The Alpha Who Mended My Rejected Heart

I barely had time to process Alpha Felix’s words before the whispers of the pack began to swirl around me. The news spread like wildfire—Ryan Ford, Beta of the Ford Pack, had rejected me as his mate. The humiliation burned deeper than I cared to admit.

My father, Eli Griffin, a Gamma in our pack, wasted no time in berating me the moment I stepped into the dining hall. His voice carried the sharp edge of disappointment, and even Gwendolyn, his mate, couldn’t resist adding her own cutting remarks.

“Pathetic,” she sneered, her tone dripping with disdain. “An Omega like you could never hold the attention of a Beta like Ryan. You’re lucky he even considered you.”

I clenched my fists, my wolf stirring in the back of my mind, but I bit back the retort that threatened to spill out. Since when had being the victim become a crime in this pack?

My inbox was flooded with messages, each one more mocking than the last.

“Heard Ryan found a new mate? Guess you weren’t Luna material after all.”

“At least you learned how to serve someone, right, Raven? Maybe you’ll find a Delta who’ll take pity on you.”

“He’s a Beta, Raven. If you beg sweetly enough, he might reconsider. Or maybe shed a few tears—that always works, doesn’t it?”

I deleted them all, one by one, my jaw tight. I didn’t have time for their petty insults. All I wanted was to retrieve my mother’s belongings—her locket and the vintage radio she’d left behind.

I carefully packed the items into a box, my fingers trembling slightly as I traced the intricate carvings on the locket. It was all I had left of her.

When the time came, I headed to the meeting spot Ryan had designated—a grand dining hall in the Ford Pack’s territory. But as soon as I stepped inside, I realized I’d walked into a setup.

The room was filled with Ryan’s usual crowd—warriors, Deltas, and a few higher-ranking members of the pack. Ryan sat at the center of the long table, Lakelynn Pierce, a Delta from the Pierce Pack, beside him. They were laughing, their voices carrying over the hum of conversation.

As the door swung open, the room fell silent, and all eyes turned to me.

“Raven,” Ryan said, his tone smooth but laced with amusement. “Lakelynn wanted to meet some of my friends, so I thought it’d be a good time to invite everyone. You don’t mind, do you?”

Someone pulled up a chair for me, their grin too wide to be genuine.

“Come on, Raven. Sit down. We’ve been waiting for you.”

I didn’t move. Instead, I placed the box on the table, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me.

“Here’s your stuff. Where’s mine?”

Ryan hesitated for a moment, then clicked his tongue. “Oh, right. I forgot.”

“Then mail it to me as soon as possible,” I said, turning to leave.

But Lakelynn’s voice stopped me. “Raven, don’t go. If you leave, everyone will think I’m the other woman.”

She frowned slightly, her expression the picture of innocence. I smiled, though it didn’t reach my eyes. “Aren’t you?”

The room went deathly quiet, and Lakelynn’s face darkened.

Ryan shot me a glare, his Beta aura pressing down on me. “Sit down, Raven. I’ll call the driver and have him bring your stuff over.”

I hesitated, my wolf growling softly in my mind, urging me to stand my ground. But I knew better than to challenge a Beta openly. With a curt nod, I took a seat, though every fiber of my being screamed to walk away.