Rejected by Blood, Chosen by the Alpha

I couldn’t breathe. Not because the carriage was tight, or because the journey had been too long. No. I couldn’t breathe because of what I was about to face—what I already faced. “I told you to behave yourself, Liana,” my father’s cold voice cut through the silence of the carriage. “This is for the good of the pack.” I wanted to scream, to tell him this wasn’t for anyone’s good. That there was nothing good about selling your own daughter to the highest bidder. But the words wouldn’t come. They stuck in my throat like a lump of ash, choking me with every breath. My father didn’t even look at me. His eyes were trained on the contract in his hands, his pen poised like it was the weapon of the century. The contract that would seal my fate. “Father…” I whispered, trying to hold back the tears threatening to fall. I wasn’t even sure what I was asking for. A second chance? A sliver of compassion? His face was blank, emotionless, like always. “You’re nothing but a burden, Liana. You’ve always been a burden.” I flinched at the words. Nothing but a burden. Behind me, I could hear my stepmother’s sickening laugh. “Good riddance to her. Maybe the Bloodmoon Alpha will make something useful out of her.” The words stung, but I was used to the sting. She had been cruel to me since day one. My half-siblings joined in, their mocking voices filling the space. “Maybe the Alpha will teach you how to be useful, Liana.” My hands trembled in my lap, the ache of rejection pulsing through my body. I was nothing. In their eyes, I was a weak, worthless girl. A girl whose wolf had never come to life. A girl who was sold like cattle. I wiped my eyes quickly, furious with myself for even showing weakness. There was no escaping this. I’d known it for a long time. My father was too cold, too ruthless. He’d never cared for me, not even when I was little when I’d begged him to love me. And my wolf? She had never stirred, never shown a sign that she might one day give me power, give me worth. “I’ll be back soon,” my father said, standing and handing the signed contract to the driver. His words were final, cold. I wanted to argue. I wanted to scream at him that this wasn’t right, that I wasn’t some possession to be traded for his political gain. But there was no point. He wouldn’t hear me. Not now, not ever. The carriage jolted as it came to a halt. My heart lurched. We had arrived. The door swung open with a harsh creak. The cold air bit at my skin as I stepped down, my legs shaky, unwilling to support my weight. The Bloodmoon Pack was before me now, looming like a dark, oppressive force. I knew their reputation. I knew their Alpha, the feared Draven. He was untouchable. A man with no mercy, no softness in his heart. The stories of his ruthlessness were whispered in hushed voices. You didn’t cross Draven. Ever. But as my eyes scanned the grounds, my breath caught in my throat. There, standing in the distance, was Alpha Draven. His presence commanded the entire clearing like the earth itself trembled beneath his feet. He was everything they’d said he was: tall, dark, powerful. But there was something else—something far more dangerous—lurking behind his piercing eyes. He was watching me. My pulse quickened. A flash of heat ran through my chest, not from the cold, but from the way his eyes held me. Cold, calculating, but... there was something else too. Something sharp, something dangerous. I couldn’t tear my gaze away from his. He’s waiting for me. The thought crossed my mind like an electric jolt. This was it. My future was now in his hands. I heard the crunch of footsteps behind me as my father and stepmother approached. My stepmother spoke with a sneer, “She’s yours now, Draven. Take her.” Her words were like a death sentence. I was already drowning in humiliation, but hearing her treat me like property—like nothing more than an object—made the ache inside of me grow. I stepped forward, not out of choice, but because my feet betrayed me. They moved on their own, dragging me toward the Alpha who would decide my fate. But as I took a step closer, something shifted. A sudden, sharp pain sliced through my chest, like claws digging into my very soul. My knees buckled, and I gasped, clutching at my chest. What was happening to me? I stumbled, my vision blurring. My wolf had never responded before. Never. She was dormant, useless. So why—why now? “Liana?” My father’s voice was distant, muffled. I couldn’t focus on him. I couldn’t focus on anything except the pain—the searing, burning sensation that spread through me. And then, in the midst of it all, I felt it—something dark, something powerful, just beneath the surface of my skin. My wolf. She wasn’t dormant anymore. She was stirring, clawing at the walls I’d built around her. For the first time in my life, I felt her power, her anger, her desire. I gasped for air, trying to steady myself, but it was too much. Too overwhelming. I could barely breathe. “What’s happening?” My voice trembled, a whisper lost in the whirlwind of my thoughts. Then, the weight of Alpha Draven’s gaze hit me. I looked up, eyes locking with his. He stood there, unmoving, watching me, his expression unreadable. Something shifted in his gaze, something almost... interested. As though he could sense the change in me. And that’s when I knew. This wasn’t just a transaction. This wasn’t just about me being sold to the Alpha. This was fate. I heard a harsh laugh from behind me. My father. “If you can’t even handle the sight of your new master, Liana, you’ve already failed.” But I didn’t care. I couldn’t care. Not when I was feeling this surge of power inside of me. Not when the Alpha was standing right there, his presence both commanding and unnerving. The pain in my chest was growing, and I stumbled forward, eyes never leaving Draven’s. I couldn’t explain it, but there was something in the air between us now. Something electric. And then, it hit me like a freight train. The bond. It was unmistakable. It was undeniable. “You’re... my mate,” I whispered, barely recognizing my own voice. The words hung in the air, thick with the weight of the realization. Draven’s eyes flickered with something unreadable. A flash of something—anger? Surprise? But then, it was gone, hidden beneath his usual icy mask. He took a step forward, his voice cold, but there was something in it that made my blood run hot. “Your wolf’s awakening. Interesting.” But before I could respond, the pain in my chest hit me again, sharper this time, and I collapsed to my knees. Everything went dark. “Liana!” I heard Draven’s voice, but it was so far away. Faint. What’s happening to me?