ONCE REJECTED, NOW MATED TO THE ALPHA KING

ARIA

Tears blurred my vision as I stared at the person I had believed would be my companion and save me from the clutches of my father.

My mate.

The newly appointed Alpha of Storm Claw Pack—Jackson Reid.

And he had just rejected me like it was nothing.

“ Why? ” I managed to croak out, desperation thick in my voice, as if pleading for an explanation.

Jackson’s cold gaze held mine.

“ Because you’re not fit to be my mate, ” he spat harshly, “ You’re just a weak omega. I need someone that is strong and capable. Besides, everyone in the pack knows you bring nothing but bad luck. ”

Then, as if to prove it, he reached for the girl beside him and intertwined his fingers with hers.

Amelia Virelle.

Daughter of the previous Beta and sister of the current Beta. She was born into power and raised with it. Everyone adored her. They saw her as the perfect, shining example of what a werewolf should be.

But I knew the girl behind the mask. Her heart was a void, as dark as a moonless night. She was one of the people who made my life miserable. She mocked me, humiliated me, and never missed a chance to hurt me.

And now… she was standing where I was supposed to be.

Right beside my mate.

A slow, cruel smirk spread across her lips, her eyes gleaming with pure triumph. “ Maybe you should try finding a mate in a pack of strays, Aria. You would fit right in there. ”

I wanted to scream as I stared at their entwined hands. I wanted to tear their hands apart and remind him that I was his mate. The one the Moon had chosen for him.

And yet… he had chosen her.

Jackson turned to Amelia and smiled softly, and for a moment, I wished I were in her place.

“ Amelia is strong enough to be my Luna, ” he said proudly before looking back at me, his eyes turning cold again. “ We’re going to mark each other. ”

The pain hit me all over again, sharp and suffocating, like my chest was being crushed from the inside. It stole the air from my lungs, leaving me standing there, broken and helpless, struggling just to breathe.

All my life, I had waited for my mate. I had believed that when I found him, my life would finally become better.

But I was wrong.

My wolf, Laila, stirred within me.

She whimpered in pain and retreated to the back of mind. She had felt the impact of the rejection just like I did. We share one body and she can feel what I feel as well.

I heard the whispers and giggling of the pack members around me as they all mocked me, calling me all sorts of names. I ran out of the pack house and went into the forest, finding my favorite spot beneath a large tree.

I collapsed to the ground and cried.

I cried for a long time until my chest hurt.

Until my throat felt dry.

Until I had no strength left.

After hours of grieving about my wretched life, I forced myself to go home. The moment I stepped inside, my father’s bitter voice greeted me.

“ Look at you, ” he sneered, as he stood, “ It’s no surprise you got rejected by your mate. ”

I tried to walk past him but he stepped in front of me. “ No one will ever want you. You’re cursed and you bring bad luck. You’re better off dead than being alive. ”

His words cut through me like a knife.

It wasn’t his first time saying all this to me but for some reasons his words stung differently this time. Maybe because Jackson had just said almost the same thing. Or maybe because deep inside, a small part of me feared they were right.

“ It would have been better if I was really dead. ” I retorted, my words a feeble attempt to express the pain within me. “ At least, I wouldn’t have to— ”

Crack.

The slap sent my head spinning.

“ Don’t you dare talk back at me. ” he growled, his eyes flashing dangerously.

I held my cheek as tears filled my eyes again. Not just because of the pain in my cheek, this wasn’t even the first time he had hit me, but because everything felt so unfair.

Without saying another word, I ran past him to my room and collapsed on my worned out bed. The moon outside cast a silvery glow across my floor, a cruel reminder of the celestial force that was behind everything.

I wrapped my arms tightly around myself as everything replayed in my mind.

Jackson’s rejection.

Amelia’s cruel smirk.

The pack’s laughter.

My father’s cruel words.

Tears flowed down my cheeks continuously.

My mother died while giving birth to me and my father made me carry the weight of her death. He told everyone in the pack that I was cursed and my bad luck was the cause of her death.

And somehow… everyone believed him.

Because of that, I grew up having no friends. No one wanted to be close to the girl everyone called cursed.

I was all alone in this vast world with no one to lean on.

“ You’re not alone. ” Laila’s voice echoed in my mind. “ I’ll always be with you. ”

Even though she was hurting too, she still tried to comfort me.

“ I’m so sorry that you are with a loser like me, ” I cried through the mind link, “ I’m so sorry you have to go through this because of me. ”

“ It’s not your fault. ” She replied sadly.

****

Days turned into weeks and my room became my sanctuary acting as a hideaway from the pack’s bullying and my father’s cruel words. The only time I came out of my room was to prepare meals for him to avoid being punished.

Each day, the weight of the rejection and loneliness became an unbearable burden.

It was another night and I was curled up in my room crying like I had been everyday. I looked up at the moon illuminating my room with its light through my window and pointed an accusatory finger towards it.

“ You’re the cause of my misfortune. Why did my mother have to die? Why didn’t you just let me die with her so I wouldn’t have to live all alone in this sinful world? Or why didn’t you just let me die instead and let her live. Did you let me come into this world just to suffer? It’s all your fault. It’s your fault. ”

I know talking to the moon wouldn’t change anything or make it better but it was the only way I could console myself a bit. Afterall, all werewolves worshiped Selene, the Moon Goddess, and we all believed that she had our lives and deaths in her hands.

“ It hurts so much. ” I whispered, hitting my chest in a desperate attempt to ease my emotional turmoil as more of my tears soaked the mattress.

I was drained and exhausted.

I had no will to live anymore. If I had known I would face rejection from my mate, I wouldn’t have waited all this while and endured my father’s cruelty.

With a heavy heart, I thought about my escape from this oppressive life. The relentless abuse, rejection, and isolation had taken their toll. The decision to break free finally became clearer to me, guided by Laila’s encouragement.

With determination on my face, I quietly slipped out of my room. I didn't pack a bag because I had nothing worth taking. I left the house and started the long walk toward the pack’s border.

The cold wind whispered promises of freedom as I moved through the shadows. Once I reached the border, I discreetly slipped past the patrol guards and crossed over.

The moment I did, the air around me changed.

The familiar oppressive pack scents I had grown up with were gone and now replaced with the scent of the deep woods and the wild forest. I knew I was finally on neutral ground.

I took a deep breath of the fresh air and felt a wave of relief.

Freedom at last.

I quickly stripped out of my clothes and shifted into my wolf form, giving Laila the reigns of control. She picked up the clothes and began to run. I was scared, but through our bond, I could feel Laila's assurance. I don’t know exactly where we were going, but for the first time in my life, I felt safe.

After what felt like an hour, Laila finally stopped.

She dropped the clothes before receding, giving control back to me and I shifted back into my human form. I let out a shaky breath and quickly pulled my clothes back on, fingers trembling slightly. The moon shone above me, illuminating the small clearing where I stood.

Just as I was about to move toward a nearby tree to take a rest, I felt heat prickling across my skin, as if someone was watching me. I turned around and found four pairs of red eyes staring back at me from the shadows.

Rogues.

****

A/N 💛

Just a tiny note before we move to the next chapter.

In this story, when a character is in human form, their human side is in control. But when they shift into wolf form, their wolf side takes over instead.

So yes — the wolves here have their own minds, emotions, and instincts.

Now enjoy the story. 💕