Chapter 2: Rejected Mate

“Where the hell have you been?!” My mother shouted at me as her eyes almost popped out of her socket in rage.

She was wearing a floor length and sparkly blue gown that perfectly complemented her blue eyes. My mother was gorgeous, and I guess that’s where Colt and Heather got it, just like her eyes. I still wonder why I had plain hazel eyes when my father didn’t have them either. 

“I’m sorry, I… I had to clean up again. Did I miss anything?” I asked as I looked down embarrassed at my outfit. 

Compared to her flashy and extravagant gown, since my yellow dress was completely stained and no longer salvageable, I was stuck with the best and last dress that I could find in my closet – a red gown that flowed behind me and hung off my shoulder while hugging my waist. I didn’t own any jewelry–Heather gets them all–so I opted for a necklace I made myself before, composed of a gold chain, resin, and pressed forget-me-not flowers. 

My mother just shook her head as if she didn’t even want to bother asking me any more questions. “You already missed the grand entrance. Your sister had to do it alone.” 

I pouted at her. The grand entrance was my dream. It was when you come out of the curtain and you get announced like a princess. I’ve dreamt of it since I was a little girl. I always imagined walking out and all the eyes would be on me and they would be shocked and amazed that there was another beautiful Alpha’s daughter.

Unfortunately, said dream was taken from me before I could even get just a tiny taste of it. What did I expect though? That the girl they had been hiding for years would just suddenly be in the spotlight? I should stop wishing for the impossible.

“Don’t look at me like that, child. You’re the one that arrived late. We weren’t going to let our guests wait!” She scoffed at me. “And what the hell are you wearing? That red makes you look like a whore! What happened to the yellow dress? And Goddess help me, what the hell is on your neck?!” 

Her continuous screeching voice was starting to give me a headache and I wish she would just let me go so I could at least attend a part of my supposed birthday celebration, but she just kept going on and on about all my imperfections as if I wasn’t already aware of it. 

“Your hair is still wet and why aren’t you wearing any…”

I managed to shut her off. One positive thing about this is how used I am to all of the abuse that I have learned to shut them all away like putting on earplugs and their words just become a mumble in my ear. 

“Mother.” 

The deep and familiar voice came from behind me and when I turned around, I saw that it was Colt, my older brother and the heir to the Alpha title. He looked very dashing in a navy blue matte suit that made his blue eyes pop more as his brown hair was gelled to the back. Definitely a new sight compared to his usual denim shorts as he is always shifting as he watches out for the Pack. 

As the future Alpha, I rarely see him because of his duties. I miss my big brother, but I know he has his priorities.

My mother’s eyes lit up and her lips widened into a smile at the sight of her favorite–and only–son. 

“Coltie, what are you doing here? Why aren’t you back at the party mingling? Isn’t the Lycan King there yet?” She asks Colt and he just gives her a small smile. 

And did I hear her correctly? Did she just say Lycan King? Surely no one with such a high rank would be here. I know we were a pretty good and large Pack, but nothing that huge for royalty to visit. Or were we? I wasn’t aware of our Pack standing because it’s not like I had a chance to learn when Heather is always forcing me to do chores. 

“I was, but uh, someone in the party was looking for you so I thought I’d let you know.” Colt said as he flashed me a quick wink that he hid from our mother.

I couldn’t help but smile. Nobody was looking for our mother. He was just helping me get her off my back. 

“Oh! Alright then! I’ll head back inside. You get back there immediately too and make connections with everyone, okay, Coltie?” Our mother’s eyes beamed as she looked at Colt. 

“Of course,” he said with a nod.

She then turned to me. “And you…” She paused as she eyed me up and down and I think she gave up because all she did was look at me with a disgruntled face before shaking her head and shooing me away then walking out of the room. 

“Alright then. That is noted.” I said sarcastically. 

“Happy birthday, little sis.” Colt said, bringing me back to him.

“Thank you. Finally, someone greets me instead of just shouting.” I said it as a joke, because I’m used to it, but it was obvious I made Colt mildly uncomfortable.

He knows what’s happening to me in the house and in the Pack. At least, some of it. Sometimes he tries to help, like earlier with our mother, but because he’s always too busy, there’s not much he can do if he doesn’t see it. 

Colt gave me a sympathetic smile before opening his arms up as if to invite me for a hug. I may be seventeen–minutes away from eighteen–but I will never decline a hug from my big brother. 

“Seriously. Thank you, Coltie.” I tease, making sure to enunciate my mother’s nickname for him. 

He chuckles as he gently pats my back as we hug. 

“Don’t thank me yet. You haven’t even gotten your gift.” Once he said that, I pulled away and looked at him with widened eyes. 

“A gift?! No way! You didn't?” I stared at him in disbelief. 

He nodded his head. 

“You did?! Eep– what is it? New paint brushes? Colors?” I gasped loudly. “My own studio?!” 

Colt chuckled as he shook his head. “You wish. Sorry, but this is all I can afford.” 

He turned around as he was getting something out of his pocket. A few seconds later, he was dangling a pearl necklace with my favorite flower–forget me not–in an open case in the middle. 

I think I’m going to cry. 

“Oh my Goddess, that is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” 

He smiles. “Let me put it on you.” 

“Yes, please!” I nodded my head eagerly while I unhooked my DY necklace and tucked it away, but just before he could, he got a mindlink as he looked away and seemed to be in his own head. 

“That was our father. He’s talking with the Lycan King and he needs me there. I gotta go, but happy birthday, little sis. I hope you like the gift and you should get down there, too. It’s almost time.” 

Colt disappeared out of the room before I could even tell him that I did love it. I loved it so much because it’s the only gift I know I’ll receive tonight.

Nonetheless, it’s the thought that counts and I can’t stop staring at the gorgeous necklace, my first ever actual jewelry, that hung around my neck perfectly. I’m never going to take this off. 

When I turned around to look at the time, I realized Colt was right. There were only a few minutes left before the time struck midnight. I had to hurry if I wanted to be there and find my mate. 

Nervous, but excited, after one last deep breath, I headed out of the room and made my way downstairs. 

I didn’t think anyone would notice me. Or at least, I desperately hoped that nobody would. 

But when I swung open the door, all of their heads turned in my direction and in just a few seconds, they already started murmuring and gossiping with the people next to them. 

Their snarky eyes followed my every move and with every step I took, I felt like I just wanted to disappear instantly.

This is so embarrassing. Why are they even looking at me? They should just stare at Heather. She’s the spotlight here, not me! 

This was definitely far from the dream I’ve wanted since I was a kid. Instead of them admiring me, they all kept giving me awful looks as if I didn’t deserve to be there. Me. The birthday girl. This was my party. At least, supposedly, but I knew all along this was mostly going to be Heather’s celebration and like always, I was just her less fortunate twin. 

“What is she wearing? That is so not for a party like this.” “Right? It looks ridiculous.” “Is she Heather’s twin sister? Wow, that must suck.” “Heather got all the looks and grace. She’s like the ugly duckling.”

I’m not sure if they were accidentally just speaking a little too loudly, or that they were doing it on purpose, that they wanted me to hear what vile words they were saying about me. Why do I have a feeling that it’s the latter? 

I sucked in a deep breath before mustering the fakest smile I could, and pushed myself to keep walking. 

Only a few minutes left, Hailey. Only a few minutes until you find your mate and he can take you away from here. I don’t even care who he is or what his bloodline could be. All I cared about was finally being loved, wanted, and cared for because that’s what mates are for. I know that whoever it is, I will love him with my whole heart. 

I cannot wait. 

Suddenly, I halted when my eyes landed on familiar grays. My entire body was frozen still as it felt like I was getting sucked into some kind of trance. 

The gorgeous and breathtaking man was dressed in the most eye-catching velvet black tuxedo that had gold and red silk embroidered up to the tips of the tux. 

It’s hard not to stare at him. It’s like every part of his face is just asking for you to do so. 

Chiseled face and jaw with a strong nose, sharp cheekbones and soft, lush, pink lips. His dark black hair was effortlessly pushed to the back, showing off his even more delicate features. Admiring him was like admiring a work of art.  

Who… is this guy? And why does he seem so… familiar? 

And then it hit me. Holy mother of Goddess.

That's who I bumped into earlier outside in the forest! 

I was so embarrassed that I was on top of a random man and was accidentally touching his crotch that the moment I got myself up, I made a run for it. I heard him shout ‘wait’ but I didn’t want to do that. I wanted to get the hell out of there as fast as possible. 

Shit. Of course he would be at the party. I just hope he doesn’t recognize me. I mean, I don’t smell or look like I was bathed in coffee anymore, do I? 

“King Hunter, we really appreciate you taking the time to visit and celebrate this important event with us. We hope that…”

My father’s words start to tune out after a few seconds as my brain realizes one thing. 

Did he just say King Hunter?! As in Lycan King Hunter Beowulf?! I may not be as smart and as much of an overly achiever like Heather, but I still listen in class from time to time and I have a pretty good idea on who he is and his family. 

All I could think about was, out of all the wolves in this place, I seriously had to bump into the freaking Lycan King of Europe?! 

As my father continued to babble away, the man that I have now learned to be Lycan King Hunter, hadn’t stopped staring at me as I just stood there like a deer in front of headlights. 

I wouldn’t consider the curve on his lips as a smile, but it was definitely something. Whatever it was though, it made me feel uncomfortable and embarrassed. I just hope he doesn’t order my head on a platter for what I did to him. 

Thankfully, my body finally unfroze itself and as soon as it did I turned around and sprinted as fast and as far away from him as possible. 

I wish I didn’t run so fast though and because of that and my clumsiness, I accidentally bumped into another person. 

His back was turned around, but I could tell from his height and the broadness of his shoulder, as well as the wavy brown hair at the top of his head that it was none other than my sister’s boyfriend, Alpha Kage. 

I only know him well enough to distinguish him easily because he’s always at our house. He is from the Wildfang Pack which is pretty much our neighbor. He and my sister have been dating since she was fifteen, and he was sixteen. They were the it couple. The relationship goals. The most envied and most beautiful couple in all of the Packs around this area. 

Everyone knew that they were going to end up together as mates. They were the end game of all end games. 

When he turned around and saw who had bumped into him, his jaw stiffened and his green-blue eyes darkened at the sight of me. 

Oh, and did I mention he also hates the crap out of me like his girlfriend aka my beloved sister? 

“Hailey,” he says my name like it’s a curse, like saying it is going to give him bad luck for ten years. 

Maybe it actually will. 

“Oh, h- hey, Alpha Kage. I’m really sorry, I didn’t see you. I’m going to leave you be now.” I say, trying not to sound so terrified of him but I wasn’t doing very well at it. 

He snarled at me. “Whatever. Where’s your sister?” 

Does it look like I'm my sister’s keeper? Seriously, every time he sees me that’s the only thing he asks as if I have some kind of tracker on her. 

I look around, but don’t seem to find the gorgeous blonde haired girl in a probably even more dazzling gown fit for the Alpha’s daughter. 

I was about to shrug my shoulders in response when someone stepped up on stage and I realized it was my mother. 

“Good evening. We would like to thank each and everyone of you for taking your time out to celebrate this special event in our Pack. To the various Alphas, welcome, and of course, to our all powerful Lycan King, cheers.” She slightly raised her glass up to him, but I glanced over to where King Hunter was and he looked barely interested. 

I had to stifle a laugh. 

My mother proceeded, not wanting to be embarrassed. 

“There is only one minute left until my beloved daughter will be blessed with her mate, so please give her your best wishes, and keep enjoying the party.” My mother flashes the biggest smile as Heather comes up on stage next to her. 

She looks beautiful. Her long blonde hair is curled into waves and her eyes are covered with platinum glitter making them shine even more. Her gown is a stunning and shimmering metallic gray piece that perfectly shows off all the curves of her body. A much bigger and much shinier pearl necklace sits on her neck and dangles on her wrist and I wonder if Colt had given them to her. 

My hands instinctively come up to my neck, touching it as I try to push a tear threatening to fall down my face. 

Of course. Of course I would just get the small and less shiny one. It only made sense because that was exactly who I was. 

While she looked like a walking goddess–something I could never achieve in my entire lifetime–I was but an unimportant and unspecial nobody.  

Everyone in the ballroom is talking about how beautiful my sister is, whispering compliments to each other as they are awestruck and can’t take their eyes away from her.

Meanwhile, there was me. The other Alpha’s daughter that my mother didn’t even bother to introduce. All of my life I was always at the side; never praised, never loved, and never cared for. Always the outcast and never the daughter they were proud of. 

I hated this. I hated all of this. 

What the hell was I thinking believing tonight would be any different? I shouldn’t have gone here. I shouldn’t have bothered to do anything. 

As my tears were on the edge of coming out, I pushed myself to turn around. I can’t be here any longer. I can’t be around these so-called families of mine. 

Just as I was getting ready to make a run for it, the clock struck midnight and the loud sound of the bell echoed in every corner of the room. 

But that wasn’t the only thing that made me stop. It was something else. Something more powerful. 

He smelled like cedarwoods, cypress, and nutmeg. So warm and cozy, I am easily intoxicated by him. Suddenly, my body is overpowered by the urge to find him, but it doesn’t take much effort because when I turned to my side, he was right there. 

And all my hopes and dreams of finding a mate that would love me for me was burned into flames the second I realized whose scent it was I was enthralled by. 

No. Fuck no. Please. It can’t be. It can’t be him! It just can’t! 

“Mate.” The voice in my head, my wolf’s, said. 

The look in my mate’s eyes made me tremble, but I had no idea that would become the least of my concerns in the next second.

“You? My mate? I will never accept that.” Alpha Kage’s words were strict and heartless, but it became worse as he took two steps forward and was now towering over me. 

His cold and glacial green-blue eyes pierced into mine with so much hatred. 

“I, Kage Knight, Alpha of the Wildfang Pack, reject you, Hailey Young, as my mate.” 

Boom. Crash. The sound of my heart breaking into a tiny million pieces and getting set on fire.