Rejected by My Fated Alpha

"Let’s not make any hasty statements. Get up, and I’ll take you to the healer."

Andy’s voice was firm, his Alpha tone leaving no room for argument. His dark eyes flickered with concern as he stared at the blood seeping from my forehead. Despite the pounding in my skull, he insisted on pulling me out of bed, his grip unyielding. He was determined to play the doting mate, even now.

I was too disoriented to protest. In the car, the AC was blasting, and I instinctively clutched my talisman tighter. It was only then I noticed the markings—a crude X carved into its surface, defacing the intricate design. Someone had made a point, and it wasn’t subtle.

Andy noticed my discomfort and waved a hand dismissively. "The last time I picked up Charlotte, she thought it was a bit plain and decided to ‘improve’ it. Don’t worry, I’ll get you a new one tomorrow."

Then, his voice hardened, the Alpha tone creeping back in. "Come on, Annabelle. You’re the Luna of this pack. Clinging to trinkets like this—it’s beneath you. I haven’t even complained, so why are you upset?"

The talisman was a cherished gift from my parents, a symbol of my heritage and connection to the Crimson Howl Pack. Silently, I wiped the markings with a damp cloth, my heart heavy with emotions I couldn’t voice.

At that moment, Charlotte called, her voice light and teasing through the speakers.

"Hey, Alpha, is she asleep yet? Never mind, just come over. Cassius and Kartier are waiting."

Her tone was casual, as if she were discussing the weather.

Andy glanced at me, a flicker of guilt crossing his features before he masked it. "She’s with me."

"Oh? Perfect. Bring her along too; don’t be a killjoy." Charlotte’s voice carried a mocking edge that set my teeth on edge.

Without hesitation, Andy turned the car around, following the location Charlotte had sent.

"I’m not going, Alpha. Just take me home," I said firmly, my voice steady despite the dizziness.

But Andy’s jaw tightened, his Alpha aura pressing down on me. "You’re the Luna, Annabelle. You need to be seen with me. It’s not just about you anymore."

I shook my head, the memories of past humiliations flooding back. The first time I’d met Andy’s friends, I’d been hopeful, eager to fit in. But they’d mocked my lack of inner wolf, my "plainness," and Andy had done nothing to defend me. Instead, he’d left me at a bar to escort Charlotte home, leaving me vulnerable and humiliated.

But Andy seemed to have forgotten all that. He sighed, his tone softening just enough to be patronizing. "Please, just come and say hi, then we’ll leave. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be."

By the time we arrived, it was past midnight, the moon high in the sky. Charlotte greeted Andy with a warm embrace, her golden hair shimmering under the light. Turning to me, her eyes glinted with malice. "Playing hard to get, are you? Still upset about last time?"

She laughed, a sound that grated on my nerves. "Come on, I’ve known Alpha for years. If there was anything between us, do you think you’d be Luna?"

The group eagerly pulled Andy to sit down, leaving four seats available, awkwardly excluding me. Cassius stood up, his polite smile not reaching his eyes. "Luna, you can take my seat."

I looked at him, remembering the countless times he’d questioned Andy’s choice of mate. "What does Annabelle have over Charlotte? Why did you mark her?"

Andy’s response echoed in my mind. "I argued with Charlotte then, acted on impulse… I regret it, but she’s been by my side all these years, so my heart softened."

Lost in thought, I shook my head slightly and smiled at Cassius, my voice calm but firm. "No need. Andy and I are dissolving our mate bond. There’s no reason to save a seat for me."

My words left Andy momentarily stunned; he clearly hadn’t expected me to speak so candidly in front of his friends. Over the years, no matter how late, I’d always put aside past grievances to pick him up from a gathering with just one call.

But at this moment, I decided I wouldn’t compromise for Andy any longer.