1 - Rejected Mate

"Let's break up. You can't be my mate anymore."

I am the breeder, yet none of the Alpha mates in this kingdom want me to be their fated mate.

Today, both of us were on the verge of having a sexual encounter. I had already undressed and was ready to be impregnated because tonight was the full moon. However, Lucas, the Alpha who was dating me, suddenly decided to end our date without any reason.

"What's happening? Wasn't our relationship going well?" I asked him over the sadness.

Lucas brushed my hand away as I attempted to touch his face."You're known as the Omega who has been rejected multiple times by your Alpha mates, Isabelle. My parents won't allow me to date you. My family says you're a cursed Omega."

"Lucas! Wait!"

/Slam!/

And just like that, Lucas left me half-naked. Tears started to fall because what Lucas said was true – I had been rejected 10 times by Alphas who should have been my mates.

As my sadness lingered, Hilbert, the head of the Omega orphanage I lived in, came to my room with bad news. His daughter, Anastasia, had just found her Alpha mate today.

Anastasia was younger than me, which made me even more heartbroken. I felt even more dejected because all the Alphas who dated me rejected me as their mate.

"Isabelle, please clean Anastasia's room. Her Alpha mate will be here soon," Hilbert ordered me sardonically. "Get up quickly, you lazy Omega!" he scolded me as if I had committed a grave mistake.

The heartache I felt from Lucas dumping me still lingered. Nevertheless, I had to go and clean Anastasia's room. However, when I arrived, I caught a whiff of a pheromone scent that was very familiar. 'What is this smell?' I wondered carefully.

How could I not know? It was the scent of the first Alpha I ever loved, the first Alpha mate who rejected me three years ago, even though we had been dating!

"Arthur Leonidas," I whispered softly. I remembered him well; he was the youngest son of the kingdom's second king, Theodosius. A cunning Alpha who had used my body for his desires and then left me.

"But ... how could Arthur be here? Why is Anastasia his mate?" I thought with a heavy heart.

"Isabelle ..."

The Alpha who had just filled my thoughts was suddenly standing behind me, embracing me. His scent was so missed; he was indeed Arthur Leonidas, the one who rejected me three years ago.

"Isabelle ... I've missed you," Arthur whispered with his lips against my neck. I wanted to return his embrace, but now he was Anastasia's Alpha mate, and the pain in my heart still remained after he left me.

"After throwing me away three years ago, now you're marrying the daughter of the orphanage owner where I live? You're not satisfied with hurting my heart, Arthur?" I said bitterly, pushed his body away from me.

"I left you because of my parents' orders. But I can't forget your body, Isabelle ..." His voice sounded as if he wanted to win back my heart.

Suddenly, both of us heard the door being forced open.

"Sister! What are you doing with my Alpha?! I can't believe you're seducing my mate!" Anastasia entered her room and caught Arthur, her Alpha mate, embracing my body.

"Anastasia ... You've got it all wrong. I'm not seducing your mate—"

/Slap!/

My words were cut off thanks to Anastasia's strong slap. She cried and reported my actions to her father, Hilbert. When Hilbert arrived, he also joined in beating me for this misunderstanding.

"Isabelle, do you know today is Anastasia's 17th birthday party? You and your filthy hands have ruined everything. I worry to kick you out of this house!" Hilbert said with Anastasia crying in his arms.

"That’s impossible ... I didn't do anything. Arthur was the one hugging me suddenly," I try to defended myself.

"What are you saying? I'm Anastasia's fated mate here. You're the one tempting me! My love, don't believe her. Believe me, Isabelle forced me to touch her," Arthur lied to Anastasia, pretending to be pitiful. He turned the blame on me for the harassment he had committed himself.

Hilbert and Anastasia seemed to hate me more and more. And when they discussed whether to kick me out of the orphanage or not, Arthur discreetly touched my body again.

"If you reveal what I did to you earlier, I will hurt Anastasia. Of course, they won't suspect me. Instead, she will suspect that you hurt Anastasia," Arthur threatened me with his sharp words.

"Just what do you want from me, Arthur?" I asked. I had no idea my ex-boyfriend could be so wicked. The Arthur I knew before didn't have such qualities.

He then touched my chest with lust. I pushed his hand away and got angry, but what Arthur said next made my heart stop beating:

"I want you to come to the palace, Isabelle," he whispered in my ear. "I married Anastasia through an arranged marriage. But I can't forget your body, Isabelle. Since we separated three years ago, no Omega has been able to replace you. I can give you a favorable position in the palace. How about it? I have connections with another four Alpha Princes who are looking for Omega mates to bear their heirs. You can seduce them and become a royal princess. What do you say? It's not a bad deal, is it?"

Before my lips could even express surprise and respond to what Arthur was saying, Anastasia had already caught us both in the act.

"What are you doing!? Sister Isabelle! Do you want to steal my Alpha mate again, huh!? Are you so desperate to get a mate that you have to take Arthur away from me?" Anastasia got angry again after catching Arthur touching my body.

This time, she immediately kicked me out of her room and was alone with Arthur there. My heart hurt a lot. It's not because I'm jealous; Arthur should have been my mate. I just couldn't understand how cruel fate could be to me.

"Isabelle, I'm reluctant to say this, but you must find your own Alpha mate soon because everyone in this village is talking about you. I'll have to kick you out if you don't find your mate soon," Hilbert suddenly warned me.

“What? Where should I go to find an Alpha mate within one day?” I reply with disbelief.

“I don’t care,” Hilbert left me away just like that.

I returned to my room with a heavy heart. How can iI find an Alpha mate within one day? If I didn't find one, Hilbert would kick me out.

Upon returning to my room, a male servant was waiting for me, handing me a piece of paper with an address. It turned out that Arthur wanted me to attend the dance party at the Theodosius palace tonight.

The pain in my heart from when he left me before still lingered, and I knew he was just playing with me again. Nevertheless, this was my only way to find an Alpha mate before Hilbert kicked me out.

________________

The next day, I secretly left the orphanage. Using my only savings, I bought a cheap dress from a store and went to the Theodosius palace at night. Upon arrival, the palace guards immediately kicked me out for not having an invitation.

Fortunately, an Alpha came to my rescue and let me in. He wore a masquerade mask on his face. As I stepped into the magnificent palace, the noble Omega present there looked at me with disgust.

Seeing an Omega from the village like me in a shabby dress, far from the elegance they exuded.

"You're Arthur's guest, right? He has already informed me about your presence. He's waiting for you in the royal chamber. You should go there," he said, slightly pulling my hand forcefully.

"The royal chamber? But I don't have any appointment with Arthur," I said, puzzled.

Could this be one of his tricks to play with me again? Or perhaps, is there a connection to the four Alpha princes he mentioned yesterday?