Rejected Mate, Hidden Alpha Blood

My heart raced with anticipation as I prepared to call my mate, Bennett Reed, the Beta of our pack, to share the incredible news. My father, Alpha Robert Reed of the Silver Moon Pack, had finally accepted him. The financial struggles Bennett had been facing with the pack’s resources would soon be resolved, and our future seemed brighter than ever.

Just as I reached for my phone, a notification from Liv Henry, Bennett’s business partner, popped up on Instagram. She had uploaded an ultrasound image with the caption, "Love defies convention." Bennett had liked it, and in a moment of impulsive curiosity, I did too, commenting, "Congratulations, congrats!"

Then, the post vanished.

Before I could process what had happened, Bennett’s call came through, his voice laced with fury. "Stop causing trouble, Kylie! Liv is carrying my pup. She’s the daughter of the Lycan King’s most trusted ally. Mating her will secure the pack’s future and solve all our problems. We need to reject our bond."

My world shattered in an instant. My father had another daughter?

Only minutes earlier, my parents had called, expressing their willingness to accept Bennett for the sake of our pup. Tears of joy had filled my eyes as I planned to tell Bennett the truth—that I was the daughter of Alpha Robert Reed, the most influential werewolf in the region—and invite him to join me at the pack gathering tonight. With his financial struggles, my father would surely help him.

But then, Liv’s post appeared on my screen: an ultrasound image captioned, "Love defies convention." Bennett had already liked it, so I did too, adding a comment, "Congratulations! Congrats!"

Liv, Bennett’s business partner, was sharp and capable. We’d met a few times at pack events, and she always greeted me warmly, calling me "sister-in-law" with a friendly smile. But as far as I knew, Liv wasn’t mated. Did she have a mate?

Seconds later, the post disappeared.

Bennett’s call came through, his anger palpable. "Stop making trouble, Kylie! Liv is pregnant with my pup. She’s the daughter of the Lycan King’s closest ally, and mating her will solve all our pack’s issues. We need to reject our bond."

I froze, the words hitting me like a physical blow. Liv, the daughter of the Lycan King’s ally? Then who am I supposed to be?

It took a moment to grasp that Bennett wasn’t joking.

In disbelief, I nearly screamed, "What are you saying, Bennett? Have you lost your mind?"

His voice was unnervingly calm, devoid of any guilt. "I’m serious, Kylie. This is the situation, and you just have to accept it."

My voice trembled, "What about our pup? What do you plan to do?"

"I’ve discussed it with Liv. She’s willing to accept you and the pup, but she doesn’t want to be in the shadows."

"We’ll reject the bond first. I’ll mate Liv, and you’ll still be my mate in secret. I’ll take care of you and the pup."

Bennett sighed, as if he were offering me some grand romantic gesture. "Kylie, I love you. To ensure you and the pup have a better life, this is the only way."

"If you don’t want to live under the same roof, that’s fine. Liv has a summer lodge where she’ll stay."

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Could these words really be coming from the mate I had trusted with my life?

"Bennett, you must be dreaming!"

With all my strength, I hurled my phone against the wall, the sound of it shattering echoing in the silence of my room. My wolf stirred within me, a low growl of pain and betrayal rumbling in the back of my mind.

He doesn’t mean it, my wolf whispered weakly. He can’t.

But the coldness in Bennett’s voice had left no room for doubt. The mate bond that had once felt unbreakable now felt like a chain, tightening around my heart.