It's Either You, Alpha, or the Rogue

002: The Cold Alpha

Chapter 2:

Aria POV

The look on Alpha Xander’s face changed from shock to disbelief, his dark eyes narrowing as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was feeling. My heart raced, and I immediately bowed my head when I realized I had stared at him too long. I wasn’t supposed to look him in the eyes. What was I thinking?

He scoffed, the sound harsh and filled with something I couldn’t quite place... anger? Disgust? He turned on his heel and stormed out of the bathroom. I stood frozen, still gripping the scrub brush in my hand, my mind spinning.

Why was he angry? Was it because of me? Because of the bond? I swallowed hard, my chest tightening with fear. I couldn’t believe it. Alpha Xander, the most powerful wolf in the pack, was my mate? How was that even possible?

I was just an Omega, the lowest of the low. A lone wolf, with no family, no status, nothing. What could the Moon Goddess be thinking? How could I, someone who couldn’t even defend herself from Selena’s bullying, be mated to the Alpha?

The more I thought about it, the more terrified I became. How would this even work? Xander had always been distant, cold, and far above anything or anyone in my world. He commanded respect and fear from everyone. He was the Alpha. And me? I was nothing.

Then there was Selena. The Beta. She was always by his side, always close to him, like they belonged together. Selena made it clear that she hated me, and now that I was mated to Alpha Xander, what would she do? She already bullied me every chance she got, but if she found out about this… I shuddered at the thought. It would only get worse.

I leaned against the wall, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside me. Xander didn’t want me, that much was clear. He had stormed out like the idea of us being mates was some kind of cruel joke. I couldn’t blame him. I didn’t fit into his world.

But the bond was there, undeniable and strong, pulling at me in ways I couldn’t explain. I felt it deep in my chest, a connection I had never experienced before. And as much as I wanted to ignore it, I knew there was no escaping it.

I sighed, feeling the weight of my situation press down on me. I was already struggling to survive in the pack as it was, and now this? How was I supposed to deal with being mated to the Alpha when he clearly didn’t want me, when Selena would do anything to destroy me?

I wiped the sweat from my brow and exhaled. The bathroom felt suffocating, I couldn’t stay there any longer. I needed to escape, to breathe. Just as I turned to flee, a voice stopped me dead in my tracks.

“Don’t you dare think there will be any possibility that I’ll ever make you my Luna. And don’t you even tell anyone about this. If I hear this word from anybody, I’ll punish you gravely.” Alpha Xander’s voice was cold and harsh, cutting through the silence like a knife.

I didn’t look at him. I kept my head bowed, my heart racing as I processed what he was saying. "Was he rejecting me?" I thought. The bond between us pulsed in my chest, but it didn’t seem to matter to him. I was nothing but a burden to him, just another mistake.

I stood there, frozen in place, my mind racing with confusion and hurt. I felt so small, so worthless. I had hoped, even for a moment, that being mates meant something special. But it seemed like he only saw me as an inconvenience.

“Please,” I whispered, barely able to keep my voice steady. “I didn’t mean to...”

“Just shut up,” he snapped, cutting me off. “You don’t understand what this means. You don’t belong in my world. You’re an Omega, and that’s all you’ll ever be.”

I flinched at his words. Every insult hit harder than the last. I knew my place, but hearing it from him made it so much worse. I wanted to cry, to scream, to run away from all of this. But instead, I stood there, biting my lip to keep the tears at bay.

“Just do your job and keep your mouth shut,” he continued, his tone icy. “If anyone finds out about this, I swear, you’ll regret it.”

I wanted to plead with him, to make him see me as more than just an Omega, but I knew it was pointless. He wouldn’t listen. He didn’t care.

How could I go on like this? How could I continue to work in the palace, knowing that my mate wanted nothing to do with me?

The thought of Selena finding out made my stomach churn. She would have a field day with this. The Beta who always made my life miserable would only find more joy in tearing me apart now. I couldn’t let anyone know. I couldn’t let them see how broken I felt inside.

I wiped my eyes. “Are you rejecting me?” The words came out, I didn’t know where the courage came from.

Just as I opened my mouth to continue, the door swung wide open, and in walked Selena. She glanced between us, her eyes searching between us, like she sensed something was off.

“What’s going on here?” she demanded, her voice sharp.

Before I could even think of a response, Alpha Xander shouted at her, “You couldn’t knock?” His tone was harsh, filled with irritation.

Selena looked taken aback, her face flushing with anger. “Excuse me? I didn’t know this was a private party.”

I wanted to disappear, to blend into the walls. All I could think about was how to escape this moment, this nightmare.

In that moment, I saw my chance. I didn’t want to be here any longer, not with Xander's anger radiating around me. I took a step back, ready to flee.

I didn’t wait for anyone to say anything more. This was my moment. I dashed past Selena, who seemed angry, and slipped out the door. My heart raced as I hurried down the hall, the sound of my footsteps echoing in my ears. I didn’t stop until I was far away from that bathroom, far away from Xander and his cruel words.

Once I reached the corridor that led to the back of the palace, I paused to catch my breath. I pressed my back against the cool wall, my heart racing.