The Alpha King's Plump and Rejected Mate

Claire's POV

The city roared below.

But it was nothing compared to the turmoil reckoning within me.

I sighed and dabbed another layer of concealer on the fresh bruises over my face, covering away the shame and guilt that came along like baggage. My eyes fell on another bruise on my wrist. I quickly jabbed the puff over it, covering the bruise there too.

"What are you still doing?!" My husband's voice rang from below the stairs. 

My heart pounded against the stiff collar of my tailored suit. I dropped the puff in my hand and gave myself one last glance in the mirror. I plastered a smile on my lips, finishing the charade of a perfectly happy wife.

I grabbed my purse and flew down the stairs, ignoring the pang of pain in my ankles, protesting against the silhouette I saddled them with even with the injuries they sustained just the night before.

"I'm ready," I announced to Mark, my husband of five years. It was our anniversary dinner. The shock I felt after being announced to that we would be going out was unmistakable. Still, I did my best to get ready, knowing it was futile to challenge the man.

"You cleaned up nicely." He spat out, looking me over with irritation. "Wish you did something about your size." He muttered. "Just fat for nothing." He breathed as he walked away.

The smile I managed to plastered on my face faltered. I dragged my feet after him, forcing myself to remain calm. When I got to the car, where he stood waiting, he hissed. He opened his mouth to say something - probably a deteriorating statement - but his phone rang, cutting him off. 

"Hello." He mouthed into the phone, a smile lifting up his face. "Now?" Silence. "Okay." He dropped the phone and eyed me.

"Get back inside. I've canceled the dinner." He announced. His tone left no room for argument.

I turned swiftly and hurried back into the house, happy to be away from him. I watched from the window as his car sped out of the driveway. I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding. 

Peeling off the suits and makeup, I laid back in bed, ready to grab some sleep. 

"Ouch," I cried out as I accidentally rested on the wrist that was bruised. I ignored the pain and closed my eyes, letting my body, my mind and my soul rest.

The door banged hard. I gasped from my sleep, sitting up sharply. I eyed the wall clock, and winced when it read 1:25 AM. 

"Open this damn door, you foolish woman!" Mark's voice yelled from outside. 

I shoveled out of bed, ran straight to the door and flung it open. A slap landed across my face, making my eyes watered. I moved out of the way, just as another hand stretched forward. This time, fisted into a blow. Mark staggered in, his stance wobbling. 

"Didn't you hear me, you fatso?!" He yelled. 

"I am sorry," I muttered, searching vainly for a way to rescue the situation.

The glimmer in Mark's brown eyes turned deadly. He stalked to where I was, his body looming over me. I stilled my heart, ready for the beating I knew was coming. Instead, he jerked my head up, forcing me to look into his eyes. I averted my eyes, hoping to diffuse the situation.

"I am tired of seeing your stupid puffy face and your body..." he raked his eyes over my body. "God, what was I thinking when I marked you as my mate?" He released his hold on me and stepped back.

"I would have rejected you as my mate, but the ritual is a hassle." He slurred the words out. "So, from today..." he staggered for a second. "Feel free to flirt, date, or even sleep with anyone."

My jaw dropped at his words. I expected him to take them back but he simply tsked at me before he proceeded with the trash he was spilling.

"The only condition is that you never bring them to my house." He concluded. "Is that understood?" He asked when I didn't say anything.

"Y-yes," I stammered out and shifted backward when he took a menacing step toward me.

"Get lost then." He barked.

I turned swiftly, ready to bolt.

"Stop!"

I halted instantly like a robot.

"I want the name of every partner who drills that hole of yours. Their jobs, and also their STD history." He added.

"Why would you even think I want to have another partner outside you?" I managed to ask. I turned to face him and saw him shrug.

"I don't give a hoot if you want to remain a nun, but I want to enjoy my time. And I know I do not want to touch that body reeking with fat and marks anymore." His voice was not pleasant. 

"Besides, I'm sure we want each other to be happy. So you go fuck whoever and I'll do the same." He trained his eyes on me for a few moments. "Are we clear?" His voice was low and dangerous.  In the five years since I've been mated to him, I knew that tone well. If I dared challenge anything he said, I was asking for trouble. 

"O-ok-okay." I fought the tears threatening to spill out. There was no use crying over spilled milk like him.

"Scraml!" He bellowed. 

I flew through the stairs, my legs and heart in a racing competition. I slammed the door to my room shut and rushed into the bathroom. I opened the shower, letting the water spill over me. The tears I managed to hold fell freely. My brother's warning rang in my head like the alarm bell now.

"Claire, you should be patient. I'm sure your mate will show up sooner or later. You don't have to settle for a man who is not your true mate. And that too, a common pack member? When you can have an Alpha for yourself."

Rick had warned me then, but I refused to listen. I was already twenty five and my mate had refused to show forth. Desperation had clung to me, so when Mark asked me to be his chosen mate, I gladly accepted. 

I wish I could call my brother but I wasn't ready to face the backlash from my action. 

"Stupid barren woman!" Mark's angry voice carried to the room. 

I shook, unable to control myself. 

I needed to get out of the house.

I stood up minutes later, stopped the shower and stepped out of the bathroom. Dressed up in a black flowing gown that hid my flawed shape, I stepped out of the house, careful not to make a sound.

******

I stepped into one of the biggest bars in New Orleans. It was rowdy, a little more than I anticipated for the time of the night. I ignored the people and some of their continuous stares and went straight to the bar.

"Two shots of tequila, please," I told the bartender.

The young man, probably in his early twenties, smiled as he poured the two shots for me.

"Welcome to Shadows and Silks, ma'am." The bartender said with a smile, pushing my orders to my side.

I managed a small smile for him before grabbing one shot cup. I downed the content, whizzing as the drink burned my throat. I grabbed the second shot and drank it in one gulp as well.

"Seven more shots," I told the bartender. He looked ready to protest but I held a hand in the air, stopping him. He refilled my shots silently before focusing on his other clients.

By the time I was down to the fourth shot, my eyes were blurry and teary.

"Hey, sugar. Want to get down tonight?" A male voice called beside me. He wrapped his hand around my waist, trying to pull me up. 

"Leave the lady alone." The bartender warned.

"Shut up!" I shushed him. I turned to my new object of attraction and smiled. It was the first time in a long while someone was showing me attention. I wasn't about to let it go. I inched closer to the man, wincing as his body odor drifted to my nose, damping my interest instantly. I shook my head and turned away from him.

He grabbed my hand just as I was about to grab another bottle of drink. "Hey!" I protested, baring my fangs.

"Quit with the act." The man snorted, eyeing me with disdain. "We just thought to help you service your pussy cause I'm sure no one wants a fat woman like you." He and his friends burst into laughter.

the 

His jab hit home, soiling my mood again.

"And if you don't step out of this place right now, you are going to be in such a worst shape that nothing will ever repair you back to normal." A powerful male voice said from behind us, shocking everyone. His aura radiated the whole bar, commanding respect. 

Even I bowed my head slightly, despite being of Alpha bloodline.

The men taunting me disappeared in a glimpse. I looked up at a man who was about six feet tall, and sharp muscled in a mean way - as if he'd been fed only just enough to maintain optimal performance capability, like a caged cheetah kept on rations, so he'd run through world record - fast first the kill.

"Alex." He said, breaking into my thoughts. "Alex Warren." He looked me over—slowly, blatantly—appraising every inch of me.

I gulped loudly, feeling my wall pooled with wetness from my pussy.

"Claire," I choked out, lost in the ecstasy of his hazel eyes that seemed to glint with fire.

*Mate!* my wolf purred within me.

My eyes widened in shock. After all these years, my mate finally sufficed?

"I'm sure you know what we are by now," Alex murmured in my ears, his breaths fanning my skin, burning me alive.

"I want to make love to you," I purred out, my bravery accomplished by the alcohol I drowned in earlier.

He grabbed my hand then, his other hand on my lower back to steady me.

"Easy, Tiger." He said, leading me through some staircase. The moment  he opened a door and shoveled us inside, he pinned me against the wall. My mouth opened in a surprised gasp. He took advantage of it, taking possession, his tongue sliding in to stroke mine.

His lips were warm and firm and demanding. 

My arms curled around his neck, pulling him closer as my tongue stroked against his. My hands slid over his shoulder and the right one encountered long, rough tracks of scar tissue. 

When he broke the kiss, gathering me against his chest, I rubbed my cheek against his coarse hair, sniffing his scent. 

He smelled of wood and musk and a tang of brandy. 

He peeled my gown away. His lips closed over one aching nipple. I moaned, arching up against him.

"I want you inside me," I moaned to him. 

He carried me in his arms like I weighed nothing. He dropped me on the bed gently.

"Shh." He murmured against my neck, drawing the rest of the gown down my body.

I covered my body in shame, especially my stomach where the fat rolls were seated. He slapped my hands away gently.

"So beautiful." He leaned down and began to kiss every inch of me, meaning his words.

By the time he pulled his cock into me and began to stroke gently, I was lost in his magical web.

"Aarrggghh!" I cried out, feeling myself broke apart.

Alex was right beside me, his body tensed and arched over.

He dumped himself beside the bed, before gathering me close to him. His soft breathing was the only sound in the room.

Now that I have found my fated mate and cheated on my husband, what next? My thoughts conflicted as sleep shook me over, drawing me into its oblivion.