The Alpha's Rejected Mate: The Mate He never Wanted

KARENSA My knees hurt from kneeling on the scrapes of glass on the floor. Blood dripped from the wound and pooled around me. Painful whimpers left my mouth as I clenched my fists, looking up at a man who was supposed to protect me — my so-called stepbrother. Gervais sat on the couch opposite where I was. Perched on his thighs was none other but that bloody b***h, Lya. “Oh, honey!” She laughed out loud, cackling like a hyena, her face contorting into something hideous. The sound pissed me off. There I was, kneeling on the shattered pieces of glass, while they made out like I was not there. And it all had to do with that hag! Had she not requested a glass of Juice and tripped me when I brought it, I wouldn't have broken the glass and Gervais wouldn't have had any reasons to punish me! For the past two weeks, I had tried to steer clear of him while planning my escape. It would be my eighteenth birthday tomorrow, and I was trying not to get on his bad side. I couldn't wait to differentiate, so I could fight back! If I turn out to be an Alpha, I will exert my revenge on the bastard for killing our father so he could be the Alpha. “Do you love the jewellery I got for you?” He asked, bringing my thoughts back to the present. My eyes went to his hands, which he kept on her naked thighs, and I felt an indescribable burst of anger at the sight. I'd never felt this way before. I know I loathed everything about that b***h with a capital B, but not to the extent of wishing to rip her off my monster stepbrother's thighs. The urge was too strange. I had to tamper it down, scared to even think of what it might mean. The pain from the shreds of glass I was kneeling on could take my mind off the track it wanted to delve into. “Of course I do!” Lya chuckled, flipping her black hair back as she laughed, unhinged. “It was so lovely. It awed my mom!” I rolled my eyes, counting the time until it was time for me to get up. Gervais seemed to be in a good mood. He only allowed me thirty minutes to kneel on the broken pieces. A knock on the door caused the lovers to break up as we focused on the door. A young guard stepped in. His eyes went to me immediately before he hastily turned his focus to Gervais. Dressed in black shorts with a red polo, he looked so much like the young guard I once had as a friend. Well, that was before Gervais found out. “My… My Alpha,” he greeted, bowing his head with his neck partially exposed. It was a vulnerable stance for us werewolves. It was a mark of respect. “What's wrong?” Gervais raised his eyebrows at him. Dark violet eyes seemed to pierce through the guard's body. “The elders are here. They are demanding —” “Take them to my throne room," he ordered the guard as he patted Lya's left thigh, and she rose from her sitting position, allowing him to rise. "I will do so, Alpha." The guard bowed to him — strands of his red hair almost falling into his eyes — before he scurried out. “I will be right back, baby,” Gervais murmured as he leaned down to kiss Lya, who readily accepted his kiss. “I will wait for you,” she purred, giggling when he slapped her arse. He let go of her and turned to face me, eyes narrowed at me as if I were the worst scum on Earth. He scrunched his nose up as if I disgusted him, which I knew I did. As the daughter of his stepmom, he has always hated my guts, blaming me — my mother — for taking his mother's position. “You better kneel there until I return!” He growled darkly before he strode out of the room, slamming the door shut behind him. The moment the door closed behind him, the b***h turned towards me, smiling knowingly as her eyes went through my body to the pool of blood on the floor. My knees were already numb. The pain wasn't as intense as it was when I knelt. “What a pity, Karensa,” she sneered, taking hasty steps towards me. I didn't say a word as I watched her. Months of knowing her made me know what a snake she was. Always out to look for my trouble, only to heap all the blame on me. “Cat got your tongue?” She scoffed. “Well, it's better this way. No one wants to inhale the disgusting smell that comes from your mouth!” I got this compulsion to yell at her, but I quelled the urge. I would only have to endure this until tomorrow. The moment I meet my wolf, I would be out of the pack, for good. I might even turn rogue should no pack be willing to take me. Anything was better than staying in the pack that brought nothing but sorrow to me. “Well, let's see,” she clicked her tongue as she circled me. “You are just like your mother. A b***h who would —” I pushed her and got to my feet, towering over her. At 5'5, I was a foot taller than her, something that gave me a lot of joy whenever I considered it. “Don't you ever dare speak of my mom with that rotten mouth of yours!” I yelled at her. She looked stunned by my actions. I bet she wasn't expecting me to flip. She masked the expression faster than I thought possible, standing up straighter. “Isn't that the truth? Wasn't your mom a —” She paused when the doorknob turned. Before I could blink, she slapped her left cheek and fell on the ground, cradling the said cheek. “Why did you slap me?” She sobbed. “I was just trying to help you.” Not only her actions shocked me, but her words and the fake tears she was shedding. “What —” I started to say, but the door had already been opened, and a furious Gervais stood on the threshold.