His Breeder, Not His Mate

CHAPTER 1: Rejected by Fate

ANASTACIA

It was five o’clock in the morning when I rose from bed, preparing myself for the first day of school.

The academy was quite far from home, which meant I had to leave early—otherwise, I risked being late. The heavy traffic on the road only added to my worries.

It would have been much more practical for my brother and me to stay in a boarding house near campus, but mom’s well-being always came first. Just last month, she had been rushed to the hospital after her blood pressure spiked.

Thankfully, it was treated in time; otherwise, she might have suffered a stroke—or worse, something far more devastating.

Dad’s passing left wounds that had not yet healed. That was why my brother and I couldn’t bear to leave her alone, afraid of what loneliness might drive her to do.

“Where’s big brother? Don’t tell me he overslept,” I muttered, peeking toward his room.

It was unusual not to see him at the dining table this early. He was usually the first one out the door for school.

“He left earlier. Didn’t he tell you his first subject starts much earlier today?” she replied while preparing my lunch box.

“What?” I checked my watch, it was only a little past six.

“Seriously? At this hour? Does he even get any sleep?” I sighed, suddenly realizing why his eyes always looked so sunken.

Even during vacation, he never once let go of his books or academic pursuits, while I wasted mine on wandering around and getting myself into trouble.

“You know your brother. He can’t stand being late to class,” she said, handing me my backpack.

“Right…” I exhaled heavily.

I took the bag with little enthusiasm.

The truth was, I wasn’t in the mood to go to school. All I wanted was to lie in bed the entire day. Besides, I missed going to class with my brother. Ever since college began, our morning walks together had become rare.

Both of us studied at Gravemont Academy—a renowned, exclusive private school owned by Alpha Caspian Gravemont.

The academy was reserved for children of powerful, influential families who held high positions in the pack. Each student was either exceptionally brilliant or blessed with special abilities.

But I was neither. My parents both came from a low-ranking bloodline, which meant I carried the same lowly status. The only reason I had been admitted was because Alpha Caspian knew how to honor debts of gratitude.

According to mom, dad once saved Alpha Caspian from an assassination attempt. In return, he vowed to see my brother and me through our education. Even after dad’s death, Alpha Caspian remained true to his word—something we would forever be grateful for.

“Make sure you finish all the food I prepared.”

“Yes, mom. I’ll be going now,” I slung my backpack over my left shoulder.

I was just about to step out of the gate when my phone suddenly rang.

“Who the hell is calling me this early in the morning?” I quickly pulled out my phone from my pocket and checked the screen, it was an unregistered number.

My brows arched upward. I was certain it was probably one of those idiots trying to mess with me again.

They even went so far as to use a different number just to play tricks on me.

“They really think they can fool me,” I muttered, lowering the phone. I was about to put it back in my pocket when it rang again.

“Damn bastards! So early in the morning and they’re already trying to piss me off!” A vein twitched at my temple.

I knew they wouldn’t stop until I answered.

Frustrated, I jabbed the answer button and brought my mouth close to the phone.

“Son of a b***h! What the hell do you all want?!” I shouted.

“How have you been? It’s been a long time since we last spoke.”

I froze when I heard the loud laughter of a woman on the other end.

“Who are you, and how did you get my number?” I demanded.

“Relax! You haven’t changed at all, Anastacia.”

A chill ran down my spine the moment she spoke my name.

Don’t tell me those idiots have gotten themselves into trouble again?

Damn it! We just got out of a mess yesterday, and now another one already? Those bastards won’t stop until someone from the gang ends up dead.

“Who the hell are you, and what do you want from me?” My gut twisted with unease.

“We have your precious friend. If you don’t do exactly as I say, I’ll make sure something very bad happens to her,” she threatened.

My jaw tightened.

“Don’t you dare hurt my friend because if you—” My words were cut short when the woman suddenly ended the call.

***

“Damn you all!”

With a surge of rage, I flung the backpack from my shoulder the moment I caught sight of four girls cornering Katie inside the abandoned warehouse just a few meters from the academy.

One of them, clutching Katie’s right arm, snapped her head toward me, then gave a signal to the others.

“Well, well… here comes the bad girl in shining armor,” mocked the girl in the crimson hood.

“Tash! Help me!” Katie’s voice broke, hoarse with desperation, the instant her eyes met mine.

Katie—Alpha Caspian’s only daughter. Despite her status, she became my best friend. In fact, we treated each other like siblings.

She was gentle and soft-spoken, that she had always been the easy target for bullies back in school. She longed for a normal life like the rest of the pack, and so she chose to live quietly in the shadows.

But the truth was—she was weak, a flaw rare in their lineage. She refused to be a burden to her family, let alone to the entire pack, and so she secluded herself from everyone.

“Let me go!” Katie thrashed against the tight grip of the two girls restraining her, only to cry out when the hooded girl seized her hair and yanked it mercilessly from behind.

“How dare you lay a hand on my friend!” My fists tightened, nails digging into my palms as my teeth gnashed in fury.

“Oh, is that so?” With deliberate cruelty, the girl released Katie’s hair. Then, pulling down her hood, she revealed her face at last.

“You vile creature! You’ll pay for what you’ve done to her!” I growled, my voice reverberating with rage.

My suspicions were right—Zevia was behind everything. She wouldn’t stop until she got her revenge. What I did to her before didn’t matter; now she even planned to drag others into it.

“You really think I’d still be afraid of you, Anastacia Sylwen?” Her face was full of mockery.

Zevia Brimford—the only daughter of one of the pack’s high-ranking members. With her beauty, intelligence, and family influence, she was known throughout the pack. If I wasn’t mistaken, she was rumored to be the next-in-line Alpha’s mate.

Her parents were kind, but Zevia was the complete opposite—arrogant, proud, treating everyone around her like prey.

Her biggest mistake had been crossing my friends. I had already taught her a lesson once, but she hadn’t learned.

“I’ll make sure you swallow every single word you just said.” Each step I took toward her was deliberate, heavy, like a predator closing in on its target.

“Damn you, Zevia! I’ll kill you!” I growled, hands trembling with fury.

One of her companions stepped in front of me, trying to block my path, but I grabbed her arm and twisted it sharply.

“Aahhh!” she screamed, pain ripping through her like fire.

She struggled, but I held firm. My gaze swept to the other two girls holding Katie.

“Let go of my friend if you want to leave here in one piece,” I warned.

Their grip didn’t falter, so I twisted the girl’s arm even harder.

“P-please, stop!” she cried, tears threatening to fall.

“If you don’t release my friend, I’ll deal with this myself!” I said, yanking her collar, and drawing the dagger from my side.

The blade glinted, it was sharp as a wolf’s fang.

“Will you let my friend go, or should I end this once and for all?” I asked, pressing lightly against her throat, just enough to make the others flinch.

“Do you really think I’d fall for the same tricks you used on me before? Pathetic!” Zevia laughed, cold and sharp.

I could feel the rage inside me, claws of instinct itching to strike.

I shoved the girl aside and lunged at Zevia, kicking her hard in the stomach.

She fell, but I didn’t stop. Kicks rained down, slamming into her body. I could taste the fear radiating off her, and it only made me stronger.

“Stop! Please! That’s enough, Tash!” Katie screamed, but I was focused only on Zevia.

My senses locked on her.

“You’ll pay for what you did to my friend—for insulting her and me!” I growled, teeth gritted, heartbeat pounding like a wolf in hunt mode.

I didn’t care if the pack punished me afterward.

I grabbed her hair, yanked her up, forcing her to meet my gaze. Slowly, I brought her closer, eyes locked on hers.

“Forgot what I did to you before? Want me to remind you? Where should I start, Zevia?” I hissed.

I raised the dagger like a predator ready to strike.

“P-please, stop! I promise I won’t bother you or your friends again!” she sobbed, her face was nearly unrecognizable.

I wasn’t special, I had no magic, no powers, but I could fight. I didn’t surrender, and I never would.

“You think it’s that easy after hurting my friend? I don’t care who your high-ranking father is,” I growled, pressing the blade closer to her throat.

A strong hand grabbed my wrist, stopping me.

“That’s enough,” said a cold, deep voice from behind, carrying authority.

“Damn it!” I hissed, teeth grinding.

“Don’t tell me, you’re one of her loop dogs?” I spat, shoving the hand away.

“If you think you can stop me just because you’re a man, you’re wrong.”

I spun to strike, but he caught my hand and pulled me toward him. My face collided with his chest with force, like a wolf crashing into a stronger rival.

The impact left me weak. His grip around my waist held me steady, and suddenly I felt my strength drain.

“Are you okay?”

My eyes snapped open.

“Let me go! Bastard!” I shouted, pushing at his chest.

A strange yet familiar sensation surged through me the moment our palms touched—wolf instincts, recognition, something I had felt long ago but forgotten.

I couldn’t be wrong.

“Are you hurt?” His voice carried genuine concern, the calm authority of a packmate.

I closed my eyes and slowly lifted my face.

I didn’t know if I was doing the right thing, but all I knew was that I wanted, to see the face of the man standing before me.

“Y-you?” I froze, unprepared for the familiar face that greeted me the instant my eyes opened.