Rejected by My Alpha, Claimed by the Cursed King

“My mate… is her?” The disgust in Alpha Ryder’s voice sliced through Amelia’s chest like a blade. Hundreds of wolves stood in the pack courtyard, their whispers spreading like wildfire through the cold night air. The full moon hung high above them, bright and merciless, illuminating the humiliation unfolding before everyone. Amelia’s hands trembled. Her heart pounded violently as she stared at the man standing in front of her. The man the Moon Goddess had chosen for her. Her mate. Alpha Ryder Blackwood. For years she had dreamed about this moment. The mating ceremony. The night she would finally discover the identity of the one destined for her. But she had never imagined it would end like this. Not with everyone staring at her like she was nothing. Ryder looked at her as if she were a disease. “You must be mistaken,” he said coldly to the pack elder. The elder shook his head slowly. “The Moon Goddess does not make mistakes, Alpha. She is your fated mate.” A cruel laugh escaped Ryder’s lips. “This weak girl?” he said loudly so everyone could hear. The crowd erupted into murmurs. Amelia felt her stomach twist painfully. She wanted the ground to swallow her whole. “I would never accept someone like her,” Ryder continued. “She’s the daughter of a rogue. She has no strength, no status, no value to this pack.” Each word hit harder than the last. Tears burned behind Amelia’s eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Not here. Not in front of everyone. “Ryder…” she whispered. For years she had loved him secretly. Watched him train. Watched him lead the pack with power and confidence. She had imagined being by his side. But now she realized something terrifying. He had never even noticed her. Ryder stepped closer to her, his eyes filled with cruel determination. Then he spoke the words that shattered her soul. “I, Alpha Ryder Blackwood, reject you as my mate.” Gasps filled the courtyard. The bond snapped inside Amelia like a breaking chain. Pain exploded through her chest. She staggered backward, clutching her heart as agony spread through her entire body. The rejection felt like her soul was being ripped apart. And Ryder didn’t look sorry. Not even a little. Instead, he turned away from her like she didn’t exist. “I will never accept her,” he said coldly. “Find me another Luna.” The crowd began whispering again. Some looked at Amelia with pity. Others laughed. Her chest felt like it was collapsing. She couldn’t breathe. Without another word, Amelia turned and ran. The forest swallowed her whole. Branches scratched her arms as she ran deeper and deeper into the darkness. Tears streamed down her face as the pain of the rejection burned through her chest. Her mate had rejected her. In front of everyone. She didn’t know how long she ran. Minutes. Hours. But eventually her legs gave out. She collapsed onto the cold forest floor, sobbing uncontrollably. “Why…” she whispered brokenly. The moonlight filtered through the trees. And then suddenly… A deep voice echoed behind her. “Interesting.” Amelia froze. Slowly, she turned around. Standing in the shadows was a tall man dressed in black. His silver eyes glowed in the darkness like a predator watching its prey. Power rolled off him like a storm. Every instinct in her body screamed danger. The stranger studied her for a long moment. Then his lips curved into a dark smile. “The rejected mate of an Alpha,” he said quietly. He stepped closer. The air around him felt heavy… terrifying. Amelia’s heart began pounding again. Because her wolf was suddenly howling inside her mind. Mate. Mate. Mate. The man stopped in front of her. Then he tilted her chin up gently. His silver eyes locked onto hers. And what he whispered next made her blood run cold. “You belong to me now.”