Alpha's Rejected Mate: Returning With His Heir

Bella’s POV.

It was a soft knock, the kind that might easily go unnoticed if you weren't paying attention. But I heard it and opened my eyes in the darkness. The only light was the pale moonlight filtering through the window.

I sat up in bed, yawning, the blankets wrapped around my legs. The knock came again, louder this time. I untangled myself from the covers and placed my feet on the cool wooden floor. The knocking continued, more insistent now. I stood up and walked to the window.

I pulled the curtains aside, and there he was, standing in the moonlight, a wide smile on his face. His white teeth gleamed in the darkness.

"Happy birthday, my love," he whispered, holding out a bouquet of flowers.

I glanced at the clock on the wall—it was exactly 12:00 AM. Finally, I was eighteen.

I smiled as butterflies fluttered in my stomach. Climbing out of the window, he caught me as my feet touched the ground. I adjusted my clothes, still grinning.

"Thank you," I said, accepting the flowers. I hugged him tightly, and he returned the embrace.

"I love you," he whispered softly in my ear. I had heard him say it countless times before, but it always made my heart flutter.

"I love you too," I whispered back, my face pressed against his chest.

Devon and I had been inseparable since childhood. He was the Alpha; I was only an Omega. It was frowned upon for Alphas and Omegas to be close, but that never stopped us.

Growing up, the other pack members teased me whenever I mentioned him. They said he would never want anything to do with a "lowlife" like me. I told Devon about it, and he would always tell me to ignore them.

As we got older, the teasing turned into outright insults. So, we decided to keep our relationship a secret. It wasn’t ideal, but it was enough for us.

He kissed my forehead gently and whispered, "Meet me in the woods at 8 PM."

I nodded, smiling, before he helped me climb back through the window. I waved as he walked away.

Devon was twenty-one, and his gray eyes were one of the things that made him so alluring. He was the hottest guy in the pack, and it wasn’t just because he was the Alpha. Every girl wanted him, but he only had eyes for me.

That was why most of the girls in the pack hated me. They saw me as competition because they knew he was closer to me than anyone else. But I didn’t care about them. I only wanted Devon.

Suddenly, I jumped at the sound of a voice behind me. I turned to see the head slave standing there, her eyes cold and unyielding.

"What are you doing?" she demanded, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"Nothing," I stammered, my voice trembling.

"Go back to bed," she ordered sternly.

I quickly scurried back to my bed, pulling the covers over me as if they could protect me from her judgmental gaze.

This was my life—nothing more than a slave. I never knew my parents. My mother died when she gave birth to me, and my father disappeared when I was just a baby. Some in the pack called me the "bad luck orphan," and I couldn't help but wonder if they were right.

My thoughts began to fade as sleep overtook me.

I awoke to a chorus of voices singing, "Happy Birthday!" Groggily, I opened my eyes and saw Ariana, her mother, and her father standing in my room, smiling at me.

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I blinked them away. I had never had a birthday party before. No one had ever celebrated me. It felt strange, but in a wonderful way.

I pulled them into a hug, squeezing tightly. "Thank you," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion.

"Oh, don't cry, Bella," Ariana said, wiping icing onto my cheek playfully. I couldn't help but laugh.

Ariana and I had been friends since childhood. She wasn’t an Omega like me, but her parents had always treated me with kindness, and she followed their example.

Her mother smiled warmly. "Make a wish!" she said.

I closed my eyes and silently wished, Moon goddess, make Devon my mate.

Today marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life. On my 18th birthday, I would discover my mate, the person I was destined to be with. It was also the day I would transform into my wolf form for the first time.

I was nervous, excited, and unsure of what to expect. What if Devon wasn’t my mate? What if I didn’t transform into a wolf at all?

"She's wishing to be with Devon," Ariana teased, making me smile as I opened my eyes.

"Stop wasting your time, child," her mother said with a hint of sternness. "You and Devon can’t be together."

"Mum!" Ariana scolded, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"It's the truth, and someone needs to tell her," her mother replied unapologetically.

I forced a smile, hiding the hurt and anger swelling inside me. "Let's cut the cake," I said, changing the subject.

After we ate cake and chatted for a while, they left. I quickly got up to start my chores, not wanting to anger the head of the servants. She was a harsh and bitter woman with no tolerance for mistakes, no matter how small. She especially seemed to dislike me, though I had no idea why. She couldn’t know about Devon and me—could she?

"Once I'm Luna," I thought to myself, "I'll make her suffer."

By the time I finished my chores, the sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the pack. I wrapped myself in a shawl and stepped out of the window onto the damp grass.

I quietly made my way to the woods where Devon was waiting.

When I reached our secret spot, I saw him in the stream, his smile broadening as soon as he spotted me.

I dropped my shawl and pulled my gown over my head, leaving only my bra and underwear. I waded into the water, feeling the cool liquid swirl around my ankles. We splashed each other, laughing like children.

He drew me close, his hands resting gently on my waist. I shivered as his breath brushed my face. He tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear, and I gazed into his gray eyes, now shining in the fading light.

"Happy birthday, my world," he said, pecking my cheek. "Promise me you'll never leave me," he whispered, his voice low and husky.

His sincerity took my breath away. In that moment, I knew I never would.

"I promise," I whispered, my heart swelling.

"What if you leave me?" I teased with a playful smirk.

"You know I never could," he said, his voice soft and sure.

"But what if?" I pressed, grinning.

He laughed before replying, "May the moon goddess make me blind if I ever think of leaving you."

I laughed and playfully hit his chest. "What a silly thing to say!" I teased.

Suddenly, he pulled me closer, and his lips crashed into mine.

As we kissed, a strange tingling sensation spread through my body. My bones began to ache and shift, as if they were being stretched and contorted. I gasped, pulling away, trying to understand what was happening to me.