The Rejected Alpha

Chapter 1 - Damien

She has beautiful blue eyes, dark blonde hair framing her smooth pale face. Damien adored every feature on her pretty face. Every lash, the way her eyebrows have a natural arch and how her lips are small yet have a pout to them that makes them very kissable. This beauty’s name is Brooke. A wolf from a different pack called Goldmoon. It was two months ago on a Friday at exactly 23:16pm where Damien saw her for the first time. It was the gathering where all packs get together at the greeshun woods. There are fires, live music, food, dancing and the freedom to turn whenever one pleases. 

Damien had become alpha of his pack five months prior to the gathering, he wasn’t alpha to the largest pack nor the smallest, but he was alpha to the strongest. His father would always preach to Damien the importance of having strength and tactical abilities, that’s what wins in everything. All these years of learning and preparing on how to carry the torch after his father. Yet, it’s still a heavy load upon his shoulders no matter what. It also means his pack looks to him to find his mate... and fast. 

Damien isn’t much of a playboy, but his one-night stands are beginning to stack up. It doesn’t take much effort since a lot of women find him attractive from first glance, wolf or human. 

He’s 6”4 fair skinned with long dark brown hair usually slicked back into a low bun, golden hazel eyes, perfectly straight nose, medium sized lips and a strong jawline. No stubble can be found on this man’s face, is as smooth as cream. Damien works out 6 days a week, his physique looks as if the gods have curved out his muscles themselves. 

His height and muscles together give him an intimidating look which is bonus points for his pack but overall, the man is just gorgeous and that cannot be denied.

It seems no matter how strong and beautiful he is that doesn’t sway Brooke to be his destined mate. The pull towards each other is so magnetic it’s extraordinary but to resist the pull altogether is a great talent no wolf has managed to master until now.

He pulls himself back into current reality and faces Brooke.

“I’m not understanding” Damien says with a frown upon his face.

“It’s very simple” Brooke says in a calm tone, no expression upon hers.

Damien’s heart starts to pacen up and he’s sure his pack and everyone in a ten-mile radius can hear the thudding in his chest.

“You do know what it is you’re doing?” He asks, hoping this is some kind of cruel jest.

“I’m very serious. This cannot work, I don’t want this”

Damien is staring into Brooke’s beautiful blue eyes speechless.

“I have no desire to be your little packs Luna nor being mated to you until the end of time” she adds further adding salt to wound.

“Why?” He asks, which is all he could conjure up to say.

“This... this isn’t what I was expecting. I assumed my mate would be from my pack, I had already hoped it was someone else” 

Someone else Damien thought. The words echoing in his brain. “Who was you hoping it would be?” He asks. 

“It doesn’t matter who” she replies. 

“I can assure you it does, if you’re willing to sever our bond for this somebody, I have the right to know” he says straightening his back and walking closer to Brooke. 

She doesn’t move back but stands as she is staring him face on, she’s not easily intimidated. Damien loves that about her.

Brooke stares him into his eyes unamused.

“I don’t have to tell you a thing” she finally answers.

“My heart belongs to another and I intend on being his mate despite this little situation” Brooke adds.

Situation! Damien exclaimed in his head, so outraged by the heartlessness he’s witnessing from his mate.

Staring her head on, he says “I’m an alpha, I cannot be rejected. It hasn’t happened before, and it won’t happen now.”

Brooke’s mouth agapes almost stunned by his words. 

“You’re confusing me for fellow pack members, that’s not what I am. To even attempt to sever this bond there would need to be or duel or-” Brooke cuts him off before he could finish his sentence.

“Ritual” she quickly adds.

Damien looks at her studying her face not because of her beauty but trying to read her expression.

“You’ve done your research?”

She just stands unable to answer him.

Damien shakes his head and turns his back on Brooke for a second or two then faces her again.

Rage is fuelling his blood, he can feel his body warming up.

“To go to great lengths to break a bond before giving it any kind of chance, he must be quite a man.”

“I-” Before she could respond Damien cuts her off.

“I will meet him; we will need to because a duel is tedious process to set in place and it only can be set between the two duelling participants not the messenger.”

He storms out of the room in fear he would snap with her in it.

breathe just breathe he reminds himself.

We will win the duel then she’ll have no choice but to be with me he thinks again.

Damien storms through the residence in such fury all the pack members could feel it, parting aside to let their alpha through as he walks past with not even a glance at anybody.

James; his beta saw him and knew something was terribly wrong.

He follows Damien knowing whatever has him in the mood needs to be talked about or sorted immediately, when the alpha makes a halt in front of the office doors, he takes a deep sigh.

“It’s all f****d, James” Damien says with his back still facing his beta. He then opens the office doors and commands James to shut them.

“I’m almost worried” James says half uncertain and half humour in his tone.

Damien heads straight to the alcohol tray and pours a shot taking a swig then another straight after, his body was so hot from rage he didn’t feel the shots burn as it trickles down his throat.

He turns to face James waiting a few moments before opening his mouth “Whatever is said in this room cannot leave this room, do you hear me?” Damien says.

“Of course” James says as he quickly takes a seat.

Damien’s walks over to the head seat of the table and stares at it for a moment thinking of his father. I haven’t been alpha long and it’s already going wrong he thinks to himself before taking a seat.

“She rejected me” he finally says after all the suspense.

James stares wide eyed unsure if he heard correctly.

“what do you mean?” he asks

“She rejected me” Damien replies

“She can’t”

“She’s adamant.”

“I don’t believe this” James says in disbelief.

“She says her heart belongs to another” echoing the words pains his heart.

James scoffed, shocked at the words that are reaching his ears.

“It’s the way of life here, we don’t have the luxury of choosing who we can be with. We’re not humans” James says.

“Like I said… She’s adamant” Damien says.

“Well did you command her to stay?” James questions.

“No, I won’t hold someone here against their will.”

“But she’s not just someone, she’s your mate and our supposed Luna, the only way the pack grows stronger is by your union.”

“I’m aware of that James” Damien snaps back

“I don’t mean to state the obvious. It’s just, this hasn’t happened before. And it can’t happen now”

“I know” he stands up to get another drink.

James leans forward placing his fingers on his temples attempting to massage the sudden stress he’s feeling away.

There was a silence in the office for a minute before Damien says, “Whoever this wolf is, he wants to duel”

“Duel?!” James eyes shot up at Damien.

“Who would think so highly of themselves to think they can take on you? An Alpha of the strongest pack?!” James exclaimed.

“I would like to know myself, a meeting should be set”

“You’re not seriously considering this?” he stares at his Alpha

“And if I don’t, I will look weak which will reflect on our pack”

“Command her to stay!”

“If she can resist the pull of a mate bond what makes you think she will stay here under my command?” he faces back at his beta.

He’s right James thinks to himself sitting back in his chair.

“If this isn’t corrected, it will only be one of many problems coming our way.” James says.

“It’s either a duel or a ritual.” Damien explains.

“Rituals? They’re a myth or at least now they are. To do a ritual you will need a witch and to my understanding there has been no witches in these parts for years, that or they dropped off the face of the earth.” says James

“Duel is my only option.” Damien responds

“A duel is to the death, if you die, we lose our Alpha and if you win, she will be known for trying to tear apart this pack, she will be hated nor respected here.” James replies almost regretting what he said because of it’s harsh truth but he knows his beta is coming from a place of concern.

but what other choice does Damien have?