The Alpha's Rejected Mate

"Eleanor! Get up, you lazy girl!" My sister Amelia's voice cut through the air like a whip. Another day in the house that had become a haunting labyrinth of pain. I dragged myself out of bed, feeling my limbs heavy with exhaustion. As I stumbled into the kitchen, the scene that greeted me was a portrait of domestic chaos. "Lazy girl! Can't even get the room in order!" My dad, a Beta, growled at me with anger. Once upon a time, he used to be a kind presence, but turned to alcohol after my mother's death. He was my go-to person for advice and comfort. Now, it was like living with a stranger who just looked like him. His eyes, once warm and kind, were now pools of emptiness. "Dad, come on, that hurts!" I protested, rubbing my arm where he'd gripped it a bit too hard. His face was red, veins popping as if he was about to explode. "You're finally up," he muttered. His voice was a gruff whisper that held a hint of disappointment. "Clean up this mess. And hurry, before your sister loses her patience." Amelia's laughter, sharp and mocking, echoed through the room. My sister, Amelia, was a striking figure, possessing the same dark hair and eyes that ran in our family. But beneath the surface beauty lay a bitterness that seemed to eat away at her from within. I had always been the target of her cruelty. As I reached for a mop, the weight of her gaze settled on me like a cold hand on my shoulder. "Don't make a mess of it this time," she said with sarcasm. "Or is that too much to expect from you?" I bit my lip, suppressing the anger that threatened to boil over. No response was the best response. A mantra I had learned through years of enduring her torment. I began to mop the floor, in silence. Amelia walked away and entered the room again, with a tray of dishes. In hand. With deliberate force, she dropped the tray, letting the dishes crash to the ground in a cacophony of chaos. "Oops," she cooed with feigned innocence. "Looks like you missed a spot, Cursed." My heart was pounding as I stared at the wreckage. I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks, anger burning within me. But still, I held my tongue, knowing that any response would only give her the satisfaction she craved. Not receiving the feedback she wanted, Amelia's taunts grew louder, "You really are useless, aren't you?" She sneered, "Why don't you use your superpower mom left you when she died, Mommy's favorite little daughter, Eleanor." I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms.Amelia's voice grew louder with mockery. "Oh, that's right. You can't. The Cursed. The pathetic one who can't even clean properly. No wonder Corey treats you like dirt." Corey. The name sent a shiver down my spine. Corey was the alpha of our pack. Also, the man who I had crushed on for around a decade. Though he often made fun of me, there was a part of me that had once believed he might see beyond my vulnerability. I felt the sting of tears welling up in my eyes, but I refused to let her see me cry. I finished cleaning the room as quickly as I could and escaped to my own space, away from my dad and sister. No one cared that today was actually my 18th birthday. If mom were still alive, she would definitely buy me a birthday cake and gently ask me to blow the candle on the cake.I buried my head in my pillow, sadly thinking that my 18th birthday felt like just another day in this mess of a life. Dad was off in his own world, chasing after a bottle, and Amelia... Well, she was always too busy finding new ways to torment me. The day stretched on. No cake, no celebration. The only thing that I looked forward to was the pack's ball tonight for all the young werewolves to enter adulthood. I waited anxiously for the ball, where I could meet my mate. I hoped my mate would be Corey. This wish made every second sweet and exciting for me.Finally, as the night fell and I walked into the ballroom, my heart raced. A strong and sweet scent came to me. My mate! He was here! "Eleanor?" Suddenly, the scent became extremely strong and Corey was in front of me, his eyes intense, saying my name, his voice almost uncertain. And then he said it, the words that shook my world. "You're... my mate." I was speechless, my mind racing to catch up with what had just happened. Corey and I were connected in a way I never imagined! But before I could process it, Amelia came to Corey, linked her arm with Corey's, smirking like the cat that got the cream. Her voice cut through, "Let's see who gets doted on by our alpha tonight," her words laced with a cruel edge. "Haven't you heard, Corey? It feels incredibly amazing when you mark someone as mate." Corey's reaction wasn't much better. "What? No way, Amelia. I mean, she's... Well, she's not my type." "Come on, Corey," Amelia teased, a sly grin playing on her lips. "Mark her and then dump her. Show her who's the boss." Alpha Corey's expression became inscrutable with a strange smile and after a few moments, as if he had made some decision, he walked towards the stage. Before I could fully process what was happening, Corey was on the stage with a microphone in his hand. My heart raced as I watched him, a mix of dread and curiosity bubbling inside me. "Hey, everyone," he announced, his voice carrying through the room. "Let's give a big round of applause to celebrate the birthday of... the Cursed!" Gasps and whispers filled the air as the spotlight turned to me. My face burned with embarrassment, my heart hammering in my chest. This couldn't be happening. "You like me, don't you, Cursed?" His voice had a twisted kind of sweetness. "How about we go backstage? I've got something special for you." His commanding presence drew all eyes to him, and his voice, amplified by the microphone he held, sent shivers through the crowd. I felt like a deer caught in headlights as I made my way to the stage, the eyes of the entire pack on me. Amelia's laughter echoed in my ears. Corey leaned in, his lips dangerously close to my ear. "I'm gonna mark you," he whispered. His voice laced with mockery and something else I couldn't quite place. "Whether you like it or not."