Chapter 1 Rejected

LIRA’s POV

“I, Rowan Vexley, heir of the Crescent Fang Pack, reject you, Lira Quin, as my mate.”

I staggered to the ground at the weight of the rejection, the pain searing through me like a dozen arrows. I looked up at Rowan through tear-rimmed eyes but he only scoffed, his lips twisted in disgust as she looked down at me.

“How pathetic, did you really think I would let a cheap Omega like you become my mate?” He laughed, “The moon goddess must be playing some sick joke. ”

I knew this well already, and it wasn’t like I asked to be his mate. I had only turned eighteen, and he was the Alpha’s son, while I was just an Omega with no status.

Even when my father had died honorably for this pack, we were still treated like nothing. My mother did everything she could to hide the fact that I was an omega, but she could only hide the truth for so long.

“I never asked to be your mate,” I choked, my voice a weak whisper.

Rowan’s gaze darkened. “You’re not my mate.” He said coldly. “I already rejected you, and I don’t want to hear a word of it to anyone. This never happened. Got that Omega?!”

My throat burned. I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t want this. And yet the bond still screamed inside me, raw and broken.

I didn’t expect to be mated to the Alpha’s son at the moonlight ceremony, an event for young wolves to be fully recognized by other pack members.

I had never wanted to attend in the first place, but my mother urged me to. I had just arrived at the venue when my wolf stirred, sensing my mate, then Rowan came and dragged me to a private corner, making me realize it was him.

He must have been too ashamed to reject me in public.

“Rowan.” A sweet feminine voice called to him, and he smiled wide as she stepped into the hall. Alicia Cross, the Beta’s daughter, and the belle of the pack. She was beautiful and strong, a good combination suited for a Luna.

If only she wasn’t such a bitch.

Rowan pulled Alicia close, his arms looping around her waist as he kissed her hard. The sight was like salt on an open wound. I hung my head low, my hands balled into fists on my lap. They pulled back from the kiss, and Rowan turned to me again.

“Can you see omega? Only Alicia has the right to stand beside me.” He proclaimed, and she smirked knowingly, pulling away from him to face me.

Oh boy.

“Slave?” She cooed, her head tilted to the side as she feigned innocence. “I thought I told you not to bother coming to the debut.”

I swallowed hard, shuffling back as she drew closer, a dark glint in her eyes. I hated how I felt small compared to her, but years of bullying didn’t just disappear overnight. Alicia took pleasure in my pain, and she never failed to remind me that I was beneath her.

Alicia stepped closer, her fruity perfume burning my nostrils like poison. She bent to my eye level, reaching to tuck a loose strand of my hair behind my ear. Her smirk deepened when I flinched, almost like she’d been waiting for this moment all her life.

“I told you not to show your face here,” she whispered, her voice dripping with malice. “But I guess low-blood mutts never learn unless they’re kicked.”

She kicked me hard, and I coughed out as her heel dug deep into my gut, doubling over in pain.

Rowan chuckled coldly, stepping up beside her. “Don’t bother with her babe, she’s worth less than a spec of dust on your shoes.”

Alicia straightened up, lacing her fingers with Rowan’s, “We’re bonded now,” Alicia announced sweetly. “Me and Rowan. Fate clearly got it right.”

With that said, they finally left me alone, and I was left to pick the jagged lives of my dignity.

I returned home, to the tiny apartment that I had known all my life. My mother sprang up from her seat like she had been waiting for me, and I could see the excitement in her eyes, bright with happiness I hadn’t seen in years.

“Lira!” She beamed. “You’re back! How was the debut darling, tell me all about it.”

“It was fine mom.” I plastered a smile on my face, but the pain of the rejection still lingered, and my gut throbbed from Alicia’s kick. There was no way I could tell her, she would end up blaming herself for making me go.

“Are you sure?” But mom always noticed the cracks in my mask. “Did anything happen? Or did Beta's daughter bother you again?”

“It’s alright Mom, how about you, what’s got you so excited?” I changed the subject, and she hesitated a bit before answering.

“I have wonderful news.” She started, taking my hand in hers. “I didn’t want to tell you till it was finalized. But….I’ve been chosen to be the Luna of the pack.”

I blinked once, then twice. “What?”

My mom smiled warmly, her grip on my hand tightening reassuringly. “I know it’s crazy and sudden, but this marriage, I agreed to it not for myself, but for you. No one would dare bully the Alpha’s daughter.”

I swallowed hard, feeling my world spin. If my mom was going to marry the Alpha, then he would be my stepfather.

Which meant…

Rowan would become my stepbrother.

My stomach twisted at the mere thought of it.

At that moment, I had the urge to tell her the truth, but she was smiling, smiling like the world had given her something back. I couldn’t bring myself to speak, so I pushed through the pain like I always do, pulling her into a hug.

“I’m so happy for you Mom.”

Her arms wrapped around me, warm and tight. “We finally have a chance at something better. Can you believe it, Lira? We’ll be part of the Alpha’s family.”

My smile faded against her shoulder, dread swirling in my chest and settling there.

What the hell was I going to do?