Rejected by the Alpha

The Weak Omega

"Move faster,, Elena. Some of us do not have all day."

Elena did not look up. She kept her eyes on the basket of wet laundry in her hands and walked faster across the yard. Freya's voice always had that same sharp edge to it, like a blade hidden inside honey.

"I'm going as fast as I can," Elena said quietly.

"Not fast enough." Freya folded her arms and watched her struggle under the weight of the basket. A few other pack members nearby laughed. Elena felt her face turn hot, but she said nothing back. She never did.

This was her life in Silver Moon Pack. Wake up before the sun. Do chores nobody else wanted. Stay quiet. Do not complain. She had learned a long time ago that arguing only made things worse.

She dropped the basket near the washing line and started pinning the clothes up one by one. Her hands were red from the cold water. Behind her, she could still hear Freya talking to the others, her voice dropping just low enough that Elena was supposed to strain to hear it.

"Nineteen years old and she still cannot shift properly. Can you imagine? An omega who cannot even do the one thing a wolf is supposed to do."

Elena's fingers tightened on the wet fabric in her hands. She had heard this a hundred times before. It still hurt every single time.

"Ignore her."

Elena turned. Mia was walking toward her with a basket of her own, her curly brown hair falling loose around her face.

"I am ignoring her," Elena said.

"No, you're not. You're gripping that shirt like you want to strangle it." Mia set her basket down and bumped Elena's shoulder gently with her own. "Let her talk. One day she is going to choke on all those words."

Elena managed a small smile. "You always say that."

"Because it's always true, eventually." Mia grinned, then glanced over her shoulder to make sure Freya wasn't close enough to hear. "Anyway. Forget her. Did you hear the news?"

"What news?"

"Alpha Kade is coming here. Today."

Elena's hands stilled on the clothesline.

"The Alpha? Here? Why would he come to Silver Moon Pack?"

Mia shrugged, clearly enjoying being the one with information for once. "Border inspection, that's what I heard. Something about Blackthorn Pack getting bolder near the northern line. Ashwood Pack watches over us,, remember? So I guess he has to check on us sometimes."

Elena had heard of Alpha Kade Ashwood before, of course. Everyone had. He was one of the strongest Alphas in the region, and his pack was one of the largest. But she had never actually seen him. Silver Moon Pack was small and weak compared to Ashwood, and their paths had never crossed.

"I don't know why that matters to us," Elena said, going back to the laundry. "It's not like any of us will even see him up close."

"Maybe not you," Mia said, smirking. "But Freya is already talking about wearing her good dress today. You should have seen her face when she heard."

Elena rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help laughing a little. "Of course she is."

"An unmated Alpha visiting the pack? Every single girl here is going to be trying to get his attention today. Watch." Mia lowered her voice into a mock-serious tone. "Oh Alpha,, let me carry that for you. Oh Alpha,, would you like some water. Oh Alpha,, I baked this pie just for you."

Elena laughed harder this time, shaking her head. "Stop it."

"I'm serious! You'll see." Mia picked her basket back up. "Come on. Marta wants us to finish before midday. Apparently the pack wants everything looking perfect when he arrives."

They worked in silence for a while after that, hanging up sheet after sheet, shirt after shirt. Elena's mind kept drifting back to what Mia had said. An Alpha. Here. In their small, forgotten corner of the territory.

She told herself it didn't matter. Alphas like Kade Ashwood did not notice girls like her. She was an omega with a weak wolf who had never even managed a full shift. She was nobody in this pack, let alone in front of someone as powerful as him.

By midday, the whole pack seemed different. People were sweeping paths that had not been swept in weeks. Someone had strung fresh flowers along the main hall. Even Old Marta, who never fussed over anything, was straightening her apron every few minutes.

"Elena." Marta appeared beside her, looking flustered. "The supply cart needs to go to the eastern camp before the Alpha's group arrives there. Can you take it?"

"Me?" Elena blinked. "Why me?"

"Because everyone else is busy trying to look presentable," Marta said dryly, glancing toward a group of girls fixing their hair near the well. "You are the only sensible one left standing. Please. It is just supplies. Drop it off and come straight back."

Elena hesitated, but nodded. "Okay. I'll go."

She pulled the small cart of supplies through the trees toward the eastern camp, the wheels bumping over roots and stones along the path. The camp was quiet when she arrived, just a few tents set up near the border line. She began unloading crates of food and water, focused on finishing quickly so she could get back before anyone noticed she had been gone too long.

She didn't hear him approach.

"You're not one of my warriors."

Elena froze. The voice was deep, and it did not belong to anyone from Silver Moon Pack.

She turned around, and the crate in her hands nearly slipped from her fingers.

He was tall. Taller than any man she had ever stood near. Dark hair, sharp features, and eyes so pale green they looked almost silver in the afternoon light. He wore no crown or symbol to announce who he was, but she didn't need one. She knew.

"Alpha Kade," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

He didn't answer right away. He was staring at her the way someone stares when they cannot understand what they are looking at. His jaw tightened, and something flickered behind his eyes, something that looked almost like shock.

Elena's heart began to pound so hard she was sure he could hear it.

"Who are you," he asked, his voice low and strange, "and why does my whole body feel like it just caught fire."