Rejected And Claimed By The Alpha

Alina’s Pov

“You’re pathetic, Alina.”

Marcus’s voice rang loud and cruel in the courtyard, echoing off the brick walls as if it wasn’t enough to break me once. My knees almost buckled beneath me, but I forced myself to stand, clenching my shaking hands into fists so they wouldn’t show my weakness. The whole pack was watching. Every face held either amusement or disgust.

“Did you really think I’d want someone like you?” he went on, the corners of his mouth curling in a sneer. His hazel eyes, once warm, now looked cold and distant.

My voice got stuck in my throat. The faint pull of the mate bond still lingered, tugging painfully at my chest even when his words should have destroyed it.

“Marcus…” My voice broke, barely louder than the whispers around us.

“Don’t say my name,” he growled, stepping closer. “I, Beta Marcus of the Silvercrest Pack, reject you, Alina, as my mate.”

My wolf whimpered inside me as the pain hit. I stumbled back, clutching at my chest as if I could hold myself together. The bond snapped, leaving behind a deep emptiness, like something inside me had been torn away.

“No,” I whispered, shaking my head. Tears blurred my sight, but I forced myself to look at him. “Please… you can’t do this.”

Marcus only sneered. “I just did. And why not? You’re just an Omega. Weak. Worthless. A shame to this pack.”

Laughter spread through the crowd. The sound twisted my heart. These were people I grew up with, people I cared about. Now they laughed at me.

“Enough!”

Alpha Richard’s voice cut through the noise. The crowd fell silent at once and moved aside as he stepped forward. His tall frame and cold expression sent a chill down my spine.

“Marcus has spoken,” he said, a faint smile on his lips. “You are no longer his mate. And as far as I’m concerned, you are no longer one of us.”

My heart dropped.

“Alpha, please,” I begged. “I’ve done nothing wrong. I’ve served this pack loyally—”

“Loyal?” He laughed softly. “You call yourself loyal while your family plots against me? You’re lucky I’m being merciful, Alina. If it were up to me, you’d rot with them.”

“With them?” I repeated, fear creeping into my voice.

His smile widened. “Oh, you haven’t heard? Your parents are in custody for treason. They were caught working with rogues to overthrow me.”

“No!” I screamed, shaking my head. “That’s not true! My parents would never—”

“Take her away,” he said with a careless wave.

I didn’t wait.

I turned and ran toward our house, my thoughts spinning. This had to be a lie. My parents were loyal. They would never betray the pack.

I rushed forward, my breath coming in broken gasps. Then I saw them.

I froze.

My mother and father were on their knees in the dirt. Their hands were held behind their heads, mouths gagged. Two enforcers stood over them, pressing them down.

“No!” I cried, running toward them. “Let them go!”

One of the enforcers shoved me hard in the chest. I stumbled back, barely keeping my balance.

“What have they done?” I asked, my voice shaking. “Why are you doing this?”

The enforcer looked at me with contempt. “Orders from the Alpha. Stay out of the way.”

I turned to my mother. Her wide eyes were full of fear.

“Mama…”

My voice broke. “What’s happening? Please, tell me.”

She shook her head quickly, tears running down her face.

“Get her out of here,” one of the enforcers said.

“No!” I shouted, trying to push past them, but they were too strong. They dragged my parents away, and I followed, my heart pounding hard in my chest.

“Stop!” I cried. “Please! Tell me what’s going on!”

They said nothing.

People gathered along the path as we moved. I heard their whispers and quiet laughter.

“She’s pathetic.”

“Like mother, like daughter.”

“She’s probably involved too.”

Every word hurt, but I kept moving.

When we reached the courtyard again, Alpha Richard was waiting.

“Alpha Richard!” I cried, dropping to my knees in front of him. “Please! Whatever you think they did, it’s not true. My parents would never betray you. They’ve served this pack their whole lives!”

He looked down at me calmly. “And yet, here we are.”

“They’re innocent!” I said. “You know they are!”

He stepped closer, his gaze fixed on me. “What I know is that your family was caught working with rogues to overthrow me. There is proof.”

“That’s a lie!” I shouted. “You’re lying!”

His hand grabbed my chin, forcing me to look up at him.

“You should watch your tone, Omega,” he said quietly. “Or you’ll join them in the dungeons.”

I pulled away from him, my chest rising and falling with each breath.

“Please…” I begged. “Don’t do this. They’re all I have.”

He turned his back on me. “Take them to the dungeons.”

“No!” I cried, jumping to my feet. I tried to run after them, but Marcus stepped in front of me.

“Don’t make this harder than it needs to be,” he said coldly.

I glared at him through my tears. “How can you do this? After everything my family has done for you… after everything I’ve done… you just stand there?”

His face didn’t change. “You’re not my responsibility anymore, Alina. You mean nothing to me.”

Something inside me broke.

I looked up just in time to see my parents being dragged away. Their muffled cries cut into me. My mother turned her head, her tear-filled eyes meeting mine.

Then they were gone.

Silence filled my ears.

A cold anger slowly replaced the pain.

“You’ll regret this,” I said, my voice shaking.

The Alpha turned back to me, slightly amused. “Is that so?”

“I’ll come back,” I said, stronger this time. “I’ll come back and destroy everything you’ve built. I’ll make you pay for what you’ve done to my family.”

For a moment, everything went still.

Then he laughed.

“You?” he said. “You are nothing, Alina. You’ll die out there, alone. No one will remember you.”

The crowd laughed with him, their voices closing in around me.

I didn’t look away.

“I’ll make you pay,” I whispered.