REJECTED BY ALPHA LUPUS,REBORN IN FIRE.

Taylor's POV

The silence in the Alpha's quarters was thick enough to choke me. The air smelled of power, dominance, and something darker and something that used to make me tremble, but now only made my stomach twist in disgust.

Lupus stood in front of me, bare-chested, his powerful frame glowing faintly under the moonlight that streamed through the window. His expression was unreadable, cold as stone, his blue eyes fixed somewhere beyond me, as if I wasn't even there.

I pulled the sheet around my body, my heart aching in my chest. As a result of constant sex, he had been distant for weeks but tonight felt different. There was no warmth in him, no tenderness, only emptiness. What we shared was no longer love. It had become something I couldn't even name.

"Lupus," I whispered softly, "what happened to you? To us?"

He didn't respond. He turned away, pulling on his shirt, adjusting his sleeves with slow, deliberate

movements. His silence was sharper than any insult.

I watched him quietly, trying to hold back the ache in my chest. He was my mate, my fated one. The man the Moon Goddess herself chose for me. But now, standing before me, he looked more like a stranger wearing the face of the man I used to love.

When he finally spoke, his voice was hard and cold. "Don't look at me like that, Taylor. You knew what this was."

His words struck me like a slap. "What do you mean what this was?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. "You marked me once. You claimed me in front of the pack. You told me I was yours!"

"That was before," he said simply, buttoning his shirt and fastening his belt. "Things have changed."

I frowned, confusion mixing with anger. "Changed how? Is it because of Angela?"

He looked at me then, for the first time that night, his eyes sharp as ice. "Don't start this again."

I rose from the bed, pulling the sheet tighter around me. "No, you'll listen to me this time. You can't just shut me out like this. You can't pretend I don't exist. I am your mate, Lupus. Or does that mean nothing to you now?"

He let out a small, humourless laugh. "Mate?" he repeated mockingly. "Taylor, you're an omega. You were never supposed to be Luna. I only took you because my parents thought it would calm the tension between our families. Don't mistake duty for love."

His words hit me harder than any physical blow. My heart ached so badly it was hard to breathe. I took a step back, shaking my head. "You're lying. You said you wanted me. You told me you felt the bond too."

"I did," he said coldly, "but that bond was never strong enough. You felt it more than I did."

I could barely keep my voice steady. "So what am I to you now? Just a name in your pack records?

Someone to use when it's convenient?"

He smirked slightly, the arrogance in his eyes cutting through me. "You're being dramatic. You knew what I wanted. You gave it willingly."

I bit my lip, holding back the tears that threatened to fall. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing me break. "You're cruel, Lupus," I said quietly. "You've changed. You used to be kind... now you're just power-hungry and heartless."

He turned toward me again, his tone sharp and commanding. "Enough, Taylor. I don't need your

lectures. I'm Alpha. I don't owe you explanations."

The way he said "I'm Alpha" was like a knife twisting in my chest. He had become everything he once swore he wouldn't be.

I clenched my fists, anger finally taking over the hurt. "You can be Alpha all you want, but you don't get to treat me like I'm nothing. I'm not one of your subordinates. I'm your mate!"

He stepped closer, towering over me, his scent of dominance filling the room. "You were my mate," he said in a low voice. "But now? You're just someone who doesn't know her place."

I glared up at him. "And Angela does, right?"

His jaw tightened, and he didn't deny it. That silence told me everything I needed to know.

I swallowed hard, my chest rising and falling with uneven breaths. "So that's it," I whispered. "You're really choosing her over me."

He exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples as if he were tired of the conversation. "Angela is the right

choice for the pack. She's strong, well-bred, and knows what being Luna means. She won't question my authority every second like you do."

I took a shaky step back, my voice trembling with anger. "And what about love, Lupus? Does that mean nothing to you?"

He looked at me, his expression hard. "Love doesn't build empires."

That was the moment something inside me shattered completely. The man I loved, the mate I trusted with my soul, had turned into someone I didn't recognize.

For a long moment, neither of us spoke. The fire in the corner crackled softly, casting strong warmth to us across the room. I could feel my wolf stirring inside me, restless and hurt.

"Lupus," I said quietly, my voice breaking. "You've hurt me in ways I can't even explain. But one day, you'll realize what you lost."

He chuckled darkly. "Don't make promises you can't keep, Taylor. You'll be gone soon anyway."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, though deep down, I already knew.

He stepped forward, his eyes glowing faintly under the moonlight. The authority in his voice was sharp enough to command the entire pack.

"I, Alpha Lupus Kai, reject you, Taylor Swift, as my mate and Luna," he said firmly.

For a moment, I couldn't breathe. My ears rang. The words replayed in my mind, over and over, slicing through the bond between us like a blade. My wolf howled inside me, thrashing in agony, the pain ripping through every part of me.

Tears burned my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. He wanted to see me break. He wanted to see me beg. But I wouldn't give him that.

Slowly, I lifted my chin and met his cold gaze. "I, Taylor Swift, accept your rejection, Alpha Lupus," I said, my voice strong and steady.

The moment the words left my mouth, something deep within me snapped. The bond shattered

completely. My heart felt like it was being torn apart, but I forced myself to stay still, to look him in the eyes as if none of it mattered.

Lupus's expression flickered for just a second but something like regret passed through his eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it came.

"Good," he said flatly. "Now get out."

I nodded once, slowly. "Don't worry, I won't stay where I'm not wanted."

I bent down, gathered my clothes quietly, and dressed without another word. The silence between us was deafening. I could feel his eyes on me, but I refused to look back.

As I reached the door, his voice stopped me. "Taylor."

I froze but didn't turn around.

"You should know," he said coldly, "Angela and I will be announced as Alpha and Luna at the next full moon. Don't embarrass yourself by showing up."

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. "Don't worry, Alpha," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "I wouldn't dream of it."

I opened the door and stepped into the hallway, the cool air hitting my face. My hands trembled, but I clenched them into fists. I could hear my wolf whimpering softly in my head, mourning what we'd lost, but I swallowed the pain.

I wouldn't cry for him. Not anymore.

Immediately walked down the corridor, memories of us flashed through my mind, the first time he

smiled at me, the way his eyes softened when he used to call my name, the warmth of his embrace that once made me feel safe. All of it was gone now, burned away by pride and betrayal.

By the time I reached the outer doors, I could barely stand. My legs shook, my vision was completely blurred, but I forced myself to keep walking. I had lost everything tonight, my mate, my title, my place in the pack.

But I still had one thing left: my will.

Outside, the night air was sharp and cold. The moon hung high above the trees, watching silently as if it pitied me. I lifted my face to it, letting the wind dry the tears that had finally escaped.

"I'll rise again," I whispered to myself. "You'll see, Lupus. You'll regret every word you said to me."

My wolf stirred weakly inside me, her voice was low but determined. We will rise, Taylor. From the

ashes.

I nodded to myself, wiping my face. I wasn't the same broken woman who had walked into his room tonight. Something inside me had changed, something fierce and burning.

He may have rejected me, but he also freed me.

And when the time came, Alpha Lupus Kai would realize that rejecting me was the worst mistake he'd ever made.

I turned away from the pack house, disappearing into the darkness of the forest, my heart still bleeding, but with every step, the pain began to harden into something new, and I know soon or later he will witness the new me.

I whispered to the wind, "You'll pay for this, Alpha Lupus. I give you my word."

Lupus's POV

The moment Taylor walked out of my chamber, the silence that followed was heavier than any roar of battle.

I stood there, staring at the door she had just closed, my chest burning with a strange mixture of anger and something I couldn't name. Her scent still lingered faintly in the room very soft, familiar, and painfully haunting. I wanted it gone. I wanted her gone. Yet, every breath I took reminded me of her.

I turned sharply and slammed my fist against the wall. The sound went through the chamber, and the stone cracked under the force.

"She defied me," I muttered under my breath. "She actually defied me."

I was the Alpha of the Dominion Pack, the strongest, the most feared, the one no one dared question. But Taylor Swift, the woman I once called my mate, had looked me in the eye and walked away without fear. That image burned in my mind like fire.

Before I could even gather my thoughts, Daniel burst through the door. My Beta. My oldest friend. The only one who ever dared to enter my space without knocking.

"Lupus," he said, slightly out of breath. "Tell me you didn't do it."

I turned to face him, my expression blank. "Do what?"

He swallowed hard. "Reject her. Taylor."

I clenched my jaw. "I did."

Daniel's face fell. "You can't be serious. You..."

"Don't," I snapped, my voice cutting through his words like a blade. "Don't question my decisions."

He hesitated. "But she's your mate, Lupus. The Moon Goddess."

"I said don't!" I roared, and the power in my voice made the lamps flicker.

Daniel stepped back immediately, his head bowed in submission. I could sense his wolf shrinking under my dominance.

I exhaled slowly, trying to calm myself. "If you care so much, go find her yourself," I said coldly. "Because I don't intend to."

Daniel frowned. "You'll regret this. I can see it in your eyes already."

"Enough!" I thundered again. "Leave, Daniel, before I forget you're my friend."

He stared at me for a moment longer, disappointment written all over his face, then turned and left quietly.

The room fell silent once more. Only the sound of my heartbeat went in my ears. I sank onto the edge of my desk, rubbing my temples.

Taylor's last words replayed in my mind, I will rise again.

A part of me wanted to laugh at her foolishness, but another part of me... the part I kept buried deep inside, twisted painfully at the thought.

I didn't understand why it hurt. I was the one who ended it. I was the one who said the words.

I told myself I didn't care. That it was for the best.

But the more I tried to believe it, the less it felt true.

I poured myself a glass of whiskey and downed it in one gulp. The burning sensation helped clear my thoughts, even if just for a second.

That was when Angela walked in.

She didn't knock, she never did. She strolled in confidently, her short dark hair brushing against her shoulders, her emerald eyes shining with triumph.

"So," she said with a smirk, "she's gone?"

I didn't respond. I stared into the empty glass in my hand.

"I heard you rejected her in person," Angela continued, stepping closer. "I wish I could have seen her face. She must have been devastated."

Her tone was light, but there was venom behind her words.

"Angela," I said quietly, not looking at her, "don't push me right now."

"Oh, come on," she said, crossing her arms. "You should be happy. The weak little omega is finally out of your life. You did what had to be done."

I glanced at her sharply. "Watch your words."

Her smirk faded slightly. "What? I'm only saying what's true."

"Taylor may have been weak," I said, standing up to my full height, "but she was still my mate. And you will not speak of her disrespectfully in my presence."

Angela blinked, clearly surprised. "You're defending her? After everything?"

"I'm not defending anyone," I said flatly. "I'm stating facts."

She studied me for a moment, tilting her head. "You're angry. Why? You rejected her. Isn't this what you wanted?"

"I don't owe you an explanation," I said.

Angela stepped closer, lowering her voice. "Lupus, listen to me. You're Alpha now. You can't let emotions rule you. The pack respects strength, not sympathy. If you start showing regret, they'll see it as weakness."

I turned away from her, walking toward the window. The moon was high and full, shining brightly over the forest beyond our borders.

"She left," I said softly. "I can't sense her anymore."

Angela frowned. "That's a good thing, isn't it?"

I didn't answer. My wolf stirred restlessly inside me, growling low in frustration.

I hated this feeling, this unease clawing at my chest. I wanted to believe she was nothing to me, that her absence meant freedom. But the silence she left behind was unbearable.

"Lupus," Angela said, walking up behind me. "Forget about her. You did what was right for the pack."

"Right for the pack," I repeated quietly. "But not for me."

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing."

I turned around and faced her again. "I need time to think. Leave me."

Angela frowned. "I'm your mate now. You can talk to me."

"I said leave," I said firmly, my tone final.

She hesitated, clearly annoyed, but then nodded and walked out, closing the door behind her.

As soon as she was gone, I sank into my chair and ran my hands through my hair. My wolf was pacing inside me, restless and agitated.

Why do you care? I asked it silently. She's gone. We rejected her.

But my wolf didn't answer. It only growled softly, the sound low and sorrowful.

I couldn't stand the walls closing in anymore. I needed air.

I got up and walked out of my chambers, down the long hallway of the Alpha quarters. The guards at the entrance bowed as I passed, but I barely noticed them. I followed Taylor's scent instinctively, even though I kept telling myself I didn't care.

The scent trail ended near the edge of the forest. It was faint, almost gone, like smoke dissolving into the night air.

I stared into the darkness for a long time, fists clenched at my sides.

"She really left," I muttered under my breath.

The realization hit harder than I expected. She was gone, not just from my pack, but from my life.

"Alpha," one of the guards said cautiously, approaching from behind. "Should we send a search party?"

I didn't turn around. "No. Let her go."

"But, Alpha."

"I said no!" I barked.

The guard bowed his head quickly and backed away.

I stood there for several minutes, staring into the forest, my heart pounding with something I didn't want to name.

Daniel appeared a short while later, his face tense. "She's really gone, isn.t she?"

"Yes," I said simply.

He sighed. "You don't seem very sure of yourself, Lupus. You're usually more decisive than this."

"I made a choice," I said firmly. "It's done."

Daniel studied me carefully. "If you say so."

"Don't start," I warned him.

He raised his hands in surrender. "Fine. But for what it's worth, I think you made a mistake. Taylor was loyal, Lupus. You might not see it now, but one day, you'll realize what you lost."

He turned and walked away before I could reply.

I clenched my jaw, his words replayed in my mind. You'll realize what you lost.

That night, I couldn't sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her, the defiance in her gaze, the pain she tried to hide, the way she walked out with her head held high.

It shouldn't have bothered me. But it did.

I sat up, groaning in frustration. Angela stirred beside me in the bed, half-asleep. "Lupus? What's

wrong?"

"Nothing," I muttered. "Go back to sleep."

She rolled over and did as I said, but I couldn't rest. My wolf kept growling softly, agitated and restless.

I got up again, pacing back and forth in the dark. Finally, I decided to do what I swore I wouldn't, I

followed her scent again, desperate for any trace.

But it was gone completely this time. Not even the faintest trace remained.

I clenched my fists, a low growl escaping my throat. "Where are you, Taylor?"

I was Alpha, yet I couldn't control this. I couldn't stop her from leaving, couldn't command the bond to stay intact. The emptiness she left behind was like a wound that refused to heal.

I sank to my knees in the dirt, my heart pounding. My wolf howled inside me, a sound of loss and

frustration that echoed deep in my chest.

"She's gone," I whispered to myself. "And she's not coming back."

But even as I said it, a part of me refused to believe it.

No, Taylor Swift was not the kind of woman who disappeared quietly. She would come back one day, and when she did, she would bring with her the storm I had unleashed.

I rose slowly to my feet, staring into the forest one last time. The moonlight shimmered through the trees, and for a fleeting second, I thought I saw her shadow among them.

But it was only my imagination.

I turned back toward the pack house, my heart heavy. The night air was cold, biting against my skin, but I barely felt it.

Back in my chamber, I poured another drink, though I knew it wouldn't ease the turmoil inside me. I stared at the empty chair where she once sat, at the space beside the window where she used to stand.

It was strange, how empty a room could feel once someone was gone.

Angela entered quietly again, her expression softer this time. "Lupus," she said gently, "you can't keep doing this to yourself."

"I'm fine," I said shortly.

"You're not," she replied. "You're haunted by her."

I looked at her, the words heavy in the air.

"Even if I was," I said finally, "it doesn't matter. What's done is done."

Angela sighed but said nothing more. She turned and left, closing the door behind her.

Once again, I was alone.

I closed my eyes, leaning back in my chair. The image of Taylor's face appeared behind my eyelids, proud, hurt, unbroken.

"She'll come back," I murmured to myself. "And when she does... I'll be ready."

But deep down, even as I said the words, I knew something had changed - not in her, but in me.

The bond was gone, yet the ache remained.

And that was the cruellest punishment of all.

Taylor's POV

By the time I reached the pack's border, the guards stared but didn't stop me. They had heard what happened. Of course they did. News travels faster than the wind in a pack full of gossiping wolves. Their eyes said what their mouths didn't, shame, pity, and disgust.

I walked past them, head held high, pretending their stares didn't burn. But inside, I was breaking. Every step toward my family's house felt heavier than the last. My heart whispered one thing over and over again, he didn't even hesitate.

When I finally reached home, I stopped at the front door. My hands trembled as I pushed it open. The warm scent of wood smoke and my mother's cooking filled the air, but it didn't comfort me this time. It only reminded me of what I had lost belonging.

The door creaked, and immediately, my mother turned. Her eyes widened the moment she saw me with my torn dress, my swollen eyes, and the mark that never came from my supposed mate.

"Taylor..." she whispered, almost like she didn't believe it was me. "What have you done?"

I swallowed hard, trying to speak, but my throat ached.

My father entered from the sitting room; his face was hardened with the weight of leadership. He

wasn't an Alpha, but he was respected, strong, proud, loyal to the pack's laws. The kind of man who valued honour above all else.

When his eyes landed on me, they darkened.

"You've embarrassed this family," he said in a low voice.

I opened my mouth to speak, but my mother raised her hand sharply. "Don't, Taylor. Just don't."

"Mom...."

"What did we warn you?" she cut me off. Her voice trembled, not from fear, but from fury barely

contained. "We told you he would destroy you. We told you not to beg for his love. But you never listen, do you?"

"I didn't beg!" I shouted back, but my voice cracked. "I only wanted him to see me, to see that I was worth it!"

My father slammed his fist against the wall, making me flinch. "You think worth comes from chasing an Alpha who never wanted you?"

Tears filled my eyes. "I loved him!"

"Love?" He scoffed, stepping closer. "Love doesn't make you weak, Taylor. What you did was weakness. You've brought shame upon us all. The pack will talk. They already are."

I clenched my fists. "I didn't ask to be rejected! I didn't ask for this pain!"

My mother's eyes softened for a moment, but her voice stayed firm. "But you walked into it, my child. You chose him when we told you not to. You thought love would change an Alpha's heart. You thought you could rise above your rank with emotion alone. And now look."

She gestured toward me, the broken girl standing in the doorway. "You've fallen lower than you ever imagined."

I couldn't hold the tears anymore. They spilled down my cheeks as I sank to the floor. "I tried, Mom... I really tried..."

My mother's face turned away as if she couldn't bear to look at me. My father took a deep breath and said coldly, "You will not stay under this roof for now."

My head snapped up. "What?"

"You need to understand the consequences of your choices," he said. "You brought this on yourself. The pack sees you as a disgrace. Until you can prove yourself worthy again, you will live outside the main quarters. The old cabin near the southern woods. Alone."

My heart dropped. "You're... sending me away?"

"This isn't punishment," he said, though his tone was as hard as stone. "It's correction. You must learn to survive without the comfort you took for granted. You must learn what it means to be strong on your own."

My mother turned, her eyes red. "We love you, Taylor. But sometimes love means letting you face your pain."

I felt my legs weaken. "Please, don't do this. Not now. I've already lost everything..."

My father didn't answer. He just pointed toward the door.

The silence between us was louder than any words could be. I picked up a small bag from the table, one I had used for training, and walked back out.

Outside, the wind was cruel. I could still hear the faint laughter of wolves nearby, their whispers carried through the air.

"Did you hear? Alpha Lupus rejected her."

"The Omega who thought she could be Luna."

"How pathetic."

I clenched my teeth, fighting back tears. Let them talk. One day, they'll all see.

The old cabin my father mentioned was far from the main pack house, deep within the southern woods. It was cold, half-broken, and smelled of dust and old memories. I set my bag down and sat on the wooden floor, hugging my knees.

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of birds and the cold wind blowing through cracks in the wall. My body ached from sleeping on the hard floor, but I refused to cry again. I was done crying.

I stepped outside. The forest looked peaceful, hiding the chaos inside me. My wolf, Lira, stirred in my mind.

We can't stay broken, she whispered softly. We must rise again.

"I know," I whispered back. "But it hurts too much."

Pain builds strength, she said. And we will need it.

I closed my eyes, letting her words settle. Lira was right. I had let Alpha Lupus break me once it wouldn't happen again.

Over the next few days, I worked quietly. I cleaned the cabin, gathered wood, hunted small animals, and trained in the clearing. I could still feel the emptiness of his rejection that invisible wound that wouldn't heal. But I also felt something new beginning to grow inside me. Determination.

By the fifth day, I was stronger. My muscles ached from training, but my heart felt lighter. I refused to let my father's words or the pack's whispers define me.

Still, part of me missed my mother. I didn't expect her. She carried a basket of food and a small blanket.

"Mom..."

She smiled sadly. "You look stronger already."

"I'm trying."

She placed the basket down and sighed. "Your father is proud, though he won't admit it. He believes this will make you wiser. You must understand, Taylor in this world, love is not enough. Power keeps you alive. Control earns respect."

I looked away. "Then I'll earn both. My way."

She smiled faintly. "That's the daughter I raised."

Before she left, she turned and said quietly, "Remember this the moon doesn't shine because it wants to. It shines because it has to. So will you."

Her words stayed with me long after she was gone.

I sensed a presence the scent was really familiar yet distant. I turned sharply, with my claws half-

formed, ready to defend myself.

"Easy, it's just me."

It was Daniel. Lupus's beta.

I froze, unsure what to feel.

"What are you doing here?" I asked coldly.

He looked tired, as if the weight of two loyalties pressed on his shoulders. "Checking on you. You've been gone for weeks."

I scoffed. "And the Alpha sent you, right?"

"No," he said. "He doesn't even know I'm here."

I turned away. "Then you shouldn't be either."

"Taylor..." His voice softened. "He hasn't been the same since that night. You might not believe me, but rejecting you shook him."

I let out a bitter laugh. "You expect me to believe that? He called me useless, Daniel. He said I wasn't worth being his Luna."

Daniel's eyes darkened. "I know. But there's more going on than you think. Things inside the pack... politics, pressure. He's not acting alone."

I frowned. "What are you saying?"

He hesitated. "Just... be careful. You're not safe here anymore. Not from everyone."

Before I could question him, he disappeared into the woods, leaving only the sound of rustling leaves behind.