REJECTED BY THE ALPHA, CLAIMED BY THE KING

Aria’s POV

The outcast, lying Luna. That's what they called me behind my back.

My body trembled as I tried to lift the heavy porcelain jug, but it slipped out my hands and shattered loudly to the ground, eliciting a gasp from me. I slapped my hand over my mouth, my eyes widening as I didn't care about the sting of the cut of the glass on my feet. My eyes were fixed on the entrance of the door, my heart thudding violently.

It didn't take too long. I heard his sharp voice ringing from his study. “What the hell is going on in there, Aria?” A growl. I took a step back, trying to hold back the tremors that coursed through my body.

I heard his footsteps, loud and echoing in here like gunshots. I hurriedly bent and started to pick it up, my eyes not even going to the broken shards, but fixed at the door, already ready to see the look of fury and disappointment and sure enough, he bursted in, slamming the door open, almost knocking it out of its hinges, his eyes clouded with anger. I gasped softly, ignoring the cut. I didn’t stop looking at him. Not when blood dripped down my feet and fingers. His eyes slid from the broken shards to me, then back.

“What the hell, Aria? Is there not anything you can do right?” He hissed, his eyes blazing. I flinched at his tone, shrinking into the ground as I remained squatting. He took a step forward, his scent that was once comforting, now makes me sick to the bone. “Is there anything you can do without making noise?”

His eyes were fixed on my injuries. The blood. Then it slid up to my tattered clothes. He hissed, “Take care of this mess.” He commanded and stormed away, muttering something about me being so useless. He shut the door to his study without turning to give me another glance. My heart clenched as I slumped to the ground, bringing my legs up to my chest and hugging. I sniffled back the tears that fell off. My feet bled. My wrist bled, coating my skin in red.

Elias, my husband who used to dote on me. Who never stayed away from me for an hour without calling to know how I was doing, now, was a stranger to me in our pack. Or his pack. I tried to stop the way my body trembled with the effort of trying to hold back tears. It hurt. It fucking hurt to see the one you love slowly drift away like some stranger.

I didn’t know how long I stayed seated on the ground in the hallway, curled into myself like a fur ball. After a while, got up on my unsteady feet, my whole body still shivering. I limped to my room, because we don't share a room anymore. Or I just preferred to save myself from a little bit less of heartbreak.

I wrapped my legs with a cloth because even the maids won't come to my aid. I was now the outcast Luna. Nobody wanted to even come close to me mainly because I was sure she had ordered it. I didn’t bother to clean my wounds. I just wrapped it carelessly and looked at my alarm timer. It was time for his coffee. I usually made him coffee by this time.

I limped to the kitchen, cooked something up and brought it to his room, taking it there. I froze at the sight of Maris, walking in, his robe wrapped fully around her body. Her eyes shimmers as soon as she saw me, a smug smile plastering on her face. I swallowed.

“What's she doing here at this time, Elias? It's late. She can't help you with pack duties now. Especially not in your room.” I hid the tremble in my voice well, walking nonchalantly, towards him, dropping the glass on his nightstand. He didn’t even spare me a glance, not to talk of answering my question.

Maris let out an exaggerated sigh, sitting next to Elias, crossing her legs, her arms resting on his shoulders. She completely ignored me. “She's still here? I thought you said you would handle it?” Her voice was deceptively soft, eyes fixed on me.

My chest tightened at the sight. Elias wouldn't let me come closer than a mile to him, yet he let amother woman touch him. Maybe I didn’t mean anything more to him. Or maybe it was because of my situation he was being distant. I couldn’t blame him. An Alpha needed an heir, and getting a woman who couldn't bare him an heir is just enough reason for him to act this way.

I got it.

I hurried away, not knowing what I would do if I stayed a second longer in that place. I limped hurriedly away from there, leaning against a wall and breathing heavily.

Just then, I heard whispers from my left. At first, I couldn’t make out what they were saying, but I got close and strained my ears to hear what they were saying.

“I know, right?” A laugh, “I would fake being barren if my mate didn't want me too.”

“It's pathetic, really. She doesn’t want to leave! She is such a pushover. We see Miss Maris. She is prettier and more intelligent! She works at the treasury and she also has a wolf!”

They gasp. “You mean she doesn't have a wolf?”

“She doesn't! I heard it once from an anonymous.”

“No wonder he kept Miss Maris around. She would make a good Luna!”

With each comment, the corners of my mouth trembled, my eyes stung and I took a step back, hurrying past them, my head hung low.

I got to my room and sat, my whole body trembling as I let it all out. To the people, I was just the barren Luna that was bringing their Alpha back. To Elias, I was just a clumsy burden. I stayed up for over an hour, not moving a muscle from my spot.

By the time I heard the door creaked open, my body had already started to hurt from sitting on one spot for long. I sat up at the sound of my door opening.

He walked in, his shoulders tense with tension, his eyes fixed to the ground. I couldn’t say a word. I stared at him, my throat dry. For a moment, we both don't say a word. Then I decide to break the silence.

“You let her talk down to me.”

He didn’t answer right away. When he finally did, his eyes raised to stare at me.

“You were a mistake, Aria. A mistake I made too early.”

I flinched visibly at his words. I crawl to the edge of the bed where he sat frantically, tugging at his trousers.

“What do you mean, Elias? Please. Don't say things like that.”

He pushed me aside with his legs like I disgusted him and I landed on my ass to the ground.

“What I mean, Aria, is that you should leave. You're nothing to me and Maris is going to be my new Luna. Just this once, I'll let the maids help you pack up. Leave before dawn, Aria. Or I'll have the guards throw you out.”