The Billinonarie's Rejected Mate

The Man Who Hated Me I had learned one thing about rich people long ago. They didn't look at money the way ordinary people did. To them, money wasn't something they worried about. It was something they breathed. Something they used to buy silence, loyalty, power—and sometimes people. I adjusted the tray balanced on my palm and stared at the enormous ballroom in front of me. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling like frozen waterfalls. Golden decorations covered almost every wall. Waiters in black suits moved between tables carrying expensive champagne that probably cost more than my monthly salary. I looked down at my cheap black uniform. Then back at the room. I didn't belong here. But tonight, belonging didn't matter. I needed the money. My younger brother's university payment was due next week, and my landlord had already threatened to throw us out if we didn't pay the remaining rent. So I had accepted the extra shift. Even if it meant spending five hours surrounded by people who probably spent more on a dinner than I earned in a month. “Aria!” I turned. Lena hurried toward me, nearly bumping into another waiter. “Stop looking like you want to murder everyone.” “I don't.” “You do.” “I want to murder the person who scheduled us for this party.” She laughed. “Just survive tonight.” “That's the plan.” She leaned closer. “By the way, do you know whose party this is?” I shook my head. “Some billionaire.” “Not some billionaire.” Her eyes widened dramatically. “Kael Sterling.” I frowned. The name sounded familiar. “Who's that?” Lena stared at me as if I'd just announced that I'd never heard of money. “Kael Sterling owns Sterling International.” “And?” “And he's worth billions.” “Good for him.” “And apparently he's insanely handsome.” “That doesn't pay my rent.” Lena rolled her eyes. “You're impossible.” I smiled. “I'm practical.” Before she could answer, the music changed. Everyone in the ballroom suddenly became quiet. I looked toward the entrance. A man walked inside. And the entire room seemed to change around him. He was tall. Not just tall—commanding. He wore a perfectly fitted black suit, his dark hair slightly messy in a way that looked completely intentional. His expression was cold enough to make people move out of his path without being asked. Nobody stopped him. Nobody dared. I watched him approach. Something strange happened. The moment my eyes met his— My heart stopped. Not figuratively. It felt like my entire body had forgotten how to breathe. A strange warmth spread through my chest. And somewhere inside my mind, a word appeared. Mine. I froze. What the hell? I blinked. The feeling disappeared. The man continued walking. “Aria?” Lena's voice pulled me back. “You okay?” “Yeah.” I swallowed. “I'm fine.” But I wasn't. Because the man was still looking at me. His eyes were dark. Cold. And strangely familiar. He stopped. For one second, neither of us moved. Then his expression changed. Only slightly. His jaw tightened. His eyes widened. And for the first time since entering the room, the billionaire looked shocked. He walked straight toward me. My fingers tightened around the tray. When he stopped in front of me, I realized just how intimidating he was. “Your name.” It wasn't a question. I frowned. “Excuse me?” “I asked for your name.” “Aria.” His eyes narrowed. “Aria what?” “Bennett.” Something flashed across his face. Recognition. Fear. Anger. I couldn't tell which. “That's impossible.” I stared at him. “What?” He stepped closer. Too close. His scent filled my senses. Something dark. Something warm. Something that made my heart beat faster. He whispered so quietly that only I could hear. “Stay away from me.” I blinked. “I'm sorry?” “You heard me.” “I don't even know you.” His expression hardened. “That's exactly how it needs to stay.” Then he turned away. I stood there completely stunned. What had just happened? I looked at Lena. She looked equally confused. “Did the billionaire just tell you to stay away from him?” “Yes.” “Why?” “I have absolutely no idea.” I looked back toward him. Kael Sterling had already reached the other side of the ballroom. But before disappearing into the crowd, he turned. Our eyes met again. This time, something inside me hurt. A sharp, inexplicable pain pierced my chest. I pressed my hand against it. And then— I heard a voice. Not from the room. Not from Lena. Inside my head. A whisper. Kael. I stumbled backward. The tray nearly slipped from my hand. I closed my eyes. And suddenly I saw something. A forest. Moonlight. Blood. A huge silver wolf standing beneath the full moon. And a man kneeling in front of me. Kael. His face was covered in blood. His eyes were glowing gold. He was holding my hand. And he was saying something. Something I couldn't hear. Then the vision changed. Kael stood in front of me again. But this time he looked broken. “I'm sorry, Aria.” His voice echoed through my mind. “I have to reject you.” I gasped and opened my eyes. The ballroom returned. The music. The lights. The people. Everything. But my hands were shaking. Because I knew one thing. I'd never met Kael Sterling before tonight. So why had I just seen him in my dreams? And why did it feel like— I'd already lost him once? Across the ballroom, Kael suddenly turned toward me. His face had gone pale. He stared at me as if he could hear my thoughts. Then his eyes changed. For the briefest moment, they weren't human anymore. They glowed— gold. My breath caught. Kael immediately looked away. And that's when I noticed something else. His hand was clenched so tightly that blood was dripping from his palm. He was hurting himself. Because of me. I didn't understand. I didn't understand anything. But one question refused to leave my mind. Who was Kael Sterling to me? And why did every instinct inside me scream that I should run— while another part of me desperately wanted to follow him?