Rejected And Betrayed, Claimed By The Lycan King

Rose's POV "Come here, Rose!" Mrs. Carter’s sharp voice cut through the still morning air like a whip. I flinched, my hands trembling as I quickly set down the broom. If I didn’t respond fast enough, I knew what would come next. "I'm coming, ma’am!" I called, my voice shaking as I hurried toward the living room. Mrs. Carter stood there, arms crossed, her cold eyes boring into me. Even though I was eighteen now, I still felt like the frightened little girl she had taken in from the foster home twelve years ago. Back then, she had been kind. She had brushed my hair and told me I was safe. But all of that changed when her husband abandoned her, just days before she gave birth to Gabriel. Since then, she had become someone else…someone bitter, strict, and impossible to please. She didn't just hate men; she hated everyone except her business. Mrs. Carter ran the largest inn in Pittsburgh Forest, a hidden place where rogues, outcasts, and even powerful alphas came to drink, sleep with prostitutes, or conduct secret dealings. She made more money than any rogue I had ever known, and she did not tolerate disobedience. "What took you so long?" she snapped, her sharp nails drumming against the wooden table. "I'm here, ma’am," I said, forcing my voice to stay steady. "You should be making sure I don’t forget anything! You know I should’ve left already." I swallowed hard. "Yes, ma’am. I’ll check everything." She narrowed her eyes at me, as if deciding whether I was lying. "Make sure my house is spotless. And keep your stupid friends out of here!" I clenched my fists. Jessica is not stupid. But I didn’t dare say that out loud. Instead, I bit my lip and nodded. "Yes, ma’am." Mrs. Carter turned to Gabriel, her twelve-year-old son. His blue eyes were already filled with tears. He clung to her waist. "I don’t want you to go, Mom Gabriel clung to her waist, his small hands fisting the fabric of her coat. His blue eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "I don’t want you to go, Mom." Mrs. Carter stiffened, her usual cold demeanor cracking just a little. She placed a hand on his head, her voice softer than I’d ever heard it. "I’ll be back in a week, Gabriel. I just have some business to take care of." A week. My heart leaped at the words. A whole week without her? Freedom. Gabriel sniffled and pulled back. "Promise?" She sighed, forcing a small smile. "I promise." Then, just like that, the tenderness vanished. She turned back to me, her eyes sharp again. "Don’t screw this up, Rose. If I hear that anything happened while I was gone, you’ll regret it." I bowed my head. "Yes, ma’am." With one last glance at Gabriel, she grabbed her bags and disappeared out the door. As soon as the front door slammed shut, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. The house felt lighter, as if a dark cloud had lifted. At exactly ten in the morning, Jessica arrived. She burst through the back door with her usual bright energy, her dark curls bouncing as she grinned at me. "Finally! The witch is gone!" I giggled, but quickly shushed her. "Gabriel is in his room, please don't wake him." Jessica rolled her eyes, plopping down on the couch. "That kid sleeps like a rock. So… what’s up? You sounded weird in your message." My hands instinctively went to my stomach. This was it. I sat beside her, gripping her hands. "Jessica… I’m pregnant." Her eyes widened. For a second, she just stared at me, processing. Then she screamed. I panicked, clamping my hand over her mouth. "Shhh! Gabriel will hear you!" Jessica’s body trembled as she muffled a laugh. When I finally let go, she whispered excitedly, "You’re pregnant?! Oh my God, Rose! Wait…who’s the father? Don't tell me it's that alpha!" I took a deep breath. "Alpha Scofield." Silence. Then Jessica’s jaw dropped. "No. Freaking. Way." I nodded, my heart pounding. "You know We’ve been seeing each other for months. He…he loves me, Jessica. He told me I’m his mate. That we’ll get married and I’ll be Luna of Dream Pack. And you…" I squeezed her hands. "You’ll come with me. No more living like rogues. We’ll have real status." Jessica’s eyes shone with excitement. "Are you serious?! Rose, this is huge! Do you know what this means?" I smiled, my heart swelling with hope. "Everything is about to change." Jessica let out another squeal, shaking my hands wildly. "I can’t believe this! Mrs. Carter is going to lose her mind when she finds out." We both burst into laughter, mimicking Mrs. Carter’s usual scowl. Jessica crossed her arms, deepening her voice in an exaggerated imitation. "‘Rose, you ungrateful child! How dare you get pregnant by an Alpha! You think you’re better than me now?!’" I laughed so hard I nearly fell off the couch. "That’s exactly how she’ll react!" Jessica smirked. "Too bad for her. Soon, you’ll be a Luna, and she’ll have to respect you." But then, her expression suddenly changed. A flicker of doubt crossed her face. "What?" I asked, my stomach twisting. She hesitated. "What if… he already has a mate?" For a moment, the air in the room felt heavier. I forced a laugh, shaking my head. "No. Scofield told me from the start…he felt the bond. Just like I did. He wouldn’t lie to me." Jessica didn’t look convinced. "I’m just saying, Rose. Alphas don’t always follow their hearts. Sometimes, they follow power. Just… be careful, okay?" I brushed off the nagging feeling that crept into my chest. "You’re starting to sound like Mrs. Carter." I teased, nudging her. Jessica rolled her eyes. "Ugh, don’t say that. Fine. Forget I said anything. Now, when are you telling him?" "Today." Her eyes widened again. "Oh, it’s happening!" I nodded, determination setting in. "And I need a favor. Can you watch Gabriel while I go?" Jessica smirked. "Of course. Anything for our future Luna." After checking on Gabriel…who was still asleep…I set off toward Dream Pack’s borders. Excitement filled in my veins. This was the beginning of my new life. No more being a rogue. No more living under Mrs. Carter’s rule. Soon, I’d be standing beside Scofield as his Luna. But as I approached the city gates, something felt… off. Normally, Dream Pack was heavily guarded, but today, the gates stood wide open. No warriors in sight. No men in black. Just… silence. A strange feeling crept up my spine. I spotted a well-dressed woman hurrying past me, her elegant gown flowing behind her. Compared to her, I felt severely underdressed. She looked like she was heading to some grand event. I stepped forward and called out, "Excuse me! I’m looking for Alpha Scofield. Can you tell me how to get to the palace?" The woman stopped in her tracks and turned to me. Her gaze swept over me…my simple dress, my unstyled hair, my lack of jewelry. Then, with a confused expression, she asked, "Have you not heard?" My heart stilled. Heard what? I stared at her, my throat dry. "What do you mean?" She hesitated, glancing around nervously before lowering her voice. "Today is his wedding day." The ground tilted beneath me. No. No. That wasn’t possible. I opened my mouth, but no words came out. My chest tightened, my vision blurred. Scofield… was getting married? But…I was his mate. I was carrying his child. He promised me! The woman gave me a final pitiful look before hurrying away, leaving me standing alone at the gates of a future that no longer belonged to me.