Rejected By One Alpha, Claimed By Another

Chapter 3: He said "Mine"

Serena’s POV

Sweat filled my body as I shouted, jerking up from my bed. My breaths came fast, my chest rising and falling.

It was just a dream… but the fear still clung to me. My eyes darted around the room, half-expecting Alpha Amit to burst through the window and drag me away.

The door opened quickly. Aunt Kira stepped in, her face lined with concern.

“You’re fine, Seren?” she asked softly, walking closer.

I rubbed my face with trembling hands. “I...I dreamt he found me. He dragged me away…” My voice broke.

She reached out, gently tapping the back of my hand

“It was just a dream, child. Nothing more. You’re safe here. Now, get ready. Today is important. You’ll be going to the university’s admission office to complete your registration.”

Her reassurance calmed me a little. I nodded, determined to start the day fresh.

I stood in front of the mirror, staring at the reflection that didn’t quite feel like me. The long, body-hugging gown clung to my skin like it had been stitched for me alone.

The fabric was really nice, outlining every curve I didn’t even know I had. My hips curved perfectly, my waist was drawn in tight, and the neckline lifted my chest in a way that made me blush.

I let my hair fall in loose waves down my shoulders and hooked on a set of small silver earrings with a necklace to match. For the first time, I looked… grown and bold. Not the frightened girl who used to hide under oversized clothes in my old pack.

When I stepped out, Aunt Kira’s brows lifted. She walked over, adjusted the straps of my dress, then stepped back with a satisfied smile.

“You look radiant, sweetheart,” she said warmly.

“I almost don’t recognize you.”

I gave a soft laugh and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

“You’re exaggerating.”

“No,” she pressed, tilting her head.

“Trust me. Heads will turn. Who knows, maybe you’ll even meet someone special at that university of yours.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Aunt, please…”

My wolf stirred inside me, tail flicking with interest. She’s not wrong. We deserve someone strong, someone who won’t throw us away.

My chest tightened and I shoved the thought down quickly.

“I’m only going there to study. That’s it.”

Kira chuckled softly. “Mhm, we’ll see.” She kissed my temple before letting me go.

The university was massive, far more beautiful than I imagined. There was tall glass buildings, polished walkways, green lawns. I was so busy admiring it all that I didn’t notice the motorcycle speeding toward me.

The horn blared, sharp and loud. My body locked in place, frozen like prey under a predator’s eyes. I couldn’t move. My ears rang with the sound, and for a split second, I thought death was about to hit me head-on.

At the very last moment, strong arms wrapped around me, yanking me away from the road. My body slammed into a hard chest, the sudden force knocking the breath out of me. I pressed against him, the warmth of his body surrounding me, his scent washing over in a way that made my knees weak.

My wolf whimpered inside me, pressing forward like she wanted to crawl into him.

I looked up… and my heart skipped.

He was tall, with broad shoulders that looked built for protection. His jaw was sharp, his hair dark, his lips so pink they made me swallow hard. His eyes were the kind you could fall into without ever climbing back out.

He’s… cool, my wolf whispered, practically wagging her tail.

We can’t, I snapped inwardly. We just got rejected. We are not doing this again.

But my body betrayed me. For a moment, I stayed still, caught in the heat of his stare, my chest brushing his with every shaky breath.

Then panic crashed in. I shoved myself out of his arms and ran without a word, though I could still feel his eyes still looking at me me, following me even as I disappeared inside the building.

At the admission office, I tried to catch my breath. A professor greeted me with a smile that lingered far too long. His gaze went over me slowly, sticking to the neckline of my gown before dragging down. I tugged at the fabric, trying to cover myself, but it was no use, the way he looked at me made my skin crawl.

“Such a bright student,” he said smoothly, leaning on the desk as I tried to fill the forms. His voice dropped lower.

“And such a… fine body too.”

I stiffened, my pen shaking against the paper.

“Thank you,” I muttered, not looking up.

He chuckled under his breath, stepping around the desk. Each slow footstep made my stomach knot tighter.

“You must be new here,” he continued, circling closer like a wolf cornering prey. “Don’t be shy. I can… help you settle in.”

My throat went dry. I shifted back a step, clutching the form tighter. My wolf bristled inside me, growling low. Like it wanted to tear him apart.

I wanted to bolt, but my feet stayed rooted. He took another step with his eyes gleaming, his hand starting to reach out to me.

The door burst open with a loud bang, making the professor flinch back instantly.

I looked up and my breath caught.

It was him. The same man who had pulled me from bike earlier.

He walked toward me with steady steps, and without a word, he shrugged off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders, shielding me from the professor’s hungry eyes.

“Be careful,” he said gently, his gaze lingering on me as though he wasn’t going to move until I was safe. Then, like it was the most natural thing in the world, he sat down beside me and helped me with the forms. His handwriting was quick, neat, his hand brushing mine now and then, sending waves down my spine.

When we were done, we walked out together.

“I’m Damien,” he said, his deep voice rolling smoothly over me.

I didn’t know what to say. My heart hammered in my chest. I turned, trying to escape before this became too real, but his hand caught mine.

The touch sent a shock through me, i was barely still able to stand on my feet. I froze, facing him again, my pulse betraying me.

“And you are?” he asked, tilting his head with a smile that felt far too dangerous.

I swallowed.

“Serena.”

His lips curved, his eyes locking with mine. “Serena

… what a sweet name.” He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper that made my knees weak.

“Mine.”