Rejected by the Beta's Mate

The Silver Moon Pack’s banquet hall was alive with chatter and laughter, the air thick with the mingling scents of pine and fresh earth—typical of our gatherings. My birthday party was in full swing, and yet, my attention was drawn to Ellie Perkins, my childhood friend from the Crimson Fang Pack. She stood across the room, her presence as magnetic as ever, her soft floral scent drifting toward me even through the crowd. Beside me, Loretta Richardson, my mate—though the bond felt more like a chain than a connection—sat quietly, her hands folded in her lap.

Ellie had always disliked strawberries, and I’d made sure the caterers avoided them in the desserts. But when the strawberry cheesecake was brought out, I turned to Loretta, ignoring the warning in Makenzie Grant’s eyes. “Come on, stop being so dramatic,” I said impatiently, pushing the plate toward Loretta. “It’s just a slice of cake.”

Loretta hesitated, but under my expectant gaze, she took a bite. Within minutes, her breathing grew labored, her face pale. Makenzie was instantly on her feet, her voice sharp. “Asa, she’s allergic! We need to get her to the healer!”

I waved her off, my focus still on Ellie, who was now sulking in the corner. “She’ll be fine,” I muttered, though the tightness in my chest betrayed my unease. When Loretta’s gasps grew louder, Makennie and a few others rushed her out, leaving me standing there, annoyed by the disruption.

Ellie approached me then, her eyes wide with concern. “Asa, is she going to be okay?”

I forced a smile, brushing off her worry. “She’s just being dramatic. Let’s not let it ruin the night.”

But as the evening wore on, I couldn’t shake the guilt gnawing at me. When I finally arrived at the pack’s healing center, Loretta was already in a bed, an IV in her arm and her throat swollen. Makenzie glared at me as I entered, but I ignored her, focusing on Loretta’s fragile form.

“Putting on a show for whom?” I said, my voice laced with sarcasm. “Once we finalize the mate bond next Monday, it’ll be just what you wanted, right?”

Loretta didn’t respond, her eyes dull and distant. My wolf stirred within me, a low growl of unease echoing in my mind, but I shoved it aside. She was fine. She had to be.

Later that night, Ellie sent Loretta a message, her words dripping with provocation. “He’s not going to show up next Monday. You’ll never win against me.” I didn’t see it, but I felt the tension in the air when Makenzie showed me the text, her eyes blazing with fury.

“What the hell, Asa?” she snapped. “How can you let this happen?”

I shrugged, though my chest tightened. “Ellie’s just being Ellie. Loretta needs to toughen up.”

Makenzie’s glare deepened, but she said nothing, turning her attention back to Loretta, who lay silently in the bed, her face pale and drawn.

The next morning, I returned to the healing center, only to find Ellie already there, perched on the edge of a bed and chatting with the healer. She looked up at me with a smile, her scent—vanilla and something sweet—filling the room. “Asa, my stomach’s only hurting a little. It doesn’t stop us from going for a midnight snack.”

I chuckled, indulging her as always. “You little foodie, always thinking of food.”

Behind the privacy curtain, I heard Loretta stir, but I ignored it, focusing on Ellie. Makenzie burst in moments later, her face flushed with anger. “What do you think you’re doing, Asa?”

Ellie turned to her, unfazed. “Makenzie, you brought oranges? You’re so sweet!”

Makenzie ignored her, her glare fixed on me. “Ellie, Asa is Loretta’s mate. Have you no shame?”

Ellie’s eyes welled with tears, and I instinctively pulled her closer, my voice sharp as I snapped at Makenzie. “Watch your mouth, Makenzie!”

Makenzie yanked back the curtain, revealing Loretta’s frail form. “Asa, I thought you’d seen my message and came to take care of Loretta. But instead, you’re here flirting in Loretta’s hospital room? Disgusting!”

I frowned, my grip on Ellie tightening. “Ellie has cramps. I brought her here. As a woman, you should understand.”

Loretta didn’t say a word, her silence more cutting than any accusation. My wolf growled again, a low, restless sound, but I ignored it, focusing on Ellie, who leaned into me with a soft whine.

“Loretta, you don’t know how slow Asa can be,” she said, her voice teasing. “I was nearly passing out from cramps before he noticed.”

I forced a laugh, though the unease in my chest grew. The bond between Loretta and me felt strained, fragile, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was losing control of something I’d taken for granted. But I pushed the thought aside, focusing on Ellie, her scent comforting and familiar.

After all, I was the Beta of the Silver Moon Pack. I had a reputation to uphold, and I couldn’t let something as trivial as a mate bond—or Loretta’s feelings—get in the way of that.