PREGNANT AND REJECTED BY ALPHA

The storm howled through the night, its icy raindrops slicing through the darkness like cruel daggers. Selene nightshade stood in the center of the Blood Moon Pack, her body trembling from the cold, but it was nothing compared to the frost seeping into her soul.

Hundreds of pack members surrounded her, their faces a mix of curiosity, judgment, and thinly veiled disgust. The weight of their stares pressed down on her, suffocating. But the only gaze that mattered the one that had once held love, devotion, and promises of forever was now filled with nothing but hatred.

Damien Blackwood, Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack.

Her mate.

Her destiny.

And the man who was about to destroy her.

His silver eyes, once warm like moonlight, had turned into cold steel. The rain dripped from his raven-black hair, tracing the sharp angles of his face, but he didn't so much as flinch. Instead, he stood before her with an expression so devoid of emotion it sent a shiver down her spine.

"Damien..." Selene's voice cracked as she took a step toward him, but he didn't move. He didn't reach for her. He didn't even blink.

The mate bond between them pulsed, frayed, barely holding together. A bond that was supposed to be sacred. Indestructible.

But then..

"I don't want you," Damien said, his voice like a death sentence. "You mean nothing to me."

Selene's breath hitched.

No.

No, this couldn't be happening.

She had dreamed of this moment for years, the day their bond would be acknowledged, the day they would finally stand side by side, mates, partners, Alpha and Luna.

But instead, he looked at her like she was dirt beneath his feet.

"Damien..." her voice barely carried over the howling wind. "Why are you saying this?"

His lips curled in disgust. "Are you deaf? I said you're not my mate."

The words felt like claws raking through her chest, ripping her heart apart piece by piece.

"I never wanted you. I never will."

The pain was unbearable. The bond that had tethered them together trembled, twisting, unraveling.

Selene shook her head, rain mixing with the tears sliding down her face. "That's not true! You, Damien, we're fated! We belong together!"

A sharp, bitter laugh left his lips. "Fate?" He spat the word like it was poison. "I don't give a damn about fate. And neither should you."

His gaze flickered downward for the briefest second. Selene followed his line of sight

To her stomach.

A sick feeling coiled in her gut.

No.

He couldn't possibly know.

Could he?

"And you," Damien said, his voice dripping with venom, "are carrying another man's child."

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.

Selene's entire body went rigid.

What?

The pack's murmurs swelled around her, deafening.

"The Luna is pregnant?"

"But not with the Alpha's pup?"

"Disgraceful."

Selene felt like the ground had been ripped from beneath her. She shook her head frantically, heart pounding so loudly she could barely hear her own voice.

"That's not true!" she choked out, her hands pressing protectively against her abdomen. "Damien, please! This is your pup!"

But he didn't believe her.

He never even hesitated.

"Liar," he said coldly.

Selene felt the shift before she saw it, the dangerous way his body tensed, the flicker of rage in his silver eyes, the suffocating dominance radiating from him like a thunderstorm.

Then he stepped forward.

One step.

Two.

Until he was so close that she could feel the heat of his body despite the freezing rain.

"You reek of another male's scent," he hissed. "Do you think I'm a fool?"

Selene staggered back, shaking her head wildly. "I swear to you.. I have never been with anyone else! I have only ever loved you!"

The words meant nothing to him.

Damien's hand shot out, fingers clamping around her wrist in a bruising grip. The mate bond should have protected her, should have made him cherish her but all he saw when he looked at her was filth.

Selene gasped, pain shooting up her arm. "Please... You have to believe me."

But Damien Blackwood never gave second chances.

With a look of pure disgust, he yanked his hand away as if touching her had tainted him. Then, in one swift motion, he uttered the words that shattered her world.

"As Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack, I, Damien Blackwood, reject you, Selene Carter, as my mate."

The bond snapped.

It wasn't a sound anyone else could hear but to Selene, it was deafening.

A howl of agony ripped through her soul.

Pain like she had never known before exploded inside her chest, sending her crashing to the ground. It felt as if a thousand knives were stabbing into her heart all at once, as if a vital part of her had been violently ripped away.

Her wolf screamed inside her mind, clawing desperately to hold onto the connection but it was gone.

Selene's breath came in ragged gasps, her fingers digging into the cold, wet earth. Her body convulsed, her entire being rejecting the emptiness where Damien's presence used to be.

Tears mixed with rain as she clutched at her chest.

No. No. No.

Damien had ripped her heart out and crushed it beneath his heel.

Selene's vision blurred, but she forced herself to look up at him desperate, hoping, praying he would change his mind.

But he was already turning away.

He didn't look back.

He didn't hesitate.

It was over.

The whispers of the pack grew louder, the voices slicing through her like blades.

"She deserved it."

"An Alpha doesn't take a traitor as his mate."

"What will happen to the pup?"

The pup.

Selene's shaking hand moved to her stomach, to the tiny life growing inside her.

She had to get out of here.

A storm far stronger than the one raging around her brewed inside her chest.

Slowly, painfully, she forced herself to stand.

If Damien didn't want her, she wouldn't beg.

If he didn't believe her, she wouldn't explain.

And if he thought she was weak, he was dead wrong.

She took one last look at the pack, the place that had once been her home.

Then, without another word.

She turned and ran.

Away from the heartbreak.

Away from the betrayal.

Away from the man who had once been her entire world.

Somewhere in the distance, the Moon Goddess watched.

And Selene had no idea..

This wasn't the end of her story.

It was just the beginning...

Selene's bare feet pounded against the wet earth, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Rain lashed against her skin, soaking her thin dress, but she barely felt the cold. Her heart drummed against her ribs, her lungs burning with every desperate inhale.

She had to keep running. She had to keep moving.

Lightning split the sky, illuminating the dense forest in a flash of eerie white. The trees loomed like silent sentinels, their twisted branches clawing at the stormy sky. The wind howled through the night, drowning out the sound of her own thoughts. But nothing could silence the echo of Damien's voice in her mind.

I don't want you. I never did.

The words cut deeper than any blade ever could.

Her mate. Her Alpha. The man who had once vowed to protect her had cast her aside like she was nothing.

Selene clenched her jaw, shoving the pain down. She wouldn't let it consume her not now.

She pressed a protective hand against her abdomen, feeling the faint warmth of life beneath her palm. You're not alone, she reminded herself. I won't let anything happen to you.

The Blood Moon Pack was behind her now. The only home she had ever known. She had spent her entire life within its borders, and now... she was nothing. A lone wolf. A rogue.

A sharp crack echoed through the trees.

Selene skidded to a stop, her heart leaping into her throat. Her body went rigid as she listened, her wolf instincts flaring to life.

Another sound. A rustle. A low, guttural growl.

She wasn't alone.

Her pulse spiked. Slowly, she turned her head.

Glowing amber eyes stared back at her from the darkness.

A rogue.

Selene's breath hitched. She had heard the stories. Rogues were brutal, living only to fight, to kill. Without a pack's protection, she was vulnerable.

The rogue stepped forward, its lips peeling back in a snarl.

Selene swallowed hard. Her wolf was weakened from the rejection, but she had no choice. She had to fight.

With a deep breath, she forced herself to shift. Her body trembled, her bones snapping and realigning, fur covering her skin. Pain shot through her limbs, but she gritted her teeth.

The rogue lunged.

Selene barely dodged in time. Claws slashed through the air where she had stood a moment before. Snarling, she lashed out, her teeth sinking into its shoulder.

The rogue howled in pain, but it wasn't enough.

Another growl sounded. Then another.

Selene's stomach twisted as she realized the truth.

It's not just one. It's a pack.

Fear coiled in her chest. She was outnumbered. Outmatched.

Panic surged through her veins as the rogues circled her, their glowing eyes filled with hunger.

She backed up slowly, her muscles coiled, waiting for the attack.

Then..

A deep, powerful snarl ripped through the air.

The rogues froze.

A presence washed over the clearing, thick and suffocating. A force so strong it made every instinct in Selene's body scream to submit.

The shadows shifted. And then..

A massive jet-black wolf stepped into the clearing.

Selene's breath caught in her throat.

He was enormous, his midnight fur slick with rain, his golden eyes burning with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. Power radiated from him in waves, the kind that made even the most savage of wolves hesitate.

An Alpha.

Not just any Alpha.

Who is he?

The rogue wolves tensed, their ears flattening as they let out wary growls. But the Alpha didn't move. He didn't need to.

His presence alone was enough.

His voice was a low, dangerous rumble. "Leave."

One word. A command.

The rogues hesitated for only a second before scrambling back into the shadows, their instincts recognizing the absolute authority of an Alpha.

Selene remained still, her wolf still poised for a fight. But there was no fight left to be had.

The rogues were gone.

And now, she was alone with him.

Slowly, the black wolf turned his piercing gaze on her.

Selene's wolf shuddered.

A slow, deliberate step forward.

Selene took a step back, her own instincts warning her of the sheer power before her. But there was nowhere to go.

The Alpha shifted.

His transformation was seamless, effortless. Where the massive wolf once stood, now towered a man.

He was tall, broad-shouldered, his muscular frame radiating power even in human form. His dark hair was damp from the rain, strands sticking to his forehead. A jagged scar ran across his left eyebrow, adding to his dangerous aura.

But it was his eyes those golden, unreadable eyes that made her stomach twist.

His gaze swept over her, assessing, calculating.

And then, to her utter humiliation, his lips curled in something between amusement and intrigue.

"You're weak."

Selene bristled. Her wolf bared its fangs, but he didn't look the least bit impressed.

"You wouldn't have lasted another minute," he mused, voice dangerously smooth.

Selene forced herself to shift back, ignoring the sharp ache in her limbs. Rain soaked her thin dress, clinging to her body as she stood before him barefoot, vulnerable, and utterly alone.

Yet, she refused to bow.

Her chin lifted, defiance burning in her gaze.

"I didn't ask for your help," she rasped.

The Alpha's expression didn't change. If anything, his gaze darkened, as if he found her resistance amusing.

"And yet," he said, taking another step forward, "you needed it."

Selene clenched her fists.

She should run. She should get as far away from him as possible.

But she had nowhere to go.

She had spent her life at the mercy of an Alpha who never wanted her.

And now, she stood before one who had just saved her life.

The Alpha tilted his head, as if reading her thoughts.

"You won't survive out here alone."

Selene's breath hitched.

He was right.

She had no food, no shelter. She had been running on nothing but desperation.

Still, she held her ground. "I don't trust you."

The Alpha's lips twitched, almost like he expected her answer.

Then, to her surprise, he didn't issue a demand.

Instead, he offered a choice.

"You have two options," he said. "Come with me, or take your chances alone."

Selene's heart pounded.

Every instinct screamed at her to be wary.

But she wasn't just thinking about herself.

She placed a hand on her stomach.

Her baby's heartbeat was steady. Strong.

I have to survive. For them.

She met the Alpha's gaze, searching for cruelty, for deception.

All she found was quiet certainty.

A new Alpha. A new fate.

A second chance.

Selene took a deep breath.

And then, she made her choice.

Selene's fingers twitched as she stared at the Alpha standing before her. Come with him, or survive on her own?

Her pride screamed at her to refuse. She had already been at the mercy of one Alpha, and he had crushed her.

But her wolf... her wolf remained still. Watching. Listening.

The rain had slowed to a drizzle, but the cold bit at her exposed skin. Her dress clung to her like a second skin, torn at the hem, dirt and blood staining the once-delicate fabric.

The Alpha hadn't moved, his midnight eyes locked onto her with unnerving patience. He wasn't like Damien. Where Damien used his charm to deceive, this one wore his power like a second skin, unapologetic and absolute.

Selene took a shaky breath. If she went with him, what would he demand in return?

"What do you want from me?" she asked, her voice hoarse from exhaustion.

His lips tilted into something that wasn't quite a smile.

"If I wanted something, you'd already know it."

Her stomach twisted. That was not an answer.

She weighed her options. She could run-but in her condition, she wouldn't make it far. She could refuse-but the rogues would return the moment the Alpha left.

Selene clenched her jaw.

Survival meant making difficult choices.

"Fine," she said at last. "I'll go with you. But I don't belong to you."

His eyes darkened. "No, you don't. But that doesn't mean you're free."

Before she could ask what he meant, the Alpha turned and started walking.

Selene hesitated for only a moment before following.

>>>>>>>>The journey>>>>>>

The night was eerily quiet as they moved through the dense forest. The Alpha walked ahead, his pace steady, his movements fluid. Selene forced herself to keep up despite the throbbing pain in her legs.

She didn't know his name. She wasn't sure if she wanted to.

After what felt like hours, the thick canopy of trees broke, revealing a massive stone fortress nestled within the cliffs.

Her steps faltered.

This wasn't a pack house. This was a stronghold.

The towering walls stretched high, torches flickering against the stone. Armed wolves patrolled the entrance, their sharp eyes turning toward the Alpha as they approached.

Who was he?

The guards stepped aside without question. Selene swallowed hard as she stepped through the iron gates.

Inside, the fortress was just as intimidating. The scent of warriors and steel lingered in the air. This wasn't the Blood Moon Pack, where luxury covered the stench of corruption.

This place was built for war.

The Alpha led her through the halls without a word. Servants stopped to bow, eyes lowered as he passed.

Selene tried not to shiver. They feared him.

Finally, he pushed open a large wooden door, revealing a lavish chamber with a fireplace, a massive bed, and a bathing area.

She hesitated at the threshold.

"This isn't a prison," he said, as if sensing her reluctance. "But don't mistake it for freedom."

Selene stepped inside. The heat from the fire warmed her skin, and she hated how much she welcomed it.

She turned to him, arms crossing over her chest. "Who are you?"

The Alpha studied her for a moment before finally answering.

"Killian," he said. "Alpha of the Shadowcrest Pack."

>>>>>The Alpha's Domain>>>>

Selene stood frozen in the center of the grand chamber, her heart hammering against her ribs. The fire crackled softly, casting eerie shadows across the stone walls. The heat should have been comforting, but nothing about this place felt safe.

Shadowcrest.

She had only heard whispers of the infamous pack... mercenaries, assassins, warriors who operated outside the laws of the Council. A pack without rules. A pack without mercy.

And now she was standing in the Alpha's den.

Selene exhaled sharply, her fingers clenching into fists. She needed to think. She needed to understand why Killian had brought her here.

Her stomach churned as memories of Damien's rejection resurfaced. He had tossed her aside like trash. A cruel laugh, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered the words that had shattered her world:

"You mean nothing to me. This pup means nothing to me."

A shiver ran down her spine. No. She refused to let that pain consume her again.

Selene turned toward the heavy wooden door Killian had disappeared through. She had questions. And she wasn't about to wait for him to answer them on his terms.

She marched forward, ignoring the exhaustion weighing down her limbs, and pushed open the door.

..........

The hallways of the fortress stretched endlessly, the walls lined with torches that flickered in the dim light. The scent of wolves, strong, dominant, lingered in the air.

Selene's ears picked up muffled conversations as she moved. Warriors spoke in hushed tones, their voices sharp with tension.

"The Alpha brought a rogue in?"

"She smells different. Not just any rogue..."

"You don't think..."

Selene quickened her pace. Whatever assumptions they were making, she didn't care. She needed answers.

After what felt like an eternity, she found herself outside a massive set of double doors. Two guards flanked the entrance, their gazes sharp and assessing.

"Move," she said, her voice firm despite the pounding in her chest.

The taller of the two guards raised a brow. "The Alpha didn't summon you."

Selene narrowed her eyes. "Then I'll summon myself."

She reached for the door handle, only for a strong hand to clamp around her wrist.

Her breath hitched as warmth seared through her skin.

Not again. Not this feeling.

Her eyes shot up to meet a piercing gaze... Killian's.

How had he moved so fast?

He stared down at her, his grip firm but not painful. A warning. A test.

Selene yanked her hand free, ignoring the heat left behind. "You owe me answers."

Killian didn't flinch. "I don't owe you anything."

Her jaw clenched. "Then why did you bring me here?"

For a moment, silence stretched between them, heavy and unspoken. Then, Killian sighed, as if indulging a child.

"Because you're carrying an Alpha's heir."

Selene's blood turned to ice.

She stumbled back, shaking her head. "What?! How do you...?"

Killian tilted his head, studying her like a puzzle. "You reek of power, Selene. Not just your own, but his. You might be rejected, but that doesn't erase what's inside you."

Selene's hands instinctively moved to her stomach.

She hadn't told anyone. Not a soul. How did he know?

She took a shaky breath. "So, what? You want the pup? You want to use me as a pawn?"

Killian's expression darkened. "If I wanted to use you, I wouldn't have saved you."

That stopped her.

She didn't trust him. Not for a second. But she had spent enough time around Alphas to recognize deceit. And Killian... he wasn't lying.

Then what did he want?

Before she could ask, a sharp knock interrupted them.

"Alpha."

A warrior stepped forward, his posture stiff with urgency. "Rogues at the southern border. They're searching for something... or someone."

Selene's breath caught.

Damien.

He was looking for her.

For the first time since arriving at the Shadowcrest Pack, true fear wrapped around her like a noose.

And Killian... Killian was watching her.

"Looks like you weren't meant to die after all..."