The Rejected Queen

JACI My mother died without a mate. Actually, she had two. But both of them rejected her because she was an omega. She used to say fate made mistakes sometimes. I think I was one of them. When I was five years old, she decided life wasn't worth fighting for anymore. After she died, the pack kept me alive because I was useful. That was all. I cooked. I cleaned. I scrubbed blood from floors and washed clothes that weren't mine. Twenty years passed like that. But then I met Alpha Blaze. And stupid, stupid me thought my life was finally changing. Because Alpha Blaze was my mate. Not chosen or forced. Fate chosen. He promised I would be his Luna someday. He touched me like I mattered. Like I wasn't just some omega everyone stepped over. I believed every single word which was why it hurt so much watching him stand at the front of the great hall with Nyra beside him. The tray in my hands trembled so badly the glasses rattled together. Blaze stood at the head of the long oak table, tall and beautiful and cold without even trying. One hand held a wine glass while the other rested possessively on Nyra’s shoulder. Nyra, the Beta's daughter. Pretty. Strong and perfect. The kind of woman wolves expected beside an Alpha. Not me. Never me. “Nyra is our future Luna,” Blaze announced, his deep voice echoing across the hall. “My chosen mate.” He’s lying, my wolf whimpered painfully inside me. He marked us. He belongs to us. “Congratulations, Alpha!” someone shouted from the back of the hall. Then another voice joined and another. Soon, the entire hall erupted with cheers. I felt sick. “Jaci?” Maybe someone called my name or maybe I imagined it. Everything sounded far away suddenly. The room blurred around the edges, while dozens of eyes slowly turned toward me. The omega servant. The pathetic girl carrying drinks. The same girl Alpha Blaze had taken into his bed less than twelve hours ago. My chest tightened painfully. I could still remember his hands on me. The weight of his body pressing me into the mattress. His rough voice against my ear while he whispered, “Mine. Say you’re mine.” I believed him. Fate help me. I actually believed him. Crash. The tray slipped from my fingers. Three more glasses hit the floor. Wine and crystal and blood… was that blood? My palms were bleeding. I didn’t remember cutting myself. I didn't remember falling either. One second I was standing and then the next I was on my knees while the entire hall stared at me. Fate had never lied to me before but Blaze had. “Stand up,” Nyra snapped coldly. “You are embarrassing yourself, little wolf.” I gritted my teeth. Little wolf? I stitched wounds in the infirmary while wolves twice my age screamed for their mothers. I held Elder Morcant’s hand through his fever last winter, changed his soiled sheets without complaint, listened to him call me worthless and still smiled. I was many things but not little. Still, there I was, kneeling in spilled wine with my dress soaked through while everyone watched me break apart. My hands shook as I forced myself up. Then slowly, painfully I walked toward Blaze. His dark hair was tied to the back neatly tonight, making his features even more unfairly handsome. Even standing still, he looked powerful, like a King born to rule. And beside him, I looked exactly like what I was. A servant. I stopped in front of him and swallowed hard. “Can we talk?” I whispered. "Please… Somewhere private?” Nyra laughed softly but Blaze just looked at me and asked. “Why?” I let out a shaky breath. I opened my mouth but he cut me off before I could speak. “Why would I go somewhere private with you?” he tilted his head. “Whatever you want to say, you can say it here.” My hands were shaking. I clenched the hem of my dress to stop them from shaking “You know why.” I whispered. My voice cracked. I hated it. I hated him. “Last night…” “Is none of this pack’s business,” he glared at me before I could complete the sentence. “You served me wine. You left. That’s all.” I stared at him. “No," I breathed. “No, that's not true." Tears burned my eyes. “I thought…" My throat tightened. "I thought we were mates.” “No,” he said, jaw flexing. He couldn’t even look into my eyes. “We’re not.” My wolf screamed in agony. He’s lying. She screamed. I can still feel the bond. And she was right. The bond carried every emotion he tried to hide but his mouth still formed cruel words anyway. “Why would I choose a weak omega as my Luna?”Blaze asked loudly enough for everyone to hear. “You are not fit to stand at my side. You are nothing but a disgrace to this pack.” The hall fell silent. “Is that really how you see me?” Something flickered across his face for a second. Regret. Maybe. Then it was gone. “I am the Alpha of Stonefang Pack.” He said, stepping around the table and stopped in front of me. “I have the right to reject any mate I deem unworthy.” Why did it sound so practiced though? I couldn’t even find a hint of the man from last night in front of me. I wondered where he had gone. Nyra’s hand found his arm. She squeezed it a little like she was encouraging him. Do it. Finish it. He met my eyes. “Jaci Grey.” He mumbled. “I, Alpha Blaze Slayer, reject you as my fated mate.” Pain exploded through my body instantly. A scream tore from my throat as the mate bond snapped apart inside me like something alive being ripped in half. I collapsed to the floor again. Blood poured from my nose onto the marble beneath me. The room spun violently while whispers spread around me like poison. Pathetic omega. No wonder he rejected her. I could barely breathe through the pain crushing my chest but somehow I forced the words out anyway. “I…” I choked out. “I accept your rejection.” The moment the words left my mouth, my wolf curled deep inside me. I could barely feel her anymore. I should have known better. Girls like me didn't get happy endings. A shadow fell over me suddenly then a hand appeared in front of my face.