Chapter 1: Reject Him

**Alexandra**

“Happy birthday Alex!”

Sarah, my cousin walked into my dimly lit storeroom, a cupcake and candle in her hands.

“Thanks, Sarah. I'm so excited about the ceremony today. Finally, we get to meet our mates.” I replied, blowing off the candle and hurling my tired body out of bed.

Today might be my birthday but that doesn't excuse me from doing my regular chores if I wanted to escape my godmother’s whip.

I licked the frosting hurriedly, my mind scanning my measly belongings for a presentable outfit for tonight.

“I got a new outfit, just for today. My mate will be blown away when he meets me.” Sarah chimed.

I smiled at her, feeling envious. I haven't had any new clothes since I moved in with my godparents.

They used to be close friends with my parents, treating me and my brother kindly but switched to their true colours after their death.

As a young child, I became a slave for them; even lowly-born pack members weren't treated the way I was.

“Alexandra!”

I froze, my chest pounding heavily and my palms clamming up as my godmother's angry voice reached my ears.

Slap!

I felt my ears ring as the impact of the slap sent me reeling and I stumbled back, hitting my body against a cabinet.

“You filthy being! Who gave you the right to eat anything when you haven't made breakfast nor cleaned the house?”

A swift kick from her sent me stumbling to the ground, clutching my stomach in pain as the cake i just ate threatened to spill from my lips.

“Mom, today is Alexandra’s 21st birthday. Cut her some slack.” Sarah took her hand and steered her away from me, as she gave me a sympathetic look and mouthed sorry.

“Clocking 21 doesn't change her wolf-less, weak, unfortunate status. Get breakfast ready in 10 minutes unless you are banned from attending the mating ceremony.” She hissed and walked out with Sarah, leaving me to nurse my injuries.

I stayed motionless on the ground, tears welling up in my eyes for my sorry self.

Since my parents and brother were brutally killed 10 years ago by the Alpha king of Shadow Creek Pack and I was taken in by my Godparents, I haven't had a moment of peace.

In the beginning, I was treated nicely, probably because the death and trauma were still fresh, but suddenly, their attitude towards me changed. I was beaten, maltreated, insulted and tortured by them.

No day goes by without me wishing I had also died with my parents and brother.

Sarah made it bearable sometimes, treating me kindly and sneaking food to me whenever I was starved.

Today, all that was going to change. I wiped the blood off my split lips and began to make breakfast.

I was going to meet my mate who would take me away from my abusive relatives.

The members of Emberwood Pack also didn't treat me kindly because of my omega and wolf less status,

I was the lowest of the low.

Every day, I prayed to the moon goddess for a kind mate who would love me unconditionally and seeing how much I had suffered, it was only right for her to do this for me.

***

“Wow!” Sarah gasped as we walked into the ceremony hall. “ Everything looks so sparkly.”

“Yeah,” I replied, feeling self-conscious in a pale blue dress that was two times my size and a worn-out sandal.

“Wait here for me, Alex; I want to say hello to my friends,” she called out as she disappeared into the crowd.

I walked around the hall, admiring the decor and took a stand close to the shadows, trying to hide my presence from everyone.

Snide comments and remarks had already begun floating into my ear, and I resisted the urge to just run away.

As I stood in the pack of werewolves, my nose began picking up a delicious scent of cinnamon and sandalwood.

I gasped as a shiver ran through me and followed the alluring scent leading me outside the hall and towards the garden.

I was so caught up in the mesmerizing scent that I didn't notice a sturdy door in my direction

“Ouch!” I winced and massaged my forehead immediately.

A groan escaped from the door, making me look up in shock as I realized I bumped into the drop-dead handsome son of the Alpha, Dylan.

“Watch where you are going, lady.” He scolded

“I'm sorry–”

Not having a wolf meant I couldn't feel the effects of a mate bond but the scent that lured me here definitely came from him.

“Mate.” He growled.

In all my fantasies of meeting my mate, I never imagined it to be the son of the Alpha.

A feeling of dread coursed throughout my body as my heart rate kicked up.

I was surely going to be rejected.

“What's your name?” He asked, startling me from my thoughts.

“ Alexandra. Alexandra Rykhard.” I replied, my eyes downcast.

“Alexandra, I accept you as my mate.”

My eyes widened, almost popping out of their sockets as I heard his words.

He accepts me!

Before I could stop myself, I threw my arms around his neck, drinking in the mix of cinnamon and sandalwood that made me heady, my eyes misty.

“I accept you too, Dylan Lockhart,” I squealed as he stroked my head gently.

Finally, the moon goddess answered my prayer.

“Will you mark me now?” I asked, feeling shy as I rolled up my sleeves.

“Not yet Alex. I have to inform my parents first.” He answered, dropping a light peck on my cheeks. “ I'll mark you after that. You're mine now.”

I nodded shyly, feeling my heart tighten with happiness.

I was going to be a Luna. I won't be looked down on again.

I bid him goodbye with a kiss on his cheek and hurried to find Sarah to tell her the good news.

“Sarah,” I called out breathlessly as I struggled to chase after her. Something was wrong. Sarah never leaves a party early.

“Are you okay?” I grabbed her hand gently, worry etched on my forehead as I caught sight of mascara-streaked tears along her cheeks.

“I didn't find my mate Alex. I'm doomed.”

She cried, collapsing into arms.

“I'm so sorry. I'm sure you'll still find him. Maybe he didn't attend the ceremony.”

I felt bad for Sarah. She was the only person in the pack who treated me kindly and deserves happiness.

“You're right. What about you? Did you find your mate?”

I blushed hard at her question, thoughts of Dylan filling my mind.

“Yes, I did. My mate is Dylan, son of the Alpha.”

I noticed her countenance change immediately, with a malicious look creeping into her eyes but I brushed it off, thinking I just imagined it.

“Oh!” She answered in a flat voice.” That's good for you. Congratulations.”

“Thank you.” I smiled happily, linking my arms with hers as we walked back home.

“Has he marked you yet?”

“No, he hasn't. He wants to inform his parents first.” I answer, thinking of how he's such a good son.

“Uhmm, Alex, can you go back to the ceremony hall? I think I left my shawl in there.”

“ Okay. See you at home.” I skipped happily, hoping Dylan was still there so I could see him again.

There was no shawl in the hall, so I hurried back home to inform Sarah.

I arrive back at my uncle's house and sensed a change in the atmosphere, my chest tightening with dread.

I walked in gently, seeing my godfather, Philip standing in the dining room and my godmother comforting a sobbing sarah.

“Where are you coming from?” My godfather demanded as I stepped in.

“I went back to the hall to check for Sarah's shawl but I didn't find it there,” I answered, hoping I didn't do anything wrong to incur a beating from them.

“Sarah informed us that your mate is the Alpha's son, Dylan.”

“Yes.” My voice was shaky and I wondered where this conversation was going.

The next words he uttered knocked the air out of me.

“Reject Dylan as your mate.”