Rejected By My Mate, Claimed By Contract

Fiona's POV

"The Alpha is gone!"

A sharp scream cut through the crowd of wolves that were gathered in their glamorous attires for the celebration of the pack's founding anniversary and my renewal blessing with my mate, Alpha Kael.

My head snapped slowly around, and my stomach lurched aggressively when I saw the person who had just cried wolf was Eva, my personal maid. She trembled in the doorway, wringing her apron with a pale face.

For a beat, I thought I was imagining it-the bonfire blazing at the center of the open roof hall, smoke from it curling into the night sky, and the elders in white stamping their feet around it-but it was real, collapsing into chaos when it was supposed to be a night of celebration.

I should have been glowing with pride, hand in hand with Kael before the moon goddess, reaffirming our bond, but instead I knelt alone, my sweaty fingers clutching my white gown that pooled around me as I whispered silent prayers against Kael's humiliation just before Eva came in with the sour news.

"What?!" The words flew out of my mouth before I could stop it.

"Th-the Alpha...he's...he's gone," Eva's lips quivered.

"What do you mean gone?" I demanded in a failed attempt to keep my shaky voice-that echoed around the hall that was now dead silent as the drums and elders incantation had ceased-steady.

"I...I checked everywhere," she stuttered, her grips tightening on her apron, "His chambers... the courtyard...everywhere. But he is nowhere to be found."

I swept my gaze around the hall to find every eye pinned on me in a pitiful, judging manner. With the humiliation now unbearable, I grabbed the extra length of my gown up to my knees and fled the hall without looking back, my heels striking the stone path noisily.

I made my way to the temple, ready to weep before the moon goddess and question why she was letting such fate befall me when a familiar honeysuckle scent hit my nose. With my heart racing and breaths ragged, I followed the scent to the temple doors.

A part of me prayed for it not to be what I thought it was before leaning closer to see Kael, with Laila pressed to his side like conjoined twins through the glass opening.

"You look best in red."

He said to her in a low, sultry voice, as his eyes, dark with admiration, locked on Laila with so much untold passion that I haven't seen in the past weeks.

Laila giggled flirtatiously just loud enough for me to hear over the night insect that cried endlessly into the still night.

Aside from the fact that I was panting from the race, my chest rising and falling sharply, outwardly, I looked composed with my hair still pinned high like an empress. But inside? I was crumbling. This was supposed to be our vow renewal night, yet, here was my husband and mate, Alpha Kael, having the time of his life with Laila, his first love and perfect daughter of late Elder Maurine-the pack's most connected wolf at the time.

Eva, finally catching up with me, pressed a bottle of water into my hand without a word. I took it and returned my eyes to Kael in time to see him plant a kiss on Laila's neck before leaning in to whisper something into her ear. She laughed again, throwing her head back to give him more room to plant more kisses as he whispered against her skin.

My wolf, Nyra, growled inside my head. "Let me shift. I want to shred her into pieces. If you like, I can shred them both."

"No," I murmured under my breath, shoving the thought away as my fingers dug into the plastic bottle till it bent out of shape.

"Is...is there anything else I can do for you, Luna?" Eva asked softly after a short while.

"No. Just go on and set the room like I instructed you earlier, it might come in handy later tonight," I replied and with a soft bow, Eva slipped away.

How did it come to this in less than fifteen days? How did it go from bubbles of endless laughter to sudden numbness?

Kael and I met during a late-night patrol two years ago, me, a twenty-three-year-old Beta-elect of the Lunaria pack, and him, still reeling from Laila's public breakup. She'd left him for Derek, the blind, ruthless and enigmatic Alpha of Silvercrest pack, claiming Kael wasn't powerful enough for her taste.

Kael was broken. I wasn't looking. But the Moon Goddess marked him as mine and he didn't resist. We mated quickly, the bond was intense, undeniable. He was ambitious, determined to prove that he had moved on from everything, including Laila. I love that Kael-fiesty, passionate, and mine.

Shortly after our marriage, a rogue attacked the Lunaria pack, killing my parents and destroying half the pack. For my sake, Kael took in the survivors, merging them with the Moonveil. His selflessness deepened my love, and for a while, our bond was unshakable.

But since Laila crawled back two weeks ago, Kael had grown cold and distant as he spent most of his time parading around the pack like her damn tour guide.

Sick from their shameless display of love like high school lovers who had just been crowned prom king and queen, I reached for the temple door only to feel a hand grip my arm from behind.

I turned around, ready to strike but froze at the sight of Gareth, Kael's beta. He stepped up to my front, blocking me with fake calmness.

"Luna Fiona." he flashed a pretentious smile at me.

Cocking my brows, "Get out of my way, Gareth," I shot at once.

"Fiona, don't. Don't do this," he said under his breath, rolling his eyes around. "This isn't the right time or place for such."

"I don't fucking care," I lashed on through gritted teeth.

"Come on, look around you." he gestured subtly. "There are Alphas, Betas, diplomats. Every corner of this ballroom is crawling with powerful eyes. If you cause a scene in a gathering like this one, it is going to make the headlines. Do you want that kind of embarrassment?"

"I'm already embarrassed," I snapped, "Plus he is publicly flirting with his mistress with no atom of shame. He is not even trying to hide it so why should I care?"

"I know you are hurt, Fiona," Gareth said, lowering his voice. "But causing a scene here won't help. It is best that you talk to him in private. Later."

I stared straight into his eyes. "If I wait any longer, the pack might think I've accepted defeat. They might think she is rightfully his, so I need to strike now that the iron is still hot."

"No, you don't have to. That is a wrong move," Gareth countered firmly.

Ignoring him, I tried moving past him but he blocked me again.

With uncontrollable anger now pulsing through my veins, "Tell the Alpha this," I thundered at the top of my voice, "I would walk away tonight, I would give him a long stretch of thread, after then, I will rise again, but not as his Luna, but as his reckoning," the words poured without me thinking it through.

Gasps tore through the crowds and Gareth raised a brow with his mouth falling open to give a reply but I didn't give him a chance as I turned and stormed back to my chamber with my gown sweeping behind me.

Back in my room that was set up for what I thought would be the perfect night-rose petals scattered around with the air heavy with sandalwood-I slipped into the lingerie he never resists me in and misted myself with rose amber and mint.

Then I sat facing the mirror, aching for his touch that he had denied me of since the arrival of Laila, foolishly expecting some wild fun from him riding me all night.

That was how I found myself waiting, convincing myself that he wouldn't spend a scared night like this with his mistress, but I was dead wrong as the night grew old with no sign of him.

I was already drifting off to sleep when a wave of nausea hit me without warning, I barely made it to the bathroom before emptying my stomach.

With my chest heaving and eyes burning with tears, I stumbled back into the room, unable to label what must have provoked my stomach in such a manner. Feeling angry and helpless with Kael's absence further infuriating me, I threw on a robe and stormed towards his chamber, no longer able to hold back.

I met Gareth standing outside like he was expecting my arrival.

"Fiona," he started.

"Oh! Not again," I said silently, rolling my eyes.

"I want to see Kael," I snapped with my cheeks burning with humiliation and stomach twisting.

"He's not available for the meantime. He gave an order not to let anyone through."

"What do you mean? I'm his wife now for goodness sake, not just anyone!" I growled.

"I know, but he's resting and strictly asked for no form of disturbance. So I suggest you retire to your room for the night."

Completely losing my patience, I snapped and shoved him hard to the side, pushing my way through as he struggled to catch his balance.

I stormed like hell was behind me to Laila's room, and threw the door open without bothering to knock.

There they were. Laila on all fours naked, Kael behind her, pants down, grunting like a wounded wolf.

"Faster! Go Harder!" Laila screamed.

I couldn't breathe. I lost my balance as fresh tears broke out of my eyes and dropped weakly to the ground, just realizing how much toil the retching had taken on me.

Fiona's POV

I woke up to a ceiling stained with brown patches and a sharp scent of herbs telling me I was in the pack clinic. I tried sitting up, but my body protested as soreness wrapped around my limbs like chains and a dull ache pulsed in my lower abdomen. My mouth tasted bitter.

"Easy there," came a familiar voice.

I turned to see the pack doctor, Miriam, setting down a vial on the counter looking both relieved and worn out.

"You scared everyone," she continued gently. "Your wolf nearly gave out from the stress."

I gave her a faint nod as I allowed my memories to trickle back to my vow renewal night with Kael and how he left me alone the whole night to fuck his little miss.

"How long was I out?" I croaked.

"A day and a half."

"A whole day?!"

"And half," she added.

"Have Alpha Kael come to see me?"

Her smile flattered.

"I...I sent Gareth to inform him that night after he had dropped you off. But..." She glanced towards the door, then back to me. "But I haven't seen or heard from him since then."

I swung my legs off the bed, wincing in pain. I had to go find Kael and see what was keeping him away even though I already knew.

"No, no," Miriam rushed towards me. "Luna, please. You need to start taking things easily from now on for the sake of the little one growing inside you."

I froze. "The what?"

"The baby," she said gently, "You're pregnant."

I stared blankly at her as my breath hitched. "I'm...having a baby?" The words rolled out in a whisper.

She nodded.

Despite the storm of betrayal, my heart lifted as our childless years had once been Kael's greatest worry and talk of the day before Laila returned.

I clutched my stomach, a small smile breaking through my lips. "Have you told anyone? Alpha Kael needs to hear about this at once," I said, trying to stand up again, but Miriam held me down.

"No, I haven't, but you need to rest and allow Gareth to go fetch the Alpha for you."

"But he has been on that all day," I stressed, frowning.

Just then, the door swung open, revealing Gareth. The frown on my face was instantly replaced with a warm smile.

"Finally," Miriam said with relief, also smiling.

But seeing he was alone, our smiles faded.

"Where is Alpha Kael?" I asked impatiently.

"He's...busy," Gareth said flatly. "He asked me to escort you back to your room and that he would come check in on you once he is done with what he is working on."

"This is insane," I muttered breathlessly as I jumped off the bed and stormed out of the clinic before they could stop me.

I marched into the pack house and went straight to Kael's chamber with Nyra stirring uneasily within me.

Just as I reached the hallway, I saw him about to step into his room.

"Kael!" I called with a damning voice that was sharp with frustration.

His hand froze on the door knob as he turned in my direction, faint surprise flashing in his eyes. "Fiona?"

"I'm glad to find you here. We need to talk."

I moved to make my way into the room, but he blocked the entrance with his broad frame.

Frowning, "why aren't you letting me in?" I asked.

"No...no reason in particular. Whatever you want to say, we can talk about it out here, can't we?"

It was at this point the familiar honeysuckle scent that I characterize Laila with hit me, snapping my composure into pieces.

"So this is what you're busy with?" I barked at his face.

Without a word, Kael seized my hand and dragged me straight to the front yard.

"Why are you doing this?" Kael asked with a low voice that was edged with steel as the tension between us now crackled like wildfire.

"Doing what?" I snapped. "I walked in on you fucking your ex two nights ago and babysitting her this morning while I fought for my life at the pack clinic and you dare stand there and question my reaction?"

"Fiona..."

"Don't Fiona me! You keep empowering her to humiliate me publicly and act like I am overreacting to it," I interrupted.

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck in an exasperated manner. "You're overthinking this and making everything harder by playing the victim."

I stared at him, stunned. "What...what did you just say to me?" I asked in a voice that could pass as a whisper.

"You should know," he went on, "an Alpha is entitled to other females even though he has a Luna. And let's not forget this is my first love we're talking about, not some random rogue."

His words pierced through what little hope I had left, leaving me dumbfounded for a while.

"She's the only one who can handle and satisfy me, you know what I am talking about don't you?"

With tears burning in my eyes, "What are you insinuating, Kael?" I roared.

"That you'll never be enough for me, not the way she is so you better start getting used to the way things are around here now," he replied, his lips curved into a cruel smirk.

"You bastard!" I spat, anger surging through me like fire, scorching my veins. My wolf growled deep inside, wanting time for her to take over the moment.

"Watch your tongue woman if you don't want to start considering rejecting you," he took a step closer to me till we were only inches away, seizing me with his gaze for a while before turning to walk away.

"If that is how you truly feel, then maybe it is time we both stop dancing around. You want to reject me? Fine, go ahead! Reject me. Reject me and your heir if that will make you happy!"

His head snapped back. "Heir?"

"You heard me right," my hands trembled, "I am carrying your pup, your heir."

His lips parted despite himself. "A heir?"

"Yes."

He turned fully around and stepped back to me, his presence now overwhelming as his scent ignited the mate bond, with my wolf aching to submit. But I forced myself to resist.

"I can't deny our bond, Fiona. Neither can you. So stop fighting me because of this unwarranted anger of yours plus you know I love you," Kael's lips brushed my ear as he whispered in a husky voice.

His words almost unraveled me, and I was so close to pulling him into a tight hug, but I clenched my fist, glaring up at him. "Are you still going to go on with denying the fact that we are perfectly made for each other, then reject me and your heir just because of that pathetic parasite clinging to you?"

Before Kael could answer, a familiar voice cut in. "Kael, you're out here."

I whipped my head around to see Laila, arms crossed beneath her saggy breast. Rolling my eyes, I scoffed, "Here comes the walking disgrace herself."

"Fiona," Kael called cautiously.

"It's fine, Kael. Let her spit her venom. She's right after all, I deserve whatever she calls me, I deserve what's happening to me. I brought it all on myself anyways," She said in a well rehearsed manner.

Tilting my head sideways, I smirked coldly. "Why are you really here?"

She allowed her gaze darted from me to Kael and then to me again before going on to say, "I was exiled from my pack for an offense I didn't commit. I had nowhere else to go so I found my way back to my home."

"Bullshit!" I roared. "You came back because Kael is Alpha, so enough of your sob stories."

Laila scoffed. "My return has nothing to do with Kael or his position as Alpha."

"Oh really?" I sneered. "It's hard not to think otherwise, considering you once broke his heart because of that very position.

"That is all in the past now," she retorted.

"So if you are not here scheming, then why are you here?" I pressed, shifting the weight of my body to my left hip.

"I have told you everything, and if you won't listen, I don't think there is a need for this conversation anymore." She turned on her heel, ready to walk away but as she took a few steps, her body wavered.

"Laila?" Kael called quizzically.

She staggered a few more times before dropping flat to the ground.

"Laila!" Kael exclaimed as he dropped on his knees beside her, cradling her in panic. "Help! Somebody help!" He yelled with his eyes wide in terror.

Gareth rushed out of the house in no time, sprinting towards them.

I stood there for a moment, watching the chaotic scene unfold in front of me before I turned around and quietly walked back to my room.

I closed the door and sat on the bed, the scene replaying in my mind like a broken record.

"Exiled for a crime she didn't commit?" I scoffed bitterly, "I'll never buy that."

I was certain Laila was not here of her own will but someone else. Someone had planted her back in Kael's life, and they meant to use his weakness for Laila as a weapon against us.

But no matter how I turned the issue over in my mind, one truth kept pressing and that was how I'd only get answers from the man who knew Laila best.

Alpha Derek.

The leader of the Silvercrest pack that is blind, yet feared more than sighted Alphas as he gutted traitors with one claw and wielded power that couldn't be matched. They said making a deal with him was like shaking hands with the devil making it shocking that Laila once stood a chance with him.

His presence was indeed a sacred one, but I had no choice. To be able to get Laila out of the way and get my marriage back to what it used to be before that whore showed up, I need to find the hole in her story that no one seemed to be noticing, and point it out for all to see. And if there was no hole...then I would dig one myself.

All in all, I needed the blind Alpha.

But the question now was how do I get into his presence?

Fiona's POV

The silence in my room no longer comforted me, it only reminded me of Kael's madness as I sat curled by the window, hand on my belly that was yet to show signs, drained from the morning nausea and sleepless nights.

It hurt so much to know that I could vanish and Kael wouldn't flinch but I couldn't do anything about the pain.

My mind was a huge mess and my only hope was Alpha Derek. But finding a way into his presence was a burden on its own.

Anger churned in my stomach, more violent than the morning sickness and I could not help but crave a cup of hot chocolate which had slowly become my favorite over the years.

Getting on my feet, I shed the oversized hoodie I had lived in for days, slipped into another dress that made me look less homeless, and made my way to the kitchen where I found Cassie, a former warrior from my pack, Eva and two other omegas.

They were talking excitedly and giggling loudly in between like they had just hit a jackpot. As soon as they caught sight of me, they chorused "Luna Fiona," softly.

Flashing them a warm smile, I walked toward the counter, helping myself with a steaming cup of hot chocolate. "What's the excitement about?" I asked curiously.

"Haven't you heard?" Cassie was the first to speak, her eyes shining brightly.

"Heard what?" I retorted, sipping slowly.

"About the elite combat, The Ravaryn Trails to be precise, happening in the Moonfang pack next tomorrow," Eva quickly chimed in.

I blinked. "I...I didn't hear anything like that."

Cassie leaned forward eagerly before saying, "Well, I think you need to attend and serenade them with your skills."

I shook my head. "I have too much on my plate to think about some festival."

"Oh, too bad," Cassie sighed dramatically. "If the festival wasn't an exclusive one, open to only Alphas, their mates, the elders and a few high ranks, I would have loved to attend because it is rumoured that Alpha Derek would be marking his presence there."

With my cup freezing halfway to my lips, "Alpha Derek?!" I echoed, my eyes widened in surprise.

"Yes," Cassie said with a grin, "the almighty blind Alpha would be there. And if you ask me, Luna, I would say you shouldn't miss such an opportunity to show how good your skills are to the rest of the world."

"It's been ages since I last trained. I don't think I still have my touch," I replied, shaking my head slowly.

"That's not a big deal," Cassie countered quickly. "We can practice now to see how rusty it might have gotten, which I doubt if it has."

"Now?" I asked.

"Or would you rather have it another way?" She teased, and I glanced down at my dress, unsure.

I gave in to Cassie's proposal, and we both made our way to the training ground with the others whispering excitedly behind us.

When we got there, the field was dried, but not completely empty, just as I like it. As custom, Cassie and I bowed softly to one another before the sparring began.

We faced off in a circle as murmurs tore through the little crowd present, obviously wondering if I still had my touch I was once known for.

Well, isn't that what we are here to find out?

Cassia made a swift leg sweep that was meant to knock me off balance as her first move, but I dodged, spun, and countered it with a knee jab that forced her back. She smirked. "Still quick, huh?"

"You tell me," I replied, stepping forward.

Despite my wounded heart, I dodged and countered Cassia's attack. She lunged for a shoulder lock but I flipped back and landed in a crouch, sending the crowd to explode with cheers.

Then Cassia shifted.

Her wolf-a lean gray wolf-growled playfully, challenging on.

Without hesitation, I leapt, summoning Nyra mid-air. My bones shifted and my skin stretched in a raw painful but beautiful moment as she answered my call. Fur sprouted as I landed with a thunderous growl, Nyra standing tall despite the past weeks of battling heartbreak.

The crowd roared excitedly, but I cared more about the spark of strength returning to me than winning the fight.

Her wolf lunged at me and Nyra met her in the air, slamming and pinning her to the ground with my claws. Cassie yelped in defeat and I shifted back to my human form as the crowd broke into applause.

Bringing me a bottle of water with a bright smile spreading across her face, "You see, Luna, that wasn't bad at all. I think you should reconsider going to the festival."

"Yes, I agree," Cassie added, "all you need is a little more practice and you would be all set."

"I think so," I admitted, walking away.

"Where are you going? I thought we would practice some more," Cassie called after me.

"I need to go see the Alpha and inquire more about this Ravaryn festival in question," I shot back.

I made my way to Alpha Kael's chamber, and I found Laila on the bed, covered with a duvet and her dark hair spilling on the pillow. I froze, surprised by her presence because I thought she was at the pack clinic receiving treatment after what happened the other day.

With my heart racing, "What are you doing in my mate's chamber instead of the pack clinic?" I growled angrily.

She turned her head lazily to me and without any remorse, "It wasn't my intention to be here, but the pack doctor recommended it because of my condition and I had no reason not to agree with that," she said in an infuriately calm manner as she slipped out of bed.

With my brows arched in confusion, I asked what condition she meant only for her to gasp and giggle before saying, "Oh, sorry, I thought you were already aware."

Her smugness made my stomach twist and I stared blankly at her.

"I'm pregnant," she smirked, breaking the silence, "and Miriam said I need all the rest I can get. That is why I am here with him, resting and also having some fun to keep the hole open as advised, you know what I mean, right?" She giggled again.

Taking a step closer, I let the bottle water I was holding slip off my hand as I balled my fist. "Did you just say you are pregnant?"

"You heard me right," she replied smugly, "I am carrying the Alpha's pup."

"How dare you allow yourself to get pregnant for him? So sleeping with him wasn't enough for you, whore?" I thundered, my heart sinking into my stomach.

She lifted her chin. "You can call me all the names you want, but what I won't accept is you blaming me for my fertility. By the way, you shouldn't be that daft to expect everyone to be barren like you."

Rage overtook me in an instant, and my hand struck her cheek in a slap. Before she could recover, I shoved her hard onto the bed and dived on her. We both struggled to gain control with Laila crying out loud and me trying to shut her up.

The door burst open and Alpha Kael stormed in with two guards. Their strong hand yanked me back, giving Laila the chance to kick me hard in my stomach. Air whooshed out of my lungs, forcing me to surrender.

Kael was by her side within a blink of an eye, lifting her head on his lap and stroking her hair while she cried profusely, whispering broken words about how I attacked her.

Leaving her side, "How dare you raise those filthy hands of yours on her?" Kael growled, pinning me against the wall with his grip fierce and rough.

"Kael, I...I..."

"Silence!" He cut me off sharply, his eyes digging a hole into my soul. "If you ever lay your hand or even the tiniest finger on Laila again, I will not hesitate to have your head chopped off in front of the whole pack," he roared, saliva spewing on my face.

"Kael?!" I exclaimed, tears rolling freely down my face as his threats pierced through me like a dagger, shattering everything that is left of him in me.

"Guards," he barked, turning his back to me, "Escort her to her room now. She's under house arrest until further notice."

"No, Kael. No, you can't do this," I cried frantically.

"I can. And I just did."

My body instantly went cold as I thought about how the house arrest had slimmed my chances of seeing the one person that can help me unmask Laila.