Rejected Mate Finds Hope

The dining room felt suffocating as I took my seat at the far end of the table, the usual place for an Omega like me. Margaret Parker sat at the head opposite Blake, with Holly positioned at his right hand—the traditional Luna's place that should have been mine.

My swollen belly made it difficult to sit comfortably, but I tried to make myself as small as possible, hoping to avoid notice. The abdominal pains that had started earlier hadn't subsided; if anything, they were getting worse.

"Pass the roasted venison, please," Margaret said, her voice carrying across the table. Her eyes deliberately skipped over me as she held her plate out.

I reached for the dish, but Blake intercepted, taking it himself and placing it directly in front of Holly.

"Holly should have the first serving," he said firmly. "As the children's proper maternal figure."

Marcus nodded enthusiastically, while Emma watched with wide eyes, learning from her brother's example.

"I agree," Margaret said, her smile sharp as she cut into her own portion. "It's about time we had someone at this table who represents the kind of Luna our family deserves."

The words sliced through me like claws, but I kept my expression neutral, years of practice making it easy to hide my pain.

"Holly comes from a long line of warriors," Margaret continued, as if I weren't sitting right there. "Pure bloodlines matter in leadership. Our pack needs strength, not..." Her eyes flicked to me briefly before dismissing me entirely. "...maintenance."

I felt a sharp pain lanced through my abdomen and gripped the edge of the table. No one noticed.

"I think it's wonderful how the children have taken to you," Margaret said to Holly, who was delicately cutting her venison into perfect slices. "They need a role model who understands their potential."

"Thank you," Holly replied, her voice honey-sweet. "I'm just glad I can finally be here for them properly."

Another wave of pain hit me, stronger this time. I couldn't suppress the small gasp that escaped my lips.

"Are you quite alright?" Margaret asked, though her tone made it clear she didn't care about the answer.

"I'm fine," I managed, though the pain was intensifying.

By the time dinner ended, I could barely stand. The children had left with Holly to review combat techniques, while Blake retreated to his office—likely with her in tow. Margaret busied herself with pack correspondence, leaving me alone with my growing discomfort.

I waited until the house grew quiet before slipping out, one hand pressed against my belly. The walk to Dr. Hayes's clinic felt endless, each step sending fresh waves of agony through me.

The pack healer looked up when I entered, his expression shifting from neutral to concerned as he took in my appearance.

"Luna Penelope," he said, rising from his chair. "You look unwell."

"I've been having pains," I admitted, sinking into the chair he offered. "They started this afternoon and have been getting worse."

Dr. Hayes examined me with practiced efficiency, his hands gentle but clinical as he checked my belly and vitals.

"I'm concerned about the baby," he said finally, his brow furrowed. "There are signs of distress that we should address immediately."

Relief washed through me—finally someone was taking my concerns seriously.

"What do we need to do?" I asked.

Dr. Hayes's expression shifted awkwardly. "Well, that's the thing. For any procedure or medication related to your pregnancy, I need Alpha consent. It's pack law."

My heart sank. "Blake is... unavailable."

"I'm sorry," Dr. Hayes said, though his eyes said he understood perfectly. "I can give you some mild pain relief, but nothing that might affect the pup without Alpha approval."

I took the small pill he offered with trembling fingers. "And if the pain gets worse?"

"Come back with Alpha Blake's signature on these forms," he said, sliding papers across the desk. "Or don't come back at all."

The cruel joke wasn't lost on me.

I made my way back to the pack house clutching the consent forms, each step more painful than the last. As I approached Blake's office, I heard voices through the partially open window.

"You should have seen her face," Holly was saying, her voice laced with amusement. "When Marcus called me his proper Luna."

"You handled it perfectly," Blake replied, his tone warmer than he ever used with me. "The children deserve someone who understands their world."

"And what about you?" Holly asked softly. "What do you deserve, Blake?"

There was a pause, and I froze, hardly daring to breathe.

"I deserve someone like you," Blake said finally. "Someone who understands what it means to lead a pack. Someone who isn't..."

"An Omega?" Holly finished for him.

"Yes," Blake admitted, his voice heavy with regret. "Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I'd chosen you first. If I could somehow undo my mistake."

The consent forms slipped from my fingers, scattering across the ground as another pain—this one sharper than any before—tore through my abdomen.

But it wasn't the physical pain that brought tears to my eyes as I knelt there, gathering the fallen papers with shaking hands.

It was the realization that I was nothing but a mistake he wished he could erase.