The Alpha’s Rejected Mate

2

ELEANOR

I convinced myself that I was fine as two days passed by. I kept my head down as I walked through the main street, while the cold night air brushed against my skin.

I could still feel the weight of hundreds of eyes on me whenever I thought about the night of the ceremony. I spent most of my time telling myself that I had nothing to be ashamed of. Caspian didn't want me, so what?

A group of young wolves stood near a small café ahead of me. Their laughter drifted through the street, and my stomach tightened. One of them noticed me and the laughter stopped for half a second.

Then someone whispered something, another girl covered her mouth, and a boy snorted. I kept walking.

"That's her."

"The Blackwood Alpha rejected her."

"I knew it couldn't work.”

The words followed me and I tried to ignore them. I really did, but each one found its way beneath my skin. My pace quickened.

"Poor Eleanor. She finally found her mate and still couldn't keep him." A few people burst into laughter.

I lowered my head and walked faster, fighting the tears that had been falling freely ever since the moment Caspian had spoken those cruel words.

By the time I reached my house, I could barely see through my tears. I pushed through the front door and climbed the stairs without saying a word.

“Eleanor?” My father called. I had been avoiding him, so I kept walking.

"Eleanor, wait."

I shut my bedroom door behind me and I sank onto the floor beside my bed and covered my face with both hands. A sob escaped before I could stop it, and once it began, I couldn't seem to control it.

I always told myself that being an omega didn't define me. But standing in that hall while Caspian looked at me with disappointment had made every cruel word I had ever heard come rushing back.

Weak. Useless. Omega. Not good enough.

The worst part was that I had gone into that ceremony nervous and hopeful, wondering what it would feel like to finally have someone stand beside me but I had walked out feeling more than a failure than I had ever felt before.

A knock came at the door. I wiped my face quickly.

"What?"

The door opened. Daniel, my father, stood there. He took one look at me and his expression softened.

"Sweetheart…"

"Don't."

He went quiet and I got to my feet. I couldn't look at him because I knew I would cry again. Then I remembered something and I looked directly at him.

"You knew."

Daniel's face tightened. "Knew what?"

"You knew this could happen."

He sighed. "Eleanor…"

"You knew."

I could hear the accusation in my own voice, but I didn't care. He stepped into the room.

"I didn't know what Alpha Blackwood would decide."

"But you knew enough to make me believe he might choose me."

He looked away and I stared at him. That silence hurt almost as much as Caspian's rejection.

"You kept telling me things would be different after I found my mate."

"I was trying to give you hope."

"You gave me too much." My voice cracked. "I thought this was finally going to be my chance."

Daniel looked at me again. "You've been treated badly for years. I couldn't bear to watch you lose hope too."

"So you let me believe that finding my mate would fix everything."

"I wanted you to be happy."

"I was happy." The words came out broken. "That's the problem."

He said nothing. I turned away and wiped another tear.

"I was so happy when I found out he was my mate." I laughed bitterly. "I thought people would finally respect me. I thought I wouldn't have to feel like the pack's weakest girl anymore because fate had chosen the strongest Alpha in the region for me."

I looked at him. "But he didn't choose me."

Daniel's eyes filled with guilt and my voice dropped.

"He rejected me in front of everyone. Everyone saw."

"I know."

"No, Dad. You don't. You didn't hear them on the way home. They were laughing at me. They were whispering about me like I was some kind of joke."

Daniel moved toward me and I stepped back.

"I can't stay here."

His expression changed. "Eleanor."

"I can't."

"Where will you go?"

"I don't know."

I opened my wardrobe. "I just know I can't wake up tomorrow and walk outside knowing everyone is looking at me and remembering what happened."

Daniel watched as I pulled a bag from beneath the bed.

"You're leaving tonight?" He asked, worried.

"Yes."

"You can't just leave the pack."

"Why not?" I looked at him.

"Because it's your home." He answered desperately.

I gave a humorless smile. "It stopped feeling like home a long time ago."

I began gathering my clothes. A sweater. Two pairs of jeans, and a few dresses. Anything that could fit into the bag.

Daniel watched helplessly.

"Give yourself time," he said softly. "You're hurt."

"I've had twenty-two years to give this place my time." I zipped one bag and reached for another. "I'm done."

He was silent for several seconds. Then he said, "Your mother never wanted you to leave."

I turned.

"What does my mother have to do with this?"

Daniel's expression changed. "Nothing."

"You brought her up."

"I shouldn't have."

Before I could question him further, someone knocked on the front door downstairs. Daniel glanced toward the hallway.

"I'll get it."

I ignored him and returned to packing. A few moments later, footsteps approached.

There was another knock. This time, Daniel wasn't the one standing outside. A man I recognized stepped into the doorway. Tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in dark clothing, he looked uncomfortable the moment our eyes met.

Ethan Blackwood, Caspian's Beta. I immediately stiffened.

"What do you want?"

Ethan gave an apologetic look. "I was sent by Caspian."

My hands stopped moving. "To do what?"

"To bring you to Blackwood Estate."

I blinked, then let out a disbelieving laugh. "Absolutely not."

Ethan seemed to expect that answer. "I understand."

I grabbed the bag and placed it on the bed. "Exactly. He made it very clear that he doesn't need me."

"I know."

"So tell him he got his wish."

Ethan hesitated. "I would love to."

I narrowed my eyes. "But?"

"But he's my Alpha. I couldn't refuse."

"You should have." I snapped.

Ethan gave me a tired look. "That would probably cost me my position."

"I don't care.”

The corners of Ethan's mouth twitched.

He glanced at the bags. "Going somewhere?"

"Yes."

"Then perhaps you should come with me." He said as he took a step a step in.

"I didn't tell you to enter, and I'm not going anywhere that has him around."

Ethan opened his mouth, but the sound of a car's engine going off stopped him and he looked towards my window.

I frowned as I walked toward the window.

Headlights swept across the dark road, illuminating the trees and the front of the house. A black car was behind the one Ethan had brought, the rear door opened and a man stepped out.

My breath caught. It was Caspian. Even from the window, I could tell something was wrong. His usual controlled posture was gone. He leaned briefly against the vehicle as if steadying himself before straightening, one hand pressed against his side.

He looked sick. Very sick.

Ethan came up behind me. "He hasn't been well since the ceremony."

My eyes remained fixed on Caspian. "Then why is he here?"

Ethan didn't answer immediately. Outside, Caspian slowly lifted his head. His silver-gray eyes met mine through the window, and even from across the distance, I saw the desperation there. My heart gave one painful beat and I immediately hated myself for noticing.