The alpha who rejected me

Chapter One - My Eighteenth Birthday I woke up to birds. Just birds chirping like crazy outside my window. For a second I didn't move. I just laid there under my blanket, staring at the cracked paint on my ceiling, smiling like an i***t. Today was my eighteenth birthday. Eighteen. God, I waited for this day my whole life. In our pack, eighteen isn't just a birthday. It's the day you can finally meet your mate. Some wolves find them instantly. Some wait months. Years. But today was my day. I could feel it. I kicked the blanket off and sat up fast. Sunlight was coming through my old curtains, cutting yellow lines across the floor. My room is small. Nothing special. But it's mine. Pictures of Mom and Dad on the wall, my little shelf of beat-up books, and the dried flowers Mom gave me since I was ten. I dragged myself to the mirror. Wow. My dark hair was a bird's nest. Eyes puffy from not sleeping last night because I was too excited. I whispered to myself, "Happy birthday, Amara." And I smiled. For real. "Maybe today everything changes." Knock knock. Before I could say come in, the door opened. Mom came in holding a dress. The white one. The one she was saving. She smiled when she saw me. "You're awake." "How can I sleep? It's my birthday." She laughed, but it was that soft laugh she does when she's worried. "Come here." I walked to her and she hugged me tight. Too tight. "Happy birthday, my baby." I closed my eyes. "Thank you, Mom." Her hug felt weird. Longer than usual. Like she didn't want to let go. When she finally let go, her eyes were red. "Mom?" "What?" "Are you okay?" "I'm fine." "You don't look fine." She cupped my cheek. Her hand was cold. "You're eighteen now. You're grown." "That's why you're sad?" "Not sad." She looked away quickly. "Worried." My stomach dropped. "Worried about what?" She opened her mouth, then closed it and forced a smile. "Nothing you need to worry about today." That made me worry more. Another knock. Harder this time. "Amara?" Dad. "Come in." He stepped in. No smile. Not even a small one. His arms were crossed and his eyes went from Mom to me. "Your birthday party will start this evening," he said. "I know." "There is something I need to tell you before then." Just like that, my excitement died. "What is it?" He looked at Mom. Mom looked at the floor. "Dad? What happened?" "Nothing happened," he said too fast. "Then why are you both looking at me like someone died?" "Amara," Mom warned. "Sorry, but you're acting strange." Dad sighed and walked to the window. He stared outside for a long time. "Our pack has traditions. For generations." I folded my arms. "What does that have to do with me?" "Everything." He turned. "When a wolf turns eighteen, their mate can reveal themselves." "I know that." "But your situation is... different." My smile completely disappeared. "Different how?" "Your mate isn't an ordinary wolf." My heart started beating so loud I could hear it. "Who is he?" Silence. "Is he from our pack?" I asked. "No." "Then where?" Dad took a deep breath. "Blackwood." My whole body went cold. Blackwood Pack. The strongest pack in our whole region. And Alpha Adrian Blackwood. Everyone knows his name. Even humans who live near us know his name. Youngest Alpha ever. Ruthless. Cold. Built like a warrior. And yeah... every girl in school had his picture hidden in their book. I never met him properly. Just saw him once from far away. "You're saying my mate is from Blackwood?" My voice cracked. Dad nodded once. "Yes." "Who?" Mom stepped forward fast. "Amara, listen to me. Whatever happens tonight, remember you are still our daughter. Okay?" My chest got tight. "Why wouldn't I be? What are you saying?" "Just remember it." "Mom, you're scaring me." She hugged me again, tight. I pushed back and looked at Dad. "Tell me his name." He stared at me. Then finally said it. "Alpha Adrian Blackwood." I couldn't breathe. Adrian Blackwood. My mate. The Alpha. For a second I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. "The Alpha?" I whispered. "You'll meet him tonight," Dad said. --- The rest of the morning was a blur. I couldn't eat. Couldn't sit still. Mom helped me get ready but my mind was not there. It was on him. What will he look like up close? Will he know me? Will he smile? Will he... accept me? That last thought made my hands shake. Rejection stories. I've heard them. Some wolves never recover after rejection. Their wolf dies inside. But no. Goddess wouldn't be that cruel, right? Why would she give me an Alpha just to take him away? By evening, the whole pack ground was full. Lanterns between trees, food everywhere, music loud. Everyone celebrating. I wore the white dress. Dad stood beside me. He whispered, "You look beautiful." "Thank you." Then his face got serious again. "Stay close to me tonight." "Why do you keep saying that?" Before he could answer, the crowd went dead silent. I looked at the entrance. Black and silver. Blackwood Pack. And in the middle, walking like he owned the world, was him. My heart literally stopped. Pictures did nothing. Nothing. He was tall, broad, shoulders like a wall. Dark messy hair, sharp jaw, and eyes that made people step back without him saying a word. His eyes swept the crowd. Then stopped. On me. My wolf exploded inside me. Mate. The word screamed in my head. Mate! Mate! Mate! My lips parted on their own. "He's here." Dad said nothing. His hand tightened on my arm. Adrian walked straight to us. Every step made my knees weaker. He stopped right in front of me. Close enough that I could smell him - forest, rain, and smoke. My mate scent. Neither of us spoke. The bond hit me like electricity. Strong, overwhelming. I smiled without even knowing I was smiling. "You're Adrian." His face didn't change. "Yes." "I'm Amara." "I know." "You know?" My heart fluttered so fast. He looked at my father. "Your father contacted my pack weeks ago." I turned to Dad, shocked. "Weeks ago? You knew for weeks and didn't tell me?" Dad didn't answer. I looked back at Adrian. "So you knew?" His jaw tightened. "I knew." My smile got bigger. Stupid, big, hopeful smile. "Then..." I swallowed. "You're my mate." It came out as a whisper. Adrian stared at me. For a second, something flashed in his eyes. Something that looked like... pain. Or guilt. Then it was gone. Cold again. Music was still playing behind us, but everything went quiet for me. Dad stepped forward. "Alpha Adrian, according to tradition—" "I know the tradition." Adrian cut him off. His voice was too calm. Too controlled. Everyone was watching us now. Hundreds of eyes. This was supposed to be my happiest moment. My fairy tale. I looked at Adrian. "Are you okay?" He looked at me. And I finally saw it. He was not happy. He was angry. Like I disgusted him. My smile faded. "Adrian?" He leaned in. So close only I could hear. "We need to talk." I nodded fast, nervous. "Okay." He looked at the crowd, then back at me. His face went hard. Like stone. And I knew. I just knew what was coming wasn't what I dreamed. He turned to face everyone. The whole celebration went silent. Dad stepped forward. "Alpha?" Adrian didn't look at him. He looked straight at me. My heart pounded like it wanted to jump out. Then he said it. The words that ruined my life. "I, Alpha Adrian Blackwood..." He paused. Eyes locked with mine. "...reject you, Amara, as my mate and Luna." Everything inside me froze. Then my wolf screamed so loud I thought my chest would split open. Pain ripped through me. Not normal pain. Like someone tearing my soul in half with bare hands. I fell to my knees, gasping, clutching my chest. Through blurry tears, I saw my mother's face. She was crying. And I saw Adrian. He was still standing there, fists clenched, watching me suffer. But what made it worse... What made my blood run cold... Was that as I was dying on the ground from his rejection, he whispered so only I could hear: "I'm sorry. If I don't reject you tonight, they will kill you tomorrow."