Rejected By My Mate, Claimed By His Uncle

Chapter 3: The Alpha's Obsession

Selena could not focus on the entire ride home. Her mind kept replaying the same moment again and again. Damian Knight is looking at her. Those golden eyes. That deep voice. “She’s hired.” It felt unreal. Beside her, Vanessa sat angrily in the car with crossed arms. The atmosphere was tense. Deadly tense. The moment they entered the mansion, Vanessa exploded. “You embarrassed me today!” Selena looked exhausted already. “I didn’t do anything.” Vanessa laughed coldly. “You expect me to believe that?” Richard Hart walked into the living room immediately. “What happened?” Vanessa pointed angrily at Selena. “She stole my job!” Selena frowned. “That’s not true!” Vanessa scoffed loudly.“Alpha Damian rejected me and hired her instantly!” Richard looked surprised. “Damian Knight hired Selena personally?” Vanessa gritted her teeth. “Yes!” Richard slowly turned toward Selena. For the first time in a long while… He looked impressed. Selena noticed it immediately. And somehow it hurt even more. “You got lucky,” Richard finally said. Vanessa looked furious. “Father!” Richard raised his hand. “Enough.” Then his cold eyes landed on Selena again. “You start work tomorrow. Don’t disgrace this family.” Selena lowered her head quietly. “I understand.” Vanessa stormed upstairs angrily. A few seconds later, the front door opened again. Ryan entered. The moment he saw Selena, his wolf reacted violently again. Mine. Ryan clenched his fists hard. Something was wrong with him. Very wrong. “Ryan!” Vanessa immediately ran downstairs and hugged him tightly. But Ryan’s eyes stayed on Selena. Selena quickly looked away. She did not want to see him anymore. Vanessa noticed everything. Again. Jealousy burned inside her instantly. “Ryan,” she said sweetly, “guess what happened today?” Ryan forced himself to look at her. “What?” “Damian hired Selena personally.” Ryan froze. “What?” Selena immediately felt uncomfortable. Richard nodded. “It surprised everyone.” Ryan slowly looked at Selena again. Then suddenly remembered the way his uncle hated women around him. Damian never showed interest in anyone. Never. So why Selena? A dangerous feeling entered Ryan’s chest. Fear. Vanessa wrapped her arms around him possessively. She probably seduced him somehow.” Selena looked hurt instantly. “I would never do that.” Vanessa rolled her eyes. “Please. Men only notice girls for one reason.” Ryan suddenly spoke coldly. “That’s enough, Vanessa.” Vanessa blinked in surprise. Ryan rarely defended Selena now. Selena quietly turned away. “I’m going to my room.” But before she could leave— Ryan grabbed her wrist again. The spark returned instantly. Stronger this time. Ryan sucked in a sharp breath. Selena felt it too. Her body suddenly became warm. Confused, she quickly pulled away. Vanessa’s face darkened dangerously. “What was that?” she demanded. Ryan looked shaken. “Nothing.” But his wolf roared angrily inside him. Mate. No,” Ryan whispered under his breath. Vanessa frowned. “What?” Nothing,” he repeated quickly. Selena hurried upstairs before things became worse. Inside her bedroom, she leaned against the door heavily. Her heart beat too fast again. First Damian. Now Ryan. Why did touching them feel strange? She walked toward her mirror slowly. Then suddenly froze. For one second… Her eyes flashed silver-white. Bright. Glowing. Then disappeared. Selena stepped back in fear. “What was that?” Meanwhile… Across the city. Damian sat alone inside his office. Dark city lights reflected against the giant windows behind him. His assistant Lucas stood nervously nearby. Damian had barely spoken since returning from the lobby earlier. Which was unusual. Very unusual. Finally, Lucas cleared his throat carefully. “Alpha?” Damian’s golden eyes slowly lifted. “Speak.” “Should I prepare Selena Hart’s official documents?” Silence. Then Damian nodded once. “Yes.” Lucas hesitated. Then carefully asked: “Is she your mate?” The room became dangerously quiet. Damian slowly leaned back in his chair. His expression was unreadable. But his wolf answered first. Mine. Damian’s fingers tapped the table slowly. “Yes.” Lucas nearly stopped breathing. After all these years… The feared Alpha King finally found his mate. But then Lucas remembered something important. “Alpha… Ryan Woods is your nephew.” Damian’s eyes turned cold instantly. “I know.” “And Selena was his girlfriend.” The room became heavier immediately. Dangerous pressure filled the air. Damian hated hearing that. His wolf hated it even more. “She belongs to me now,” Damian said coldly. Lucas swallowed nervously. No wonder Damian looked ready to kill someone earlier. Suddenly Damian stood up. I’m leaving.” Lucas blinked. “You have a meeting in thirty minutes.” “Cancel it.” Then Damian walked away calmly. But deep inside… His wolf was restless. He wanted Selena near him. Wanted her scent. Wanted to protect her already. And Damian Knight always got what he wanted. Meanwhile… Late that night. Selena could not sleep again. She kept thinking about tomorrow. Her first day at Knight Corporation. Working under Damian Knight. Just remembering his eyes made her nervous. Suddenly— Knock. Knock. Selena frowned. Who is it?” No answer. Slowly she walked toward the door and opened it slightly. Then froze. Ryan stood outside. “Can we talk?” Selena immediately looked tired. “There’s nothing left to say.” Ryan sighed heavily. “Please.” After a few seconds, Selena finally stepped aside silently. Ryan entered slowly. The room became awkward instantly. This used to be normal before. Ryan spent countless nights talking with her here. But now everything felt broken. Ryan looked around quietly. Then finally spoke. “I miss you.” Selena laughed painfully. “You don’t get to say that anymore.” Ryan looked frustrated. “I know I messed up.” “Messed up?” Selena’s eyes filled with tears again. “You betrayed me with my own sister.” Ryan ran his fingers through his hair angrily. “You think I wanted this?” “You had months to tell me!” Ryan stayed silent again. Selena shook her head. “You kept lying to me.” Ryan suddenly stepped closer. But what if something’s wrong?” Selena frowned slightly. “What?” Ryan looked confused. My wolf…” He hesitated. It reacts strangely around you.” Selena’s heart skipped nervously. What do you mean?” Ryan looked directly into her eyes. “When I touch you, it feels…” He stopped speaking. Because he didn’t know how to explain it. Mate. That dangerous word haunted him all day. But it made no sense. Vanessa was already his mate. So why did his wolf want Selena too? Selena stepped back slowly. “You should leave.” Ryan grabbed her hand suddenly. And this time— The spark exploded violently. A powerful energy rushed through the room. Both of them gasped. Ryan’s wolf roared wildly. Mate! At the same moment— Across the city… Damian suddenly stopped walking. His golden eyes turned dangerous instantly. His wolf went mad. Someone touched her. Damian’s aura exploded violently around him. Nearby guards immediately lowered their heads in fear. “Alpha?” But Damian ignored them completely. Rage burned through him. His mate. Another man was touching his mate. And his wolf wanted blood. Back inside Selena’s room— Ryan stared at Selena in horror. The connection felt too real. Too powerful. Selena quickly pulled her hand away, breathing hard. “What… was that?” Ryan looked shaken. Then suddenly— A deep growl echoed outside the mansion. Dangerous. Terrifying. Not human. Every wolf inside the house froze instantly. Ryan’s face lost color. Because he recognized that growl immediately. Alpha Damian. And judging from the terrifying rage in that sound, someone was about to die.