Rejected Mate: The Berserk Werewolf

I had just walked in through the door when I heard my stepfather, Luggard, yelling at me.

"You have come of age young lady, and should be getting ready to meet your mate. What is your plans? He had asked, with his hands akimbo.

"Tiff, you disappointed us. This is the seventh time you have failed in a month" My mother, Isabella, also expressed her utmost disappointment in me.

As a werewolf, before choosing a mate at the age of eighteen, I must prepare a gift to let my mate know that I am not a useless werewolf.

But, I may be the exception.

My real father was an Alpha of the Dark Moon wolf pack; who lost; at the cost of his life, during a territorial battle three years ago.

And the winner of that battle became my stepfather, known as Luggard Winston-Salem

My mother Isabell, submitted and got married to Luggard Winston-Salem to protect me, and then became his wife.

Luggard really do not like me, and kept me around just to get a free maid. And; if I could not find my mate before I clock eighteen, I would be banished by the wolves.And my mother? She hoped with everything in her, that I would find an eligible mate who could protect me.

Until then, " I will succeed till the end", I assured myself as I walked down the hallway towards my room, and closed the door behind me.

I could still hear my mother and my stepfather talking, their voices from outside keep echoing in my ears as I lay on my bed, staring out the window, looking at the sun as the thought of my father raced through my mind.

He was powerful, yet a gentle Alpha. What I remembered most was what he would always say to me;

" Tiffany, hide behind me; I will always protect you".

In fact, he would have escaped in that battle three years ago. But, I was chased by Luggard's wolves to the edge of a cliff.And he traded with Luggard to save me, while he got pushed off the cliff by the wolves and I survived.

I was the one who got him killed

Luggard, also did not treat my father's wolves very well; he made them do all the dirty and tiring work. And used every slightest mistake to punish and abuse them

These thoughts kept me restless till dark, and I decided to go out for a walk

"Tiff, you'd better read this", says my mother, as she handed me a letter. It was an invitation letter, signed by the Herlbert's family.They we're holding a party, and since I am about to turn eighteen, I needed to take the opportunity; to be able to chose my own mate.

"I don't want to go", I replied and shoved the letter into my mother's hand.

"But we had promised that you will be there, and on time too".my mother said, with seriousness.

"You committed to them without even asking me if I wanted to go or not? " I said with surprise, a little angry too.

"No matter what Tiffany, you must attend this party tomorrow. Or else, you will be banished by the wolves, and wander alone like a rogue", my mother said with seriousness, I could feel pain in her voice too.

"Okay, I'll be there tomorrow", I replied moodily, and my mother turned around and go back to her room.

Early the next morning, I was on my way to the Herlbert's family. I could still remember my way there for when I was younger, my father used to take me there for parties. I could remember being there twice or three times. As I stood in front of the lavish castle, a middle aged man in black suit stopped me.

"Hey young lady, this party is strictly on invitation. If you don't have a letter of invitation please leave here immediately "

I took the letter of invitation out of my pocket, and handed it to him. He took a glance at the letter and said

"Level1invitation letter?", he whistled lightly as both the soldier man and the Butler holding my invitation letter laughed.

"You can go in", he said, and handed me back the letter. I didn't understand why they laughed at me, or what the first class invitation letter meant.

When I walked into the hall, there were so many people already inside.The smell of perfume in there made me dizzy, and I reluctantly found a corner to sit down, and hoped the party will be over soon.

"Why won't you let me into the bouquet; I'm a member of this family too!" The sound of argument made me look over my shoulder to see a middle aged man and a younger man; who looked like they should be father and son.

"Lycan, you should know by now that I don't like it when you mess up my party; which you always do. So, you will not attend!" The middle aged man said.

The young man is the future Alpha wolf leader, Lycan Herlbert. Out of fear of being seen by them, I hid under the table, and listened.

"But they killed my mother, which was why I reacted against them that day. Can this be pretended that it never happened?"

Lycan questioned angrily, as his eyes turned red and his hands clenched in a fist. He has a blond hair, blue and sharp eyes like an eagle, and a head taller than I am. He was so handsome, that my heart beats faster; just by staring at him from under that table. On his neck, a totem mark of the Herlbert's family could be vaguely seen.

Any family, that has a reputable status among the wolves will have a seal that represented their family. And that seal is usually given to the members of that family, by the elders, during their coming of age ceremony

"Okay Lycan, you need to calm down ", the middle aged man continued. "I will allow you to attend the party, but, you have to promise me that you won't mess up this time, not anymore; because I won't let it go with what happened the last time", he said, as he patted the young man on the shoulder. Lycan smiled, and I could see his clenched fist loosened.

While the middle aged man walked down the hallway to the party, I decided to adjust myself comfortably, and stay under the table till the party is over.

"Who are you, and what are you doing hiding under the table?" Lycan's voice came from behind me. I froze, and slowly turned my head to look at Lycan who is standing; towering over me with a glare in his eyes

"Oh, I wasn't hiding", I said as I crept out from under the table, now standing before Lycan.

"I am here for the party, I just bent under the table to pick my stuff that dropped", I explained nervously, brandishing a shiny little hairpin for him to see.

I lied!

Lycan looked me all over and asked.

"Who is your master; who brought you to this party?" He questioned.

"I was invited to this party as a guest I am not a servant!" I explained again; a little upset that he could think me of a servant.

"Which family are you from?" he asked again, staring hard at me.

"The Nathan's family, my father's name is Sapphire Christopher", I said, with my head bowed.

"You are the daughter of Alpha Sapphire?" Lycan asked, looking at me in shock.

"Yes", I replied. He didn't seem to know that my father had passed away, do he?

"Here you are young lady, I have been looking all over for you. Don't you know you are the servant of this party? Come on now, we are busy". The Butler at the door earlier said to me, as he walked up to me.

"The servant?! I didn't understand what he meant. I was there for the party and not to be a servant.

"Yes! The level 1 invitation letter you have represents the temporarily hired servant, I will never misread that".

The Butler replied seriously.

I lowered my head in disappointment, I never thought I was coming to the party as a servant. I was so embarrassed that my face turned red. Lycan just turned, and walked away.

"Tiffany, is that you?!".

I heard a voice behind me, calling out my name. I turned my head in the direction of the voice, and a middle aged woman with a curly brown hair in a purple gown, was looking at me, smiling, with a glass of red wine in her hand.

"Yes; I am Tiffany, may I know who you are? "

I was puzzled, I do not recollect this woman or if I had seen her before or not.

"Oh my little Tiffany, don't you recognize me anymore?".she said as she approached me, and with a hand over my shoulder, she said. "It is not surprising my dear, seeing we haven't seen each other for many years now. I and your father are cousins". She said, still smiling.

"You are cousins with my father?", I asked in surprise; I haven't met any of my father's relations for as long as I can remember.

"Yes dear, and you can call me auntie", she added, still smiling. "By the way, how is your father?" she inquired with the smile still sitting comfortably on her face.

"It may disappoint you to know that my father died three years ago". I said, with my head bowed. I can still feel the guilt; if Dad hadn't chosen to save me then, he would have still been alive till today.

"My goodness! How come no one told me about this?" She lament.

"Oh little Tiffany, I didn't mean to open up an old wound". She apologized

"It's okay..... I am learning to live with it already". I wondered her name.

She reached out and hugged me.

"I will be here for you, okay! Anyway, anytime. My name is Susanne, and you can call me 'Auntie".

The sudden appearance of an aunt was a little too much for me to take in, and my father was nolonger there. Even my mother, who had to accept all of Luggard's arrangement, was distancing herself from me at the same time. But I understood her very well; she is now Luggard's wife, and Luggard is already doing me a favour by letting me live among his wolves.

If she stayed close to me as before, it might attract the pack of wolves, under Luggard's instructions, to attack me. So, her being indifferent and distant to me would make it safer for me to stay in the pack.

"Thank you for your concern Mrs Susanne, I will be fine", I said, and lifted my hands and gave her a hug.

"I thought you were going to call me 'auntie, but that is fine Tiffany; I understand. And I am glad you are here to help". She said with a smile as she let go of my hand.

Although I didn't want to admit that I was here to be a servant, but I had no choice.

Susanne took me on a busy tour of the villa, and I realized that it was bigger and more gorgeous than I had imagined. Even the patterns on the plates and wine glasses were beaitifully designed in a way I hadn't seen before.

Susanne told me that the party had not really started yet, and all those present were the people who wanted to make friends with the Herlbert's family. The real party was going to start tomorrow, so all I had to do was to get everything ready before then.

it wasn't before dark that I was done, and was very tired and weak to walk.When I got home, it was already late at night.

My mother, Isabella, was sitting in the living room, eating a snacks. And when she saw me, she just gave me a smile and said nothing. Got up, cleared the table, and went into her room.

I knew she was waiting for me to come back.

I walked tiredly into my room, and closed the door.Picked up my phone and then noticed the numerous messages on my phone from my best friend Keisha.

"My goodness, you haven't gotten back to me yet all day Tiff; did you run into an alien abduction? ",

"Tiffany, I promise; if you don't reply me this night, I am going to call in the police to come in search of you",

Looking at the content of the messages, I couldn't help but smile. Keisha has a way of making me feel the better of me, if not the best.

"Keisha I am fine. I went to a bad party today and it wore me out. The worst part is that I would be going back to this party again tomorrow". I replied to her.

Not long after, the phone rang. It was Keisha, and I hurriedly picked the call. Hearing her voice, and now could help me relax.

"Thank God you are not only alive, but able to reply my messages. What were you thinking going to a bad party, and without your phone too?!". She scolded, she liked acting like my guardian. I smiled.

"I am sorry I left my phone behind, and I can't take it with me tomorrow either. I will just have to tell you how bad the party is after it is over". I said, helplessly. On. My way back home, Susanne told me that I must wear a maid's outfit tomorrow, and must stay at my corner all through the party. So I couldn't bring my cellphone there.

"Well, that's another bad news by the way. I am going to school tomorrow; to that boring place". Keisha complained. She does not like her school, even though she was doing well in her studies. I tried my best, as always, to talk her into enjoying her liberty. Going to school should be fun!

Well, after talking with her for a while; worried about disturbing Luggard, and Isabella, I hung up the phone.

Early the next morning, I was on my way to the Herlbert's family again.

After I got changed, Susanne placed me in a spot near the front door. This allowed me to reach out to the people attending the party without being too tired.

Soon, people were entering the party; one after another.

I saw a petite girl, who was following by a man in a suit with a big smile. The girl had light brown curly hair, with a bow pined to it. She was wearing an expensive tiered dress, her delicate face and her Snow White skin made her look more like a princess coming out from a castle.

They were from the Northern red-blooded wolf clan; Alpha Carp and his daughter, Daisy-petals.

Daisy was only fifteen years old; not yet ripe for coming of age ceremony. And Carp, her father, is very affectionate with her.

Just like my father was with me.

The two young men who came in after there were Lycan's friends; Andre and Nado. They were wearing dark blue suits, with big smiles on their faces, and greeted the people around them warmly. They are members of the Gamma wolf pack, who were said to be mild-mannered, and not very temperamental and strong.

Following them were Beta Cameron and his mate Lucy.

Cameron was looking as handsome as always, and his mate; an elegant and beautiful girl. He just had his coming of age ceremony, and found a mate that made everyone envious.

The last guest to enter the party was Lycan Herlbert; the star of the party. When he appeared, all eyes were drawn to him. The sun shone on his body, like a heavenly god descending.

He gazed round the hall at everyone,and his powerful overlord aura seemed to announced to everyone that he is the king of the world.

My eyes met his briefly, and I was so nervous that I could barely hold the plates in my hand.

Like the speed of lightening, I caught hold of the plate before it could crash on the floor. Naivety!

His eyes fell on mine and I could see the frown; like he had seen something distasteful. And finally, he moved away quickly.

I felt a little lost, and didn't know why.

Then followed all of the guests, and the banquet officially started.

All I could do was stand in a corner, off to the side, and watch them chat and dine.

"Honey, come with me". Susanne said as she appeared behind me.

I followed her to a separate room, filled with a dozen people, dressed like me in a servant's outfit. A delicate cake was placed on the table at the center of the room.

"Happy coming of age ceremony Tiffany!" Susanne said to me as she closed the door behind me, and gave me a warm hug.

"We are celebrating this here?!" I was surprised, and afraid too. I wondered what Alpha Herlbert would do if he finds out we are celebrating in his party.

"But we shouldn't be celebrating this here; we would be screwed if the Herlbert's family finds out".

"Come on Tiffany, you may not have another chance after today. So, close your eyes and make a wish and do not have any regret". Susanne said, as she pulled me over to the cake with the candles lit.

Reluctantly, I closed my eyes. And when I closed my eyes, I saw a white snowed shadow.

"Tiffany

The white snowed shadow, she was calling out to me.

Slowly, I got a better look at her; a silvery white wolf, with blue eyes like a lake. And she was very beautiful

She was my wolf.

I had always imagined what my own wolf would look like. And, she was obviously more beautiful than I had imagined.

"It's nice to meet you". I responded to her, awkwardly.

"Me too, my name is Jada, and I think we should talk alone". She said gently.

My attention was already drawn to her that I forgot we had company.

I then looked back, and there were people around me who were celebrating my coming of age with me.

"Honey, you have to make your wish now because, I'm afraid, this candle won't lit forever". Susanne said to me with a smile.

I turned back, to look at my wolf, Jada, but she is gone.

As I walked out of the room, after my in-house coming of age ceremony with the servants, and Susanne, I almost bumped into someone.

A smell of grass, after the fresh rain, mixed with the scent of pine, hit my nose.

"Sorry".. I said at the same time as he did.

The voice sounded familiar

I looked up at him, and surprisingly, it was Lycan.

"Tiffany! That is him! He is our mate!"

Jada shouted frantically, so extremely excited that the noise gave me a slight headache.

"Mr Lycan, it's an honour to meet you". I said, with an outstretched hand, and waited for a handshake.

That was what my mother had taught me.

Looking at his handsome face, my heart beat faster. Would he really be my mate?

I had sketched out my mates appearance in my mind countless times, but none of them could hold a candle to the fact that he was so charming when he finally appeared in front of me.

When a werewolf met his mate, there always was a soulful sensation, and I hoped he had the same pleasure as I did.

But I was disappointed.

"My status does not allow me to shake hands with a servant". He said to me, I could feel the scorn in his voice.

The contempt in his eyes stung me, thus my outstretched hand turned pale, and my situation became very awkward all of a sudden.

The people in the hall also heard what he said to me, and looked at me. Even a few men whistled at me with a sarcastic smile on their faces.

Others were talking to each other and I knew they were laughing at me.

I felt suffocated by the great shame that overwhelmed me like seawater. And I felt extraordinarily uncomfortable being treated with such a bad attitude by my mate.

As if nothing had happened, Lycan returned to his seat, and resumed his meal.

I stood there; stiff and still, wondering why he could treat me this way. Did he not sense that I was his mate?

I couldn't stand being treated like I was a trash, so I turned around and walked out of the hall through the back door. And walked alone to the garden.

"Tiffany what are you doing; where are you going? Go get that guy, he is our mate!" Jada said, still not understanding what was happening.

Her voice brought up the sadness in my heart, my nose turned red, and tears fell from my eyes.

"No Jada, he turned us down".

Jada is surprised, and shocked, and she said gently.

"Don't cry, maybe he just doesn't feel our presence yet. We should give him some time".

But I still felt uncomfortable, and I left the Herlbert's family as quickly as possible, and as fast as I could.

All I had left in my heart was sadness and anger, I didn't know why my mother had to have me come to this party, just to work for them as a maid and be humiliated like that.

My mother, Isabella was leaving the house when I showed up at the door. Perhaps, she saw my red teary eyes and walked up to me.

"Hey Tiff, what is going on? The party couldn't be over by this time, is it?"

"Yes, the party is not over yet, but I don't want to stay in that hellhole! And I swear, I will never go to such parties ever again!". I cried out, and then ran to my room.

Such an uncomfortable disgrace was enough

I locked myself in my room, and didn't want to talk to anybody. I only cried.

While in my room, alone, I saw a wooden box on the table, with the lock opened. Lifting up the lid, I saw a very beautiful neckless, with sapphires as beautiful as Jada's eyes. Pressed under the neckless was a note in my father's handwriting.

"Tiffany, my angel, today is your coming of age ceremony and this neckless is a gift for you. You are beautiful in my heart as this neckless is; always and deeply loved by your father. Sapphire."

Looking at the neckless, and the inscription of my father's handwriting on the piece of paper, I couldn't help but squat down and cry.

If Dad was still alive, he could have given me this neckless by himself, and in a well deserved coming of age ceremony; filled with guests from well and reputable members of the wolves pack.

I couldn't stop the tears.; I had lost him forever.

He was a strong, and a brave man, and I should be just like him.

With that thought, I stood up from the floor. And standing before the mirror in the room, I wore the neckless on my neck; just the way he would have worn it to me by himself; had it been he was here.

The next day, at noon, I decided to go to the Herlbert's family again and have a good talk with Lycan Herlbert. He must have known about us being mates yesterday too; and Jada is insisting.

I walked in through the gate of that villa, still thinking about how I should talk to Lycan about last night when I heard someone suddenly shouted.

"That's her, she's a thief; she should be arrested".

It was another houskeper of the villa, an older man with gray hair; pointing me out to Lycan.

"I didn't... ".I didn't steal anything at all!"

But Lycan wouldn't hear any such, as he came down to me, with eyes glaring fire. Out of fear, I hurriedly lowered my head.

"This is what you stole". He said, pointing at the bag in my hand.

Beside coming to have a talk with Lycan today, I had also came to return the servants outfit I used the previous day. And that, is the content of the bag which Lycan is accusing me of stealing.

"I didn't steal it!" I said as I lifted up my head, ready to defend myself.

"Mr Lycan, Tiffany won't steal anything; I can assure you that", Susanne said, as she walked over, and bowed to Lycan respectfully.

"Lady Susanne, the dress is in her hands. Do you think we are all blind?" The housekeeper said, with a raised voice.

"I came here just to.... "

"No matter what purpose you took it for, I don't care. But, let it be the first and last time. If you dare to take any more of my stuffs, I will cut your hands off. That is the rules, and you should know that" Lycan said immediately, cutting my words short.

It seems in his mind, he had decided I am a thief.

I didn't know what to say, I felt grieved, but I tried to resist the urge to cry out and didn't say anything more.

"Other than that, I think we should talk", Lycan added.

What now? Is there more salt to be added to this already injury? I thought to myself as I followed him.

Then he led me to the shade of a large tree in the villa.

"What was that about yesterday?" he asked, as he turned facing me.

"Are you talking about what happened last night?" I asked, I had prepared myself mentally.

"I am saying that you should know that as the future leader of Black Thunder pack, my mate should shoulder the same responsibility as I do; be a future leader too and not a weak maid. However, with you background, it is impossible to know that". Lycan said impatiently.

I knew it very well that he was rejecting me, and I was prepared for such an outcome. But when he actually spoke about my family background, I couldn't help but tried to defend my family's integrity, while I fight the tears trying to gather in my eyes

"Why would you think I could not be able to shoulder your kind of responsibility, I am the daughter of Alpha Sapphire; remember?"

"Because your wolves, right now, is a bunch of pathertically weak omegas. And I need powerful wolves, and a powerful mate, that can give me strong support. You can't help me with anything!" He said, with an intensified tone, and an angry red eyes.

"I will never recognize you as my mate!" , he added.

That was it. I cried. Fear and aggravation made me cry, even harder. I was trembling, and the sadness of rejection overwhelmed me once again.

I shouldn't have come here, and let him humiliate me a second time.

I turned, and ran to the gate, and kept running in the direction of home.

"Tiffany, don't be so sad. Maybe he can't just accept it right now, but we will keep trying. We will always have a chance", Jada comforted me as I ran home.

"No, there will never be a chance with him again". I said to Jada as I cried and ran.

It was night fall, and I hadn't arrived home yet because I didn't want to face my mother's questioning.

I sat out there, in the dark night. The moonlight shone through the clouds, and shone on me.