Rejected By My Alpha, Claimed By His Brother

Chapter 1.

The night air is cold, piercing the skin despite the large bonfire burning in the center of the field. The full moon hung high in the sky, round and bright, as if witnessing tonight's important event. Around it, the stars seemed to fade, obscured by the moonlight.

In the center of the field, Laura stood with legs that felt so heavy, as if the ground was trying to keep her from moving. All the pack members had gathered, humans and wolves alike, surrounding the arena with gleaming eyes. Whispers, hisses, and murmurs filled the air.

Today was the deciding day. The day that was supposed to be the happiest night of her life.

Laura's heart was pounding, thumping in her chest repeatedly. She clasped her hands tightly, her fingers feeling cold. Ever since she was a little girl, she had often imagined this moment. The moment when the moon revealed the bonds of her soul, bringing her to her destined mate. In her mind, the moment was always beautiful, full of smiles, witnessed by the whole flock.

And secretly, she was always convinced that the only person who would stand before her was Axel.

That name, all along, had always been in the back of his mind. Axel Vale, the young Alpha, heir to the leader's blood. His every step was accompanied by authority, his every gaze making people bow. Everyone considered him the future of the pack. And Laura, a girl from an ordinary Beta family, somehow always felt there was something binding them.

The elders' whispers broke her reverie. "The time has come."

Laura took a deep breath.

Her steps felt unfamiliar as she stepped into the center of the circle. The moonlight fell directly on her, making her light brown hair glisten faintly. She closed her eyes, praying silently.

Then came the pull.

Like an invisible thread wrapped around her soul, pulling with a force she could not resist. The pull was so strong, it made her chest warm and pounding all at once.

She opened her eyes.

And across the circle, stood Axel.

His green eyes sparkled in the moonlight. Sturdy, dashing, almost perfect. The tug brought her straight to him, without a moment's hesitation.

Laura sighed softly, a smile playing on her lips without realizing it. "Mate..." she whispered, almost inaudibly.

The crowd instantly erupted. Cheers broke out, some clapping, some whistling. "Our Alpha and Luna! Fate has chosen!"

Some of the parents nodded in relief, as if everything had gone according to plan.

But silence fell again as everyone realized something. Axel didn't move. He wasn't smiling. In fact, his face didn't show even a hint of excitement.

"Mate?" his voice was flat, cold. He looked at Laura as if she was a mistake. "No, I'm not. I don't need a weak mate like you."

His voice was loud, clear, undeniable.

Like glass falling from a great height, Laura's heart shattered instantly.

The crowd went quiet, then whispers quickly spread.

"Is he serious?"

"Alpha rejected?"

"He rejected that girl?"

Laura's body trembled. Axel's words pierced deeper than any wound. She stared at him, unable to believe what she had just heard. "A-Axel... why? I-"

Axel stepped forward, his voice like a whip. "You think you're worth it? You can't even protect yourself. Luna needs to be strong, influential, and able to stand beside me. You? You're just a burden."

A chuckle sounded from the crowd. "Right, she's too weak."

"Our alpha deserves better."

Laura wanted to cover her ears, but the voices kept coming, making her eyes hot. She pleaded softly, her tears almost spilling over. "Don't do this in front of everyone. At least give me a chance-"

"A chance?" Axel smiled coldly. "There's no chance for someone like you. I don't want you. I will never acknowledge you."

The elders were shocked. "Axel, pair bonding is the law of the moon-"

"I am your Alpha," he cut in quickly. "And I will not accept a weak Luna. That is final."

Her chest felt tight, she wanted to scream, but no sound came out.

"Take her away," Axel ordered. "I don't want to see her face again."

No one dared to argue. Two guards came forward, pulling Laura's weak arms. She didn't resist, just sobbed softly, staring at the swirling ground beneath her feet.

The night that was supposed to be the beginning of a love story ended with the most bitter humiliation.

The night forest felt alien. The cold was piercing, the wet earth stabbing at her bare feet. Her dress was caught on a branch, torn in several places. Blood dripped from her knees after the fall, but she didn't care.

Laura walked on without direction. Tears continued to flow, running down her cheeks until they felt cold on her skin.

"Why me?" she whispered, her voice breaking. "Am I that bad? Am I not worthy of love?"

There was no answer. Only the sound of night birds and the wind shaking the leaves. Her body weakened. She fell to her knees, the wet earth clinging to her palms. She wanted to give up.

Then there was a roar.

Her eyes widened. From behind the trees, a pair of red eyes appeared, followed by another. Wild wolves were savage creatures that lived outside the pack, knowing no mercy.

Laura backed away, her body trembling. "No..."

A wolf jumped, its claws slamming into her arm. Blood gushing, she screamed. She tried to run, but her foot tripped over a tree root, her body falling to the ground.

They surrounded her, a roar filling the air. Laura breathed with difficulty, her eyes blurred with tears and blood. She crawled up, but another claw slammed into her left thigh.

The pain was unbearable. She screamed, then her body could barely move anymore.

"Am I going to die here?" she thought.

His vision was blurred. The moon above appeared only as a faint white circle. His body was drenched in blood, his clothes torn to shreds.

As darkness began to envelop him, a shadow darted from behind the trees. Its movements were swift, its eyes gleaming gold. A loud roar echoed through the air, making the wild wolves retreat in fear.

Laura caught a glimpse of the figure's broad back, standing protectively above her. Warm, familiar.

Then darkness engulfed her.