Rejected By My Alpha, Mother To His Heirs.

PROLOGUE.

RONAN.

By the time I reached the territorial boundary, two decapitated heads of my sentinels lay on the blood-soaked ground.

Fury ignited in my veins like wildfire.

Who the hell had dared step foot into my territory?

"Alpha..." A strained voice called out.

I turned to see Ramsey, one of my most ruthless sentinel commanders approaching with both hands raised in caution. Someone lingered in the shadows behind him.

It took a lot to rattle a man like Ramsey. Whoever had done this was no ordinary intruder.

I kept my expression cold and unreadable as the figure finally stepped forward from behind him.

My heart nearly stopped.

For a moment, I refused to believe it. Until my eyes locked onto the faded scar on her left cheek.

It was really her. The same girl I had rejected four years ago.

"Lyra..." Her name slipped from my lips before I could stop it.

"Finally," she said flatly, her voice carrying a dangerous edge. "You showed up."

Once again, my gaze dropped to the severed heads of my sentinels on the ground. Surely she hadn’t...

"The audacity you have to show up here and cause this chaos," I gritted out.

She didn’t flinch.

This wasn't the same girl I used to know. The energy pouring off her was powerful, certainly not the kind an omega could possess.

"I need your help," she said, locking eyes with me. "One of my pups is missing."

Her pups?

The words hit like a punch to the gut.

Lyra had pups. That meant she had found a second chance mate. The thought left a bitter taste in my mouth.

"What does that have to do with me?" I asked coldly.

Something flickered through her eyes and for a brief second, an absurd thought crossed my mind. I dismissed it immediately. That wasn't even possible.

"Everything, Ronan," she finally answered. "One of our pups is missing. We have to find her."

My world tilted.

'Our' pups?

I...

I had pups...?

***************

CHAPTER 1

4 YEARS AGO.

LYRA.

"Ladies and Lords!" Lord Bailey’s voice boomed through the grand hall, his lips twisting into a cruel smile. "It is time for the GAMES!"

A loud cheer erupted and my stomach dropped as I placed the last goblet of wine on the table and turned to leave.

Nights like this never ended well for omegas.

Music swelled as servants wove between the drunken lords and chiefs present for another one of Lord Bailey's famous game nights.

I kept my head bowed, praying I wouldn’t catch anyone’s attention.

These men treated omegas and slaves like toys created solely for their darkest pleasures.

Tonight's gathering felt different, though. Rumours had spread through the omega quarters all day that the event was being hosted in honour of our Alpha King.

From what I'd heard, the king rarely attended gatherings like this, but if he appeared tonight, Lord Bailey's obsession with perfection might finally pay off.

Notoriously difficult to please, he had already slapped an omega for spilling a drop of wine that evening.

He was doing everything possible to ensure his daughter, Aurelia, stood out during the upcoming Luna Selection.

The Alpha King was nearing twenty-eight and still hadn't found his fated mate. After years of pressure from the council, he had finally agreed to choose a Luna from among the noble daughters of the province.

Every noble family wanted that honour, especially Lord Bailey.

A frightened squeal suddenly pulled me from my thoughts, and I looked up just in time to see a drunk noble grab a slave's buttocks.

"You feel just as ripe as I would like," he grinned. The poor girl looked terrified.

Goddess, I hated this.

My stomach churned as laughter erupted from the men in surrounding tables. I quickly looked away and continued walking, keeping my head lowered.

I had managed to avoid becoming one of their targets all these years because of my ability to stay unnoticed, and my appearance.

At twenty-two, I barely had any curves. My oversized maid uniform hid what little shape I possessed, making me easy to overlook. In a place like this, being overlooked was a blessing.

Another cheer erupted throughout the hall and just as I took another step, a hand suddenly closed around my arm.

My heart nearly stopped.

A guard stared down at me. Before I could react, Lord Bailey’s voice rang out again.

"So I thought about all the ways we could make tonight’s games special," he announced, drawing everyone’s attention. "And then an idea came to me."

His smile widened.

"Why not take them unaware?"

The nobles erupted with approval, and my blood ran cold.

Usually, the slaves and omegas participating in game night were chosen beforehand. Apparently, that wasn't the case tonight.

"Bring them to the stage!"

Immediately, the guards dragged me and several other omegas to the center of the hall. I struggled to steady my breathing as Lord Bailey inspected us one by one, like livestock at a market. His gaze lingered on me briefly before moving on.

"Eight omegas stand before us tonight," he declared. "But only seven will leave untouched."

My heart hammered loudly.

"The rules are simple. Each noble may choose one omega to spare." His smile turned vicious. "Think of it as… mercy."

The room filled with laughter, and I could already feel tears burning behind my eyes.

One by one, the nobles stepped forward, pointing casually, as though selecting fruit from a market stall. Each selected omega was pulled aside, trembling but safe.

I stood frozen as the number dwindled.

Five.

Three.

Two.

My nails dug into my palms as the last lord stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over me and other girl left.

"Not that one,” he muttered, waving me off dismissively. The other omega was immediately pulled away and cold dread settled within me.

"We have our centerpiece!" Lord Bailey announced.

Before I could react, two guards seized my arms and dragged me toward a wooden post at the center of the hall.

"The game is simple," Lord Bailey said. "A steady hand... or a wasted life."

A polished red apple was placed firmly on top of my head, and a bow was handed to one of the nobles, who laughed as he accepted it.

I trembled as the hall fell silent, their anticipation very palpable.

These people were deranged!

"Let's see if you're worth keeping your head," the noble mocked, drawing a few chuckles from the crowd.

The bowstring stretched, and a sharp whistle cut through the air. I flinched as the arrow sliced past my ear and slammed into the post behind me, missing the apple.

Laughter erupted around me as pain shot through my left ear. Warm blood trickled down my neck and onto my shoulder.

"Careful!" Someone shouted mockingly. "You'll kill her before the fun begins!"

My knees buckled, and the apple slipped from my head. But the guards quickly forced me upright.

"Again!" Lord Bailey ordered.

"No! Please, no!"

The words escaped before I could stop them, and the nobles instantly jeered. My head pounded as hot tears streamed down my face.

Suddenly, all the noise seemed to fade as a powerful scent drifted through the hall. It was rich and utterly intoxicating.

The energy inside the hall shifted almost instantly, and the crowd went completely silent.

My wolf sprang to awareness immediately, and I slowly lifted my gaze to see the man who had just entered. He was tall, broad shouldered, and had striking silver hair.

There was something incredibly regal about him, something that made my heart squeeze involuntarily.

He made his way further into the hall, guards trailing behind him. The closer he came, the stronger the pull became. My wolf stirred frantically and finally, understanding crashed into me -- I had just found my mate.

Oh, Goddess...

Had I really just found my mate?!!

"Lord Bailey." The man's voice cut through my thoughts, cold and authoritative.

"It is quite amusing that the first time I attend your event, I arrive to find my mate being used for your entertainment."

Lord Bailey’s face drained of color. For the first time, he looked truly terrified. Fear and disbelief flashed across his face as he visibly swallowed.

"M-My apologies, Your Majesty..."

I forgot how to breathe immediately.

Your Majesty?

My eyes widened.

Did Lord Bailey just call him ‘Your Majesty’?

Alpha King Ronan was my mate?!