Rejected By My Mate, Claimed By Alpha King

FIONA'S POV

Standing under the bright lights, I could feel every eye in the room on me, though none of them really saw me. My Father stood tall and imposing beside me, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder, as though I were his precious little daughter. He introduced me to the crowd with a warm smile, calling me his "sweet Fiona," the cherished youngest child, celebrating my 18th birthday. But I knew better. That smile was as fake as the warmth in his voice.

I forced a smile in return, trying to ignore the hollow feeling in my chest. The truth was, the only time my father showed me any real attention was when he was angry. Like last night. The memory of his drunken rage flickered through my mind, the sting of the whip across my back.

But none of that mattered right now. All that mattered was playing my part.

I straightened up, my forced smile still in place, as guests from all over the pack came forward to greet me. They all pretended to care, offering gifts and polite words, but I knew none of them meant it. They pitied me, maybe even feared me. After all, I was the reason my mother was dead. The whispered gossip around the pack always returned to the same cruel point: My birth had killed her, and for that, my father and Amber hated me.

“Thank you all for coming to grace this wonderful occasion with us,” my father said and the crowd cheered.

None of them knew that it was all a facade. None of them knew he had whipped me yesterday night so I could learn to behave and act like my perfect sister.

The memories stinging in my mind, I stepped forward and plastered a practiced smile on my face, waving and bowing at the guests.

As the celebration continued, I made sure to go round and greet the Alphas present. It was either that or else.

Suddenly, a low voice echoed in my head. “Fiona, he's here,”

I froze. It was my wolf, Mira, her presence stirring for the first time in days.

“Who's here?” I asked, feeling a strange rush of energy course through me.

“Our mate,” she answered, her voice filled with barely contained excitement. “I can feel him. He's close. Our mate is here,” she repeated.

I paused, shock and surprise running through me. “What? W-what did you say? Our mate?” I stammered in question.

“Yes. He is here,” she replied.

My heart pounding, I began to make my way through the crowd, trying to find him.

Who was it? Where was he?

I’d dreamed of this moment my entire life, the one thing that might finally be mine, something no one could take from me.

I scanned the room, my eyes darting from face to face, searching for someone—anyone—who felt different. I took a deep breath and started moving through the crowd, my heart pounding harder with every step. People kept trying to talk to me, but I barely heard them. I had one goal now: find him.

And then, I saw him.

At the far end of the room, standing near the entrance, his eyes locked onto mine the moment I spotted him. He was tall, even taller than my father, with dark hair and piercing gray eyes.

“Mate,” The word burst from both of us at the same time, the pull between us undeniable.

“Fiona,” my father’s voice called out, snapping me out of the trance I had fallen into. I turned to see him standing a few feet away, watching me with a calculating look. His eyes flickered between me and the man who was now standing in front of me and he smiled.

I swallowed hard, suddenly nervous. Why had he smile? Was there something going on between them? All I just wanted was my mate.

The man—my mate—glanced at my father, then back at me.

“Who is he?” I whispered to Mira, my heart pounding in my chest.

“Alpha Garrick,” she answered quietly, “leader of the StoneHeart Pack,”

I didn't care who he was. I was just thankful that I had him to save me from my misery and suffering.

Alpha Garrick’s lips parted, and he spoke, his voice low and firm. “I am Alpha Garrick,” he said, confirming Mira’s words. “And you… are my mate.”

His words sent a shock through me, but I tried to stay calm, nodding as I met his gaze. I could feel the bond between us, the pull that told me he was mine and I was his.

But my mind was spinning. It seemed too good to be true. Too good to believe. I was going to be finally free from them all.

Before I could say anything, my father stepped forward, a cold smile on his face. “Alpha Garrick,” he said smoothly. “What a surprise. I see you’ve met my daughter, the birthday girl.”

“Yes,” Garrick said slowly, replying my father. “I have met your daughter. I was just wishing her a happy eighteenth birthday.”

My father turned to me. “I hope you've appreciated him for gracing your birthday party. That would be the polite thing to do.”

I swallowed and turned my gaze to the ground. “Yes, Father. I — I was just thanking him.”

Inside of me, my mind was twisting in a knot. Should I tell my father that Alpha Garrick was my mate? Why was Alpha Garrick himself not saying anything.

I risked a glance at him with the side of my eyes. He didn't look like he was going to say anything.

“Say something, Fiona,” my wolf urged inside of me.

“This is your chance. Speak up,”

I swallowed. I didn't want to be too forward, but this seemed like my only chance and I didn't want to miss it.

I opened my mouth and said, “Father, this is my mate,” the same moment Amber came and gave Garrick a kiss and said with a superior smirk, “Father, Fiona, this is my boyfriend.”