The Rejected Hybrid Princess

Chapter 2

Logan P.O.V

When I first found out that Matilda Payne was my destined mate, I thought it was a cruel, twisted joke.

I couldn't believe it.

How could a fragile, weak human like her possibly be tied to me? The future Alpha of the pack? The idea seemed utterly absurd. I could feel my fists clenching, my teeth grinding together as I tried to wrap my mind around it.

Are you kidding me? The thought raged through my mind like wildfire. I, Logan Walton, bound to a petty silly human? A woman who can’t even stand up for herself?

The very idea of it made me so sick. She wasn’t one of us—she wasn’t strong enough. She could barely hold on. My wolf was howling inside me, demanding a true mate, someone powerful and strong. Not her.

No, Matilda was a mere human, weak in every sense of the word. And yet, fate had somehow thrown us together.

I kept trying to suppress the anger brewing and the frustration that burned inside me, but it was hard. There was no escaping it. I have no choice, I reminded myself, trying to keep my emotions in check. My father had made it clear—no special treatment would be given. No one was above the pack, not even me. If the pack accepted her, she would be a part of it. And that meant I had to treat her like I would treat anyone else.

Accepting her into the pack is the biggest concession I’ll make, I thought. But she’ll never be my mate. Never.

An Alpha’s Luna needed to be strong, fierce, someone who could stand beside me when it mattered. My mother had been a warrior, a force to be reckoned with. She’d fought by my father’s side in every battle without hesitation, strong and proud. Matilda was the complete opposite—frail, soft, and easily scared. I couldn’t even picture her in battle. She wouldn’t stand a chance. What would she do? Watch from the sidelines, hoping no one noticed her?

The pack needed someone strong, someone who could easily command respect, someone who could fight beside me, not someone who would need constant protection. Matilda was none of those things. She was a burden, nothing more than a reminder of how fate could screw everything up. The thought of being tied to her, of having to protect someone so weak, made my stomach churn in disdain.

She’s been coddled and sheltered her whole life, I thought bitterly. Her parents, her brother, her friends—all of them shielded her from reality. They protected her from the harshness of true pack life, and now she’ll never be strong enough to survive here. Maybe it’s better for her to disappear. Maybe it’s better for her to leave before she drags anyone else down along with her.

The more I thought about it, the more convinced I became that rejecting her was the right choice. And then, when I saw her reaction—when I saw the way she accepted it without even putting up a fight, I felt something twist inside me. I couldn’t explain it, but there was a sharp pain that pierced through me. It was unexpected, this sting. I’d expected her to cry, to beg, but she didn’t. Instead, she said those words of acceptance, and I could see the pain in her eyes.

But I couldn’t show weakness. I couldn’t let anyone know how deeply her rejection had hurt me. I had to keep up the act. I smiled, I laughed, I tried to drown the ache in alcohol and the noise of the party. I told myself it didn’t matter, that it was just a small setback for someone like her, but deep down, I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that I had done something irreversible. That maybe, just maybe, I had made a mistake.

As the night went on, I tried to keep myself busy. Jesse approached me, a mischievous grin on his face and a beer in his hand. “Hehehe, look who’s here. Isn’t this the future Alpha?” he teased, handing me a drink.

I took the beer without a second thought, gulping it down in one go. The weight of the future hung over me like a storm cloud, and the idea of becoming the Alpha both thrilled and terrified me. I had never wanted this responsibility, but it was mine all the same. The pack would be watching me, waiting for me to take charge, and that thought made my skin crawl.

“Come on, man, lighten up! Next Monday is your big day!” Jesse said, slapping me on the back. “You’ll have everything you need if you can just find your mate by then.”

I grimaced, but kept my mouth tightly shut. Jesse didn’t know, couldn’t know, that the mate he spoke about which I had rejected was his sister. If he found out, if Rhode ever found out, this party wouldn’t just be awkward. It would turn into a full-blown confrontation. And I wasn’t ready for that.

Damn it, I thought, my hands tightening around my drink. Why did it have to be her?

Rhode and Jesse continued to joke around, their laughter picking on my nerves. My mind kept wandering back to Matilda, to the way she had looked at me with those tears-filled eyes. I had rejected her—humiliated her in front of everyone—and I couldn’t shake off the guilt. But then, just when I thought I could drown it all out, Rhode’s mother walked over, her voice laced with concern.

“Have you seen Matilda?” she asked, her face tight with worry.

The mention of her name made something in me lurch. For a brief moment, I couldn’t breathe. Why was I feeling like this? Why did her name—her absence—affect me so much? My mind began to race. What if she had run off, what if she had—

“Didn’t she say she had something to do at the pack house?” I found myself saying, trying to sound casual, trying to ignore the gnawing sense of panic creeping into my chest.

Rhode’s mother shook her head. “Yes, but it’s been over two hours now. Today’s gathering was her favorite. How could she not be back by now?”

I frowned, the small thread of panic tightening in my chest. I tried to catch a whiff of her scent, something very familiar that usually brought me comfort, but all I could smell was the faintest trace of it. Her orchid fragrance, once strong and comforting, was almost gone.

She’s not here, I thought, the dread in my gut growing. Where is she?

“I’ll go find her!” Rhode said suddenly, his voice sounding urgent. His eyes were wide with worry, and without another word, he turned and rushed toward the door.

“We’ll help,” I said quickly, trying to mask my unease. If I felt guilty for rejecting her, at least I could do something to try and make up for it. Maybe if I find her, it’ll fix things.

The group, including Rhode, his parents, and me, headed for the woods. The deeper we walked, the more I realized how faint Matilda’s scent had become, it was almost gone. Like as if she was slipping away, disappearing altogether. The dread in my chest tightened with every step.

Good riddance, I thought bitterly, trying to push the thought away. I made the right choice. She would have ruined everything if she stayed. The pack deserves someone stronger.

But then, Rhode, the calm, composed one, suddenly shouted. His voice was strained. “Look! What’s that?”

I followed quickly, my heart racing, only to stop dead in my tracks when I saw it. A beautiful burgundy bow, lying discarded on the ground. My stomach sank as I realized it was Matilda’s. I recognized it immediately. The same bow she had worn earlier when I rejected her.

She wouldn’t dare, I thought, panic rising in my chest. She wouldn’t—

But the truth hit me like a punch to the gut. My heart pounded in my ears as the realization settled in. She did.