Rejected By My Mate, Claimed By His Uncle

Chapter 2: The Cold CEO

Morning sunlight entered Selena’s room softly. But she did not sleep all night. Her swollen eyes burned painfully. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Ryan and Vanessa together again. Kissing. Touching. Mating. Selena pulled the blanket tighter around herself and cried quietly again. Knock. Knock. “Selena!” Vanessa’s fake sweet voice entered through the door. “Breakfast is ready!” Selena closed her eyes painfully. She did not answer. Another knock came. Harder this time. “Father said come downstairs now.” Selena slowly got out of bed. Her body felt weak. She washed her face quickly and stared at herself in the mirror. She looked terrible. Red eyes. Pale face. Broken heart. “Get yourself together,” she whispered. Then she walked downstairs. The smell of breakfast filled the dining room. Her father sat at the head of the table reading his phone. Vanessa sat beside Ryan happily while feeding him fruit. As if nothing had happened. As if Selena had never mattered. The moment Selena entered, Vanessa smiled proudly. “Good morning, sister.” Selena ignored her and quietly sat down. Ryan looked at Selena guiltily. “Selena…” But Richard suddenly interrupted. “I found a job opening for both of you.” Selena looked up slowly. “A job?” Richard nodded. “Knight Corporation is hiring new workers.” Vanessa’s eyes widened instantly. “The biggest company in the country?!” “Yes.” Even Ryan looked surprised. Knight Corporation was famous everywhere. Powerful. Untouchable. Feared. Everyone wanted to work there. Richard placed two application papers on the table. “You and Vanessa will apply today.” Vanessa smiled proudly. “Of course I’ll get accepted.” Then she looked at Selena mockingly. “But I don’t know about her.” Selena stayed quiet. Richard’s eyes became cold. “You need to start building your future,” he told Selena. “No more useless crying.” Selena clenched her fingers tightly under the table. “Fine,” she whispered. Ryan suddenly spoke carefully. Uncle Damian rarely accepts people personally.” The moment he said that name, everyone became quiet. Even Vanessa looked nervous. Your uncle?” she asked softly. Ryan nodded. “Alpha Damian Knight.” His voice carried a mix of respect and fear. “He owns the company.” Vanessa’s eyes sparkled instantly. “I heard he’s handsome.” Ryan’s jaw tightened slightly. “He’s dangerous too.” Selena quietly listened. She had heard stories about Damian Knight before. Cold. Ruthless. Untouchable. People feared even saying his name carelessly. Some called him a monster in a suit. Others called him a king hiding among humans. But nobody truly knew him. Richard stood up. You both will leave in one hour.” Then he walked away. Vanessa immediately grabbed Ryan’s arm happily. Maybe I’ll become Damian Knight’s favorite employee.” Ryan laughed softly. Trust me, you don’t want his attention.” Selena quietly stood up. But Vanessa suddenly blocked her path. Her smile disappeared instantly. “You'd better stay away from Ryan from now on.” Selena looked tired. I don’t want him anymore.” Vanessa crossed her arms. “Good. Because he’s mine.” Ryan looked uncomfortable hearing that. Selena walked away without another word. But as she reached the stairs— Ryan suddenly followed her. “Selena wait.” She stopped but didn’t turn around. “What?” Ryan sighed heavily. “I’m sorry.” Selena laughed bitterly. “Sorry?” “I never wanted to hurt you.” “But you did.” Ryan stepped closer. “You have to understand—Vanessa is my mate.” Selena finally turned toward him. Tears filled her eyes again. “Then why did you date me for four years?” Ryan opened his mouth. But no words came out. Because honestly… He didn’t know anymore. Especially after last night. His wolf still felt restless. Confused. Every time he remembered Selena’s scent, his wolf reacted violently again. Like something was terribly wrong. Selena noticed his silence and smiled painfully. “That’s what I thought.” Then she walked away. Ryan watched her leave with strange pain in his chest. Meanwhile… Across the city. A long black luxury car stopped in front of Knight Corporation. Employees immediately bowed respectfully. Fear filled the air instantly. The car door opened slowly. Expensive black shoes touched the ground first. Then Alpha Damian Knight stepped out. Tall. Powerful. Cold. His black suit fit his muscular body perfectly. Golden eyes scanned the building sharply. His presence alone made people nervous. “Good morning, Alpha,” his assistant Lucas greeted respectfully. Damian walked forward calmly. “Schedule.” “Meeting at ten. Business lunch at one. Dinner with investors tonight.” Damian nodded slightly. But suddenly— He stopped walking. His wolf stirred again. That scent. Soft. Sweet. Addictive. His eyes darkened slightly. “Find her,” his wolf growled inside him. Damian frowned. He had smelled the mysterious scent all night. Even now it remained inside his head. Annoying him. Distracting him. And Damian hated distractions. Meanwhile… Selena and Vanessa arrived at Knight Corporation together. Selena stared up at the giant glass building nervously. It looked too expensive. Too powerful. Vanessa smiled excitedly. “This place is amazing.” Selena quietly nodded. Many applicants entered nervously. Everyone looked rich and confident. Selena suddenly felt small. Vanessa noticed and smirked. “You already look scared.” Selena ignored her. Inside the lobby, workers moved quickly everywhere. The atmosphere felt serious. Professional. Cold. Then suddenly— Everyone became silent. Selena frowned slightly. Employees quickly lowered their heads respectfully. “What’s happening?” she whispered. Vanessa gasped softly. “Oh my God…” Selena slowly turned around. And saw him. Damian Knight. He walked through the lobby calmly while guards followed behind him. The air itself felt heavy around him. Women stared at him secretly. Men looked terrified. He looked too powerful. Too handsome. Too dangerous. His sharp golden eyes suddenly lifted. And landed directly on Selena. Everything froze. Damian stopped walking instantly. His wolf exploded inside him. Mate. The word slammed through his entire body. Selena’s breathing stopped. Why did her heart suddenly beat so fast? Damian stared deeply at her. Black hair. Silver eyes. Soft scent. His wolf growled possessively. Mine. Lucas noticed Damian had stopped moving. “Alpha?” But Damian ignored him completely. His eyes remained locked on Selena. Selena quickly looked away nervously. Why was he staring at her? Vanessa immediately stepped forward confidently. “Good morning, Alpha Damian.” Damian did not even glance at her. Instead… He kept watching Selena. Vanessa’s smile slowly disappeared. Selena became uncomfortable under his intense gaze. Then suddenly— She accidentally dropped her file. Papers were scattered across the floor. “Oh no…” She quickly bent down to pick them up. But another hand reached the papers first. Large. Strong. Damian. The entire lobby became silent again. Employees stared in shock. Damian Knight never touched anyone. Ever. But now the feared CEO was holding Selena’s papers personally. Selena slowly looked up. And her breath caught instantly. He was even more handsome up close. Sharp jaw. Dark hair. Golden eyes that looked almost unnatural. Dangerous. But strangely warm while looking at her. Thank you,” she whispered nervously. Damian handed the papers back slowly. Their fingers touched slightly. A strange spark passed through both of them instantly. Selena gasped softly. Damian’s wolf nearly lost control. Mate. Mate. Mate. His eyes darkened dangerously. “What’s your name?” he asked deeply. “Se-Selena Hart.” The moment he heard her name, something inside him settled slightly. Like his wolf finally found peace. Vanessa quickly interrupted. “I’m Vanessa Hart, her sister.” Damian finally glanced at Vanessa briefly. Cold. Uninterested. Then his eyes returned to Selena immediately. “You came for the interview?” Selena nodded nervously. “Yes.” Damian stared at her for a few seconds longer. Then finally spoke. “She’s hired.” The entire lobby gasped. Vanessa’s eyes widened. “What?!” Lucas looked shocked too. “But Alpha, the interview process—” She’s hired,” Damian repeated calmly. Then his eyes moved toward Vanessa. And her application?” Vanessa smiled quickly. Damian’s expression became emotionless again. Rejected.” Vanessa froze completely. What?!” Her face turned red with anger instantly. That’s impossible!” Damian ignored her completely. Instead, he looked at Selena one last time. “Report to the twenty-second floor tomorrow morning.” Then he walked away calmly. The entire lobby exploded into whispers immediately. Selena stood frozen. Did that really just happen? Vanessa suddenly grabbed Selena violently. “You b***h!” Selena flinched. “What?!” “You planned this!” “I didn’t!” Vanessa’s face twisted with fury. “How dare he reject me for YOU?!” Selena pulled her arm away. “I don’t even know him!” But honestly… Even Selena felt confused. Why did Damian Knight look at her like that? Meanwhile… Inside the elevator. Lucas looked nervous beside Damian. “Alpha…” Damian’s eyes remained cold. “Yes?” “You’ve never hired someone personally before.” Silence. Then Damian finally spoke quietly. “She’s different.” Lucas frowned slightly. Different how? But before he could ask— Damian’s wolf growled dangerously again. Because deep inside… He has already felt it. The mate bond had begun. And once an Alpha found his mate… He never let her go