The Alpha King’s Rejected Mate

LYCA’S POV The sun was shining! I ran across the field in my plain white dress, letting the sun bathe my skin. I spread my arms spinning in a circle. I loved the sun. I loved what it meant to me. It meant that no matter how bad the previous day was, there was hope for a new day! “Goddess! Lyca, Veda has been looking for you!” Old maid Mina yelled from the outhouse. I jumped a little, cringing at being caught dilly dallying. Mina’s constant frown deepened making her look older than she really was. “I’ll join her soon.” I answered. Mina was always frowning so I learned to ignore her. After all, she worked with Veda everyday so if I was around her, I was inevitably around Mina too. Mina unfortunately did not see how colorful the world was or perhaps she couldn’t because her eyesight got worse in her old age. I left Mina shuffling around the outhouse no doubt retrieving meat for tonight’s dinner and hurried into the castle. I practically felt my wolf shuffle with irritation once I stepped indoors. Ever since I shifted on my seventeenth name day last year, I have found it more difficult to part with the outside. I passed the back door because it was where maids passed and it was closer to the kitchen. The huge kitchen was crawling with maids who hurried to prepare dinner in time. I smiled while taking in the view. Sure it was omegas working diligently but I liked to imagine I was the boss of the castle who was inspecting their work. I chuckled softly at my delusions. They could not be any farther from the truth. I wasn’t the boss or a maid. I did not exist and somehow that was even more wonderful! When my eyes located the woman who’d raised me, I skipped over to her. Veda turned before I even reached her, her advanced hearing picking up my footsteps. “There she is.” Veda laughed softly. Her grey hair was stained with a bit of paste so I wiped it off with my sleeves. “Am I late?” “Are you ever late?” She laughed again. Veda always laughed. After the sun, Veda was my favorite thing. She laughed when I was early and when I was late. When I made a mistake, she still laughed. Although I never knew my mother, I imagined she was just like Veda. Veda who’d been kind enough to take in a baby girl she found on the streets. “Goddess, look at your hair! You mustn’t play so much. You are grown now.” Veda started wiping my red hair with a dish rag. It smelled like soap. “You will find your mate soon so you must be…what do I always say?” She stared at me pointedly. My mouth fell open as I scrambled to think of what exactly she was referring to. “That…I could be mated to a noble wolf and would become a lady.” I murmured. She chuckled, nodding. “Also, you have always been special. Soiling your hair and dress does not suit who you’re meant to be.” “Yes, Veda.” I recited. I followed her around the kitchen like I’d done for 18 years. I didn’t have to. I helped her out sometimes but I wasn’t really obligated to since I wasn’t an employee. I simply did not exist. I wasn’t significant enough to exist. The other kitchen omegas who saw me titled me as the orphan Veda took in on a rainy night. Dinner for the Alpha and his family or people that hovered around him was almost ready. When Veda was placing the food in large bowls, she glanced at me. “What? You get kicked out of the clinic?” I chuckled. As if I could ever get kicked out? I was well-behaved and memorized all the names of the medicines. I could also pronounce those names better than the other students. “So? You just decided to give this old maid a hand?” “Of course.” I smiled sweetly, hooking my arm around Veda’s. I didn’t know what befell my real parents or why I was on the street the night Veda found me but she was my family and she was old. I liked spending too much time with her. I helped Veda and the other servants with the last of the meal preparations. They didn’t object as they’ve grown used to my busybody. Once I was finished, I carried a tray filled with meat and exited the grand kitchen. I walked behind the omegas down the long dark hall. At each turning point, statues greeted me. Sometimes the head of a wolf, sometimes a fang, sometimes claws. When we reached the dining room, it was already occupied. There were four people seated at the table already. Miss Freya was there. I’d seen her many times when she came to the kitchen. She was the beta’s mate. Despite her high ranking, she would joke around with the omegas and even cook herself. I’d seen her fight too. She was extraordinary. Beside her, the beta sat whispering something in her ear. I could have honed in my hearing to hear what was so funny but they were mates and their conversation was private. A smile blossomed on my face. Was that how I would be with my mate? My eyes moved to a woman with brown hair who picked on the salad on her plate. I had seen her a few times but I didn’t remember her name. She played with her food while occasionally stealing glances at the Alpha. Veda nudged my arm gently, urging me forward. I moved closer to the large oak dining table to drop the tray I’d been holding and perhaps it was because I’d been so distracted but as soon as I stepped closer, an overwhelming presence overcame me. The Alpha ate his food absentmindedly as his eyes skimmed through a paper he was holding. He wasn’t even looking my way but the awareness of his presence or maybe it was his authority knocked air out of my lungs. I had only glanced at the Alpha from a distance, never this close. I was mere inches away from him. Stray strands of his dark hair fell over his eyebrows. I must have been watching him for too long because he suddenly looked up at me. I stumbled backwards as his dark brown eyes narrowed at me in question. My lips parted but no words came out. His eyes were the perfect shade, it reminded her of coffee. His eyebrows were thick, his lips a pale pink. He was breathtaking. I felt a hand push my head down in a bow. “Forgive her, Alpha, she is too young.” Veda cried out. I pouted. Had I committed a sin by staring at him? And I was 18! I would get my mate soon. I wasn’t a child. “If she is so young and does not know respect then you shouldn’t employ her!” The brown haired woman snapped at us. “Relax, Maya, she did nothing wrong.” Freya mumbled. “Maybe if I punish her, it will stop her from making further mistakes.” The woman, Maya seethed. Her eyes glowed, her wolf just beneath the surface. I inched backwards. If a fight broke out, I wouldn’t win. I hadn’t learned to use my wolf much yet. “Come on, she probably just has a little crush.” The beta chuckled, nudging the Alpha playfully. I bit back a smile at the display. How long had they known each other? The Alpha’s piercing gaze shifted to me and my breath stilled. “How old are you?” His voice was rich and deep. I smiled. “I’m eighteen.” I replied. His head c****d to the side almost like he was confused about something. “Do they employ youngsters?” He asked. My nose scrunched. Sure, he was the Alpha but from what I saw he wasn’t too old himself. I knew his parents had died when he was young which led to the start of his early reign. “Uh, your grace, she…is not an employee. She is my ward. She learns as a healer but likes to help me out.” Veda's head went lower. I could picture it hurting later. “Ah, you’ve let a stranger in the castle!” Maya shrieked. The Alpha turned to give her a look. It was only a look but it commanded so much authority. He did not like being interrupted. “I know her. I’ve seen her help Veda in the kitchen.” Freya chipped in. My eyes brightened. She actually remembered Veda’s name. “What is your name?” He asked next. My brows furrowed. Why did he want my name? Who even cared? The Alpha, the ruler, the king of the Nightshade pack wanted to know my name?? “I…am Lyca.” I muttered. He nodded casually. I’d daydreamed most of my life about becoming someone important and standing before the most powerful Alpha in the realm while he learned my name was too intoxicating. In my giddy state, I rushed to ask him a question. From the hint of surprise that appeared in his eyes, he hadn’t expected the question.