Rejection Vs Desire

Today was the last day in her father's house and the first day of the rest of her life. Isadora was going to move in with the Alpha-to-be and to say she was happy was an understatement. She was the luckiest recessive Omega to exist in her lifetime and she was going to be Mated -hopefully- to the one and only Eutychus Brown, heir to the Brown empire and future Alpha of The Nightfall Pack.

She smiled as she packed up her stuff, trying her best to smother the doubt that was welling deep within her. She had been through enough rejections and blind dates and had worked her little omega ass off to appear as perfect as she could. When her dad had said he had set her up with Eutychus and that she better not fuck it up as she did with the others, she made sure to look as pure and as meek as an omega should be, of course with the help of her suppressants and portion - her perfume.

Things had been rough for her ever since her first shift failed drastically. The pack members had looked at her with disdain and contempt, her father included. When she turned 21, she went through it again. She shook her head hoping the memories would disintegrate, but it was all for nought, she remembered everything.

She stood in the forest, the moon shining down upon her, and hope swelled in her chest. She had always known that all omegas get their mates at 21. She held onto the hope that her true Mate would accept her as the 'Imperfect omega she was. The eligible male wolves stood on the other side of the fireplace, waiting for the moon goddess to reveal their mates to them. Isadora shut her eyes and sent thousands of prayers per second as she stood next to the other Omegas. She heard the happy yelps and laughter as one after the other wolves were paired.

"Patience pays..." she told herself as she began to feel the mating pull. She opened her eyes to see the Beta male, her mate-to-be, standing before her, his eyes cold and distant. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, the hope and excitement of finally finding her mate turning to fear and confusion.

" No. I cannot be your Mate,' she heard his voice; Darian, the Beta's son- cold and devoid of emotion.

'You are an omega, weak and inferior. I need a mate who can stand by my side and lead the Pack, not one who will hold us back. Not only that but you are what exactly? A beta or an omega? I can't tell exactly.' Darian, her supposed true mate said, walking around her, inspecting her as if she was some kind of contraband goods.

She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes as the pack looked on, some with pity, others with scorn. She wanted to scream, to rage against the unfairness of it all, but the words stuck in her throat. Instead, she turned and fled, the sounds of the pack's laughter and jeers ringing in her ears.

"O-Okay- " she croaked out, swallowing the sob in her throat because nothing else could be said, She had been rejected. Of course, no one would want her, she was not perfect.

That had been 4 years and she had spent them making a name for herself. When her mate rejected her, she was left feeling lost and alone. The rejection would lead her on a journey of self-discovery and the realization that true strength comes from within. She did her best to blend in, with the help of her greedy father, Rhys Smith. who was only interested in making money and a reputable name for himself. She managed his finances, cleaning up all the financial messes he caused and in return, he set up dates with the sons of his business partners in the hopes of expanding his money-making empire more than finding a mate for his daughter. That was how she had ended up getting paired up with Eutychus, the hottest Alpha in town.

"I managed to set up a date for you and that Alpha's son. Make yourself pretty or whatever. Don't forget the pills and perfume, I wouldn't want you sent back like unwanted mail. Most importantly I need this to go well for the sake of my business, I pad that greedy alpha a year's worth of your allowance, don't make me regret it." Her father had said, barely looking up from the paper he was reading.

It wasn't supposed to be like this though but there wasn't much she could do about it. She had basically been auctioned off to the highest bidder, well not exactly but in a way and if things went past the first date she would have to marry the Alpha and have little babies for him oh, and secure her father's accounts but that was just a dream for Isadora smith.

"But father, what if -!" she'd tried to reason with her father but it fell on deaf ears.

"Quit your whining and do as you are told! " her father shushed her, finally looking up from the paper, his eyes glowing red with anger. She pretended to be affected by his alpha Pheromones but they just never worked on her and the last person she wanted to anger was her father. Still, she couldn't help it.

"I can't do this, I won't! He will just reject me like all the others and what will you do about it-" Isadora began to protest when a sharp sting settled on her cheek. This was the first time he ever got this angry like this.

"Watch your mouth! Do you know we are in this situation because of you? you were supposed to be the perfect Omega, like your mother but no, you had to be a freak. You will go on that date and you will make him fall for you and you will be his bride. Do. I. Make.Myself.Clear?" Isadora's father, Rhys, had threatened and she did as told and got ready.

That had marked the first day she had met with Eutychus. She went on the date, expecting to be rejected there and then but Eutychus had been different. He made her laugh and smile and soon all the doubt she had been yet again replaced with hope for a future. They had gone on several other dates, held hands, and hugged even, something her other dates did not even think of. Eutychus had been the prayer to the thousands of prayers she had sent to the moon goddess.

She zipped up her suitcase, the bitter memories having done their work. She wiped the stray tears that had managed to fall down her cheeks. She was going to move in with her new boyfriend. She felt giddy just thinking of the name boyfriend. Finally, her hard work was paying off.

"I have a boyfriend now, That's a step towards having a Mate. Patience sure does pay. "She told herself as she hauled the suitcase out of her room and down to the front door, passing her father in the living room.

"At least get pregnant, that is the least you can do. " Rhys said, turning a new page of the 'Business Daily' he always read.

"Dad! That's so...crude. " their father-and-daughter relationship was complicated like that.

"Don't say I never gave you advice, " Rhys said as his final goodbye.

Just like that, Isadora's life story had begun, only the moon goddess knew what lay ahead.

Alaric was a Lycan wolf, born from a Pack that rejected him for being different. It wasn't his fault that He was a wolf with mixed genetics from different subspecies of wolves ,yet his father had falsely accused his mother of infidelity, and when Alaric's wolf presented as a Lycan, he was cast out of the Pack immediately. He found solace among the local rogue wolves, who had chosen to reject Pack rules and live outside of the Pack's conventions that mostly shunned anything different especially Lycans.

Despite the scorn of his father and the wider wolf community, Alaric worked hard to make a name for himself. He rallied the rogues that he had fought with countless times as he tried to survive alone. Luck was on his side since his hybrid nature came in handy whenever he had to fight for whatever he wanted. At first, he felt lost and angry at just 21 he had no one to rely on. The first few months were brutal and when winter rolled in, he knew the streets were not for the weak.

Fueled by a desire for vengeance and survival instincts, he vowed to prove himself to his father and take revenge for his banishment and his mother's death. He became resilient, determined, and hardworking, despite the prejudice and discrimination he faced from literally every wolf that could smell the streets on him. But it did not wear him down, he needed to be someone his father and the Pack wouldn't discriminate against.

"Why don't we just leave, it's clear they have it out for us."His closest friend had suggested one day when his garage had been vandalized.

"Only weak wolves run away, we both know I am not weak. Round up the boys, we have Scrubbing to do. "Alaric had replied, his eyes twitching with anger. The vandalism wasnt because of his rogue nature, this was done by his competitors. At first, he thought the vandalism would stop if he chose to be the bigger person and ignore them, but that was just a far cry from the truth.

Over the years, they attacked his boys, framed them for shit they dint do and he had spent more money bailing his brothers out and rebuilding the auto shops that he almost, the key word being almost, gave it all up and moved as far as he could. Instead, he decided to serve them the same treatment he got, pushing down the guilt he felt. He repaid tenfold what they did to him and soon no one messed with the 'Free Wolves' as he called his gang.

Alaric Thorne indeed made a name for himself and now at thirty, he had transformed into a force to be reckoned with. His boys did everything they could that brought them food to the table. The Free Wolves tried their best to mingle with the Pack as far as they could, some got accepted back into the Pack but most chose to remain untethered. His crew was occasionally hired for security and other odd jobs that the Pack members found 'Sketchy' but as long as the money was involved, there was nothing they wouldn't do. To some extent, the rouges, especially Alaric's crew were just 'well-mannered thugs' as many decided to put it but to Alaric, they were his new brothers and sisters -his family, that's all he needed, that was all he was allowed to need if wanted to see his father on his knees.

His number one goal in life was to avenge his mother's death, that was the only reason he woke up every day. His mom had been a second Mate after Euthychus' mother died of illness. The Pack had spread rumours that Alaric's mother had been responsible but still his father, had stuck by her and Alaric had believed his parents were in love. He was wrong, the man was horrible and he had a feeling he was hiding things.

Alaric thanked the moon goddess that he took his dead mother's last name instead of Brown, he couldn't imagine sharing more than DNA with the man that killed his mother. What puzzled him the most was how Eutychus suddenly changed and they stopped being best friends after his wolf presented. He tried to live past the fact that he had been the one that packed Alaric's clothes for him. He had watched with teary eyes as Eutychus looked at him with pure hatred. He had tried his best to erase the ugly memories from his mind and heart, but there were days they just didn't go away.

"Have you heard... that two-faced chameleon might actually get married. " Kieran broke his chain of thought. He did not need to ask who it was. Kieran lived to bring Eutychus down whatever chance he got. Unlike Alaric, Kieran was very vocal with his thoughts, even the ones that should never leave his head. Kieran stood tall and bulky, the perfect definition of a "Big bad wolf". His only flaw was that he mostly spoke without thinking.

"Who is so unlucky to be paired with the chameleon?" Alaric asked totally uninterested.

"One of those wealthy heiresses. Maybe if I had the money I would have a Mate too," Kieran said, changing the subject. He had always been like this.

"Key, we all know money isn't the problem here. You need a heart, and maybe a new brain and a filter for that mouth," Alaric said and Kieran just scowled.

"Nahhh, then I'd be too basic. Anyways we have a meeting with some wolf that just came back from heavens knows where. He wants security ...." Kieran said but Alaric tuned him out and his mind began working overtime again. Mate ... a Mate ... marriage... a future. The words danced around in his head. It's not as he had never thought about them but if a two-faced character like his half-brother could get a Mate, then perhaps he too could....

'No... love is for... losers. ' the ever-steady voice in his head said and absent-mindedly nodded in agreement.

"Great, so we can have the Hawaiian pizza with a strawberry milkshake. " Kieran's voice brought him back.

"Wha- what? " Alaric asked in surprise, he hated pineapples with a passion and strawberries creeped him out.

"You zoned out again..." Kieran said.

"No, I didn't, I was just keenly listening to you.No to the fruit pizza and devil's fruit.

"Alaric replied, scrunching his nose at the thought of Hawaiian pizza.

Alaric shut off the part of his brain that was struggling with his inner demons and emotions, all while trying to find his place in the world and understand the true meaning of family, loyalty, and love. He switched to his character which was a wolf who did not conform to the Pack rules and society's conventions. He preferred being a complex character, that was the only way he could achieve his main goal.

Together with Kieran, they looked over all their books, fixing what they had to so they could stay under the authorities' radar. He assigned his boys tasks that needed to be done and all that leadership stuff. He tried his best not to think of anything irrelevant such as a Mate, that was wishful thinking that only fools thought of.

"Is the guy needing protection, Darian? " Alaric asked when he suddenly remembered the name from Kieran's ranting.

"Yes, he is holding some sort of party at the casino. He probably doesn't know you own the building. How I wish I could bring him down a few pegs. That pompous wolf. So what if we haven't really been 'out to see the world'? " Kieran said ance again rambling.

Darian Taylor was the one resilient Beta. Everyone, even the rogues knew he was obsessed with perfection and associated himself with wolves he found perfect.

"What does he really want from 'Trash' like us? Isn't that what he always called us whenever we crossed paths? " Alaric asked, remembering how he hated Eutychus when they were kids. Word had it that he had even refused a Mate he'd been paired with because she wasn't 'All that'.

"We will know once we reach the meeting place, our casino," Kieran said and they walked out of his office. Not many people knew he owned the casino, they just saw him as a manager who provides security for the elite.

As they walked out to their huge car, Alaric couldn't help but think of just how many times he had said and thought about the word Mate. Was loneliness catching up to him? He thought to himself and physically slapped the thought away making Kieran look at him weirdly.

"What? " he asked, pretending like he hadn't just slapped himself.

"Nothing, just... nahhh never mind..." Kieran said opening the passenger side of the car for Alaric.

"I always drive..." Alaric said but he was already being pushed into the car seat.

"Yeah yeah just get in. "Kieran said and slid over the hood to the other side. One never knew what to expect with Kieran.

Alaric on the other hand just chanted 'Strawberries are evil' over and over hoping to replace the abominable word that wouldn't stop echoing in his mind, but how long was it going to last before he gave in?

Darrian sat in the luxurious leather seat of his private jet, staring out the window as the plane soared above the clouds. He had been away for four long years, traveling the world in search of a perfect mate, one that would replace the numbness in his chest, but he had yet to find her. As he looked out at the endless expanse of blue sky and white clouds, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment and a hint of regret and wondered if perhaps he had been too rash in rejecting the one meant for him, however, if he was to replace Eutychus, he had to be the best.

He had been so sure that he would find a suitable mate on his on this trip, but now he was returning home, to try once more.

The plane began to descend and the familiar outline of his hometown came into view,Darrian couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and pride that he was no longer just the son of a Beta. He was now part of the elite society that basically made rules for the pack, he had money and with that everything else followed, everything being power and influence. He was coming home, and although he had not yet found his mate, he knew that she was out there somewhere.

He watched as the plane landed smoothly on the runway, and as the door opened, he took a deep breath, savoring the familiar smell of home. He was greeted by guards sent by Alpha Finnian. He smiled at them, flashing his wolfish grin at the omegas that had been sent to accompany him. Over the years he had acted as an ambassador to the Nightfall Pack, making alliances with other packs that would come in handy once his plan began. In return, the Alpha had been too overjoyed to hear that they had acquired the best allies money could buy, and with that, they had also expanded their trade territories.

As he looked around at the familiar faces and places, he couldn't help but remember that day. The day he rejected his mate and how the breaking bond had almost crippled him. The pain had subsided to a dull ache over the years and with time, it had evaporated into thin air. Now that he was back, his heart was beginning to come alive, and he hoped that maybe, just maybe, his perfect mate was closer than he thought, maybe she was right here, in his hometown. He smiled to himself as he thought of the possibility and walked with his convoy,feeling grateful to be back home. He would continue his search but this time, with renewed hope and determination.

At the Alpha's residence, he was greeted by Finnian who generously showed his gratitude. As jet-lagged as he was, he still played his part of loyal Beta and bowed in respect, internally cursing the family to hell.

"Darrian! Welcome back home!" Finnian greeted with joy. The wolf before him had done what his wimpish son couldn't manage his whole lifetime. Alpha Finnian wasn't stupid, he could see the ambition in Darrian's eyes whenever they met. He was the kind of wolf that would do anything to get what they wanted, and he knew what he wanted.

"Alpha, I am happy to be back home, east or west, Nightfall is the best. "Darrian said, his smile never reaching his eyes as he finally lifted his head. Finnian just flashed his own toothy grin.

"Indeed it is." Finnian replied.

Darrian filled in the Alpha details about his trip that he couldn't exactly say over the phone. The debrief didn't take long before his arch-enemy barged into the meeting room.

"Look what the dog dragged in, get it Dog? "Eutycus said and Darrian miraculously held back his retort as the Alpha's son barged in, looking as annoying as always,Darrian thought.

"Glad you could join us, how did your date go?" Finnian cut in, sensing the friction between the two.

"Awesome, you didn't tell me she was such a hottie. Darian, whatever possessed you that day? " Eutychus said, clearly looking to stir up trouble.

"What? What are you -" Darrian was a bit confused, he was too jetlagged to care about what the pompous snob thought.

"Alpha, may I be excused? "Darrian bit out, wanting to be nowhere near Eutychus. He hated the wolf with a burning passion.

"Right, you are excused. Eutychus, sit." Finnian said, his joyous mood from earlier evaporating.

Darrian left the father and child and walked out to his waiting car. He wanted to go home and rest a while before his plan commenced. He got in the waiting car and sat in silence. Looking out the rear-view mirror, he mentally noted all the things he would change about the Alpha's Villa once he moved in.

"Did you do what is asked?" Darrian mentioned as the car drove off the residence's main gates.

"Yes sir, we have an appointment tomorrow. " the driver replied.

"And the other thing? " He asked again.

"That too." The driver replied, their eyes meeting in the rear view mirror.

"Good... "Darian said.

His first plan of replacing the Brown family would start in a few days at a party he was holding. He needed all the important people he could get on his side and nothing brought people together like free food and entertainment.

Darrian arrived in his family home, memories from four years ago crashing into him. Why was it so hard to just forget?Darrian wondered as the gates were opened and his very happy father greeted him.

"Welcome home Darry..." His dad said, calling him by his childhood name. He hadn't aged a minute since he last saw him, perks of being a wolf, he thought. At 50, Callum was a bulking mass of a man that oozed dominance with every breath he took. He was the second in command after all.

"Hi, Dad. "Darrian greeted, giving his father a brief hug and receiving sharp taps on his back.They went back in, his father filling him in with all he thought he should know.

"The rogues are at again and you won't believe who their leader is- " Darrian's dad said but Darrian had muted him out, his mind traveling back to that time at the Alpha's Office.

"What was the old fool on about? "Darrian thought as his dad spoke went on and on about the rogues having a 'leader.'

After the greetings and briefing, he went to his old room and fell on the freshly made bed. Alone with his thoughts, he gazed up at the marble ceiling, watching with envy at the wolf couple embedded in the shiny stone. The two wolves are in a loving embrace, the full moon shining down on them. His first order of the day would be having his room remodeled, there was no such thing as fate, that much he knew.

"I wonder how she is doing. "Darrian thought, once again wishing that things would have been different back then. He tried to push away the longing feeling, to say that the four years away had helped heal his self-inflicted heart-ache would be lying.

He reminded himself why he did what he did and who he was supposed to be, there was no space for 'what ifs. Eventually, Sleep won, taking over and plunging him into darkness the one and only time his thoughts were muted.

It would only be a matter of time before Darrian finds himself in a battle for respect and honor, as well as for the heart of a Mate, he once rejected. Will he be able to win back Isadora's love and gain the respect and honor he craves? Only time will tell in his soon-to-be emotionally thrilling journey of love, jealousy, and redemption.