pack house and ensured that everything was in order as Mrs. Bea had stated.

Now the event was going on, but I couldn’t participate. Instead, I was still doing the dishes that didn’t seem to end.

It was a celebration of Alpha Keegan’s control since he defeated one of the most threatening rogue groups a few years ago and merged with another strong pack to become part of the Dark Stone pack.

“Hey! Pour the drinks into all the cups and take them to the guests. You should also serve drinks to Alpha Keegan and the other 5 or 6 Alphas with him, now.” Mrs. Bea ordered, taking her leave before I could respond to her.

I poured the drinks as she had instructed and placed six glasses on a tray, heading to the hall. At least I was going to be able to attend without being chased away.

As I stepped into the hall, I began to feel very uneasy. It was probably due to the large crowd and my social anxiety. I tried to ignore the ugly gaze directed at me to stop the uneasiness. I had never felt ashamed of my crumpled clothes and bad shoes before, so what was causing such a feeling?

As I moved closer to Alpha Keegan and the few people around him, the uneasiness became even worse. I could already tell that something was definitely wrong…

~ KEEGAN GRAY ~

‘…yes, Alpha.’ Scarlett, my Beta, replied to me through mind link.

I couldn’t wait for the day to end already. I had formed alliances with more packs today, and the celebration still continued.

‘We can try to gain control over one more pack.’ My wolf, Drex, said in my head.

‘It’s forming an alliance, not exactly gaining control.’ I replied.

‘It’s the same thing for me, as long as we are in power.’

I was interrupted by an unusual internal feeling. It felt like a force grasped me with a strange but all too familiar vibration down my spine as I perceived a strong scent.

No, no, no! This couldn’t be happening again. I knew this feeling too well. Why was the moon goddess messing with my life? Was it too hard to not want something? And why did she have to make me feel it at such an event?

I pulled away from everyone around then turned towards the scent.

My eyes locked with the Omega's widened deep blue ones as she dropped the tray she was holding.

‘Mate!’ Drex exclaimed.

“Mate?” I called with disgust laced in my tone then murmurs filled the hall.

Was the moon goddess being fucking serious here? How could she pair me with the most worthless and stupid creature ever?

My fists clenched, and I could feel my veins pop out of my neck in fury.

Since she was wolfless, she probably couldn’t feel anything. “I—”

“No way. Mates?” She cut me off, trembling as always. “I, Jane Williams, reject you, Alpha Keegan Gray, as my mate, forever...”

My eyes bugged out at her words. The entire room was filled with gasps and the noise increased. How was this possible?

“How dare you?!” I spoke through gritted teeth, storming towards her. How could a mere Omega reject me in public? How dare she ruin my pride at such an important event? She was going to pay for it, even if it cost my last breath…