Rejected by My Alpha Mate

"Alright, thanks." I murmured, ready to drift off to sleep when Alpha Alistair's voice broke the silence.

"You know, Rosalie wanted to chat with you today, but you brushed her off. I think you owe her an apology."

"I'm not going to apologize."

"Josephine!" His tone sharpened, the Alpha command lacing his words. "You're being too stubborn! Rosalie always thinks of you as her big sister!"

"Is that supposed to make me feel grateful?" I let out a bitter laugh, recalling countless times Alpha Alistair had neglected me due to Rosalie's whims—when I miscarried, during my gastric episodes, even when I got lost outside, he left me to find my own way back while soothing Rosalie’s imaginary fears.

Ultimately, I nearly fell off a cliff and was brought back on a stretcher, while he was busy making pulled pork for Rosalie.

"Josephine, you weren't always like this. What's going on?" Alpha Alistair questioned beside me, his voice tinged with frustration.

"If you think I’ve changed, maybe we should consider a mate rejection."

The words "mate rejection" seemed to hang in the air, silencing him for a moment. I felt a bit uneasy myself.

"We're not rejecting the bond. Don’t bring it up again," Alpha Alistair said softly before turning to sleep.

We lay there, backs to each other, silent. The moon, often a comfort to our kind, seemed less bright tonight.

The next day, I decided to speak with Alpha Alistair. Despite the looming rejection, he should know about my plans to leave for a while. But when I reached his office, he wasn’t there; instead, Rosalie was sitting inside, fiddling with a small object.

I focused my gaze and realized it was the watch I had given Alpha Alistair as a symbol of our mate bond, bought with all my savings at the time.

"Jo, you're here!" Rosalie chirped as she saw me, clutching the watch tightly.

"Is that Alpha Alistair's watch?" I asked coolly, looking directly at it.

"Oh, this? Yeah, Alpha Alistair gave it to me. I bought him a new one, and since this wasn't worth much, he passed it on to me."

Her smug tone made each word cut like a knife, leaving a dull ache inside.

"Did he really say that?"

"Yep, he said that since I liked it, he’d let me have it. Alpha Alistair’s always pampering me, promising me whatever I want." Rosalie boasted proudly, her Delta status giving her the confidence to speak so boldly.

"In that case, you might as well give the watch back to me. After all, it’s not worth much." I masked my inner pain and spoke expressionlessly. The watch wasn't expensive, but I’d bought it with all my savings back then.

Before Rosalie could respond, the sound of the door opening interrupted, followed by a surprised yelp from Rosalie. Alpha Alistair stepped in, his towering frame filling the doorway. His dark eyes flicked between us, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of guilt. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by his usual commanding presence.

"Josephine," he said, his voice calm but firm. "We need to talk."

I stood my ground, my heart pounding. The mate bond between us felt like a weight, pulling at me even as I tried to push it away. My wolf stirred within me, a quiet growl of discontent echoing in my mind.

Alpha Alistair’s gaze softened slightly, and he stepped closer. "You can’t keep avoiding this. The bond—"

"I’m not avoiding anything," I interrupted, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "But I won’t apologize for something I didn’t do wrong."

He sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "You’re making this harder than it needs to be."

"And you’re making it impossible," I shot back, my wolf’s growl growing louder in my head. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. "Alpha Alistair, I think it’s time we accept that this isn’t working."

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might argue. But then he nodded, his expression resigned. "If that’s what you want."

"It’s not about what I want," I said quietly. "It’s about what’s best for both of us."

He didn’t respond, and the silence between us felt heavier than ever. Rosalie’s presence in the room was a reminder of the distance that had grown between us, and I knew that no matter what happened next, things would never be the same.

As I turned to leave, I felt the mate bond pull at me once more, a painful reminder of what we were losing. My wolf whimpered softly, but I ignored it, focusing on the path ahead. The moon, now hidden behind the clouds, offered no comfort, and I knew that from here on out, I would be walking this path alone.