Rejected by My Fated Alpha

The antiseptic smell of the pack infirmary burned my nostrils as I slipped through the door. The hallway was quiet—most pack members were preparing for tonight's festivities, not wasting time in a place of sickness and healing. My footsteps echoed softly against the polished floor as I made my way to the back room where my mother lay.

"Five minutes," Dr. Elena whispered, her kind eyes filled with pity. "She's been asking for you."

I nodded gratefully. Dr. Elena had always been kind to me, one of the few in the pack who treated me like a person rather than property.

The room was dim, sunlight filtering through half-drawn blinds. My mother looked small against the white sheets, her once-vibrant features now hollow and pale. Tubes and monitors surrounded her, the steady beeping of machines the only sound besides her shallow breathing.

"Mom," I whispered, taking her limp hand in mine.

Her eyelids fluttered, and for a moment, recognition sparked in her faded blue eyes. "Ember... my little wolf..."

Tears spilled down my cheeks as I clutched her hand tighter. "I'm here. I'm here, Mom."

"Time..." she rasped, her voice barely audible. "Running out..."

"I know," I choked back a sob. "But I have a plan."

I leaned closer, my lips nearly touching her ear. "After the Moon Goddess Festival, I'm leaving. I'm going to the human territory where the pack can't track me."

Her fingers twitched in mine, a weak squeeze of acknowledgment.

"I'll find work, send money back. Once I earn enough, I'll come back for you. We'll both be free."

I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small wooden wolf carving—my father's gift from before he died. It was crudely made but precious to me. I placed it on her bedside table.

"Remember this? Dad made it for me." I traced the rough edges with my fingertip. "I'm leaving it with you as a promise. I'll come back."

A single tear slid down her temple into her hair. "My brave girl..."

I pressed a kiss to her forehead, breathing in her fading scent one last time. "I love you, Mom. Hold on for me."

---

The servants' quarters were a stark contrast to the opulent main house—narrow hallways, bare bulbs instead of chandeliers, and doors that stuck when you tried to open them. I was folding my meager belongings into a worn backpack when the door swung open without warning.

Katherine stood in the doorway, her golden hair perfectly styled despite the late hour. Her blue eyes sparkled with an emotion I couldn't quite place.

"Working late, Ember?" she asked, her voice dripping with false sweetness.

I froze, my hands still clutching a threadbare sweater. "Miss Rose. I was just—"

"Packaging up your things?" She stepped into the room, closing the door behind her. "Planning to leave after your debt is paid?"

My heart hammered against my ribs. How could she possibly know?

"Don't look so surprised," she laughed, running a manicured finger along my desk. "Did you think I wouldn't notice? The way Luka's scent changes when you're near? That distinctive mate fragrance..."

She clicked her tongue sympathetically. "Such a shame. An Omega and an Alpha heir. The Moon Goddess does have a cruel sense of humor sometimes."

I remained silent, unsure of what to say. Katherine circled me slowly, like a predator assessing prey.

"You know," she said casually, "I'm not heartless. Really, I pity you."

She stopped directly in front of me, her perfume overwhelming my senses. "I have a proposition for you. A way to clear your debt instantly."

My wolf stirred uneasily within me.

"There's a diplomatic package that needs delivery to a VIP guest at the Blackwood Hotel on the pack borders." She produced an envelope from her jacket. "Deliver this tonight, and I'll personally clear your mother's debt."

"Why would you help me?" I asked, suspicion threading through my confusion.

Katherine's smile widened. "Because I'm going to be Luna in two days. And a Luna who helps even the lowest Omega... well, that's quite the reputation to build, isn't it?"

She pressed the envelope into my hands. "The recipient's name is Gatlin Perry. He's expecting you."

Something cold slithered down my spine at the name. I'd heard whispers of Gatlin Perry—a Rogue Alpha with a taste for cruelty.

"Just deliver the package," Katherine said, moving toward the door. "Nothing more. Then you'll be free to run away to your human territory with your mother."

As she reached for the handle, she turned back with a final smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Oh, and Ember? Don't tell anyone about our little arrangement. It's our secret."

The door closed behind her with a soft click that sounded like a trap snapping shut.