1- Mated And Rejected

Serenity Knight 

The palace reeked of money and power and the creatures as I quickly made my way down the hall, clutching my purse closer to me. My heart was thumping loudly inside my chest. No, I wasn’t scared of the creatures as much as I was scared of my Uncle.

It has been more than four hundred years since the supernatural creatures overthrew the government and took control. It’s been more than four hundred years since Alpha Theodore Black started ruling the human world. 

“Serenity, you’re still here!? I thought you would know by now that humans are not allowed inside the royal ball. They might punish you for the contempt.” Miss Lydia, one of the warriors said looking at me with her wide eyes. I clenched my eyes shut, praying to God before turning around to look at her apologetically. 

“Madame Lydia, greetings! One of the staff members got hurt while cooking in the kitchen, and she was bleeding too much for me to ignore her wounds. I am sorry for breaking the law, your highness. I will leave now.” I said hurriedly, bowing down in respect.

Before I could have made my way outside, I felt someone grabbing my wrist to yank me back forcefully, making me wince in pain. The pain was harsh and painful.  

“Another human in the ballroom? You all are getting brave with the passing days, no? I think you need a lesson to learn how to behave and how to take orders without disobeying us, the creatures, in the future.” One of the guards said, and my eyes widened in panic and fear. 

His fingers were, unknowingly, gripping the arm from the place where my Uncle had hit me with the belt, making me cry out in pain. 

“William! She was about to leave, brother. She is just a nurse here.” Madame Lydia said, trying to get me out of William’s painful hold but the man was blinded with anger to pay heed to him. 

“Just a nurse who should have left a good two hours ago. I know what she is trying to do! Fucking humans!” William cursed, pushing me with a force that sent me down, painfully. 

I closed my eyes to feel the harsh impact of the floor, to feel the pain that was bound to come. But instead of feeling the harsh impact of the push and embarrassing myself in front of the royalties, I felt a warm pair of arms around my waist, preventing my fall. 

Suddenly warmth engulfed me like never before. The fresh scent of shampoo and expensive soaps filled my nostrils. But something more alluring than the soap’s smell made my eyes open. The scent of coffee and something more masculine hit my nose, making me shudder. My fingers gripped the material of his jacket as my eyes met the stormy gray eyes of his. 

Suddenly the world turned cloudy for my eyes. I could no longer see or hear things. As if I could only see those gray eyes, that were looking at me with curiosity and disbelief. For a second his grip around my waist tightened almost possessively, protectively, as if he was scared of losing me before his grip loosened around me, making me feel void. 

“It can’t be.” He whispered harshly, staring at me as if I was his worst nightmare. But then his gaze softened as he reached out to touch me, to cup my face. 

And I was standing there, dumbfounded, captivated by his gray eyes, that were holding me hostage against my will. I was unable to move. Something about him was stopping me from moving. My body leaned in his touch when he cupped my face, gingerly, gently, making my eyes close for the second time since we met, this time to feel his touch. 

“You can’t be my soulmate. No! A human! No!” He said, his grip on my face increased firmly, making my eyes snap open. “No!” 

Suddenly the warmth left my body. Coldness gripped my chest as his words registered in my mind, pulling me out of the reverie. My fingers trembled as I held his fingers around my chin painfully, and his gray eyes darkened visibly when I winced. He left his hold, making my body crave for him. But why? 

“Wha…what?” I stammered out, and his glare intensified as he took a step forward towards me. 

“She is a human being, Sire. I will punish her properly for breaking the law. Don’t stress yourself, your highness. She will pay for spoiling the royal ball.” William said, and my eyes widened in alarm. 

You….your Highness? The man who held me; the man who protected me from falling down, called me his mate, his soulmate, is Alpha Theodore Black?

Holy mothers of unholy deeds!

“Fucking humans……” Before William could have reached out to hold me, Alpha King  Theodore held him by his neck, his eyes turning black and his canines protruding out, dangerously. I didn’t realize when I let out a strangled cry as I saw the King pushing him back, and pinned me down, snapping William’s neck before letting out a growl. 

“Sire…. Sire…. Please control yourself.” I heard Miss Lydia trying to calm the King down, who was on the verge of turning into his wolf. My wide eyes looked at him in fear and anxiety. I never someone snapping necks in front of me. I heard a couple of things, I treated people. But I never saw brutality happening in front of me. 

“Do not touch me! Do not touch me, Lydia. Remember your place.” The King growled out in anger and I saw the warrior flinching back from the dangerous tone that was directed at her. She gulped her fear down and bowed down in submission. 

“As the Sire commands,” Lydia whispered. 

When I thought my fate was mocking me, I felt Alpha King’s gaze on me. His dark eyes were staring at me with an intensity that almost made me fall down on my knees. I swallowed the sudden urge to run away from the palace when I felt him walking towards me. 

Something had changed in his stance. His gray eyes were no longer gray. In fact, they were simmering in darkness. His eyes were pure black, and the last glimpses of Alpha King Theodore left his eyes as he advanced towards me, almost in an animalistic way, but slowly, giving me time or maybe taunting me. 

“My little mate, are you scared?” His low but deep voice sent shivers down my spine. It was his wolf. I could sense it. The sudden change in his demeanor was making my heart race. 

He leaned forward, gripping my hair gently but firmly, pulling my hair back as he dipped his face down, letting his nose touch the crook on my neck, making me gasp at the sudden intimate action of his wolf. He was the one in charge of the King’s body. 

“My mate. Do you know for how long you have made me wait, hm? For so long. So…. so….so long.” He whispered, letting his lip trail down my neck and I forced open my eyes, feeling the gazes of everyone on us. On me. 

“Alpha Theo……” I started but trailed off when he growled at me, his lips pulled up in a smirk as he stared at me, mischief and darkness swirling in them. 

“Do you know, my love, whom you’re talking to? I am his wolf. And you sound like honey. So sweet. So alluring. I can hear you all day. All night. With pleasure. You’re so……”

“Everyone is staring, Alpha. Please leave me. My Uncle…my Uncle is waiting for me, Sire. Please let me go. I am sorry for breaking the law. I will never come in front of you……” I started pleading in front of him and the softness in his eyes left as soon as I started speaking. His grip on my hair increased, making me clench my eyes shut. It wasn’t painful but I could feel his dominance. From miles away. 

“Don’t test my patience, mate. I am not known for my patience. You just saw a live example, sweetheart.” He said, caressing my cheek, gesturing towards an unconscious or probably dead William, making my lower lip quiver. 

“Please, Alpha.” I pleaded, a tear dropping down my left eye and I saw the rage melting down in his dark eyes as he gently wiped away the tear, making me stare at him silently.

“Audience. You’re not liking the audience, right, sweetheart?” Alpha Theodore’s wolf asked me, making my eyes widen as he snapped his fingers, his eyes still focused on mine, and suddenly the hall was empty. 

And my eyes looked around, taking in the empty hall, staring at my ma…. Alpha Theodore, who was grinning at me, like an excited kid. But he looked more like a possessive one, ready to kill anyone who would dare to touch his candies. And I wasn’t very happy to be one of his candies. 

“Alpha Theodore……”

“Theo. Call me Theo, little mate.” Alpha…. Theodore said, and I shook my head in horror. The last time someone did that, he was whipped until he couldn’t breathe. The stories of Alpha King’s cruelties are more popular than the stories of the curse he got from the Moon Goddess. 

“I can’t. You…..you are my Alpha.” I stuttered in fear and he bent his face down, chuckling heartily as he nodded his head, walking towards me, amusement glinting in his dark eyes, his charcoal eyes were bright with amusement. 

“Yes, yes, your alpha. Only yours. Do you how much you made me wait, my darling little mate? You made me wait so much. You should compensate me for every day you made me spend without you. Speaking of which, you haven’t told me your name yet.” He said, looking at me right into my eyes and I licked my lips, catching his attention. His dark eyes darkened even more if it was even possible. 

“Alpha, please…”

“Tempting me now, are we?” He asked me, and I shook my head and he laughed darkly, twirling a piece of my hair in his finger, making me bite my lips. “Name, mate. What is your name?”

“Serenity Knight, Sire.”

“Mmm. And what did I ask you to call me?” He asked me, his dark eyes daring me to call him Sire or King again, making my insides curl and twist in ways they never did before. 

“Theo.” 

“So, what will you call me, Serenity?” Theodore asked me, his dark voice was making me feel things I never felt before. My heart was about to explode any moment now. 

“Theo,” I answered softly and he hummed in delight. 

“Yes. Call me Theo, Serenity. Only you can call me that. My serenity.” Theodore said, his lips touching my forehead as he gently kissed my forehead. 

And the moment his lips touched my skin to kiss me, something burnt inside me. The fire I never felt before flared inside me. The control I always had over my actions, over my limbs, over my organs slipped out of my hand as I leaned closer to him. 

My fingers, without my permission, touched his face, making his eyes bore into mine and I gently caressed his face, the smooth skin made my fingers tremble. And before I knew our lips met, and my eyes closed when his fingers fisted my hair while the other hand possessively held my waist. 

The soft kiss turned passionate soon. I never knew a kiss can take your breath away. His soft lips made me crave more. And the moment we pulled away to breathe, his fingers wrapped around the back of my neck to pull me closer to him as he started kissing me again. 

“You, Serenity, will be the death of me.” I heard him growl as he kissed me fiercely. I could taste him, and he tasted like mint and dark chocolate. So sensual. 

“May I?” He asked me, holding the strap of my dress, and my sanity got washed out of me long enough because the next thing I did was nod. I nodded my head. 

I don’t know why the fire inside me was burning my insides, and I felt like a wolf in heat. As if I lost control over myself. He looked at me, his dark eyes searching my eyes for a second before he snapped my dress into half, making the cold air hit my body. 

Everything went in a daze. It was a like a dream, a mere dream as he took me to a room, and pushed me down on the bed, how I kissed him and how he made love to me. I don’t know for how long we were there in the room, with him over me, his hands holding my body, him entering inside me, worshipping my body as if I were some Goddess for him. 

“You’re okay, little mate. You’re okay.” I heard him whisper as he kissed my scars, some fresh bruises on my body, making my eyes flutter. I offered him a weak smile as he got a towel from the cabinet and returned back after drenching it in cold water to wipe my body to wipe away the remnants of our intimacy. 

“Theo,”

“Sleep, mate. You’ll find me here when you’ll wake up. I promise you.” Who knew promises were meant to be broken? Or better, humans never understand promises, even when you’re a part human and a part animal. 

I woke up to sunlight falling on my face and I turned around to grab my phone but then I realized it wasn’t my room. My eyes jerked open when last night flashed in front of my eyes. The sharp pain I was feeling down there was enough to let me know whatever happened last night wasn’t just a dream. It was real. Every single bit of whatever I thought was my dream was real. 

I met Alpha King Theodore Black and we mated last night. My eyes widened in horror. I touched my chest, and I was naked. I swallowed harshly as reality hit me. I never returned home last night. Uncle will kill me! And Alpha….. Shit!

I was pulled out of thoughts when the door of the room opened and Alpha King….. Theodore walked inside. His gray eyes met mine and I saw them turning dangerously cold and icy. His wolf was no longer in control. And suddenly I wanted the wolf to surface back. His coldness was hitting me harsher than I thought it would. 

“You are a human.” He spat in disgust as he placed new clothes on the bed and pressed his palms against the mattress to lean down, to stare right into my eyes. 

My chest ached as I found zero amount of warmth in them. It hurt to hear disgust and hatred in his voice for me after making love to me. 

“Whatever……whatever happened last night, human, it wasn’t done by me. I was not in my control. It was my wolf. My wolf got distracted by you last night but it doesn’t mean you will become my Queen. I won’t disgrace myself by letting a human sit beside me on the throne.” His words were piercing my heart, breaking me into pieces I don’t know I would ever be able to gather back again. 

“You and I mated……”

“It was a mistake! You were a mistake! And I don’t repeat my mistakes, human. Get dressed and leave.” He ordered lowly, and tears filled my eyes as I stared at him in disbelief. 

“Theo, what……”

“Your Highness. I am your King. You will refer me with my title if you don’t wish to face the death penalty.” Theo…. Alpha King said, his eyes burning with rage and I felt a shooting pain in my chest. 

“We are mates, Alpha……”

“And I reject you.” He said, his eyes holding no emotions and I sat there, numb. 

“Wha….what?” 

“I, Alpha King, Theodore Black, reject you, Serenity Knight. You are no longer my mate.”