The Alpha's Rejected Mate Is A Secret Legend

Kaci Reynolds POV:

"Kaci, Alpha Damien has an absolute emergency at The Obsidian Club. Bring the black velvet box from his nightstand immediately. He said you must deliver it personally."

When I cut the mind-link with Damien's Beta, Caleb, I was burning with a 102-degree fever. My inner wolf whimpered in agony from extreme weakness. But I didn't hesitate. I thought it was a crucial pack artifact or some highly confidential document. Dragging my aching body, I found the box, shoved it into my coat, and braved the torrential downpour outside, running all the way to the club's VIP lounge.

Pushing open the heavy carved oak doors, my heightened hearing caught a wet, sickeningly sweet moan. I froze in my tracks. Damien was leaning back lazily on the plush leather sofa. Carly Santos was straddling his lap, her flimsy slip dress pulled down to her waist, exposing her pale skin. They were kissing heatedly, the air thick with the heavy scent of arousal.

Seeing me walk in, completely drenched and looking like a miserable, drowned rat, Damien didn't push her away. He just furrowed his brows in impatience.

"What took you so long?" he demanded, his voice hoarse with lust. "Bring the box here, open it, and hand it to me."

I walked over with heavy, numb steps and placed the velvet box on the glass table. My fingers trembled slightly as I flipped the lid open.

Inside, there were no important documents. No pack artifacts. Sitting neatly on the dark satin was a full box of condoms.

My breath caught in my throat. My blood froze in my veins. He made me-his fated mate, burning with a severe fever and braving a torrential storm-run across the territory just to personally hand him a box of condoms so he could sleep with his new plaything.

Carly pulled her dress up slightly to cover her chest, letting out a string of sweet giggles. She looked at me with innocent eyes. "I'm so sorry, Luna. I know it's raining heavily, but Damien insisted he only uses this specific brand from his bedroom. I hope it wasn't too much trouble for you."

Damien rubbed Carly's bare shoulder, his tone dripping with a gentleness I had never received. "No need to be polite to her. She loves doing this kind of thing."

A sharp, piercing ache gripped my heart, making my inner wolf howl in absolute sorrow and humiliation.

Three years ago, the Bloodline Awakening Ceremony revealed that I wasn't the proud daughter of the Beta lineage, but a fake who had stolen the true heir's place. Even more tragic was the revelation that my biological mother-a rogue wolf who worked as a maid in the pack house-was the very culprit who murdered Damien's mother during a feral frenzy!

Since that day, Damien's attitude toward me became a twisted mix of lingering attachment and deep hatred. For love, and to atone for my mother's sins, I abandoned my award-winning photography career and willingly stayed by his side. For these three years, I took care of every aspect of his life like a servant with no dignity. A single mind-link from him, and I would be at his beck and call, even if I was dying.

I thought my absolute submission would somehow lessen the pain my mother caused him. But I was wrong. In his eyes, my desperate attempts at redemption were nothing but a pathetic joke. To him, I was just a lowly creature who "loved doing this kind of thing."

Swallowing the bitter grievance and the taste of blood in my throat, I slowly stood up straight and looked coldly at the half-naked girl in his arms.

"A midnight emergency delivery in a severe thunderstorm," I said calmly, my voice completely flat. "My special delivery fee is 25,000. You can wire the money first before you get back to your business."

Carly froze, her sweet facade cracking into a look of disbelief. She buried her face in Damien's chest, her tone turning accusatory. "Damien... is she crazy? Asking for 25,000 just for delivering this? She's deliberately trying to ruin our mood..."

"Kaci! Are you out of your damn mind?!" Damien roared. He slammed his whiskey glass onto the glass table, his icy gaze and crushing Alpha aura pressing down on me. "Have you forgotten your place? Making a scene over a bit of money to embarrass me? Put the damn thing down, put it on my tab, and get out!"

As he spoke, his large hand gently patted Carly's back, comforting her. I always knew he could be gentle with other females. But today, seeing his tender, affectionate side directed at someone else made me realize just how pathetic I was.

"I haven't forgotten." I met his stormy gaze, my eyes dead and hollow. "But my dignity doesn't come free."

"Your dignity?" Damien sneered, his voice dripping with absolute contempt and cruelty. "You are the daughter of a murderer, a fake who stole another wolf's life! If the Knight Pack hadn't shown mercy and kept you around, you would have been executed as a rogue years ago! I ask you to run a simple errand, and you dare ask for money? Your filthy rogue of a mother took my mother's life! You owe me, Kaci! You couldn't pay it back if you spent your entire miserable existence trying!"

I finally heard the absolute disdain hidden in his voice. I heard that his hatred for me hadn't lessened by a single fraction. Most importantly, I realized my place in his heart had never changed. To him, I was nothing but a sinner he could trample on at will.

"You're right, Damien," I whispered, my strangely calm voice cutting through the suffocating tension in the room.

I didn't hand the box to him. Instead, I picked up his half-empty glass of whiskey from the table and poured the amber liquid directly into the velvet box, ruining the entire box of condoms, and splashing the sticky alcohol all over Carly's half-naked body.

Carly shrieked, jumping up in horror as the cold liquid hit her skin. Damien bolted upright, his eyes wide with fury as his Alpha command rattled the windows. "Are you seeking death, Kaci?!"

I looked straight into the eyes of the man who was supposed to be my destiny. "I owed you a life. But over these past three years, I've paid back more than enough. So now, I'm returning the very last piece of it to you."

Before he could comprehend my words, I summoned every ounce of strength left in my broken wolf and spoke the sacred words that would sever our souls forever.

"I, Kaci Reynolds, hereby reject you, Damien Knight, as my fated mate."

Kaci Reynolds POV:

The heavy carved oak doors clicked shut behind me, but they couldn't entirely block out the roaring laughter from the VIP lounge.

"I bet she won't last the night! She'll be mind-linking you, crying and begging for forgiveness before midnight, Alpha!" a Beta's voice mocked loudly.

Then came Damien's familiar, cold scoff. "Let her. I'm not humoring her pathetic games this time. Let's see how long she can hold out before crawling back."

Hearing those words, a faint, mocking smile touched my lips. My steps, however, were lighter than they had been in three years. I left the club and took a cab straight back to the Pack House, heading to my room.

It wasn't the luxurious Luna suite. It was a cramped, plain attic room next to the servants' quarters. For three years, in order to atone for the sins my biological mother committed against Damien's family, I had punished myself by living here, stripping away all my dignity.

But today, after completely shredding my pride to pay off a debt that wasn't even mine to begin with, I realized something. I was human, too. I had a heart that bled and broke. I had suffered enough. The debt was paid in full.

I pulled a beautifully wrapped velvet box from my drawer and tossed it directly into the trash can. Inside was a protective amulet I had spent three months making. I had endured the excruciating pain of plucking the softest fur from my inner wolf's chest, weaving it with threads for our anniversary. Now, it was nothing but garbage.

I didn't have much. Two suitcases held everything I owned.

Just as I was about to leave, a firm knock came at the door. I opened it to find Damien's Beta, Caleb. Caleb looked at me with a complex mix of pity and awkwardness.

"Miss Reynolds, the Alpha asked me to bring you... a severance package." He handed me a thick manila envelope. "The Alpha said this thirty million dollar check is for your relocation. There are also the property deeds to a villa on the edge of the territory. He hopes that from now on... you won't disturb his life anymore."

Hearing Caleb's words, I couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. Damien wasn't just unconcerned about my departure; he was actually afraid I would cling to him. He must have been waiting for this day for a long time.

Caleb opened his mouth, trying to offer some comfort. "Miss Reynolds, please don't be too sad. The Alpha can be harsh with his words, but..."

"Enough," I interrupted him calmly. I reached out and took the envelope and the check. If I didn't take the money, Damien would just assume I was planning to use it as an excuse to pester him later. I wasn't a naive, overly proud heroine in a soap opera. Starting a new life required capital. I had lowered my head in the past, and I could certainly accept this money now.

"Thank you, Caleb. I'll take the money. Please assure Damien that he has nothing to worry about. I will never disturb his life again."

Caleb looked at my peaceful smile, sighing heavily. "Take care of yourself, Miss Reynolds. I'll go report back to the Alpha."

After Caleb left, I stared at the thirty million dollar check. I knew that by accepting this, the past was completely severed! I put the documents away and immediately pulled out my phone, contacting a real estate agent outside the territory. The villa Damien gave me was in a prime location.

"List it for immediate sale. Cash only. Set the price lower than the market value, I just want it sold fast," I told the agent over the phone. I was efficiently purging everything related to Damien from my life.

With money in my account, I booked a room at a five-star hotel in the human city center. After a hot shower, I curled up on the soft bed with my laptop. For the past three years, I had suppressed all my own preferences to cater to Damien. I hadn't told anyone that I used to be an award-winning photographer in the human world.

Now, it was time to find myself again. I placed an order for the top-tier Leica camera I had sold three years ago. It wasn't the exact same one, but it symbolized my rebirth. Then, I picked up my phone, scrolled to a number I hadn't dared to contact in three years, and dialed.

The call connected almost instantly. A vibrant, energetic voice burst through the speaker. "Kaci? Oh my goddess, you finally remembered I exist!"

Hearing my best friend Chloe's voice, the tension I hadn't even realized I was holding finally began to melt away. "Chloe," I said, a real smile touching my lips for the first time all day. "I'm free."

After a long, tearful, and joyous conversation, I hung up the phone and walked to the window, looking out at the vast, open city skyline. A new world was waiting for me. I raised my phone, took a selfie with the dazzling night view as my background, and posted it on my social media.

The lighting in the hotel room was dim, but the long-lost, brilliant light in my eyes shattered the limitations of the pixels. It was dazzling.

Damien Knight POV:

The air in the VIP lounge felt thick and suffocating. The moment Kaci accepted my rejection, a searing agony ripped through my chest. It felt as if a rusty blade was violently scraping against my soul. The backlash of a broken fated mate bond was far worse than the legends described.

Carly noticed my pale face and rushed over, her sweet gardenia scent suddenly making me nauseous. "Damien! Are you okay? What did that crazy woman do to you?"

I gritted my teeth, violently shoving her hand away. "I'm fine!" I snapped, trying to use my Alpha will to crush the pain.

At that moment, the door opened, and Caleb walked in. I leaned back into the sofa, rubbing my throbbing temples, forcing a look of absolute indifference. "Is it done?"

"Yes, Alpha. Miss Reynolds accepted everything," Caleb replied.

"Hmph." I let out a cold snort. A strange silence fell over the room. I lifted my eyelids, a trace of undetectable mockery flashing in my grey eyes. I knew she couldn't keep up her act for more than a few minutes. She had no right to play hard to get with me.

"Did she ask you to pass on a message?" I asked lazily, waiting to hear her desperate pleas.

Caleb hesitated for a second before answering. "Yes. Miss Reynolds asked me to assure you that she will never disturb your life again."

My sneer froze slightly. "What else?" I demanded, my voice dropping dangerously. "Did she cry? Did she throw a fit?"

Caleb swallowed hard, avoiding my gaze. "No, Alpha. She was... very calm. In fact..." Caleb took a deep breath. "Miss Reynolds immediately contacted a human real estate agent. She listed the villa you just gave her for emergency sale. Cash only. She's liquidating it."

The words struck me like a physical blow. She sold the house? Immediately?!

A surge of inexplicable, violent fury erupted in my chest. I snatched the crystal glass of whiskey from the table and hurled it violently against the wall. The glass shattered into a thousand pieces, making Carly shriek in terror.

"Good! Very good!" I roared, my chest heaving. She was playing a game. Yes, that had to be it! She thought selling the house would provoke me, that it would make me pay attention to her. It was a pathetic, desperate tactic!

I turned to Carly, who was trembling in the corner, and deliberately raised my voice, making sure my Alpha command echoed through the halls. "Carly! Prepare yourself. We are holding our official Mating Ceremony this weekend!"

Carly's eyes widened in pure ecstasy as she threw herself into my arms. "Oh, Damien! Yes!"

I stared at the closed door, a cruel smirk twisting my lips. Let's see how long you can keep up this little act, Kaci. When you hear about the Mating Ceremony, you'll come crawling back on your knees.

Hours later, late in the night, the suffocating void in my chest refused to fade. I paced the study like a caged beast. Driven by a restless impulse I refused to acknowledge, I opened my phone and checked the Pack's social network.

My thumb froze over the screen. It was a new post from Kaci. A photo of her, looking breathtakingly beautiful, her eyes shining with a radiant, untamed light I hadn't seen in three years. There were no tears. There was no despair.

The caption read: "End of the debt. Reborn."

A sudden, icy panic seized my heart. The phone in my hand let out a sharp crack as the screen shattered under the crushing grip of my fingers.