Rejected by My Fated Mate

The next morning, I woke to an empty bed, the scent of Alessia lingering faintly in the air. To my surprise, she was already in the living room, moving gracefully through a yoga routine in her fitted workout outfit. Her lithe form and fluid movements were captivating, as they always had been, but something about the sight felt... performative.

Seeing me emerge, she paused her practice and glided into the kitchen, returning with a tray of breakfast she had prepared—a rare gesture from her. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries filled the room, but it did little to ease the tension in my chest.

"Alpha," she began, her voice soft and honeyed, "I’ve been thinking a lot about us. I realize I’ve been neglecting you. I promise to love you better from now on." She used my title, a formality that felt forced, given the intimacy she was trying to project.

She then handed me a stack of neatly organized brochures, her eyes bright with enthusiasm. "I stayed up researching and found a few cars that would suit you perfectly. Which one do you like? Let’s go to the dealership today to check them out."

Her words were sweet, almost too sweet, and I couldn’t help but notice the dark circles under her eyes. My wolf stirred faintly in the back of my mind, a low growl of suspicion, but I pushed it down. Years of affection for her still lingered, and part of me wanted to believe her promises. Maybe, just maybe, we could salvage what was left of our bond.

"Okay," I agreed, my voice steady despite the unease gnawing at me.

"Then let’s head out as soon as we finish breakfast," she said, visibly excited.

At the dealership, we started visiting the brands she had researched. I found a car I had admired for quite some time, a sleek, powerful model that seemed fitting for an Alpha. I was about to take it for a test drive when her phone rang. She glanced at me, her expression flickering with something I couldn’t quite place, before quickly stepping out to answer.

When she returned, her face was flushed with anxiety. "Alpha, I can’t stay with you to choose a car today. Ozzy is sick, and I need to check on him."

Ozzy. Again.

My jaw tightened, and I felt a surge of frustration. "He’s a grown wolf, isn’t he? Can’t he go to the healer by himself? Why is he calling you?"

Her reaction was sharp, her eyes narrowing as she retorted, "He just got back from abroad and isn’t familiar with anything here. He needs me to be with him." With that, she turned on her heel and walked out, leaving me standing there, the weight of her words pressing down on me.

I sat in the test drive car, feeling hollow. Ever since Ozzy had returned, Alessia had become a different wolf—constantly preoccupied with him, as if her loyalty to me, her Alpha and mate, meant nothing. Ozzy was sick, Ozzy was moving, Ozzy was sad—even when Ozzy’s dog was feeling unwell, Alessia had to be there for him. Meanwhile, I’d turned into a ghost in my own den, my needs and feelings invisible to her.

My wolf growled again, louder this time, a primal sound of frustration and hurt. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to focus. Pulling out my phone, I made a call.

"Kolton," I said when my Beta answered, "I’m in. I’m ready to start on that project anytime."

Kolton laughed on the other end of the line, his voice warm and encouraging. "Alpha, you’ve finally come around! It’ll be a tough project, but if you do it right, it could really pay off."

Hanging up, I felt a sense of relief settle over me. Over the years, I’d passed up many opportunities to stay by Alessia’s side, dedicating myself to caring for her. They say love is like tending to a garden, and I had nurtured her into a vibrant rose. But her blossoms weren’t meant for me, so why hang on?

It’s time to focus on myself. You have to love yourself first before you can truly love someone else.

Walking out of the dealership, I hailed a cab to Ozzy’s place. I needed to see for myself what illness warranted having someone else’s mate by his side every single day. My wolf growled in agreement, a low, menacing sound that echoed in my chest. This was far from over.