Rejected By One Alpha, Claimed By Four

Nishi The night carried the scent of wet earth, pine sap… and betrayal. Cold mountain wind swept through the courtyard of the Reverstone Pack, rattling the tall iron torches fixed along the stone walls. Their flames bent and flickered wildly, throwing restless shadows over the wolves gathered in a silent circle around the ceremonial platform. Tonight, fate was about to be decided. And at the center of that circle stood Nishi Peter. Barefoot. Alone. Her pale feet pressed against the freezing stone tiles while the wind toyed with loose strands of her midnight-black hair. The thick waves fell down her back, so dark they almost reflected blue beneath the silver light of the full moon. Her skin carried the soft ivory glow of moonlight—not weak, but luminous, with a faint silver undertone. Her body was slender, almost fragile in appearance. Narrow shoulders. A delicate waist. Yet despite the trembling in her fingers, she stood straight. Unbowed. But it was her eyes that held everyone's attention. Large, black hint of silver. It's not the ordinary eyes they hid something stranger. When moonlight touched them, they sometimes looked almost magical. Those eyes were fixed on only one person. Joshua Harper. Alpha of the Riverstone Pack. He stood only a few steps away from her, tall and broad-shouldered, his presence radiating the effortless dominance natural Alphas carried. His short black hair was shorter at the sides, longer on top, slightly disheveled as though he had run his hands through it too many times tonight. His warm olive skin was sun-bronzed from years of fighting and training under open skies. And his eyes are deep blood red. Eyes she had memorized long ago. Eyes that once held approval when he trained her. Eyes that now held something far colder and calculation. Standing beside him with one possessive hand resting over her swollen belly—was Meera Peter. Nishi’s elder aunt. Her mother’s sister. The woman who had raised her after her parents died. The same woman who now clung to Joshua like she belonged beside him. Even though she knew that Joshua is Nishi's mate. Meera was beautiful in a mature, commanding way. Long chestnut hair braided elegantly over one shoulder, sharp cheekbones, honey-brown eyes that looked warm to outsiders but carried a calculating intelligence Nishi had only begun recognizing in recent years. And her stomach… Rounded with pregnancy. Joshua’s child. Whispers slithered through the courtyard like insects. “Half-blood…” “Weak bloodline…” “The Alpha deserves better…” Nishi forced herself not to flinch. Three nights ago, everything had been different. Three nights ago, during the Full Moon Bond Ceremony, when the sacred fire had burned and every unmated wolf had gathered to feel fate’s pull. Something impossible had happened. The moment Joshua stepped near her the mate bond snapped into place. It felt like lightning exploding beneath her skin. It was warm, sacred, unavoidable. Her wolf had risen inside her chest with joyful certainty. Mate. She had looked at him with disbelief and hope. Joshua had looked at her with loving eyes like he was also waiting for this moment. And now those loving eyes turn cold, distant. The Beta Kevin stepped forward carrying a small ceremonial blade carved from pure silver. Ancient blade. Used for only one ritual. Rejection. Nishi’s fingers trembled at her sides, but she refused to lower her head. Her voice came out quieter than she intended. Fragile. “Joshua… tell me this is a misunderstanding.” Nishi asked, holding her tears back. Joshua did not move. “Tell me this is some political test.” Nishi asked in a hopeful tone. His expression remained cold. Behind him, Meera shifted slightly, pressing her hand more firmly over her belly as if shielding the unborn child. Her eyes slid toward Nishi. Joshua finally spoke. “I cannot accept a half-blood as my Luna.” The words struck like a physical blow. The courtyard erupted with murmurs. Inside Nishi’s chest, her wolf whimpered in agony. “You felt it,” she whispered desperately. “The mate bond. We are mates.” Joshua’s gaze stayed steady. “I felt it.” Joshua accepted it. Hope sparked weakly inside her chest. “And I'm rejecting that bond.” His words crushed her hope. The Beta handed him the dagger. Nishi’s breath stopped. Her wolf clawed desperately inside her chest. “No… please…” Nishi grabbed her chest as her heart hurt. Tears fell on her cheeks. Joshua sliced the blade across his palm. His blood welled instantly and dripped slowly onto the ceremonial stone. “I, Alpha Joshua Harper of the Reverstone Pack, reject you, Nishi Peter, as my mate and Luna.” His voice rang cold and formal beneath the full moon. Something inside her shattered. Not emotionally. But physically. She gaps in pain. The bond cracked like glass inside her chest. Pain exploded through her body so violently that her knees slammed against the stone floor. Her wolf screamed inside her mind. It felt as if her soul was being ripped apart. Gasps rippled through the watching wolves. Nishi clutched the ground as she fought to breathe. Through blurred tears she forced herself to look up at him. Joshua did not look away. Then Meera spoke, her voice soft and trembling. Perfectly performed. “Joshua… I’m scared.” She wrapped her arms around her stomach protectively. “The bond made her unstable… what if she hurts the baby?” Meera said in a scared tone. The pack murmured again. Fear spread quickly among wolves. Joshua’s jaw hardened. Nishi stared at her aunt in disbelief. “You think I would hurt a child?” Nishi asked Meera. Meera’s eyes filled with artificial tears. “You were always jealous, Nishi. I know… Joshua is your mate. But I'm the one carrying alpha’s heir. Please, leave Joshua alone. I love him and I can't let my unborn child be a bastard child.” Meera said in a hurtful tone. People feel sympathy for Meera and hate for Nishi. The accusation felt like poison. “I will not risk my heir.” Joshua’s voice cut through the tension. The word heir shattered something inside Nishi. “So this is about the baby,” she whispered. Joshua didn’t deny it. “I will not let my pack bow to tainted blood.” Joshua said. Tainted blood. The word echoed like thunder inside her skull. She tasted iron—she had bitten her lip hard enough to bleed. “You trained me, you said strength mattered more than blood. ” Nishi said hoarsely. Joshua’s voice was emotionless. “That was before I knew what you truly were.” Silence fell across the courtyard. “I did everything you told me to do. Joshua, you are the only family left for me. How can you break the bond made by Moon Goddess?” Nishi asked desperately. Then came the final order. “! You will leave Riverstone territory before sunrise.” Joshua’s each word struck like a hammer. “If you return…” His red eyes hardened completely. “You will be treated as a rogue.” He banished her. The wolves around her stepped back instinctively as if she carried a disease. Nishi pushed herself slowly to her feet despite the shaking in her legs. Her black hair fell messily over her shoulders. Tears streaked down her pale face, but her silver eyes burned with wounded pride. She feels so tired of being a weak woman. She would not kneel in front of anyone. She would not beg him. Not to anyone. “Fine! I won’t beg for someone who judges me for my blood.” Nishi said firmly, wiping her tears. For a single heartbeat, something flickered in Joshua’s expression. Regret. But it vanished instantly. He turned away first. And that hurt more than the rejection itself. Nishi left with nothing. She walked toward the Riverstone territory. No bag, no clothes, no farewell to anyone. There was nothing worth carrying from a place that had already decided she didn’t belong. The moment she crossed the invisible border of Reverstone territory, the moon vanished behind storm clouds. The forest swallowed her. Dark trees stretched endlessly as cold wind brushed against her skin. Halfway down the mountain path the pain returned. Sharper and more violent. She stumbled against a tree trunk, clutching her chest as her breath came in broken gasps. The mate bond was supposed to disappear after rejection. So why did it still burn? Her wolf stirred weakly. Not dead. Not gone. Something… else. Nishi wiped her tears angrily. “I don’t need him,” she whispered into the darkness. “I don’t need any Alpha.” Thunder rolled across distant mountains. Far away beyond forests and territories Four powerful Alpha Kings suddenly lifted their heads toward the night wind. They had just felt something impossible. A strong scent that travels in the air.