The Alpha Who Rejected Me

An Omega for a mate?”

The words weren’t spoken aloud, but I could hear them in every judgmental glance around me. I wasn’t supposed to be here. Deep down, I knew I didn’t belong. Not among warriors, nobles, and ranked wolves.

Today was the sacred mating ceremony, every werewolf turning eighteen stood a chance of finding their fated mate. For others, it was a dream come true. For me? It felt like a cruel joke.

I stood alone at the edge of the clearing, arms folded across my chest, watching the others arrive. Betas, warriors, sons and daughters of Alphas. They belonged here.

Me? I was just an orphaned Omega, tolerated only because the Blackstone Pack needed someone to scrub floors and serve. I had no rank, no future, and no one to stand by me.

Alphas from across the region began to appear, exuding power and dominance with every stride. But my eyes were fixed on only one.

Alpha Ronan.

Leader of the Blackstone Pack. The strongest, most feared Alpha in the region. He moved through the crowd like a storm, his black ceremonial robe molding to a body built from power and control. His long, dark hair framed a chiseled face, and he moved like the world bowed to his presence. Every step he took sent shivers down my spine.

I ducked behind as he passed, hoping no one noticed me staring.

Pathetic, I know.

He had been my silent obsession for years, though I never dared to dream of being anything more than a shadow in his world. My wolf stirred at his presence as she always did, humming with a longing I refused to acknowledge.

Calm down, I whispered inwardly. He will never see us.

But someone else did.

A chill pricked the back of my neck. I turned to find a pair of piercing grey eyes locked on me, Alpha Lucian of the Silver Fang Pack. His stare was unreadable. His wolf hovered just beneath the surface, exuding a quiet but deadly energy.

He studied me for a beat too long, then he looked away and continued walking.

Before I could process what just happened, I was shoved hard from behind.

“What are you gawking at?” a sneering voice demanded.

I stumbled, catching myself just in time, and looked up to see Krystal, the Blackstone Beta female. Ronan’s rumored favorite.

“You should know your place,” she sneered, strutting off like she hadn’t just shoved me halfway to the dirt.

Maybe she was right.

Omegas had no place here. We were the lowest rank; unworthy of attention, destined to serve in silence. Without family, without allies, I was nothing more than background noise in this glittering world.

I was just about to slip away when everything changed.

A burning sensation pulsed through my chest. The world tilted. My breath caught.

The bond.

My heart pounded as I scanned the crowd, terrified of who I would find.

And then I saw him.

Alpha Ronan.

Our eyes locked. Amber met mine, and the connection snapped into place.

Real. Raw. Devastating.

And he felt it too. I could see it in the slight flare of his nostrils, the twitch of his jaw.

But instead of wonder or awe, his expression twisted into something else.

Disgust.

His gaze burned into mine for a second, and then he stood up from his seat and walked towards my direction.

I lowered my gaze, the moon goddess could play trick couldn't she? I could feel my heart thundering as he walked towards me.

When he stopped in front of me, I wished I could disappear. But my body refused to move.

“Raise your head,” he commanded.

His voice was low and cold. A blade wrapped in silk.

I froze.

Slowly, I lifted my chin.

His eyes locked on mine; sharp, unreadable, laced with quiet rage.

And yet, my wolf whimpered in delight. She was happy. Happy to see him. Happy to finally find her mate.

Why? I wanted to scream. Can’t she feel the rejection in his eyes?

Ronan stepped forward and took my hand. A spark jolted through me, searing and intense.

He said nothing.

Just pulled me with him, through the crowd, toward the altar.

I stumbled beside him, barely keeping up. And all the while, I felt another stare following us, Alpha Lucian.

At the altar, Ronan dropped my hand like it had burned him. I rubbed my skin, trying to shake off the heat.

But before I could retreat fully, he yanked me back. The movement was swift, almost possessive.

His face dipped close. His breath brushed my cheek.

My wolf whimpered.

His lips hovered, just inches from mine and in that moment, nothing else existed.

The world went still.

The crowd was silent.

My heart beat so loudly it drowned out every thought.

Was he going to kiss me?

No. Not with that look in his eyes like he regretted even being this close.

Not with the way his hand tightened around my arm, as if he hated himself for touching me at all.

“You,” he murmured, “aren’t the mate I wanted.”

His words cut deep, sharp and unrelenting.

I felt my breath catch, but I didn’t let it show. I stood my ground, even as my heart quietly shattered.

He stared at me for one long, torturous moment, then without a word, his lips brushed the side of my neck. A shiver ran down my spine..just before his fingers gripped my skin and his fangs pierced through.

Pain exploded through me, sharp and cold. My fists clenched as I fought to hide the pain. I didn’t know what hurt more, the sting of the bite, or the overwhelming mix of grief and relief that came with finally being marked.

Then he released his grip on me just as I was about to catch my balance, he turned to the High Priestess.

“Complete the ritual,” he said coldly. “Severe the bond .”

A gasp rippled through the crowd.

Tears stung the corners of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.