REJECTED: CLAIMED BY THE ALPHA MAFIA

Kiara:

The scorching sun above the city is gradually fading, which makes me happy because I have been driving for over an hour. Today is the memorial for the late Luna, who died two months ago, and as her heir, I must pluck a handful of Lunaria, a mystique pant that blooms only at night. Being the Luna alongside the Alpha king is wonderful because of how much he adores me. It is all butterflies, but the responsibilities are daunting.

After a while, I arrive at the foot of the elysian whisper hill and park my car. I look around, and when I am certain there are no humans in sight, I get back into my car and transform into Bailey, my wolf. I sprint up the mountain, plucking a handful of the beautiful blue plant that stands at the crest of the hill. Then I sprint back down the hill and revert to human form. Being able to do that in a matter of minutes makes me wish I could transform into a wolf and travel from the pack to here.

My phone beeps as soon as I get into my car, and I check to see if it is my best friend calling.

"Veronica, I've got it, and I'm on my way," I say to her without allowing her to speak, then I end the call and get into my car.

I make my way out of the woods and onto the road. My car speeds through the empty highway, creating a blur of motion. Just a few meters away from the mountain, I hear a loud pop sound that startles me, and my steering wheels jerk violently in my hand. I try to keep my car under control, but it lurches unexpectedly, causing me to grip tightly and my knuckles to turn pale. The car swerves left and right, and I notice an approaching delivery truck. I try to keep a firm grip on the steering wheel, but it will not stop, and the driver continues to honk.

"Get out of the way!" he yells, and I apply the brakes again and again, but nothing happens.

When the cars are about to collide, I try to transform into a wolf, but my car comes to a halt, causing me to slam my face against the steering wheels.

"Ma'am, are you okay?" the driver inquires as he opens my door. I lift my head gently and hold my throbbing head.

"I...I am fine," I say, and he steps back, allowing me to exit the car.

Seeing the extent of the tire damage, I realize there is nothing I can do at the moment, so I sink back into the car and attempt to call my father. I call his number several times, but he never answers. I try to call my husband and my best friend, but neither of them pick up. Where is everyone when I need them?" I grumble.

"Ma'am, are you okay?" The guy asks, and I look up to see his face through his delivery cap.

"I am fine. Do I not look fine? I mean, my tire is flat, no one in my family is picking me up, and we have this big party tonight that I need to attend." I continue to speak while he looks at me with a smirk on his face.

"I could drive you back to town," he offers, and I immediately remain silent.

"But you are going the opposite way, and you are driving a delivery truck. Do you not have any deliveries to make?" I ask, and he scoffs.

"I left Shadowville about an hour ago after running some Blackwoods errands." When he says this, my face freezes for a moment, prompting me to look up the company's name.

Frostings, it was the cake company from which we had ordered. I quickly say yes to his offer, and I offer to accommodate him tonight at a hotel with food. This is to keep him from attending the party, which is strictly by invitation only and only for werewolves.

***

After the delivery guy drops me off, I make the reservations for him and give him the address to a hotel in town. Then I rush inside the house, which is strewn with busy people. No one has time to talk because they are busy planning the memorial, so I leave and go to Alpha Blake's room.

"You will not believe what happened today, honey..." I say as I open the door, and my jaw drops before I can finish.

As I watch my best friend and husband on our matrimonial bed, lost in their own world, a chill runs through my veins, freezing me in place. It diametrically opposed the scene of the love and trust that once defined our relationship.

"Oh, yes, right there. I want you to go harder," Veronica moans with her eyes closed, and my breathing quickens as I watch her dig her nails and grip tightly on my husband's body.

The pleasure in his voice clashes with the slapping of flesh, and the way he holds her tells this isn't their first time.

My heart is pounding in my chest, each beat echoing the agony of their deception. As I fight back the tears that threaten to spill from my eyes, the world around me appears to blur.

"Say my name!" he demands, gritting his teeth and thrusting in with uncontrollable force.

"Daddy Blake!" Veronica says, and then she opens her eyes to see me.

"Argh!" she screams, instantly turning red and yanking Blake away from her body. Blake turns around, and time appears to stop for a moment. The shock on their faces is a minor consolation for the heartache they are causing.

"You are not supposed to be back yet," Ronnie murmurs, and tears well up in my eyes.

"How could you?" I ask with shaky breath, walking up to them and tossing my purse on him. The guilty expression on Blake's face fades, and he stands up, grabs the sheet to cover himself, and walks up to me.

"Okay, you found out our little secret, so what?" he asks, and my eyes widen in surprise.

"For how long has this been going on, and the silly promises, Blake?" I say, and I pause to let out the enormous lump of painful air in my throat.

"All this while I thought you loved me, and..."

"I love you," he says at once, and I shake my head.

"Then what is this? What did I just see?" I ask, clutching my forehead and hoping it is all a dream and I will wake up in the arms of my adoring husband.

"People change, Kay, and..." he says, attempting to grab me, but I slap him across the face and walk away.

"Let us see what the rest of the pack has to say about this!" I scream, and he grabs me firmly, pulling my back against the wall.

My head lands painfully on the wall as he grabs my throat. He tightens his grip on me and plants kisses all over my body.

"You are mine, and I can do whatever I want with you, so if you like being Luna and getting the respect that keeps your ego high, then shut up or I will make your life miserable," he says, then beckons on Ronnie, who walks up to us. Then he crashes his lips into hers, and they slurp their tongues.

"We have a memorial, don't we, my dear Luna?" He turns to me and pulls me away from the wall. Then he pushes me outside, allowing me to crash on the floor as he slams the door shut and the moaning continues...

Kiara:

Standing before the mirror, I prepare for the night, my heart shattering into countless fragments. The blow is immense, a hurdle I doubt I can overcome, especially with the pretense I must maintain tonight.

"Is there a problem, my Luna?" Isabella, my maid, inquires. Swiftly wiping away my tears, I turn to face her with a forced smile.

"Not at all. I will be down in a minute," I say to her.

I then retrieve the sacred pearl necklace, a legacy passed down to every Luna of the Lunar Shadow Pack. As it rests on my neck, memories of the day Blake first placed it there flood my mind. A single tear threatens to fall, but I quickly brush it away. Taking a deep breath, I clutch my purse and stride out of the room, my long red gown flowing behind me.

Entering the room, a life-sized statue of the queen in her werewolf form commands my attention. Carved from moonstone, it stands regally in the center of the room, its ethereal glow casting dancing shadows on the walls. The room is a testament to the queen's reign, adorned with intricate decorations yet eerily quiet save for the soft whispers of a few scattered individuals.

My gaze then seeks out the wine stand. The promise of sweet oblivion that wine offers is enticing - a temporary escape from Blake's bitter betrayal. The thought causes my heart to ache and I hasten towards the stand, hoping to drown my sorrows in the comforting embrace of the crimson liquid.

I quickly seize a glass and down its contents. Yet, the ache persists. Glass after glass follows as I watch the room fill steadily.

"Thought I was the only one in need of a drink to loosen up," a voice interrupts my thoughts. Turning around, I find a tall figure in a crisp suit looking at me with twinkling eyes filled with amusement.

Ignoring him, I walk away with my wineglass in hand. A few steps away from the table, Blake enters the hall with Veronica, my best friend, among his entourage. My anger flares and I down my drink before slamming the glass onto the table with such force that it nearly shatters.

The thought of causing a scene crosses my mind, but after some contemplation, I decide against it. Instead, I head towards the waterside temple to place the flower for the final ritual - an attempt to avoid hearing Blake's speech.

As Blake ascends the stage to deliver his speech, my eyes cloud with tears. I struggle to navigate towards the front door, my vision blurred and my steps unsteady from the wine. My lack of attention to my surroundings results in a collision with someone. The cold splash of a drink brings me back to reality, and I find myself face-to-face with the man who had approached me earlier.

Before I can utter a word, the lights go out.

"Great!" I mutter under my breath. Determined to complete the final ritual at the temple and change out of my soiled clothes before the power returns, I step outside.

Suddenly, a firm grip halts me. It's him again.

"I didn't know you were the Luna, and I need you to forgive my manners," he says under the dimly lit night sky.

"I am new here, but I understand how much this means to you. How about I help you with the flowers and clean your clothes for you at the riverside? The power won't be out for long, and it isn't worth going back to change. No one wants to come to an empty temple without its Luna."

In my tipsy state, his words seem reasonable, so I allow him to lead the way. We reach the temple and place the flower, then proceed to the nearby river. There, he removes his jacket and loosens his tie before soaking it in water. He gently dabs at the wine stain on my chest as voices in the distance signal the pack's approach.

"You are beautiful," he murmurs, causing me to smile. Suddenly, he moves uncomfortably close. I attempt to back away, but he pulls me towards him.

"I have waited all night to do this," he whispers before his lips crash into mine.

Caught in a battle for dominance and resistance between our tongues, the lights abruptly come back on. He releases me instantly and we find ourselves surrounded by pack members.

Murmurs fill the air, quieting down only when Blake arrives. This misunderstanding wasn't part of my plan and my heart sinks as Blake looks at me with distaste.

"Blake, this isn't what you..." I begin, but words fail me as I realize explanations might not be enough this time.

"Why are you doing this to me?" the man questions, his voice laced with confusion. "You seemed to forget your role as Luna while we were kissing, and now that your husband is here, you want to play innocent."

As he strides towards me, presumably to hold me, Blake intervenes. With a swift punch, he sends the man sprawling on the floor, his nose bleeding profusely. Blake commands his removal and guards immediately surround the man, escorting him away.

I watch as Blake's eyes well up with tears. I reach out to him, but he keeps me at arm's length.

"I, Blake Blackwood, reject you as my mate and Luna of the Lunar Shadow Pack!" he declares. His words hit me like a physical blow and I crumple to the floor, gasping for breath amidst the pain in my chest.

Blake collapses beside me and his men rush to his aid while I am left alone in my anguish. Veronica rushes past me to assist Blake, not sparing me a second glance. As I scan the crowd through my tears, I spot my father standing there with tears in his eyes.

With great effort, I manage to stand and reach out to him, pleading for his mercy as the beta of the pack. But he turns his back on me and I fall once again with a painful thud.

"Father, please," I cry out, but he merely shakes his head in disappointment.

"You have defiled the holy temple and disobeyed the Moon Goddess," he says in front of everyone.

"I cannot allow evil to befall this pack. Therefore, I denounce you today as my daughter."

With that, he forcefully removes the sacred pearl necklace from my neck. The symbol of my status and legacy is gone, just like that. The crowd watches in stunned silence as I am stripped of my title and family in one fell swoop.

Zane:

As I pace around the hotel Kiara has left me in, my patience slowly dwindles. I need to carry out my mission before dawn. Downing the remaining contents of my wineglass, a knock on the door interrupts my thoughts.

Opening it, I find Rufus standing there with a fresh suit.

"About time," I mutter, snatching the suit from him. He steps into the room while I retreat to the bathroom to get dressed.

Once I'm ready, I demand my cigar. Rufus hands it over and I take a few satisfying puffs.

"Everyone is ready, and we are waiting for your command," Rufus informs me. I blow a puff of smoke in his face, pick up my hat from the table, and place it on my head as I stride out of the hotel.

"Let's get this done before I lose my patience," I declare, opening the door and stepping out into the hallway. The thought of my family's murderers lying dead on the memorial grounds makes me grin widely..

Halfway down the stairs, Rufus calls out to me.

"Something's happened at the Blackwood memorial, causing a major deviation. We can't blow the temple up because it's empty," he reports. The smile on my face fades instantly.

****

Kiara:

As my father walks away, I am left at the mercy of the angry pack members who are eager to devour me. Some spit on me, others slap me, all in an attempt to retaliate for betraying the Alpha. At one point, they rip my dress, and gather around me, mocking me.

"Enough!" someone in the crowd yells, then walks up to where I lay in pain on the cold ground. He grabs me by my hair and turns to the crowd.

"Alpha Blake has put her up for auction, and as royal blood, she will be going at a high price. We start at ten thousand dollars!" he announces. My body trembles in fear and pain at what Blake is doing to me.

As I reminisce about the past that we shared, my heart shatters more and more. I'm dragged from the ground up to the memorial room where Blake sits. I see Victoria standing, holding his hand, and the moment she sees me, a smile creeps onto her lips.

She mouths the words, "I win," causing my heart to flare up in rage.

"I'll take her for ten thousand. Maybe she can stroke me at night while I fall asleep," I hear an elderly man say. I turn around to see him smiling, revealing his brown and broken teeth.

"Twenty thousand. Her womb is still fertile and she will bear many kids with royal blood who might contest to be the king," another says.

This goes on for a while, and I stand there crying, looking into Blake's eyes, but he stares back without remorse. The way I lose everything in a matter of hours makes me realize that nothing in life is permanent.

While the bidding is going on, someone speaks up, making the crowd go silent.

"Five million dollars in cash," he says.

In the midst of the bustling crowd, a man stands out, a beacon of elegance and charm. He's dressed in a finely tailored suit that fits him like a second skin, accentuating his athletic build. His cologne smells richly of aromatic herbs, which exudes a masculine allure. The moment he takes off his hat, I recognize him as the delivery guy who I had helped earlier, causing my heart to quiver in fear.

I observe Blake taking the money and exchanging me as if I am of no importance. He doesn't bother asking about who this man is or how he made his money. My world crumbles as I wonder what I'm getting into. This man is either a bad person or he's trying to help me for housing him, but then how did he get the money to pay in cash?

I'm whisked away into a Rolls Royce which has the back closed with tinted glass, making it difficult to see the driver. The car drives off while I turn back to look at my home, which I'm leaving behind. Soon the house is out of sight and I sink back into the seat with no one to talk to.

We drive for a few minutes and when the car comes to a halt; I look to my left to see the delivery truck that I saw earlier. This causes me to sit up in fear and the door opens up at once. I step out to meet the face of the delivery guy that I had seen earlier. This time, he's surrounded by many men dressed in black.

"Who are you?" I ask, and he grabs my hand, planting a kiss on it.

"Zane, forgive my manners," he replies, and I withdraw my hands at once, causing him to scrunch up his face.

"Do you work for Blake?" I ask, and he gives a light smirk, which instantly pisses me off.

"Because I know that a delivery man cannot afford to pay five million for a slave, and..." Before I can finish, he snaps his fingers and one man in black lifts me up while he walks towards the hotel.

"Put me down. I still have influence in town, and I will make sure that you get removed from this hotel. How can I pay for your room, feed you and you mistreat me?" I ask, but he remains silent.

When we get to the reception, I try to scream for help.

"Good evening sir, I prepared your personal suite as you requested," the lady says and he smiles at her, causing me to shut my mouth at once.

We, along with two of his men, step into the private elevator that is reserved for the suite's owner.

This kills my delusion at once, making me realize he owns this place.

"You talk a lot, and I don't like people who speak without cause," he says as the doors of the elevator shut slowly.

While we were there, the other man with us touches his earpiece and then he whispers something to Zane.

"Good," he says, maintaining a straight face. I struggle hard to get down from the man's body, but he grips me hard.

"You will earn yourself a duct tape if you keep doing that," Zane warns, causing me to keep quiet at once.

The door to the elevator slides open, revealing a long hallway with a minimalist design and portraits hanging on the walls. Everyone steps out, and Zane walks really fast in front of us until he gets to a door.

I hear guttural screams from behind, and my chest tightens in fear as I imagine what they are about to do to me.

"Enough!" Zane yells as soon as he opens the door. Then the man carrying me walks into the room, then he puts me down, and holds my hands at my back.

A man is seated on a chair, his head bowing low. The brutal torture he is enduring from the two men in black surrounding him is evident in the blood splattering on the ground.

"Rufus, come here," Zane orders, and one man in black comes to meet him.

Zane takes a knife and stabs it into Rufus' hand, causing him to yelp in pain, which he immediately shuts off by biting his lips and pulling out the knife.

"I said keep him alive, not torture him. I do the torturing and killing!" Zane says, and I swallow hard, knowing what I'm dealing with.

He walks to the tortured man and orders him to look up. The moment he does, and our eyes meet, I recognize him as the man from the memorial. The man who caused my pain.

"For the last time, who sent you?" Zane asks, and the man stutters, pleading for mercy.

"Wrong," Zane says, dipping his hand into the man's eyes, causing me to shiver in fear as his screams pierce my ear.

"I'm gonna ask you one more time, and if you get it, I spare you. If not, I will kill you," Zane says, grabbing his shoulder and looking him in the eyes.

"Veronica, she sent me. She wanted you out of the Alpha's life, and I am sorry," he says at once, and Zane turns to face me.

"There you have it, your culprit," he says, smirking at me while tears fall from my eyes.

At that moment, Zane's eyes glow yellow, and he turns to the man, dips his hands into his chest and yanks out his heart. Then it hits me. Zane is a werewolf and not human...