Rejected By My Mate, Claimed By The Enemy Alpha

SELMA'S P.O.V Today was supposed to be the full moon where Frederick and I celebrated our third anniversary as a mated pair, but he was nowhere to be seen. My feet flew over the stairs as I descended, my phone still clutched in my palm and dialing his number. Still no answer. "Ouch. Are you blind?" Verlyn, the mother of the Alpha and my husband, spoke up with so much disdain. My eyes bulged out as I took stock of the damage I caused. She had tea dripping down the length of her dress and anger shining in her blue gaze. "I'm so sorry. I didn't see you there." My apology is forced back into my throat as her palm connected with my cheek in a violent slap. To say that she hated me would be an understatement. The woman would gladly give me up to rogues if not for the fact that her son had chosen me as his mate and as a result prevented her from directly hurting the pack. The thing is, my father was one of the pack's most decorated enforcers. He was trusted to help them gain victory whenever they went out for any battle, or the pack was attacked, up until he made a grave mistake and betrayed the pack. My entire family was killed and then I was taken in as a slave. If the Alpha's lover hadn't broken his fragile heart a mere day before their mating ceremony - which was also my birthday - Alpha Frederick would not have chosen me as a mate, and I would have served my whole life as a maid. "You worthless piece of s**t!" She barked, fury dripping off her. "I have no idea what Frederick still keeps you around for, but you'd better..." Her words are cut off by Frederick's voice. "Mother? Is something wrong?" She spun around and I followed suit, the breath knocked out of me almost immediately. I recognized that face. "This piece of trash you keep as a mate is..." Her words halted as she took in the visitor Frederick brought. "Is that Lilith?" Frederick's face bloomed into a huge smile, his happiness palpable as his former lover stood beside him in regal grace. "Yes, mother. This is Lilith." He completely ignored the insults his mother was just now hurling at me as he focused instead on the woman beside him. Lilith stared back at me with a smug expression and something akin to a warning in her eyes. "This is such a lovely surprise. Lilith, dear, how are you? Come." She gestured to Lilith with open arms to come to her, and the latter stretched her lips on a smile as she strode up to Verlyn. "It's such a pleasure to meet you again, Queen Verlyn." Her tone is sugary. I decided I had had enough of the staring. Sure, Frederick and I weren't in love like a regular couple, but I had fallen for him and his easy charm and he had always treated me nicely. I could demand an explanation from my mate, could I not? "Frederick, I've been looking all around for you. Where have you been?" His gaze landed on me and his smile waned slightly. "Selma. I had to pick Lilith up from the airport. She arrived this morning." "No decorations have been made yet. Are we not celebrating the three-year anniversary under the full moon tonight?" I specifically withheld the information on how it was also my birthday today. His gaze traveled around the expanse of the mansion and his forehead creased in obvious confusion. "Is that today?" Lilith decided to cut in. "I'm feeling so tired I could faint. The flight was long and there was a lot of turbulence. Can you please show me to my room, Fred?" "Of course he can," Verlyn interjected. "Selma, please get her a cup of tea to help her relax after such a horrible day." "We have maids for that." I mumbled under my breath. "Did you say something?" She asked me. I shook my head. "No." "Good. Now get to it." I refrained from making a scene by sheer force of will. The dinner I had decided to make for myself and my mate was now being served to his former lover - whose picture still sits on his bedside - and his mother, who is hell bent on catching up with the plastic homewrecker. "Selma, right?" Lilith finally spoke to me for the very first time since she stepped foot into my house. I nodded. "Was this meal prepared by you? It is absolutely delicious. I would love to learn a few things from you, you're an amazing cook." Something about the way she said it rubbed me off the wrong way and I murmured "Thank you." Frederick smiled at me and mouthed the words 'I'm sorry' then returned his attention to the woman who has owned him for years. Even while I played replacement. By the time we finally got through dinner I was losing my patience, so I spoke up again, making an attempt to get my life back on track. "It's only a few hours away from the full moon, Frederick. As well as my birthday." Surprise flashed through Frederick's gaze. He clearly had forgotten all about them. "Selma, I..." "Ow." Lilith softly muttered, her voice laced with pain. Frederick's eyes snapped in her direction immediately. "What's wrong?" "I think I must have eaten something bad, my stomach hurts like hell." Lilith whined. "Don't just sit there," Verlyn yelled out in annoyance, her eyes focused on me. "Get some medicine for her." Tears sprung to my eyes as once again I took a back seat in my own home and let Lilith's needs precede mine. I got out of my seat and Lilith made an attempt to do the same. An attempt, because she toppled over immediately after,.clutching her stomach and crying in pain. Shock had me rooted to the spot as I stared on at the scene unfolding in front of me. "What did you put in that food?" Frederick turned to look at me with a question in his eyes following his mother's accusation. "I didn't..." Verlyn turned back to face her son. "Take her to her room while I call a doctor. All of this will be resolved later." Frederick moved immediately, scooping a crying Lilith into his arms and hurrying out of the dining room. Lilith's eyes caught mine as they got to the door and she winked, a sinister smile playing on her lips. She mouthed something to me. "He's mine.”