The Rejected Alpha’s Runaway Mate

“Killian... please, don’t do this,” I whispered, my voice barely carrying over the tension in the air. My heart thudded painfully in my chest, each beat a reminder of what was slipping through my fingers. I stood at the edge of the gathering, eyes locked on the man I thought would be my future. The Alpha of Blackwood Pack, Killian Blackwood. My mate. My destiny. My everything. Or at least, I had believed he was. His eyes were cold, unyielding. The man I had once admired and loved seemed so far removed from me now, like a stranger. His lips curled into a cruel smile as the murmurs from the pack began to rise around us. “I reject you, Selena Rivers,” Killian’s voice rang out, cutting through the chatter like a sharp blade. "You are not worthy of me." His words shattered me. The world around me felt like it was collapsing, the ground beneath my feet suddenly unsteady. My breath caught in my throat, and for a second, I thought I might fall. But I couldn’t. I wouldn’t. Not in front of all of them. I stared at him, trying to comprehend what was happening. I had given him everything—my trust, my heart, my devotion. I had believed in us. I had believed in the bond we shared, the bond that tied us together. I had fought for him, sacrificed for him. And this? This was how he repaid me? I stumbled back, my legs suddenly weak beneath me. The pack's eyes were on me, some filled with pity, others with cold indifference. The whispers started. Some were sympathetic, some mocking. I could hear the words, even if I didn’t want to. “What’s wrong with her?” “She was never meant for him.” “Can you believe he picked Isabel over her?” Isabel. The woman standing at his side, her eyes gleaming with victory. The woman who had slowly, subtly, woven herself into Killian’s life over time. The woman who had always been there, waiting for me to falter. Waiting for my fall. I turned away, my eyes blurred with tears I refused to let fall. I wasn’t going to cry. Not here. Not in front of them. But the ache in my chest was unbearable. I had never imagined that the love of my life, the man I was fated to be with, would humiliate me like this. In front of the entire pack. I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders as I turned and began walking away. The soft rustle of the leaves beneath my feet was the only sound that seemed real. Everything else faded into nothingness as I took each step further from the man I once loved, from the pack that had once been my family. “Selena,” a voice suddenly called out, sharp and insistent. I froze, my heart skipping a beat. I turned, expecting to see Killian, maybe even Isabel, chasing after me. But no. The voice was unfamiliar. It was Isabel, her presence like a shadow that crept closer. She stood there, her smile sly, her eyes glowing with satisfaction. “You’re not going anywhere, Selena,” she said, her voice low but dripping with malice. I pulled away instinctively, my heart pounding in my chest. What did she want? Her hand shot out, grabbing my arm, her grip tight and unforgiving. “You don’t belong here anymore,” she sneered, her nails digging into my skin. I tried to yank my arm free, but she held on with a strength that surprised me. “Let go of me!” I snapped, twisting my body, trying to break free. She laughed, a cruel, mocking sound. “Oh, Selena, you really thought Killian would choose you? You’re nothing but a healer. He needs someone who can give him power, someone who can stand by his side as a true Alpha. And that’s me.” I could feel my blood boiling. She had always been calculating, always one step ahead, always waiting for her moment. I had never liked her, but this—this was too much. She was rubbing my rejection in my face, twisting the knife she had helped drive into my heart. “You’re wrong,” I hissed, glaring at her. “You’ll never have him. He rejected me in front of the entire pack. That’s all you’ll ever be. His second choice.” Her expression faltered for a second, but then it was replaced by an even more sinister smile. “You really think this is over, Selena? Do you think you can just run away and forget about everything? Think again. You don’t get to walk away from this.” “I’ll walk away from whatever I want,” I spat, pushing against her grip, forcing her to let go. But as I took a step back, something in her expression changed. Her eyes narrowed. “You don’t know what you’re dealing with,” she said, her voice dark. “The Blackwood Pack doesn’t just let people walk away. Killian might have rejected you, but that doesn’t mean you’re free. You’re still his mate. And you will always be a part of this pack, whether you like it or not.” My chest tightened, and I tried to push past her, but she stood in my way, blocking my escape. “You think Killian’s going to protect you now? Think again. You’re not welcome here anymore. I suggest you leave before things get worse for you.” My mind raced. I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t stay here, not now, not after the rejection, not with Isabel standing in my way. But where could I go? Where could I run to? “I’m done with this,” I said, my voice firm as I took a step toward her, my body trembling with the weight of everything I had just endured. “I don’t need him. I don’t need any of you.” Isabel’s smile faded, and for a brief moment, I saw a flash of anger in her eyes. “You’re making a mistake,” she warned. “And you’ll regret it. You won’t last long out there, Selena. The world isn’t kind to runaway mates.” I turned away from her, my heart still aching, but with a new sense of resolve. I wasn’t going to let her or anyone else dictate my future. But as I turned, I felt her hand grab my arm again, harder this time, and I spun around to face her. “Let go!” I screamed, but she only tightened her grip. “You’re not going anywhere, Selena. Not yet. Not until Killian says otherwise.” I stared at her, my breath ragged, and for a moment, I thought I might lose control. But then, I felt something else. A surge of power, something deeper, something ancient stirring within me. My emotions were a storm, a torrent I could no longer hold back. “You don’t control me,” I whispered, barely able to speak the words. But before I could make another move, I heard a voice in the distance, a familiar one. “Let her go, Isabel.” Both of us turned to see Killian stepping forward, his expression unreadable.