All Chapters of Rejected by My Mate, Claimed by the Brooding Alpha CEO: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

*Sage’s POV*The champagne glass in my hand was empty, which was a problem because I needed something to throw at my boyfriend’s face.Ex-boyfriend, I corrected mentally. As of approximately thirty seconds ago.“You’re like white rice, Sage.” Nash’s voice carried across the Lavender Gardens where half the Crescent Moon pack had gathered for what was supposed to be our engagement announcement. “Bland. Basic. Nobody’s first choice.”The laughter that rippled through the crowd felt like glass shards embedding themselves in my skin. I stood there in the stupid pink dress I’d bought specifically for this moment—the moment I thought my boyfriend of three years was going to propose—and tried to remember how to breathe.“Nash, maybe we should talk about this in private,” I managed, my voice somehow steady despite the humiliation burning through my veins.“Why?” Mara’s voice cut through the awkward silence. My best friend since high school stepped forward, her hand sliding possessively into N

Sage’s POVI stood outside Thorne Tower at exactly 7:45 AM on Monday morning, wearing my only professional outfit and trying to convince myself I wasn’t about to make a huge mistake.The building looked even more intimidating in daylight. Sixty floors of black glass and steel piercing the sky, making everything around it look small and insignificant. Which, I supposed, was exactly the point.My hand instinctively went to my stomach. Still flat, but I knew what was growing inside. A tiny person who was half me and half the terrifying billionaire CEO whose office was somewhere high above my head.“You can do this,” I muttered to myself. “It’s just a job. A really well-paying job with your one- night stand who doesn’t know you’re pregnant with his baby. Totally normal Monday.”A woman in an expensive suit gave me a strange look as she passed. Right. Stop talking to yourself, Sage.I took a deep breath and walked through the revolving doors.The lobby was exactly as intimidating as I r

Sage’s POV“Who’s this?” Jade Sterling asked, her ice-blue eyes sliding over me like I was a piece of furniture she was considering having removed.“My assistant, Miss Draven,” Kael said, his tone flat and professional. He gestured toward me without looking. “She’ll be taking notes.”“Another assistant.” Jade’s perfectly glossed lips curved into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “The last three didn’t last long, did they?”There was a story there, and from the way Marcus shifted uncomfortably, it wasn’t a good one.“Miss Draven is exceptional,” Kael said, still not looking at me. But I heard something in his voice a note of steel that hadn’t been there before.“She stays.”Jade’s expression flickered. Just for a second.Then that smooth, corporate mask slid back into place. “Of course. Shall we?”Everyone settled around the massive conference table. Kael at the head, Marcus on his right, David Chen next to him. Jade took the seat across from Kael, her two executives flanking h

Sage’s POV“No. I was hoping to catch Kael before his day gets busy.” Jade moved closer, her heels clicking against the polished floor. “We had such a productive meeting Tuesday. I wanted to follow up on a few points.”“Mr. Thorne isn’t in yet. I can schedule an appointment“I’ll wait.” She perched on the edge of my desk like she owned it. “We can chat while I do. Girl talk.”Every instinct I had screamed danger.“I really should get back to work-”“This will only take a moment.” Jade leaned in,her voice dropping to something conspiratorial.“I wanted to warn you. About Kael.”“Warn me?”“He’s brilliant. Ruthless. Absolutely magnetic.”Her ice-blue eyes glittered. “But he’s also… how do I put this delicately? He discards people. Employees, business partners, girlfriends. When he’s finished with you, you’ll be gone without a second thought.” I kept my expression neutral.“Thank you for the concern.”“I’m trying to help you, Sage. Woman to woman.” She stood, smoothing her skirt in that

Sage’s POVThe drawing room was exactly what I’d expected from a wealthy werewolf family-all antique furniture, oil paintings of stern-looking ancestors, and a fireplace large enough to roast an entire deer.Mrs. Thorne sat in a high-backed chair like it was a throne, wearing a sky blue dress that probably cost more than my car. Her silver hair was perfectly styled, her posture impeccable.She looked like royalty.And I looked like someone who’d raided a boutique and hoped for the best.“Grandmother.” Kael’s voice was neutral, professional. His hand was still at the small of my back. “Thank you for inviting us.”“Kael. Miss Draven.” Her sharp eyes moved from him to me, assessing. “You look lovely, dear. That dress suits you.”“Thank you, ma’am.”“Please, call me Eleanor.” She gestured to the sofa across from her. “Sit. Both of you. We have much to discuss before dinner.”That sounded ominous.We sat. Kael’s hand moved from my back to rest on the sofa between us-not touching me, but