REJECTED BY MY ALPHA CLAIMED BY MY ENEMY MATE

Chapter 1 Rejected Under the Moon POV: Aria --- Opening Hook I knew something bad would happen the moment my wolf woke up. I dropped the tray. The plates shattered. The sound was loud. Too loud. “Are you blind?” my stepmother snapped. Her voice cut through me like a blade. “Look at what you’ve done.” “I’m sorry,” I said quickly. My hands shook as I bent down to pick up the broken pieces. “I didn’t mean to—” “You never mean to do anything right,” she said. “Useless girl.” I pressed my lips together. I didn’t answer. I never answered. It only made things worse. But today felt different. My chest was tight. My heart was racing. Something inside me would not stay still. It had never been like this before. “Stop daydreaming,” she added. “The Alpha is coming tonight. Everything must be perfect. Or you will regret it.” I froze. The Alpha. Everyone had been talking about it for days. He was going to choose his mate tonight. Every girl in the pack was excited. Every girl except me. “Yes, ma’am,” I whispered. “Say it louder.” “Yes, ma’am.” She walked away without another glance. Like I didn’t exist. I kept picking up the broken pieces, but my hands wouldn’t stop shaking. Why does it feel like something is going to change? I finished my work early. That never happened. Usually, there was always more to do. More floors to clean. More orders to follow. But today, the house was too busy. Too loud. Too full of excitement. No one noticed me slipping away. I walked fast. Then faster. Then I ran. I didn’t stop until I reached the stream. I bent over, breathing hard. “What is wrong with me?” I whispered. My chest hurt. My skin felt hot. My heart… it wouldn’t calm down. Then I felt it. A presence. Strong. Heavy. Powerful. I turned slowly. And I saw him. Alpha Adrian. My breath stopped. He stood there like he owned everything. Like the world belonged to him. Tall. Cold. Untouchable. I lowered my head quickly. “I’m sorry, Alpha,” I said. “I didn’t know you were here. I’ll leave.” “Stay.” His voice was low. Commanding. My feet froze. I didn’t understand why I couldn’t move. Then he stepped closer. One step. Two steps. The air changed. My body reacted before my mind could think. A sharp pull hit my chest. I gasped. My wolf—my silent, sleeping wolf—suddenly woke up. And it screamed. Mine. I staggered back. “No…” I whispered. This was not possible. Not me. Not someone like me. He stopped walking. His eyes locked on mine. For a moment, something flashed in them. Shock. Then confusion. Then— Disgust. My heart dropped. “Please…” I said softly. I didn’t even know what I was asking for. He looked at me like I was nothing. Worse than nothing. “You?” he said. Just one word. But it hurt more than anything. “I…” My voice broke. “I think… we are—” “I reject you.” The words hit me like a slap. No. Worse. Like I had been erased. I stared at him. I couldn’t breathe. “You heard me,” he said coldly. “I reject you as my mate.” My legs gave way. I fell to my knees. My wolf cried out in pain. Sharp. Burning pain. Tears filled my eyes. “Why?” I asked. My voice was small. Broken. “What did I do?” He didn’t answer right away. He just looked at me. Cold. Distant. Like I was a mistake. “I do not take weak mates,” he said finally. “And I do not take… you.” My chest tightened. Weak. That word again. “I didn’t choose this,” I whispered. “I didn’t ask for it.” “Neither did I,” he said. That hurt even more. I wiped my tears quickly. I didn’t want him to see. But he already had. “Forget this ever happened,” he added. “If you speak of it, you will regret it.” Then he turned. And walked away. Just like that. Like nothing had happened. Like I had never mattered. I don’t remember how I got back. My head felt empty. My chest felt hollow. But my body kept moving. When I entered the house, everything was bright. Loud. Happy. It felt wrong. Lyra walked toward me. She looked perfect. As always. “Where have you been?” she asked. Then she paused. Her eyes narrowed. “Why do you look like that?” “I’m fine,” I said quickly. She stepped closer. Too close. Her eyes scanned my face. Then she smiled. Slow. Sharp. “Something happened,” she said. “Tell me.” “Nothing happened.” She grabbed my wrist. Hard. “Don’t lie to me.” I winced. “I said nothing—” “The Alpha has chosen his mate,” she interrupted. My heart stopped. “What?” I whispered. Her smile grew wider. “Me,” she said. The word echoed in my head. No. No, that was not possible. “You’re lying,” I said before I could stop myself. Her grip tightened. “Careful,” she said softly. “You forget your place.” “I—” “You should be happy for me,” she added. “After all, I will be Luna soon.” My chest hurt again. But this pain was different. Deeper. “He chose me,” she continued. “Of all people.” Her eyes flicked over me. Mocking. “And not you.” I looked away. I couldn’t let her see my pain. But she already knew. “You will help prepare dinner tonight,” she said. “Everything must be perfect.” “Yes,” I whispered. “And Aria?” I forced myself to look at her. “If you ruin this for me,” she said, her voice low, “I will make sure you suffer more than you already do.” That night, I cooked for them. For him. For the man who rejected me. Every dish felt heavy in my hands. Every step felt harder. I kept seeing his face. Hearing his voice. “I reject you.” The words would not leave me. When I carried the final tray into the hall, my hands shook again. Laughter filled the room. Music. Voices. And him. He sat beside Lyra. Close. Too close. She leaned into him like she belonged there. Like she had always belonged there. I felt something twist inside me. Pain. Anger. Something new. He looked up. Our eyes met. For one second. Just one. Something flickered in his gaze. Not disgust. Not this time. Something else. I didn’t understand it. But it went quickly. He looked away. Like I didn’t exist. Again. I placed the tray down carefully. I turned. And I walked out. I ran again. Back to the stream. Back to the only place that felt quiet. I dropped to the ground. Tears fall freely now. “I hate this,” I whispered. “I hate all of this.” My wolf stirred again. Not in pain. But in anger. “I didn’t do anything wrong,” I said. “So why does it hurt so much?” “You’re asking the wrong question.” I froze. That voice… Deep. Dark. Unfamiliar. I turned slowly. And my breath caught. A man stood behind me. No. Not just a man. An Alpha. Stronger. More dangerous. More… intense. His eyes locked on mine. And everything inside me went still. Then— My wolf rose again. Not in pain. Not in fear. But in something deeper. Stronger. Warmer. Mine. I gasped. “No…” I whispered. “Not again…” He stepped closer. Slow. Certain. His gaze never left mine. “You feel it too,” he said. I shook my head. “I don’t want this,” I said. “I can’t go through that again.” He stopped in front of me. Close enough that I could feel his presence. His power. “You won’t be rejected,” he said quietly. My chest tightened. “You don’t know that,” I replied. His lips curved slightly. Not a smile. Something darker. “I do.” My heart started racing again. “Who are you?” I asked. His eyes darkened. “Your mate.” My breath hitched. “No…” He leaned closer. His voice dropped. “You’re mine.” Cliffhanger But as his words sank in, a terrifying thought hit me What if the man who just claimed me… is the enemy my Alpha fears the most?