The Alpha Who Rejected Me

The sound of a tray crashing against the kitchen floor woke Elena Vale before sunrise. She opened her eyes immediately. For a few seconds, she remained motionless beneath the thin blanket, staring at the ceiling of the small room she had called home for the past twelve years. Then came the shouting. “Elena!” She closed her eyes. She had barely slept for four hours, and somehow, before the sun had even risen, her name was already being called. She pushed the blanket aside and sat up. Cold air brushed against her skin. The small room was barely large enough for her bed, a wooden wardrobe, and the narrow table beside the window. The paint on the walls had begun peeling months ago, but no one had bothered repairing it. Elena had stopped asking. She glanced towards the window. Outside, the Silver Moon Pack was still wrapped in darkness. The forest surrounding the territory looked almost black beneath the fading night sky. Somewhere in the distance, she could hear the faint howls of the wolves returning from patrol. Her ears picked up every sound. The crunch of leaves beneath their paws. The distant movement of animals in the forest. The opening and closing of doors in the main pack house. Her hearing had always been unusually sharp. It was one of the few things about herself that Elena considered useful. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to make anyone in Silver Moon respect her. “ELENA!” She sighed. “I’m coming!” She hurried out of bed. Today was supposed to be different. At least, that was what she had been telling herself since she woke up. Today was her twenty-first birthday. For werewolves, twenty-one wasn’t just another birthday. It was the age when the mate bond could reveal itself completely. For years, Elena had listened to other girls in the pack talk about their future mates. Some dreamed of handsome warriors. Others wanted powerful Alphas. Some simply wanted someone kind. Elena had never been picky. She just wanted someone who would look at her and not see a burden. Someone who would choose her. She opened the wardrobe and stared at her clothes. There wasn’t much to choose from. After a moment, she pulled out a simple blue dress. It was old. The hem had been repaired twice, and one of the sleeves was slightly looser than the other. Still, it was clean. She changed quickly, brushed her long brown hair, and tied it behind her head. Before leaving, she glanced at herself in the cracked mirror. A young woman with brown eyes stared back. Her mother’s eyes. Elena touched the mirror gently. “I wish you were here.” She didn’t know why she said it. Perhaps because birthdays always made her think of her parents. Her father had died when she was eight. Her mother followed less than a year later. Everyone had told Elena they were victims of a rogue attack. She had accepted that explanation because she had been too young to question it. After their deaths, her mother’s older sister, Marissa, had taken her in. At least, that was what everyone called it. Taking her in. Elena privately thought of it as being given a place to sleep in exchange for endless work. She opened the door. “Elena!” “I said I’m coming!” She hurried downstairs. The moment she entered the kitchen, she found Marissa standing beside a broken serving tray. Her aunt’s arms were folded across her chest. Her expression was hard. Clara, her cousin, sat at the table, eating breakfast. She didn’t even look up. Elena stopped. “What happened?” Marissa pointed toward the floor. “Clean it.” Elena looked at the broken pieces. “I didn’t break that.” Marissa’s eyebrows rose. “Did I say you broke it?” Elena hesitated. “No.” “Then why are you explaining yourself?” “I’m not.” “You’re always explaining yourself.” Marissa turned away. “Clean it.” Elena crouched. She began gathering the pieces. One shard was particularly sharp. It sliced her finger. She sucked in a breath. A tiny bead of blood appeared. Clara finally looked up. “Careful.” Elena glanced at her. Clara smiled sweetly. “Wouldn’t want you hurting yourself on your birthday.” There was something about the way she said birthday that made Elena uncomfortable. She continued cleaning. Clara watched her for a moment before speaking again. “So.” Elena didn’t answer. “Are you excited?” “For what?” Clara laughed. “Don’t pretend you don’t know.” Elena looked at her. “The ceremony?” “Obviously.” Clara leaned back in her chair. “Tonight, we’ll find out whether the Moon Goddess actually thinks you’re worthy of a mate.” Elena’s fingers paused. Marissa looked at Clara. “That’s enough.” Clara shrugged. “I’m only joking.” Elena lowered her gaze. She had heard that word many times. Joking. People could say almost anything to her and then hide behind that word. She finished cleaning the floor. “What else should I do?” Marissa looked at the clock. “Breakfast first. Then clean the dining hall.” “Okay.” “And after that, help the decorators.” Elena nodded. “Yes, Aunt Marissa.” She turned toward the kitchen counter. Her stomach growled. Clara laughed. “You haven’t eaten?” Elena shook her head. “No.” “Why?” “I woke up late.” “You woke up late?” Marissa’s voice immediately became sharp. “I was awake before you called me.” “Then you should have been downstairs.” “I’m sorry.” “Sorry doesn’t get work done.” Elena bit her lip. “Yes, Aunt.” She prepared breakfast. She moved around the kitchen quietly while Marissa and Clara continued talking. Most of the conversation was about the ceremony. The guests. The decorations. The visiting packs. The Alpha. Elena listened without saying anything. Then she heard a name that made her pause. “Blackthorn is coming tonight,” Clara said. Marissa nodded. “Alpha Kael is expected.” Elena’s hand stopped over the plate. She had heard the name before. Everyone had. Alpha Kael Draven was the youngest Alpha to take control of one of the major packs in the region. The Blackthorn Pack. He was known for being powerful. Strict. Unforgiving. Elena had never seen him. She had never had a reason to. Their packs rarely interacted. “Why is he coming?” Clara asked. “Because the Alpha has been invited.” “Do you think he’ll bring his Beta?” “Probably.” Clara smiled. “Maybe I’ll find my mate among them.” Marissa laughed. “You’ve always dreamed big.” Elena placed the breakfast on the table. She tried not to listen. But her wolf stirred. A strange sensation moved through her chest. She froze. Mate. Elena’s breath caught. Her wolf had never spoken so clearly. She placed one hand against her chest. “Are you okay?” Marissa asked. Elena quickly nodded. “Yes.” Clara narrowed her eyes. “You look strange.” “I’m fine.” She forced a smile. But inside, her heart was racing. Tonight. Something was going to happen. She didn’t know what. She didn’t know who. But for the first time in years, hope began to bloom inside her. Maybe her life could change. Maybe she wouldn’t always be the girl everyone looked down on. Maybe her mate would see something in her that nobody else had. Maybe he would take her away from this house. Maybe he would give her a family. A real one. Elena looked down at her hands. She knew she shouldn’t expect too much. Hope could be dangerous, especially for someone like her. Still, she couldn’t stop herself from imagining it. A hand reaching for hers. A voice telling her she was wanted. Someone standing beside her and saying— She’s mine. Her heart fluttered. Then Clara’s voice cut through her thoughts. “Don’t get too excited, Elena.” Elena looked up. Clara was staring directly at her. “You know not everyone gets a mate.” Elena swallowed. “I know.” “And some wolves are simply …” Clara paused. Her eyes moved slowly over Elena. “ …not meant for anyone.” Marissa said nothing. Elena felt something inside her sink. She forced herself to smile. “Maybe.” She picked up the empty plates. “But I’ll find out tonight.” For once, Clara didn’t have an immediate response. Elena carried the dishes away. As she disappeared into the kitchen, her wolf stirred again. He is coming. Elena stopped. Her heart began pounding. “Who?” There was no answer. Only that strange warmth spreading through her chest. She looked toward the window. The first rays of sunlight were beginning to appear over the distant mountains. Tonight, the moon will be full. Tonight, she will turn twenty-one. And somewhere beyond the Silver Moon territory, someone was already moving toward her. Elena didn’t know his name. She didn’t know his face. She didn’t know that meeting him would become the beginning of the greatest heartbreak of her life. All she knew was that for the first time in years … She was looking forward to tomorrow.