Rejected By The Alpha: The Starlet's Return

Jayme POV:

Artificial rain poured down, hiding my tears. Autry was on top of me, shielding me. His heart hammered against my chest—a rhythm I knew too well.

His pupils were blown wide. Even rejected, biology is a stubborn thing.

He leaned down, gaze dropping to my lips.

"Jayme," he breathed.

He was going to kiss me. After the humiliation. After treating me like garbage.

I felt sick.

I shoved his chest. "Get off me!"

Autry blinked, looking wounded, as if I were the traitor. He rolled off, groaning.

I scrambled up. Kenan was running over, fury on his face.

"Hurt?" Kenan asked, ignoring Autry. He wrapped a towel around me, his pine scent cutting through Autry's pheromones like a knife.

"I'm fine," I shivered.

"Look at that!" Cassie screeched, snapping photos of Autry on the ground. "My hero! Saving the clumsy help."

That night, my world imploded again.

My phone blew up.

BREAKING: Disgraced Omega Jayme Barnes caught in scandalous orgy with Rogues!

Grainy photos. A woman who looked like me entangled with three rough men in an alley.

User1: No wonder Autry dumped her.

User2: Slut.

"No," I whispered.

I zoomed in. The woman's back was smooth.

I ran to the mirror. On my left shoulder blade sat a crescent birthmark.

It was a setup.

I stormed out, heading for Autry’s villa.

I didn't knock. I shoved the doors open. The guards stepped aside, sensing the murderous intent rolling off me.

"Autry!"

The house smelled of musk, sweat, and post-coital wolves.

I walked into the living room. Autry was buttoning his shirt. Cassie lounged on the sofa in a silk robe, smirking.

Autry looked up. Fresh red scratch marks marred his neck. Cassie's claim.

"Jayme," Autry said, annoyed. "You shouldn't be here."

I held up my phone. "Did you do this?"

He glanced at the screen. Not surprised.

"The PR team thought it necessary," he said calmly. "The council asked why I rejected a Fated Mate. We needed a cause. Moral turpitude was the easiest path."

The room spun. "You... you framed me as a whore? To save your poll numbers?"

"It's just a story, Jayme," he stepped closer. "Nobody takes Rogue rumors seriously. Disappear for a few years. I'll wire more money. Take the blame, and this goes away."

He reached for my shoulder.

Smack.

I slapped his hand away.

"I thought you were a victim of tradition," I whispered. "But you're just rot, Autry. You're a disease."

"Careful, Omega," Cassie giggled.

I turned to her. My vision went white. A surge of ancient, cold power rushed through me.

"And you," I said, my voice sounding doubled, resonant. "Enjoy him. You deserve each other."

I walked out.

"Jayme!" Autry roared. "I command you to stop!"

His command was wind against a mountain.

I walked into the night. I was done being a victim.