Rejected Luna: Fated To A Cursed Alpha

Morning light spilled across the pack grounds as I moved through the halls, balancing a tray filled with hot bowls and cups. The scent of coffee mixed with caramel drifted around me, yet it did nothing to calm what churned inside. Today wasn't just any day. I had turned eighteen. The day my mate's scent was supposed to find me and pull me away from the life I'd known as an orphaned Omega.

"Elena, are you planning to stand there forever?" Natalie asked, her tone sharp enough to sting, the moment I stepped into the dining hall.

Everyone knew who she was. Caleb's chosen partner. Our Alpha had picked her despite being thirty-three, and she came from the Iron Pine pack at twenty-seven. They had crossed paths at last year's gathering, and ever since then, she carried herself like she already held the title of Luna.

"Sorry," I muttered, dropping my eyes. Sunlight caught in her brown curls, and her polished nails tapped against the table in steady impatience. The way she held herself made it seem like she already ruled the place.

Her attention shifted to the tray in my hands. "Where is my almond latte? I made it clear I wanted one, and you didn't bring it."

"I... I'll make it now," I replied quickly.

Her lips curved into something cold. "Then don't waste time. I wouldn't want to mention this to Caleb and let him know you can't even manage simple tasks."

I never understood what I did to earn her dislike. Still, she always managed to put me down.

Around the table, the other servants stood in place, trading looks like this was nothing new. Hannah, the tall brunette who never missed a chance to stay in Natalie's favor, glanced at me with disapproval. "Pay more attention, Elena. Lady Natalie already has enough to deal with. Don't make things worse for her."

A voice slipped in next, softer on the surface yet just as cutting. "She's already running everything around here. You should be grateful you even get to serve her," Idyll said.

I held the tray tighter, trying to steady the shake in my hands. "I understand."

Just as I moved to leave, Natalie's voice stopped me mid-step. "And don't forget, you don't address me as Natalie. It's Luna Natalie."

Laughter followed from the others, and heat rushed to my face. She hadn't earned that title, but she enjoyed hearing it.

Back in the kitchen, the coffee pot felt unsteady in my grip. No one had said a word about my birthday. Even the Alpha usually sent something out to the pack. This time, nothing came. It was as if I wasn't even there.

The polished surface nearby reflected my image. A slim figure with pale skin stared back, blonde hair pulled into a loose braid, gray eyes worn from exhaustion. I looked worse than usual. At sixteen, a wolf awakens. At eighteen, a mate's presence should come through. For me, there had been nothing so far.

"Just stay quiet and get through it," I muttered under my breath.

Yet something felt different. A quiet warmth stirred in my chest, faint but impossible to ignore.

After handing over Natalie's drink and enduring more of her remarks, I slipped away to the laundry room. The moment I stepped inside, the air shifted. A scent filled the space. Warm and untamed. It carried hints of resin and rain against pine, with something deeper beneath it. My pulse jumped.

Mate.

My wolf, Maryse's voice broke through my thoughts, bright with excitement. My feet moved before I could think, drawn forward by something I couldn't see. The scent wrapped around me, taking hold of everything.

"It's him!" Maryse exclaimed. "Don't stop, I want to see him."

Guided by that pull, I followed the trail through the halls until it led me out to the training grounds under the sun. Warriors filled the space, but my focus locked onto one person.

It was him. Alpha Caleb Reed.

Shock hit me all at once. The Moon Goddess had chosen him for me. My Alpha. My mate. Everything else faded, leaving only that truth standing clear before me.

He stood at the center, his black hair damp and falling across his forehead, his attention fixed on the training. Strength showed in every movement, steady and controlled. Sunlight fell over him, making him stand out even more.

When his gaze lifted and met mine, my breath caught. Something flickered there. Recognition. It had to be him. My heart surged, and hope followed right after. I took a step toward him, unable to resist.

"You're the one meant for me," I said softly, heat rising to my face.

Without warning, his expression changed. His posture tightened, and the warmth in his eyes disappeared, replaced by something cold. I stopped where I stood.

"Keep going," Maryse insisted. I forced myself forward again, closing the distance bit by bit.

Before I could reach him, someone pushed past me. Natalie moved straight toward him without hesitation.

"Alpha Caleb!" she called out, her voice bright.

At the sight of her, his face shifted instantly. It softened in a way I hadn't seen before. As if I wasn't even there, he opened his arms and pulled her close. A moment later, he leaned in and kissed her.

Agony cut through me without warning. Everything inside me gave way at once, and I stood there, unable to move. My chest felt like it had split apart. Maryse's voice rose in protest. "No, it's him. He belongs to us!"

But deep down, I understood she couldn't act. If she did, Caleb wouldn't show mercy.

For years, I held onto the thought of this moment. I believed someone would finally choose me, flaws and all. What stood before me instead was rejection that felt deliberate. Tears filled my eyes and blurred everything.

His gaze shifted toward me. It carried no warmth. Natalie stayed close to him, her grip firm as her eyes flickered with quiet victory. I knew one wrong move could ruin me. So I stepped back. Turning away, I felt the weight settle heavily in my chest. His scent lingered in the air, clinging to me in a way that felt unbearable.

I made my way back through the halls, unable to see clearly through the tears. Today was supposed to change everything. Instead, it left me with nothing but emptiness. Weren't mates meant to stand by each other? To care?

Back inside the laundry room, I shut the door behind me. Pulling my knees close, I let everything break loose. My cheek pressed against the cold floor while my body shook. I didn't know how to carry this. I didn't know how to face him again after this.

The ache didn't fade. It stayed with me, tightening around my chest and refusing to let go. His expression kept returning in my mind, cold and distant. My mate stood right there, yet he couldn't even spare me a glance.

The door opened without warning.

Living without parents had never been easy for me. The former Alpha, who was also Caleb's father, once told me they lost their lives during a battle between rival packs.

The man wasn't kind, but he still brought me into his home out of pity. He even let me study at the school meant for the lower-ranking members of the pack, and for a while, I believed I could live like everyone else.

That hope didn't last after his death.

The moment Caleb became the new leader, my life turned upside down. The first thing he did was force me to leave school.

After that, he gave me the role of a servant and pushed every filthy task onto my shoulders. His warning still echoed in my mind. If I wanted to keep living under this roof, then I had to prove I deserved it through work.

Most of the time, he looked at me like I disgusted him. There was always something cold in his stare that made my entire body tense. I tried my best to stay out of his way and avoid meeting his eyes, but nothing changed. No matter what I did, he still treated me like I was nothing more than dirt beneath his feet.

Ever since I was born, there had been a strange mark on my back. It wasn't large, only about the size of a small lemon, but it stood out against my skin.

A golden moon wrapped in black thorns rested there like chains locking it in place.

Years ago, the shaman warned me that the mark carried a curse. Because of that, I had to keep it hidden from everyone. If the wrong person saw it, they might decide I shouldn't stay alive.

A loud bang suddenly ripped through the room and cut my thoughts short.

I quickly wiped at my wet eyes, but I wasn't fast enough. Natalie had already stepped inside. Her arms folded across her chest while a pleased smile spread across her face. The look in her eyes made it obvious she enjoyed catching me like this.

"Seriously?" she said with a mocking laugh as she walked closer. "You're sitting here crying again? That's embarrassing."

Not a single word left my mouth. I kept my head lowered while fear shook my body. Inside me, Maryse growled with fury and pushed to break free. She wanted to tear Natalie apart, but terror had already rooted me to the spot.

Natalie moved closer until her face hovered inches from mine, and the heavy scent of her perfume nearly made it hard to breathe.

"So that's the reason you've been acting like this," she murmured, but every word cut deep. "You actually thought being Caleb's mate made you important? That's funny. Everyone already knows about it, Elena. The problem is that nobody cares. You're nothing to him. He doesn't even want you around. Sooner or later, he'll reject you in front of everyone, and when that happens, you'll wish you never came into this pack."

My mouth shook as I tried to stop myself from crying again.

She lowered her voice, and the threat in her eyes made my chest tighten. "Don't tell anyone what I said, or you'll regret it."

I couldn't force out a response. All I managed was a weak nod.

Looking satisfied, Natalie stepped back and brushed her skirt with disgust.

"That's better. Fix your face already. Watching you cry is irritating enough. And if people learn the reason behind those tears, trust me, things will get much worse for you."

Without waiting for another word, she walked out of the room. Her brown curls bounced behind her as the door slammed shut.

Even after she left, her words still crawled through my head like poison. What disturbed me most wasn't the threat. It was the fact that they already knew Caleb was my mate.

Mates were meant to stand beside each other. They were supposed to protect one another no matter what happened.

The moment I stepped out of the laundry room, hoping to escape the suffocating tension for a little while, Hannah blocked my path near the kitchen entrance. "You're on toilet duty starting today," she said sharply without giving me time to react. "And don't expect that assignment to change anytime soon."

Confusion hit me immediately. "What? That's the worst chore in the pack."

Her hand struck my face before I could say anything else.

The force sent me stumbling to the floor while pain burned across my cheek.

"I wasn't asking for your opinion! Get up and do your job!" A cruel laugh escaped her as she watched me struggle.

My whole body shook, but I still forced myself to obey. Deep down, I already knew this wasn't truly Hannah's decision. Natalie was behind it.

After that, my days became unbearable.

Anything that went wrong inside the house somehow became my fault. If a vase shattered, Natalie blamed me. If someone spilled a drink or ripped a cloth, she immediately pointed at me like she had been waiting for the chance. Nobody questioned her accusations. The others only laughed and whispered behind my back while looking at me with contempt.

Through all of it, Caleb stayed silent.

He saw everything, yet he never once stepped in to stop it.

Several days later, I rushed toward the kitchen early in the morning after hearing Hannah yelling at the servants. The second I entered the room, expensive cutlery crashed onto the floor right in front of me.

The sharp noise rang through the kitchen.

Not long after that, Natalie walked in with a dark expression on her face, though the look in her eyes made the entire scene feel rehearsed.

"Hannah, don't just stand there and let her off easily," she instructed coldly. "She's been nothing but a problem."

Hannah immediately agreed. Before I could move away, the two of them trapped me against the pantry wall. Unease twisted inside my chest as I realized something terrible was about to happen, but there was already nowhere left to run.

"Maybe this will finally teach you your place," Hannah spat before striking me.

I cried out and begged them to stop, but nobody came to help me.

A deep growl suddenly cut through the chaos. "What the hell is happening here?"

The second I heard Caleb's voice, hope rushed through me so fast it hurt. For one foolish moment, I thought he had finally come to protect me.

Natalie reacted before I could even move. With a shaky voice full of fake innocence, she hurried toward him and raised her injured hand.

"Alpha Caleb," she called out softly, "Elena attacked me with broken glass. Look at this. I'm bleeding because of her."

"That's a lie!" I cried out. "I didn't touch her!"

"Enough!" he shouted while glaring at me with fury burning in his eyes. "Throw her into the dark cellar!"

Everything inside me went still.

He was my mate, yet he didn't even glance at the bruises covering me. He didn't care enough to hear my side. Caleb was never going to save me.

This entire thing had been planned from the beginning, and Natalie's satisfied smile only confirmed it.

Hannah and Natalie grabbed me roughly before dragging me downstairs. The cellar waiting below looked more like a grave than a prison. Moisture covered the walls, and mold spread across the stone like rot. A dying torch flickered weakly in the corner while the foul smell in the air made my stomach twist.

"You'll stay here until we decide you've suffered enough," Natalie remarked coldly.

Before leaving, she looked back at me one last time with triumph written all over her face.

"Pathetic creature."

Then the door slammed shut.

The days inside that place blurred together.

Cold stone pressed against my back every night while hunger slowly drained the strength from my body. The darkness became unbearable, but Maryse stayed beside me through it all. Even while hurting herself, she still tried to comfort me whenever I felt like breaking apart.

By the seventh day, the cellar door finally opened again.

Hannah stood there waiting for me with an unreadable expression.

"Get up," she instructed flatly. "Alpha Caleb is asking for you."

A small spark of hope returned to me despite everything.

But Hannah destroyed that hope with her next words.

"You're being handed over to Alpha Davis," she said with a cruel smirk. "And you already know what happens to the women sent to him. None of his wives lasted longer than a year."

The air left my lungs.

"What? No... he wouldn't do that to me."

Hannah burst into laughter.

"You're still dreaming about Caleb choosing you? Lady Natalie got exactly what she wanted. She convinced him to throw you away. No woman wants Alpha Davis. Everyone knows he's cursed. But Caleb gains power from this arrangement, and you're the price he decided to pay. That's all you'll ever be. A sacrifice for an alliance."

The last thing I saw was Hannah's mocking smile before she seized my arm and dragged me out of the cellar.

Hannah pulled me away from the damp cells, and my thoughts spiraled out of control, tightening with fear. The idea of being tied to Alpha Davis made my whole body tense. That man carried something dark, and no matter what, I couldn't ignore that Caleb was the one meant for me. Giving myself to anyone else felt impossible. I would've rather faced death than accept that kind of fate.

With a sudden push of resolve, I wrenched my hand free from her grip and thought about running. The forest surrounding the territory stood within reach, like a chance I couldn't ignore. If I made it far enough, maybe I could find help... maybe even survive. But my strength had already run out. I barely took a step before my legs failed, and I hit the ground hard. Dust filled my mouth, my chest burned, and tears fell without stopping. "No..." I whispered, my voice breaking apart.

A harsh laugh came from her. "You really thought you could get away?" Hannah asked. Her hand clamped around my neck, forcing me to look up at her. Even through my blurred sight, I could see the satisfaction on her face. She shoved me aside and raised her voice. "Don't let her move!"

Two warriors stepped in, cutting off any path I could take. Fear closed in on me. "Please... just let me go. I don't want anything. I just want to live," I said, struggling to get the words out. Instead of softening her, it only made her more vicious. She lunged forward and forced me down. Pain exploded through my side when she struck me, and a sharp crack followed. A scream tore out of me before I could stop it. Something inside had broken.

Her voice came cold after that. "Keep her alive."

One of the warriors grabbed me without care and lifted me over his shoulder. Every step sent pain through my body, and my voice faded into weak cries. I couldn't see clearly anymore as they carried me into the Omega quarters and threw me into a small, dim room. The door slammed shut, cutting me off completely.

I pushed against the door with what little strength I had left, coughing as blood filled my mouth. "Please... let me go..." I pleaded, barely able to speak. No one answered. My body gave out, and I slid down onto the floor, my clothes soaked. Time stopped meaning anything after that.

A faint creak from the lock broke through the silence, and I forced my eyes upward. The healer stood there, his face hard. "Luna Natalie sent me," he said. "Drink this. It'll ease the pain."

"Can I... talk to her?" My voice came out uneven.

He didn't answer. Instead, he pushed the vial to my lips. The liquid tasted sharp and bitter as it went down. Without another glance, he stepped out and locked the door again.

I pulled myself into the corner, pressing against the wall as tears came back. "Goddess... why?" I whispered. "You're the one who tied me to Caleb. Why am I the one suffering for it?"

The door flew open without warning. Caleb walked in, his expression filled with disgust. "Out of everyone, you?" he said. "The Moon Goddess chose you? That has to be wrong. You're nothing."

Despite everything, anger rose through me. I looked straight at him. "I'm not the one who's wrong," I scoffed. "You are. You turned your back on your own mate."

A low growl filled the room. In the next second, his hand closed around my throat. Air left me as I struggled. "Elena!" he said sharply. "You think you can go against me? You ran. You ignored what I said!"

My chest tightened as I fought to breathe, close to giving in, when a voice cut through. "Caleb!" Natalie chimed in. "Stop. She still needs to..." She didn't finish, but he let go.

He stepped back, his voice cold as he spoke. "I, Alpha Caleb Reed of the Crimson Howl Pack, reject you, Elena Carter, as my mate."

A sharp pain struck through my stomach and chest, cutting deep. A cry escaped me before I could hold it back. My sight blurred, and my body gave out under the shock. For a brief second, I saw Caleb and Natalie watching, their expressions distant, almost entertained. They walked out together, fingers intertwined. "Hannah will come tomorrow to get you ready," Natalie said before the door shut behind them.

Darkness closed in again. When I came to, my body felt heavy, as if something pressed down on me. Maryse had cried out through the night before falling quiet, broken in a way I couldn't fix.

Morning light slipped into the room. I stayed where I was, too weak to move or eat. The door opened, and Hannah stepped in with a box, a servant trailing behind her.

A laugh broke from her. "Look at you," she snapped, grabbing my arm and dragging me up. "Luna Natalie wants you looking decent. But first, you need a bath. You smell awful."

She shoved me into cold water without warning. My body reacted instantly, shaking from the chill, but she didn't care. When I climbed out, she threw a dress at me. "Put it on. Alpha Davis will be here soon."

I went still. That fast? My chest tightened. The fabric brushed against my skin, carrying a scent I recognized. Natalie's.

Her smile turned sharp. "You should be grateful, Elena. You're about to marry the Alpha everyone fears in the North. If you're lucky, you'll live long enough to give him a child."

Her words settled deep, and my legs felt unsteady as I followed her out. The hall was filled with movement, Omegas rushing around under Natalie's direction. When she noticed me, she gave a small smile and signaled for Hannah to push me aside.

My eyes searched for Caleb. He stood with a group, speaking as if nothing had happened. Not a trace of what he'd done showed on his face. Why didn't it affect him? Why did he seem untouched? Tears pressed at the back of my eyes, but I forced them down. I wouldn't let them see me break.

After a while, he stepped away. When he came back, someone walked beside him.

Alpha Davis.

He stood taller than the rest, his build solid and defined. Dark hair framed his face, giving him a look that felt distant. Markings curled along his arms, shaped like thorns and vines. Strength surrounded him, mixed with something that unsettled me.

The moment his gaze met mine, I caught my breath. Heat rose to my face before I could stop it.