Rejected By The Alpha, Claimed By His Uncle

Seraphine's POV

What was more disheartening than not being able to respond with even a trace of desire in the heat of intimacy with your mate?

"You can't do anything right." He rasped, tugging at the underside.

I lay bare on our matrimonial bed. Like a turkey spread out on a tray during Thanksgiving.

I tried. Moon above, I tried. But my body remained unready. I can't get wet.

Fael leaned down. There was bold frustration in his eyes. My heart sank when he jutted his chin toward me in disappointment so thick I could taste it in the air.

"Never. Never Seraphine. Do you hear me?" I whimpered; his grip on my cheeks was too firm. "Never have I needed any aid to prepare my partner with any of my women. But with you, it's like a recurring rite for goodness' sake!"

"Fael. Please. Just... give me a moment. If you allow me to-"

"Allow you to do what?"

He shifted his knee off the bed and pulled his pants back on.

"That's not wh-"

"Seraphine. It's one thing that you were paid for a debt. And it's another for you to talk down on my prowess as a man."

Heavens, I would never.

"Fael. If you-"

He raised a finger up, cutting me off completely as he tussled with the zipper. He was still hard, the imprint of him visible still. I wanted him too, so badly. I couldn't let him leave.

I lowered myself down from the cream coloured sheets and onto the ground. I had a plan forming in my head, and if I eased him into it, it could be a solution we mutually desired.

"Fael. What if you present me in front of the pack as yours, officially? Officially. Maybe that is why my wolf is hesitant to produce readiness."

The laughter that followed was loud. Fael's buckle shook in his hand from how hard he laughed.

"This agenda again." He shook his head. "Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Same old, same old."

I refused to give up. I crawled on my knees to him. Placing both palms at his feet.

"At least give it a thought."

I thought he was going to get angry, or at least leave and slam the door in my face. But Fael lifted me by the arms till we were face level with each other. His lips met mine for a moment.

But we didn't feel the spark of the bond.

And we both knew why.

He kissed me, slowly, and then pulled away. Stroking my cheek.

"You want me to parade you around the pack like mine? Right? You want a full coronation? Right? You want me to maybe spoon-feed you and whisper affirmations to you every day?"

"Who wouldn't want that from her mate, Fael. Every she-wolf would."

His entire body withdrew from mine as I had burned him. Like he was repulsed by a barrier between us.

"You shouldn't want that, Seraphine! You shouldn't. Every she-wolf out there can because they are competent, strong, and not you."

My lips quivered, and a lump suddenly formed at the base of my throat.

"You are the opposite of what a she-wolf should be. I mean... look at you." With a harsh spin, I was standing before a mirror. Staring at my reflection.

"All I did was claw at your arms the last time we were together, and you haven't even healed till now. You are a frail omega from a fallen line. And the one thing even the meekest omegas can do, to welcome their mate, it takes a miracle for your body to even do that."

The mirror didn't lie.

My skin was still mottled with half-healed scratches, thin red lines that refused to fade the way a normal wolf's would. My collarbones protruded out too much, my hips too narrow, my breasts small and unremarkable.

Everything about me looked unfinished.

His hand stayed clamped on my shoulder.

"Tell me, Seraphine," he whispered, "what exactly am I supposed to present to them? This?"

He dragged a single claw down my spine.

"A mate who flinches at a touch, who bruises at a whisper? A Luna who can't even respond to her own destined mate?"

I tried to swallow the sob clawing up my throat. It came out as a broken whimper anyway.

His mouth brushed the shell of my ear.

"You think a ceremony will fix what is broken inside you? You think a crown and a pretty dress will suddenly make your wolf roll over and beg for me?"

"Maybe," I whispered, hating how small my voice sounded. "Maybe if the bond was sealed... if the pack acknowledged it... my body would finally-"

"Your body doesn't want me, little one." He laughed. "Your body knows what your mouth is too proud to say. You were never meant to be Luna. You were meant to be payment for your father's debt. Nothing more."

He released me so suddenly that I stumbled forward.

My breath fogged the mirror, blurring my tear-streaked face.

Behind me, his belt buckle clinked as he fastened it.

"I'm going out," he said. "I'll have the maids get you something to eat, since food is the only thing you get excited about." A smirk graced his lips. "It's not like you add on any flesh despite all you eat."

I sobbed against the mirror. Finding nothing worthwhile to say.

Was I even worth anything at this point?

"I'm going to see Liora tonight," he shrugged. "She never needs a miracle to welcome me."

The door shut behind him, and my heart detonated.

I crumpled like a fold of dirty clothing to the ground. My limbs trembled violently, and I assumed it was one of those random, unstable shifts.

But instead, my vision tunneled and blacked out. My stomach felt disturbed, and I coughed up something into my hand.

"Gah... w-what..."

It was whitish and murky.

Poison.

Seraphine's POV

The pack doctor held the glowing moonstone before my eyes.

I hadn't believed him. It was simply too good to be true.

But now, looking at the transparent stone, pulsing with a bright light at the tip, it was all the confirmation I needed.

I hadn't been poisoned. I was pregnant.

The doctor's voice was soft, almost reverent.

"H-how..." My voice was thick with emotion. "How far along am I?"

"One week, Luna."

One week.

I pressed a trembling hand to my stomach, as if I could already feel the spark that had taken root the last time Fael had shared himself with me.

That night, had made a baby.

Two years ago today, Fael had carried me over the threshold of this house, the pack howling outside, the mating mark fresh and burning on my neck. I had worn white, and my father had been pardoned of all he owed.

Two years, and I had spent every single day waiting for him to look at me the way an Alpha looks at his Luna. Instead, he looked through me, past me, into the bodies of every she-wolf who could give him things I couldn't.

Until now.

This pup would change everything.

He would have to claim me publicly. He would have to crown me. He would have to wash the blood and tears from my skin after my heats, because the heir growing inside me would be his.

He would have to love me.

I closed my eyes and let the moonstone's glow paint the inside of my lids silver.

The doctor wrapped it carefully in velvet.

"You must tell him soon, Luna. An Alpha senses these things eventually."

I planned to.

I would walk into the pack hall tonight with every ranking wolf in attendance, and I would place Fael's palm over the place where his child slept. I would watch the shock turn to pride and devotion.

He would fall to his knees this time.

He would beg me to forgive him for the sake of our unborn little one.

And I would let him.

Because this pup was proof that the Moon had not abandoned me after all.

"Doctor Cuwan." I grinned so hard it almost hurt. "Don't tell anyone about this. Please, I... I want to surprise him."

He bowed.

My eyes widened for a fraction of a second.

No one here has ever bowed to me before today.

"As you command, Luna."

{THREE HOURS LATER}

Fael wasn't here yet.

There was some political squabble going on, and the staff said he was still in talks with the other Alphas.

I was pacing around our bedroom, hand on my stomach.

The table had been set for our anniversary celebrations.

Candlelight. Wine and food.

"Maybe I should go to him?"

I asked no one in particular.

"But he never likes me present during his meetings."

My wolf purred lightly. She was ecstatic and eager for our mate to hear the good news.

Enough waiting around, Seraphine.

If Fael wouldn't come to you, go to him.

"Excuse me," I waved to his Beta, Anton. "Is Fael in?"

He grumbled with a gruff snort.

"The Alpha is indisposed at the moment."

I held onto the basket of moon cakes I had baked and brought.

"He's been in there for quite a while. I brought some food for him."

Anton crossed his arms.

"The Alpha is well fed and not hungry. Liora has made sure of that."

My eyes narrowed, and I had to purse my lips together to avoid saying something that could get me punished.

"B-but Beta Anton, please, just let me in. It'll only be a minute."

He shook his head, standing firm.

I attempted to bypass him, but no sooner had I tried when I found myself crumpled to the ground, my cheek pressed against the cold stone. The basket broke, and the cakes I had so dutifully baked scattered across the ground.

"Anton!"

I screamed, pounding my small fist against the ground.

Don't cry in front of him, Seraphine, don't. Everyone knew Anton was a big meanie, especially to me.

"Scram, weakling. Or I'll rid Fael of you, permanently."

Something in me was triggered, and I found myself holding onto Anton's collar, yelling hysterically, and trying to push him out of the way.

"I am your Luna! You will respect me!"

He laughed mockingly, and I felt my eyes sting.

Still, I didn't give up.

"Luna? More like a recipe for ruin."

I didn't budge. I kept trying to push him away, and he let me, until he had had enough.

Anton shoved me aside, and I stumbled, my head knocking against the wall.

Just as I was about to tumble to the ground again, the door opened, and in a quick blur, Fael stood behind me.

"Anton. What are you doing?"

His eyes were narrowed. Angry, even.

I felt a flutter of hope in my stomach.

"Disciplining the omega, cousin. She was doing too much, yelling, causing a scene, and insisting on seeing you-"

"Enough."

Anton stayed silent, bowing without remorse, a snarky smirk still painted across his lips. But I didn't care. Fael had defended me, for the first time in forever. Maybe he could already sniff out our little one? His senses were sharp after all.

"Fael..."

He grabbed my wrist and pulled me to the corridor. Out of earshot or eyesight from the other wolves.

"What is it, Seraphine? You know I don't want you anywhere around the pack hall during political meetings."

I nodded and grabbed onto his shoulders.

"I know, I know... but, but it was an emergency."

His eyes lit up.

"Did... Did you finally..." His tone rose slightly, his fingers crawled under my dress. But then light in his eyes receded.

"I still feel no sign of your body's welcome."

I shook my head, rambling.

"No, that's, that's not it. You see, when you left, I felt this... internal pain, and I assumed it was another involuntary shift, but then it felt different in a way. My stomach felt fuzzy, like water was flowing inside it, but around a huge stream... no, that's not right. Like, the stream was blocked by a stone, and I coughed up this gooey whitish-"

"You have three seconds to go straight to the point, Seraphine."

I inhaled deeply. Grabbing his palm, I placed it on my stomach.

"I'm pregnant, Fael."

Seraphine's POV

The moment I uttered those words, time stood still.

My eyes searched his face for a reaction, anything at all.

Eventually... he spoke.

"You think you can play me for a fool in front of my pack?" he snarled.

He held the moonstone I had presented to him and crushed it in his palm before throwing what remained of it to the ground.

"Explain yourself, Seraphine. Right now. How dare you claim that is my pup when you've been nothing but a barren disappointment for two years?"

I backed against the wall.

"It is not a claim, it is the truth. Doctor Cuwan tested me and told me himself that I am a week gone. From that night last week when we had the pack meet, and you were angered by men from Alpha Serbian's pack, you came to our room and shared yourself with me, remember? You held me as your mate until dawn. This is the result."

He laughed.

"Varyns do not breed with damaged, lowborn strays like you. You think a glowing rock proves anything? I've joined with you countless times, poured my hopes into you, and now suddenly, when I have been buried in pack business and haven't lain with you in days, you magically conceive?"

"That's...I can't explain it, but I really am pre-nngh!"

He grabbed me to his side and pressed his palm to my stomach, feeling around for signs of life. Fael's lip curled when he felt a heartbeat and his hand didn't pull away this time; instead, his claws pressed against the fabric, sharp tips dimpling my skin. A threat so cold I knew he meant to harm the baby inside me.

My eyes widened when I felt his claw break through my skin.

"Tell me, little omega, whose seed actually fathered this unhallowed child? Because it sure as the Moon isn't mine."

He was going to harm the child inside me.

"Fael, please," I whispered. "Listen to me-"

"I've listened enough."

He released my wrist only to grab my throat, slamming me back against the wall.

The other Alphas that had been in the hall with him had started trooping out. Finding amusement in the scene.

His hand tightened, claws grazing my stomach, and I screamed from the pain and terror.

"You will go to the healer's den, and you will have him rip that thing out of you before the next moonrise. Or I'll do it myself, right here."

I screamed, my hands flying to protect my stomach.

"No! Fael, stop! The pup! Our pup!"

I twisted, shoving at his arm with all my strength.

"Please, Moon above, no! It's yours! I beg you, feel it! Sense it!"

He growled and bared his fangs.

His eyes carried genuine hurt.

"Sense what? A faithless whelp from some lowly wolf who might've taken pity on you? You disgust me, Seraphine. You've shamed me, shamed the Varyn line. I should have never marked you."

"Fael... mate... please..."

With a savage snarl, he shoved me harder against the wall, his claws grazing my stomach, and I screamed again in agony.

"Stop!"

He released my throat, and I felt he had finally listened.

Only for him to step back just enough to chant the words that every mated wolf dreaded.

"By the Moon Goddess, I, Fael Varyn, Alpha of the Grimfang Pack, sever the bond between us. I reject you, Seraphine. I reject our bond."

The pain in my stomach was nothing compared to what hit next. It felt like a thousand silver blades slicing through my chest, my wolf howling in agony as the mate bond shattered.

I collapsed to my knees, clutching at my heart, gasping for air that wouldn't come.

I looked up through tear-filled eyes, blood seeping from the wounds on my belly.

"I wish I had never met you."

A copper taste filled my mouth.

"Fate will punish you for this. You will regret it!"

He scoffed, grabbing my arm and hauling me toward the door.

"Fate abandoned you long ago. Now get out."

×

I was thrown out of the pack gates.

It was raining. He had not given me a single suitcase, and my clothes were soaked in muddy water. My tears streaked my face in the design of roots, and I sobbed for what seemed like hours.

In a pathetic attempt to save the life of my little one, I forced my wolf to shield the pup within, letting my own skin bruise and ache in its place-the price of internal mending. But I didn't care.

Fael. Mate.

Those words kept ringing in my head. How did it all come to this?

How?

×

I was a dot near losing consciousness. But a pair of arms slid under my side and lifted me from the ground.

In a weak intake of breath, I tried to make out who it was. But I couldn't. My vision was blurry, but all I knew was that we were moving.

Moving where?

"I-I....w-who are...."

My words were barely audible. But he had heard me.

"Reserve your strength."

"Mm... My...my pup."

He placed a hand on my stomach.

"It's healing just fine."

I was curious about who this man was. He smelt like mountains, plum-bloom cologne, and ash, pinewood ash to be specific. But nothing familiar in the least.

"Your pup will be okay. I'm taking you somewhere I can tend to your wounds properly."

"Where....?"

"My home." He looked down at me, feeling the need to add the next sentence. "In the mountains up north."

The West never crossed over to the North. This man was carrying me to forbidden territory. It was known knowledge that banished wolves all took solace in the north.

And under the rule of one man, and one man only.

Darius Varyn.

The fates had truly forsaken me.

I forced the words out of me. Panic settled deep in my bones because of how firm he held me.

"Why?"

"You're asking why I'm taking you to my home?"

I managed a nod.

"Because I want to claim you and your pup as mine."

My tired eyelids snapped open almost immediately.