Rejection

Lucas sat at the long table, a deep frown etched on his face. Spread before him were luxurious dishes sent from different packs across Hauthea, yet he couldn’t bring himself to taste any of them—his stomach had been twisting painfully since yesterday.

“That damn Olivia… is she trying to poison me?” Lucas muttered irritably while waiting for the rest of the guests and his family members to arrive.

Maybe she really bought that food for Amelia, but Amelia gave it to you because she wanted you to like her family. You were just unlucky enough to eat it, Dexter—Lucas’s wolf—replied.

Good thing he was the one who ate it. What would’ve happened if Amelia had eaten that? Her body’s already weak. She might not even make it to the party. He want to introduce her to the members of the West family—they’ll all be stunned by how pretty she is.

He wanted to show her off like a prized gem. Even if Amelia was just an omega, no one would dare insult Lucas’s choice. He was the Alpha. He could choose a chosen mate and still have his fated mate.

“Lucas, have you seen your brothers?” Lucas turned toward his mother, Lucianna—the Luna of the pack—who had just arrived.

“I’m not sure if Lorcan will show up, but Lucien is still upstairs,” Lucas replied. He saw his older brother entering with three she-wolves in tow—clearly planning to play around before the dinner party even started.

“Tsk, your brothers never do anything right. They’re nothing but trouble,” Lucianna said as she sat beside him. Moments later, the former Alpha—Luthor West, father of the three brothers—arrived.

Luthor greeted guests and pack members, chatting and mingling without even accompanying his wife. She-wolves still flocked around him despite his age, and Lucianna hated it.

“You really take after your brother Lucien,” Lucianna muttered, but Lucas wasn’t even listening anymore. He was searching for Olivia’s scent among the crowd.

Then he saw her.

Olivia entered wearing a low-cut, tight red dress paired with black heels. Her blonde hair was pulled into a high ponytail, her cheeks flushed pink, and her lips painted a striking, almost vulgar red. She looked like someone who belonged in the red-light district.

Lucas shook his head. He disliked that kind of look on a woman—too flashy, too desperate, and too performative. If not for her wolf scent, he wouldn’t even spare her a glance.

“Solana’s daughter looks beautiful… though her makeup is much too thick,” Lucianna commented.

Lucas suddenly stood the moment another woman entered the hall.

She wore a red wine silk cut-out fitted dress that fell just past her knees. Her long black hair was tied in a loose, messy low bun that accentuated her delicate face, pale neck, and soft jawline. She wore pearl earrings, light makeup, and carried a black designer bag.

“Amelia.” Her name slipped from Lucas’s lips as he stared at his innocent yet elegant girlfriend. Even the guests turned to look at her. Olivia, on the other hand, seethed—her stepsister had just outshined her without effort.

“Wow, my best friend looks stunning. You’re the only one in a red dress that actually stands out. That cut-out fitted style looks perfect on your figure,” Mia gushed, proud of her handiwork—she had styled Amelia herself.

“That’s not true, Mia. My stepsister Olivia is wearing red too, and she’s eye-catching as well,” Amelia said with her gentle smile, subtly mocking Olivia.

Olivia bit the inside of her cheek, fighting the urge to snap.

“This designer bag was actually a gift from them. Isn’t it gorgeous?” Amelia added, showing it off. The she-wolves around her agreed enthusiastically.

Olivia’s anger simmered hotter, but she forced a smile and approached.

“I didn’t know you’d wear red too, sis. Were you trying to copy me?” Olivia attempted to flip the narrative.

“Huh? Why? Don’t you like us matching? We’re sisters, so twinning?” The sadness in Amelia’s tone made other guests look at Olivia with judgment—she sounded petty and insecure.

“Ah, n-no, I didn’t mean it that way. Our red dresses suit us. We’re sisters, haha…” Olivia’s laugh was so fake Mia wanted to drag her out by the hair.

“Amelia.” Everyone turned as Lucas called out, stepping toward his chosen mate. But instead of greeting him, Amelia avoided his gaze. Whisper erupted among the crowd.

“How come she’s ignoring him?”

“Did she fall out of love?”

“They might break up. She were never a good match for the Alpha anyway.”

Lucas felt his humiliation rising. Amelia had never treated him coldly before. Now she wouldn’t even look at him.

“Is something wrong? I just wanted to say you look really beautiful,” Lucas said, but she remained silent.

“Amelia, why won’t you answer me?” Amelia hugged her arm, staring at her shoulder, refusing to speak.

“What’s going on here?” Luthor asked as he arrived, with Lucianna and a freshly buttoning Lucien following behind.

The tension grew. The stage was set perfectly—Amelia knew this was her moment.

“Alpha Luthor, I’d like to request permission to hold a rejection ceremony,” Amelia announced.

Gasps echoed through the hall.

“Rejection ceremony? You want to reject my son? The Alpha of The Crescent Moon Pack?” Luthor asked in disbelief.

“Yes, sir. I am rejecting your son.” Amelia finally turned to Lucas. His eyes widened in shock and anger.

She stepped closer and stared directly into his furious gaze.

“I, Amelia Blake, omega of the The Crescent Moon Pack, reject Lucas West, Alpha of the The Crescent Moon Pack.”

Lucas’s jaw clenched. He wanted to grab and shake her—but something in her eyes stopped him.

Her green eyes glowed like emerald fire. Her stare commanded him—forced him—to kneel. Even Dexter whimpered in fear.

His Alpha dominance meant nothing against her presence.

“Do you accept the rejection, Alpha Lucas?” Luthor asked.

“I—I, Lucas West, A-Alpha of the The Crescent Moon Pack… do not accept this rejection.” He forced the words out, trembling.

Amelia stepped back, shocked. Why wouldn’t he let her go? She is just his chosen mate, a mate clearly made by choice and not by fate. He had Olivia—his fated mate.

Her anger boiled.

“You will attend the rejection ceremony,” she ordered firmly, staring up at him.

“You’re ordering me, your Alpha? What if I refuse?” Lucas growled. He wouldn’t release her until he was done with her—until he used her up.

“I will drag you there myself,” Amelia said coldly.

The hall fell silent. Even Solana and Olivia were stunned by the sudden ferocity of the once-gentle omega.

Lucas stood frozen. Never in his life had anyone dared speak to him that way.

Amelia turned and walked out of the hall, leaving chaos behind.

Whispers exploded after she left.

“The nerve of that Omega…”

“She insulted our Alpha!”

“She should be thrown in the cells!”

If she weren’t Lucas’s girlfriend—Antonio’s daughter—they would have already imprisoned her.

“Come back here! How dare you insult my son?!” Lucianna screamed, but Amelia didn’t look back.

She stormed into the garden, breathing hard, fists clenched. Once secluded, she kicked a tree repeatedly, releasing all her anger.

“Lucas, you arrogant jerk! Why won’t you let me go?! You ruined my plan! Why couldn’t you just say yes?! Olivia was right there! Ughhh! Why am I trapped in this cursed bond?!”

“Hahaha! What did that tree do to you?” Amelia froze at the familiar voice she had once despised as a child.

“I didn’t know you could lose control like that. I always thought that an angelic face was just a facade—you really are a warrior underneath.”

Her heartbeat sped up—not from anger, but from something else entirely.

His scent pulled her in, hypnotic… commanding her to kiss him.

“Amelia Blake.”

“Lorcan Ashford.” she whispered in frustration, gripping her chest tightly. Standing before her was the man her soul recognized instantly.

“Nice to see you again, Amelia Blake.“ He smirked.