Rejected by My Fated Alpha

The morning sun filtered through the curtains as I carefully arranged Luka's breakfast tray. Four years of service had taught me exactly how he liked his coffee—black with one sugar, placed on the right side of his plate. My hands trembled slightly as I reached for the cup, my wolf stirring restlessly inside me.

"Calm down," I whispered to her. "Just two more days."

My wolf, Luna, whined softly. She'd been increasingly agitated lately, sensing what I refused to acknowledge—that our time here was coming to an end, one way or another.

The door opened without a knock, and Luka strode in, his cedar and rain scent washing over me like a physical force. I lowered my eyes immediately, keeping my breathing shallow to avoid taking in too much of his intoxicating aroma.

"Your coffee, sir," I murmured, placing the tray on his desk.

Luka didn't acknowledge me. He never did. To him, I was furniture—useful but unworthy of notice. I backed away, my heart aching with the familiar pain of rejection.

As I turned to leave, my hand accidentally brushed against his. A jolt of electricity shot through me—our mate bond reacting to the contact. I gasped, unable to suppress my response.

"Stop it," Luka growled, his eyes flashing amber. "Stop projecting your scent."

"I'm sorry," I whispered, backing away further. "I didn't mean to—"

"Silence!" His Alpha tone vibrated through the room, hitting me like a physical blow. "Control yourself, Omega."

I nodded, tears threatening to spill. Suppressing my scent wasn't just difficult—it was painful. My wolf howled in protest as I forced her back down, the effort making my chest ache.

"Better," Luka said coldly, though his eyes lingered on me for a moment longer than necessary. "Now get out."

---

The garden tea party was Katherine's idea. She'd returned from overseas yesterday, and Luka had been practically glowing ever since.

"Ember, serve us in the garden," Luka ordered, not bothering to look at me as he adjusted Katherine's chair. "And make sure the tea is properly brewed this time."

I nodded, gathering the delicate china cups and silver teapot. My hands shook slightly as I arranged everything on the tray. Katherine's perfume—expensive and cloying—mixed with Luka's natural scent in a way that made my stomach turn.

"Careful with that," Katherine said sweetly as I approached. "Those cups are from my grandmother's collection."

"Of course, Miss Rose," I replied, keeping my eyes downcast.

I poured the tea, the steam rising between them as they sat intimately close. Luka reached out to tuck a strand of Katherine's golden hair behind her ear—a tender gesture he'd never once shown me.

"You look lovely today," he murmured to her.

Katherine giggled, leaning into his touch. "You're such a charmer, Luka."

I stood silently to the side, waiting to be dismissed. My wolf paced anxiously within me, sensing the threat Katherine posed.

"Oh!" Katherine suddenly exclaimed, knocking over her cup. Tea spread across the white tablecloth, staining it brown. "How clumsy of me!"

Before I could move to clean it up, she turned to me with narrowed eyes. "Though perhaps if the service were better, I wouldn't have been startled."

Luka's expression hardened as he looked at me. "What is wrong with you, Ember? Can't you do anything right?"

"I'm sorry," I whispered, grabbing a napkin to soak up the spill.

"Leave it," he snapped. "You'll only make it worse. Katherine, let me show you the renovations we've made to the east wing."

As they walked away, Katherine glanced back at me with a triumphant smile that chilled me to the bone.

---

The dining hall buzzed with excitement that evening. Alpha Marcus had called a formal dinner, and everyone knew something important was about to be announced.

I stood against the wall with the other staff, watching as Luka and Katherine entered together, her hand possessively on his arm.

"Attention, everyone," Alpha Marcus called, raising his glass. "I have wonderful news to share."

The room fell silent.

"In two days, at the Moon Goddess Festival, my son Luka will officially mark Katherine Rose as his Luna!"

Cheers erupted throughout the hall. I felt the room spin around me as Luka turned to Katherine, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"Isn't it wonderful?" Dr. Elena whispered beside me. "Though I always thought..."

She trailed off, noticing my pale face.

Luka's eyes met mine across the room, cold and indifferent. In that moment, something inside me shattered completely.

"Two days," I whispered to myself. "Just two more days until I'm free."

My wolf, who had been whimpering in pain, suddenly went quiet. We both knew what this meant—there would be no miracle, no sudden realization from Luka that I was his true mate.

As the celebration continued around me, I made my decision. The moment my debt was paid, I would flee the Bloodmoon Pack and never look back.