From Rejected Mate To Alpha's Vengeance

Zaiden Ortiz, my mate of seven years, handed me a positive pregnancy test and announced he was going to mark his mother’s servant, Ophelia Brooks. "It was a mistake; I drank too much. I have to take responsibility. Once the pup is born and everything is settled legally, I’ll reject her. Just wait for me," he insisted, his voice laced with that infuriating charm that had once made me believe in him. "You love me because I’m responsible, right? Trust me."

To avoid confrontation, he even brought his mother, Isabelle Ortiz, a Delta in the Ortiz Pack, to mediate.

But this time, I packed my things and moved out of that cramped apartment willingly. I agreed to the arranged mating with Hugo Kelly, the Alpha of the Kelly Pack, a union forged by our grandfathers' alliance during the war.

In the past, I had slapped Ophelia in a fit of rage, causing her to lose the pregnancy. Zaiden never mentioned it, marked me as his mate, and soon had me pregnant. On the day our pup was born, he deserted us in the snowy Alps.

"Zaiden, how can you be so heartless? This is your own flesh and blood!" I screamed, clutching our newborn pup close to my chest.

He sneered, his wolfish eyes glinting with malice, "Do you think I would ever touch someone as vile as you? The one who sired your pup was some rogue I found in the forest!"

"You should understand what it’s like to lose a pup."

The snow buried us, and my pup and I froze to death.

So, in this new beginning, I decided to let go and allow them their sordid affair.

Five years later, at a pack business conference, Zaiden spotted me and urgently pulled me aside. "I’ve been searching for you. You finally appeared. This project is crucial for me. I know you’re upset, but let me explain after it’s over. Please, don’t cause trouble."

I pushed him away, my voice cold and authoritative. "I’m the one hosting the bid. This territory is mine."

Zaiden was stunned, uncertainty clouding his face. Just then, a voice dripping with sarcasm came from behind him.

“Oh, no wonder you looked familiar. It’s Beta Jasmine Kelly. Five years apart, and you’re still dressed so plainly. What are you hiding under all those layers?”

I was dressed in a tailored professional outfit, devoid of any pack insignia, yet it cost more than Zaiden’s annual earnings. Ophelia, in contrast, wore a cheap, tight-fitting spaghetti strap dress with towering heels, her makeup as exaggerated as for a mating ceremony.

I gave her a cold look and moved to walk inside, but Zaiden grabbed my arm again.

"You’ve become so disrespectful. Ophelia greeted you, and you didn’t even acknowledge her?"

I frowned, pulling away and smoothing out the wrinkles in my sleeve. I retorted coolly, "Grabbing another female’s arm in front of your mate—that’s quite disrespectful, wouldn’t you say?"

To my surprise, he then said, "We are not mated."

I looked at him in astonishment. Wasn’t Ophelia supposed to mark him after carrying his pup? Had something changed?

Before I could ponder further, Ophelia angrily stepped forward and shoved me. "Jasmine, why won’t you just disappear?"

"Did you hear that Zaiden promised to secure this project and then mark me? Is that why you’re here to disrupt us?"

I sighed, replying, "I have no interest in your affairs anymore. Step aside, please don’t block my path."

She completely ignored what I said, snorting disdainfully and taunting, "I get it. You’re a thirty-year-old, unmated female who’s desperate enough to think about Zaiden all the time. It’s understandable."

"But look at yourself! Is there anything about you that compares to me? Dreaming that Zaiden would choose you—it’s been too long, hasn’t it?"

Though I had no intention to engage with them, Ophelia’s relentless provocation pushed me to respond.

"Ophelia, besides being three years younger, what else do you have that’s worth bragging about? Do you think your four-figure handbag holds a candle to my nearly impossible-to-get seven-figure one? Or do you believe that your height, barely reaching Zaiden’s chin even with heels, is some advantage over my 5’7 stature?"

"Or is it that your unfinished education surpasses my doctorate in pack management?"

"What exactly makes you better?"

"Perhaps you’ll say you’ve won Zaiden’s affection, but so what? You merely picked up the trash I discarded."

My words infuriated them instantly. Zaiden pointed at me, his voice rising, "Jasmine, when did you become so sharp-tongued?"

"I’m giving you one last chance to apologize. Otherwise, even if you beg on your knees, I won’t forgive you!"

I couldn’t help but laugh at his arrogance. "Zaiden, who gave you the confidence to think I’d ever beg you? I think you’re the one dreaming here!"

"Jasmine, are you seriously claiming you didn’t show up today with the intent of drawing my attention?"

"Do you take me for a fool? We’ve been together since our school days; do you think your little tricks escape my notice?"

"When you vanished suddenly, it was to make me feel guilty, wasn’t it? I admit I did feel guilty and wanted to find you, but you hid well. You only reappeared because you couldn’t stand the idea of my marking ceremony with Ophelia, didn’t you?"