Rejected By My Fated Alpha

Words can wound the heart, yet they also reveal truths about people. It turns out that lineage does matter to him after all.

In a haze, I remembered the Alpha from three years ago, so full of passion and sincerity. He had stood in front of me, defying his mother with conviction: "I don’t care about her family’s rank or connections. I just want her."

Back to the present, I pulled out the letter my grandmother, Holly, had left for Atharv. "Grandma passed away," I said, my voice steady despite the ache in my chest.

Atharv’s eyes narrowed, his Alpha aura flaring with irritation. "Jealousy shouldn’t go this far. Don’t joke about Grandma."

How could I use Grandma, my last family member, as a pawn in our petty disputes? The thought alone made me feel sick. I swallowed my pain, forcing back tears, and carefully packed the Victorian-style dress she had made for our engagement ceremony into my suitcase. "We need to end this," I said firmly.

It was time to sever this dysfunctional mate bond.

Three years ago, my family had fallen from grace. Our once-proud pack was stripped of its status, and both my parents took their lives. I was left fending off creditors while caring for Grandma, who had been diagnosed with a rare illness. Facing enormous medical bills, I eventually yielded to Atharv’s advances, though I knew deep down it was more of a contract than a true pairing.

After reading the letter, tears filled his eyes. He pulled me into a remorseful hug, his Alpha scent—a mix of cedar and storm—overpowering. "You still have me," he said, his voice softening.

For a moment, it felt like those intimate times from the past. But the scent of roses, which belonged only to Ada, clung to him, making my stomach churn. "Alpha," I said, my tone firm, "I’m serious."

His expression turned cold, a sarcastic smile playing on his lips. "And how would you manage without me? Where could you possibly go on your own?"

"Stop overreacting. I know you’re upset, but just this once!"

Yes, my only family was gone. I was an orphan, an Omega with no pack ties left. I clenched my fists, nails digging into my skin, unable to speak.

Atharv realized he had crossed a line and quickly tried to backtrack, his Alpha tone shifting to a more placating one. "That’s not what I meant. I would never abandon you." He pulled an antique ring from his pocket, the silver band gleaming under the light.

I froze. Wasn’t this ring supposed to be with Ada? Stiffly, I let him slide the ring onto my finger. He held me close, his voice dropping to a whisper. "We’ll be together forever."

Just as I was about to speak, a message from Ada appeared on my phone. "Sariah, Atharv has really crossed the line this time!" she wrote. "He had a fake antique ring made for you. The real one has a scratch under the diamond from the original owner."

My heart sank. The ring, the scent, the lies—it was all too much. I stepped back from Atharv, my resolve hardening. "I, Sariah Moreno, Omega of the Silverfang Pack, reject you, Atharv Castellano, Alpha of the Silverfang Pack, as my mate."

The words hung in the air, heavy and final. The mate bond between us screamed in protest, a searing pain that shot through my chest. But I stood my ground, refusing to let the tears fall.

Atharv’s eyes widened, his Alpha aura flaring in shock and anger. "You can’t do this," he growled, his voice low and dangerous.

"I just did," I replied, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me.

He stared at me, his expression a mix of disbelief and fury. But I didn’t wait for his response. I turned and walked away, my suitcase in hand, ready to face whatever came next.

My wolf whimpered in the back of my mind, but I silenced her with a firm thought. This was my choice, and I wouldn’t look back.