Her Alpha's Rejected Mate

I bounced happily to the mating hall where the epsilon would announce who our mates were. My best friend, Kiara, already knew hers and just wanted to go for confirmation while I hoped that the moon goddess wouldn't disappoint me.

The mating hall was filled with young men and ladies of my age. Some of them who had already identified their mates sat smiling with each other, while I looked around for Kiara.

While searching for her, my eyes landed on Derrick, the hottest man in the pack. I've had a crush on him since I was fifteen, and even when I thought it would go away with age, it kept increasing until I thought I would explode with my feelings for him.

Seeing him check his wristwatch and batting his lashes in impatience aroused fluttery feelings in my belly.

I'd never had a conversation with him before, but today I decided to try my luck. I kissed the necklace I usually wear on my neck for good luck and approached him cautiously.

"Hi... Derrick," I stuttered behind him.

He twirled around and regarded me with an air of nonchalance which I ignored and grinned.

"Hi... do you need anything?" He asked impatiently, going through his phone.

"I don't need anything, I just felt like I could have a decent conversation with you. It's the mating ceremony today, have you found your mate already?"

He tilted his head to the side with a questioning look and shrugged. "How does that concern you?"

"Because it's happening today and almost everyone in this pack knows their mate already." I replied.

His expression wasn't friendly, yet I kept up the conversation hoping that he would get interested, but he kept up the scowl in his face.

Footsteps rang towards us and then I was met with the sight of a beautiful lady. Her expression was unfriendly as well and her eyes glimmered with jealousy.

"Who is she, babe?" She asked, taking in my appearance from head to toe.

"She wanted my help, that's why she's here. And I've been calling you for a while but you've neither picked or returned my call. What happened?" He asked and drew her closer to himself.

I was gobsmacked at his response and felt a tinge of bitterness. Maybe I deserved it for approaching him, but it wasn't wrong for me to start a conversation with him.

"My phone wasn't with me. But the Epsilon is around and I can't wait to be announced as your mate." The lady shrieked and led him into the hall while I blinked hardly to stop the tears that had already formed from rolling down my eyes.

While they headed for the hall, his scent kept wafting strongly into my nose, making her heart palpitate. My wolf purred at his scent and then I realized that Derrick was my mate.

I leaped for joy and ran towards the hall, searching furiously with my eyes for Kiara so that I'd tell her the good news.

Finally, I found her at the back of the hall with her mate, Eric. Their eyes were locked with their palms linked together. Today, I'd get to experience that with Derrick.

"Kiara!" I screamed and hugged her, interrupting their cuddling session.

"Hi, Pandora. Why are you so excited?" She asked, getting up her feet.

I got a grip on myself and glanced at Eric, stretching my hands for a handshake. "I'm really sorry for interrupting you both, but I really need to steal your mate right now." I giggled.

"It's fine," He replied as I dragged her out of the hall, not waiting for his response.

"I finally found my mate," I announced.

"Really? Who is he? Is he here right now?" Kiara asked in excitement.

"One question at a time. You are not more excited than me."

"Just give me a response. The ceremony is about to begin and I don't want to miss it for anything." She chirped, grabbing my hands.

"His name is Derrick." I announced and her eyes widened in surprise, then her lips stretched in a smile.

"Derrick, your crush? Does he know that he's your mate?"

"Yes and he doesn't know, but I guess the epsilon will announce us as mates and we'll live happily ever after," I replied, lowering my eyes then shrugged.

"He'll know soon. Let's go," Kiara comforted me and led me to the hall.

The Epsilon was already standing on the podium and making a speech but that didn't matter to me as I scanned the hall in search of Derrick. I found them at the front of the hall, smiling at each other.

"Soon you'll be mine," I muttered happily and listened to the Epsilon call out people's mates.

"I know that some of you have discovered who your mates are already, but I still have to confirm it and announce it publicly. Kiara Jones from the Beta family, you've been Mated to Eric Williams. Do you both accept to be each other's mates?" He asked as they stood up.

"Yes we agree." They chorused and everyone clapped for them but I clapped the loudest.

My best friend had a kind heart and she deserved to be with Eric. They had been in love with each other for a while and it was only fair that the moon goddess matched them with each other.

When the applause died down, he moved on to the next name and called mine.

"Pandora Miller, from the Omega family, you've been mated to Derrick Brown . Do you both accept to be each other's mates?" He asked with an uneasy look.

I stood up excitedly to give him a positive reply when a yell rang out.

"I don't accept." Derrick objected with a scowl.

My heart shattered to pieces at his rejection. Was I really worthless that he had to reject me in public?

"I, Derrick Brown, will never accept a low-life like her when I have someone as beautiful and classy as this woman beside me." He said and approached me slowly, his glare cutting deep into my broken heart. "Pandora Miller, I reject you as my mate." He concluded and everyone burst out laughing.

Tears flowed down my cheeks as he rejected me in front of the whole pack like a piece of trash. I had never felt so worthless and useless in my entire life, not even Kiara's soothing words could alleviate the pain that gnawed in my heart.

"But how can you reject me? We are mates." I cried, but he ignored me and pushed me away with his girlfriend walking behind him.

Bouts of laughter erupted from the crowd while I took to my heels and headed for a quiet place where I usually have solace when the rejection from my pack got to me.

I sensed Kiara's presence beside me when I sat on the stone, but I was too dejected to speak. She lowered herself on the grass beside me and we both sat in silence, the both of us unready to break it.

She sighed and placed her palm on my thigh. "What are you going to do? You can't allow Derrick's rejection to break you down like that." She spoke angrily, but I didn't care. I just wanted to stop existing.

"All my life, no one has ever accepted me. I've always been a laughing stock because I'm an Omega and my parents are wretched. Is that my fault?" I asked, nearly choking on my words.

She wrapped her arms around me, placing my head on her shoulder.

"It's not your fault, Pandora. You are a beautiful and nice girl. It's just unfortunate that Derrick doesn't recognise that fact. His bitchy girlfriend isn't as beautiful and smart as you are. So wipe your tears and forget about his sorry ass." She hollered.

A smile crept up my lips and I cleaned my eyes, "I'm happy that the moon goddess gave me a friend like you. What would I have done without you?"

"Nothing, Pandora, nothing. Lest I forget, Eric and I are having a party and I'd like you to be around so that you can forget all about Derrick. Don't say no," She pouted.

I ruffled her hair, "How can I say no to the kindest woman ever? Can I be honest?" I asked and she nodded.

"You are blessed to have someone like Eric in your life. At least one of us has our lives going well and I believe that things will turn out well for me whenever the moon goddess pleases."

"Don't say that, Pandora. You deserve someone who will love you genuinely too and I'm sure that you'll get that man soon, just be patient." She consoled me and stood up.

I did the same as well and we hugged each other. "I'd have stayed longer with you but I have to finish the preparations for the party. Don't miss it for anything," She reminded me, faking a stern expression.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," I assured her and we both headed for our houses. We couldn't take the same route because of the differences in our clans. She was a Beta while I was an Omega even though she was the only kind Beta I'd come across.

She had saved me from a getting killed when I was framed by my wicked boss for stealing, since then, we stuck to each other like glue

I walked home, ignoring the snide remarks from some youths that were discussing in circles even though their words cut me deeply like a knife.

"How could she think that Derrick would accept to be her mate? She's too cheap for him."

"She lives in her fantasies. That would be the only reason, or maybe she offered her body to the Epsilon so that he would announce Derrick as her mate."

They all burst into laughter and it heightened when I walked past them, while I wondered how people could be so heartless to discuss someone that was just around them.

I increased my pace so that I'd get home on time. My parents sat on the dining table when I got home, having their meal. They had warned me not to go to the hall, but I didn't listen to them because I believed that my fate would be different.

"How are you feeling, my daughter? I'm so sorry about what happened." She said, pushing her seat backward so that she could get up to hug me.

I freed my vulnerable side and allowed her embrace to strengthen me as I sobbed hard.

"It's my fault, mother, if I hadn't gone I'd have gone to work and gotten some money."

"Don't blame yourself, Pandora, it's not your fault that he couldn't see the beauty that the moon goddess gave him. By the time he realizes the value of what he has lost, it would be too late for him to regain it." My father added and motioned me to join the table.

Mother had prepared my favorite Loco moco dish but I lacked the appetite to eat it.

"You are going to eat it because I poured my heart and soul into that meal, it's your favorite, remember?" She asked, pouring some soup onto my plate.

I chewed some of the eggs absentmindedly while my mind kept replaying Derrick's words and how he pulled his girlfriend from the hall.

My eyes stung at the painful memory, but I willed myself not to cry for my mother's sake.

"Eat up, alright. Everything will be fine," She assured me but I wasn't sure things will ever be fine with me.

My stomach rumbled and then I realized how famished I was. I ate ravenously which was surprising to me and heart-warming for my mother. When we finished, I rose up and cleared the plates.

"The meal was delicious, mother. You should really consider adding this meal to your menu at the restaurant." I advised and walked towards the kitchen.

A knock sounded on the door and then I left the kitchen. "Don't worry, I'll get it," I shouted and rushed towards the door.

The smile which was on my face disappeared immediately when I saw the man standing in front of me.

"What are you doing here, Derrick?"

"Can I come in?" He asked curtly and I led him in with my heart thudding faster.

Was he here to apologize for how he treated me at the mating ceremony? Maybe, afterall, I couldn't see any other reason why he'd come to my house after what he had done.

"Mother, Father, someone is here to see us." I announced and hid my excitement the moment I saw the look of disgust on my parents' face.

Mother wanted to talk but my father was quick to interrupt her. "How did you get to know my house and what are you doing here? I hope you know that you aren't accepted here?" Father thundered.

Since we were Omegas, other people treated us like trash, even Omegas like us. So my parents were very protective of me and since I was an only child, they gave all their attention to me.

"I don't care about your acceptance, Mr Miller. I only came here to ensure that my rejection at the ceremony stuck to your daughter's head. Things don't have to be so complicated and I'd even offer you guys money if you need any." He disparaged, gloating like the proud peacock he was.

Instant dislike filled my heart as I wondered why I had a crush on him in the first place. Maybe it was because of his physique and his handsome face, but I should have known better than liking people for the wrong reasons.

I walked in front of him with an angry smirk, he was taken aback as he didn't expect me to stand tall in front of him without cowering in fear.

"You might have rejected me in public and made me a laughing stock just because I'm not up to your standards, but I'll tell you something, you aren't up to anyone's standard as well. You are so proud of what can be taken from you at any time. Your manner of speech is wack and I pity whoever is with you right now because she is ignorant of the chaff that calls himself a man." I lashed out, my voice climbing at every word I blurted.

He was gobsmacked, his mouth slacked in surprise. "You really have the effrontery to talk to me in such a manner, you low-life?"

I couldn't take his insults anymore, so I made signs to my parents to allow me to handle it. "I do, now you're free to leave. I don't want your girlfriend to come here in search of you. After all, people like you are meant to be in a palace, not here." I said sarcastically.

He was at loss of what to say so he scanned our house and then snorted and left.

I hugged my mother after he exited and sobbed. Though I had acted tough in front of him, my heart wished that he would retract his words and apologize for everything he did. But now I knew that the moon goddess was bent on punishing me, if not she wouldn't have mated me to someone as obnoxious as him.

"Don't worry, my darling, everything will be fine." She consoled me and planted a kiss on my forehead.

Father came closer to us, his eyes glimmering with pride and gratitude. "I'm so happy that you were able to stand up to him. With your response, he'll never talk down on you anymore." He assured me and patted my back.

It was evening already and I was all set and ready for Kiara's party. For the first time in a while, I applied light make up which accentuated the nude short dress I wore.

After my banter with Derrick, I made a promise to myself to always be happy and never to take insults from anyone. A fierce feeling was ignited in me and I pitied anyone that would try to make me a laughing stock.

"I'm off, mother." I announced from the living room since she was having a cozy time with my father.

"Have a nice time and if you can't make it back, please tell us." Father reminded me and I smiled and assured them that I'd do exactly as they instructed me.

Ever since I turned twenty-one, they lifted the curfew they placed on me, but I didn't care because I wasn't a party freak and I preferred the comfort of my bed after work.

I flagged a taxi which headed for Eric's house. He was rich, just like Kiara, so he decided to use his house for the party.

When I arrived, the place was already bubbling with loud music and happy screams from the people dancing wildly. I looked around for Kiara who was having a good time with Eric.

I approached them slowly with my lips stretching into a smile, ignoring the surprised looks on the people's faces when they saw how different I looked.

Kiara's eyes widened when she saw me and then she hugged me tightly. "What happened to you?"

A giggle escaped my lips at her question. "Derrick happened to me. After he came to threaten me at home, I realized that I didn't deserve less from any man. And even if I'm an Omega, I wouldn't be treated like one."

"That's the spirit, Pandy. Come on, let me fix you up with something to drink. I know that you aren't good at socializing and somehow, you want Derrick back but forget about him and focus on tonight's party. It's going to be fun," She convinced me and darted her eyes to Eric who winked at her.

I nodded to every word she said and allowed her to lead me towards an empty chair. I fed my eyes with the activities going on and had a tiny wish that I didn't have to be alone at the party.

A man cleared his throat, intruding my thoughts as I slanted him a look. He had a cute face with deep blue eyes and a rich chocolate scent oozed from him.

"Can I sit with you? I'm here alone and very bored," He asked with a pleading expression, lowering his lashes.

Then I replied, batting my lashes at him. "Sure you can."