Rejected by Fate's Alpha

Around noon, Annika brought me lunch. This time, it wasn’t leftovers, but the portion was pitiful—just a bowl of plain oatmeal and a few wilted vegetables. Clearly, it was whatever was left from the pack’s meal.

I asked casually, “Where’s Alpha Remington?”

Annika hesitated, her expression uneasy. “A few of the Beta’s friends missed the Marking Ceremony yesterday. Alpha’s with them now, accompanying Luna Jaycee for a chat.”

I muttered to myself, “I know those people. Why didn’t he invite me to join?”

Annika looked uncomfortable, her lips pressing together as if she wanted to say more but didn’t dare.

I forced a bitter smile. “It’s fine. Just tell me.”

She sighed softly. “Alpha… never mentioned to anyone that you were his chosen mate.”

Even though I had braced myself for it, the words still cut deep. My chest tightened, and my wolf, *Aria*, whimpered faintly in the back of my mind.

Remington, you once told me your heart belonged only to me. Was that the truth?

I didn’t touch the lunch Annika brought. Instead, I left it for Fluffy, who wagged his tail gratefully as he ate.

By evening, I woke up coughing, my body trembling under the thin blanket. I felt cold and feverish, my skin burning to the touch.

I tried to call for help, but my voice came out hoarse and weak. Fluffy barked anxiously beside me, but no one else seemed to hear.

I reached for the water pitcher on the table, but my hand slipped, and I tumbled to the floor.

Suddenly, the door slammed open, and for a moment, hope flared in my chest—was it Remington?

But my heart sank as I saw Bowen, a drunken rogue, stumbling into the room. His eyes lit up with predatory glee as he scooped me up from the floor, his breath reeking of alcohol.

“Well, well, what do we have here? A little beauty hiding in this corner,” he slurred, his hands tightening around me. “C’mon, give me a kiss.”

I was too weak to fight him off, my fevered body refusing to cooperate. As his greasy lips came closer, I grabbed a pair of scissors from the table and tried to stab him, but he twisted my wrist, and the blade sank into my shoulder instead.

The pain shocked him sober, and he dropped me, backing away in panic.

At that moment, the door opened again.

This time, it was Remington, with Jaycee trailing behind him.

Jaycee gasped dramatically, covering her eyes and burying her face in Remington’s chest. “Oh, Alpha! Evelyn, how could you do something so shameful?”

Bowen stammered, pointing at me. “She’s the one who seduced me! She said she was lonely and wanted me to stay. Then she stabbed herself for… for fun!”

Tears streamed down my face as I looked at Remington, shaking my head desperately. “I didn’t. It’s not what he’s saying. I swear.”

Jaycee lowered her hands, her voice dripping with fake sympathy. “We all saw it, Evelyn. Alpha even said he didn’t want to neglect you and came to check on you. How could you betray him like this?”

I ignored her, my eyes locked on Remington’s. “We’ve known each other for ten years. You know who I am. Please, believe me.”

But his expression was cold, his Alpha aura pressing down on me like a weight. “Evelyn, I thought I knew you. But today, I’m starting to think I never did.”

Just then, Fluffy ran to Jaycee, barking at her furiously.

She shrieked, clinging to Remington. “Alpha, I’m scared! Why is this filthy thing here?”

Tears welled in her eyes, and Remington, without hesitation, unsheathed his claws.

“No!” I screamed, but it was too late.

Fluffy let out a single, heart-wrenching yelp before collapsing to the floor, blood pooling beneath him.

The pain of losing him, combined with the betrayal, was too much. I felt *Aria* howl in agony as I coughed up blood, my vision fading to black.

The last thing I saw was Remington’s cold, distant gaze as I passed out.