The Alpha King's Fated Punishment

~ ARIEL'S POV ~ “I, Luca Morreti, reject you, Ariel Malini, as my mate.” The moment he said that, a sharp pain shot through me, and I gasped, grabbing my chest as my knees gave way beneath me. It felt as though whatever was connecting me to Luca had been ripped apart. I struggled to breathe as his words kept replaying in my head. My mate had just rejected me. I didn't know who to blame. My sister, who had accidentally revealed that my test report today showed I was infertile, or myself for being so useless. For being a fatty. My mind went back to the way Luca had laughed when he found out about my test results. What was it that he called me? Right. A wolfless and infertile fatty. I deserved that. For years, I had been called a fatty, but now I was beginning to realize that everyone had been right. “You are completely useless.” Mom's words from earlier today replayed in my head. She had been furious when she saw my test report. “I thought that even if you couldn't be a good enough asset to marry a rich man, you could at least have a little use.” The words kept replaying in my head, and when I looked up, I saw my sister standing behind Luca's friends with a smug smile on her face. Was being connected to these Alphas really that important to her? She would rather be a dog to them than a sister to me. I took a deep breath and forced myself to speak. “I accept your rejection.” Everyone clapped as if they were celebrating something. So there was actually no one who was against this rejection. I blinked, wiping my tears from my cheeks before anyone could see them, and took a step back with only one thought in mind: to run. As soon as I turned, a leg suddenly appeared in front of me, and I stumbled, landing hard on the floor. “Ow!” “Was that an earthquake?” The girl who had stuck out her leg laughed, making everyone around her laugh with her. “It almost felt like an earthquake until I saw you on the floor.” She crouched in front of me and used one finger to lift my chin, forcing me to look at her. “You really thought my boyfriend would choose you over me?” she asked, pointing at me. “Over me?” She pointed at herself with a scoff, clearly enjoying the humiliation. “You're really something.” She turned to one of her minions, who was holding up a phone. “Are you still streaming?” “Of course. Over ten million people are watching.” My chest tightened. They had been recording everything all this while. “Everyone is watching the rejected wolfless girl,” another girl added. The girl in front of me smiled. “Wipe, please. My hands have been infected.” My sister immediately placed a wipe in her hand. I took a deep breath and pushed myself up. “I am not interested in your boyfriend.” “You wanted attention, right?” she asked. “Well, now you have it. This whole thing has been live-streamed, so don't worry. You're getting the full package.” She pointed at me again with a laugh. “You think you can steal my man?” She turned toward her minions. “Well, girls, let's go.” Then she turned toward Luca, and he immediately placed his hand in hers. “Let's go.” They walked away together, followed by their friends and my sister. I quickly wiped my tears and got to my feet, but before I could take another step, someone called after me. “Oh, wolfless! You got rejected. Wait, did you actually expect Alpha Prince Luca to choose you over the campus beauty?” The laughter started again. “Look at the way she walks. She can't even walk properly without stumbling.” “Maybe that's why the Moon Goddess didn't give her a wolf.” “And they actually think she's infertile and expect her to become the Luna of an Alpha heir?” I couldn't take it anymore. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, away from the cameras, away from the building, away from the university, and toward anywhere I could find a little peace, a little of myself. I didn't know what today had in store for me, but whatever it was, today had already destroyed me. I thought turning eighteen would brighten my life a little. Maybe the constant criticism from Mom would lessen. Maybe I could finally prove that I could be better, no matter my size. But what was I thinking? Nobody wanted a fatty, especially not a wolfless and infertile fatty. I ran to a stream a few blocks away from the school and sat close to the water, crying. I always came to this place whenever I felt sad because, somehow, the place calmed me down. I placed my hand in the water. It was cold, and a small smile found its way to my lips as my hand moved around in the water. “Child, you are here again.” I heard an old woman's voice from behind me, and when I turned around, I saw Granny Tatiana. I smiled. “Granny.” I got up and hugged her tightly. “What happened to you, dear? Why do you look so sad?” I sniffed. “Grandma, I got rejected.” She went silent for a few seconds, then frowned. Does she hate me too? Although we were not related, she was the only one who loved me. I didn't want her to hate me. “I also turned out wolfless and infertile,” I said. “Whoever rejected you doesn't know what they lost,” she said. “I don't think so.” “Why?” “The Moon Goddess definitely hates me. She should at least make me good at something. Give me a great figure, or make me even have a wolf. And then she stole my right to have a child. I don't blame him for rejecting me. Who would want a girl like me anyway?” Granny sighed. “Ah, that is—some things we cannot explain, right? The Moon Goddess knows best.” “Kid, everything will get better. I believe everything happens for a reason.” I rested my head on her shoulder. “What if this reason is something I can't handle? I don't think I can handle it.” “I understand you, kid. I do.” She continued patting my head, her eyes on the water. “You keep coming to this water.” “Of course. It calms me.” “You are so different.” I raised my head and looked at her. “Different from what?” “Nothing, kid.” She patted her shoulder, and I rested my head against it again. “I wish you all the best. You definitely have a good future ahead.” “And how do you know that, Granny?” “You'll see.”