Chapter 1: The Rejection

I wiped the sweat from my forehead while still wiping the glass window. I let out a sigh. I have to finish it now before Stella sees me. But I was always the unlucky one.

"I know she's really annoying. Every time I see her, my day is ruined," I turned around when I heard her voice.

Stella was the beloved daughter of the Alpha. From the first time she saw me, I knew she would never like me.

She was beating up her personal maid the first day I was sent here. I froze, praying she wasn’t the one I was going to serve.

“Who are you? Why are you standing here like a statue?” I can hear the annoyance in her voice Stella got red hair like fire and her dark green eyes fixed on me.

She looks so beautiful.

“I'm sorry. I am just new her---” I didn’t have the chance to complete my sentence because she raised an eyebrow and cut me off.

“Never mind. Just get out of my face; you’re annoying me,” I nearly raised an eyebrow, but I stopped myself.

“Sorry---“She raised a hand. “Uh-huh. Don't talk,” As she said that, she walked away. She even bumped into my shoulder.

My brows met, and I stopped her, “I'm sorry---“She looked around and looked sharply at me. “I don't care.”

I was about to hold her shoulder but she turned around and slapped me. My eyes widened in shock.

“Don't you dare to touch me, you low piece of shit!” She said in annoyance. I was caught off guard and touched my sore cheeks. Before she left, she glared at me.

My eyes quickly widened as I panicked. I immediately cleaned the window and quickly left the place. If possible, I don't want her to see me.

Since I came here, she did not treat me very well. It's not that I expect them to treat me right because I know they won't.

I'm just an Omega, a slave in the eyes of every member of the pack. They thought I was a rogue traded to the pack. Only I myself knew that I was more than that. Both my parents were Lycans, a race that only took up one percent of the werewolf population but dominated the kingdom.

But I would never spill the beans.

I let out a sigh again and closed my eyes but immediately opened them when my forehead hit a wall. Wait, a wall in the middle of the hallway?

I instantly knew who the person was in front of me. A strong woody smell hit my nose causing me to look up, it's him.  James, the Alpha's son. The next in line alpha of this pack. And... My mate. I was silent while looking at him. He was also staring at me intently.

It's just a pity that even though he knows I'm his mate, he still won't claim me. I shook my head and let out a slight sigh.

Neither of us spoke. Not until he faked a cough. I immediately looked away.

It's been a while since the day we found out that I am actually his mate and he’s mine. But until now, he still not making any move or showing any sign of whether he will accept or reject me.

It's pure torture on my side since I always see him with different girls. Sometimes I also see him kissing, and making out with them when I was asked to clean the pack house. It made me feel like I was drowning the first few times. But I'm still lucky enough though because I've never seen him having sex with anyone. I couldn’t imagine how that would kill me if I had to see that happen in front of my eyes.

But then, I can feel it. I know he always did that. I somehow understand him, he's still a man after all. I just can't avoid being hurt but I know, at the end of the day, I have no right. I feel like I'm dying because of the thought that even if I'm his mate, he will never be able to love me.

"Can you clean my room? I have a visitor later," he said bringing me back to reality.

I looked up a little and nodded, "Sure. I'm going," I said softly and was about to leave but he stopped me.

"Aren't you even going to ask who?" Even if I want to know, it doesn't matter. I know who it is, probably one of his girls.

I shook my head, "I have no right. I'll go ahead now," I said and started walking again.

I know he meant to ask me that. He's catching some reaction from me. But sadly, he is not the only one who is good at hiding feelings.

After I cleaned his room, I went to the kitchen to eat. I'm going to rest at least for a while, I've been serving them since this morning. And I know I won’t be able to retire until midnight when they are all asleep.

I didn't eat breakfast so I could finish my work early. I stood up in shock when suddenly someone pulled what I was eating and threw it on the floor.

"How dare you come here, resting and eating?! You haven't finished your work yet and then you're here, chilling? You’re just shameless," a strong slap hit my face.

I looked at the girl in shock, it was Stella again. "You're wrong-" I tried to defend myself but I got another slap.

"I don't care about your reason! Get out of here and get back to your work!" I just nodded and quickly left.

But before I could leave, she pulled my hair. "Hold on, bitch. I have something for you to do."

"Go to my brother's room, ask him for my earrings with the pearls. I need them tonight. Hurry, if you don't get them, you won't have dinner!" She shouted and harshly let go of my hair.

I had no idea why she was asking for her lost earrings all of a sudden. She had plenty of them. And why had she left them in James’ room? I knew she must have something up her sleeve but knowing I couldn’t reject her order. I simply nodded and ran to her brothers’ room. 

I was about to knock but stopped when I heard something.

Both my cheeks turned red from embarrassment. I heard loud moans from inside.

“You’re so good, babe. Oh yes, that’s it… ugh, give it to me. Yes, oh yeah.” I immediately grabbed my chest when I felt the pain strong enough to tear my heart apart.

I felt like I couldn't breathe because of the pain. I wanted to cover both my ears because of what I hear. But I seemed to be stuck where I was and didn't know what to do. I clenched my hand tightly and closed my eyes.

I don't want to bother them, but I will be punished if I don't obey Stella's order.

I knocked three times. After a few seconds, naked woman opened the door. My lips formed into a tight line.

She immediately grinned when she saw me, she's Stella's best friend Karen. And she's aware that I'm James' mate.

"Look who is here babe," she said to James with a smirk. From where I was, I saw him lying on the bed looking at me, his lower body covered by a thin blanket. The smell of their scents and sweat filled my nostrils and I was about to throw up. I contained my impulse.

"Let her in," he demanded. I closed my eyes tightly. Can I just not go in? Hearing them doing that made me feel sick.

"You heard him. Get in,” she said and went inside. I took a deep breath to calm myself down.

I saw her sit down next to him. They are both looking at me now. "So?" He asked me.

"Are you just going to stare at us or do you want to say something? Or maybe you want to join us?" My face turned red again at the ‘invitation’, not out of embarrassment but out of disgust. 

Is this the mate I've got? I never thought he would do this to me. Isn't everything he's showing me enough? If he can't respect me, he should reject me. At that time all I could feel was humiliation thrown at me.

"Your sister needs her earrings now," I said without emotion. They just stared at me, and later they both looked at each other.

"That's a lame reason. Come on, Celestine. I know you want your mate but unfortunately, you can't get him, not even in this life," she said mockingly.

I nodded I know I can't. And I have no intention of forcing him. If he can't claim me because I’m omega, I'll respect that. But there was one second that I thought of telling him who I really was. I didn’t want to miss my destined mate the Moon Goddess had arranged for me. But again and again, he hurt me mercilessly, and I lost all courage of any confession.

I have no other goal but to live in peace. A life where I don't hurt and don’t get hurt by anyone else.

I looked straight into James' eyes. "I'm sorry but I can't stand this kind of humiliation."

I slowly knelt in front of them. They were a little surprised by what I did. I still have some dignity and self-pity left.

"I'm begging you. If you can’t accept me as your mate. It's better to reject me, James."

This is the first time I called his name. Silence enveloped the whole area, after a while he stood up from the bed and walked towards me.

He held my jaw and made me look at him. His stern, cold face made me wonder if he was enraged by my proposal. But he shouldn’t hesitate, seeing what he did in the past.

"Is that what you want?" He asked. And I nodded.

"I, James Hutson, reject you Aria Celestine Malfold as my mate."

I feel the pain spreading throughout my heart. I feel weak, I expected this thing but the pain is still here.

"I, Aria Celestine Malfold, accept your rejection, James Hutson as your mate."

He grinned when I said that. He let go of my jaw and walked back to Karen.

"Stella's earrings are in the drawer. Take them and you can leave,” he said as if nothing happened.

I immediately looked for the earnings and quickly left the place. Werewolves only have one mate, once you reject or accept the rejection. You'll be mate less for the rest of your life. That’s what I know, but what I didn’t know at that time was that didn’t work for the Lycans.