CHAPTER 1: OMEGA’S REJECTION

Thalia's POV

Excitement bubbled from deep within my core as I made my way to the centre of town. I didn't even care that people threw strange looks my way as I walked past them.

They sneered and cursed loud enough for me to hear, but my smile only grew bigger. Tonight was going to change my story.

All my life, I had lived with the pain of having a useless wolf. I was weak in a world that valued strength and dominance over everything else. The fact that my father was the Alpha changed nothing. I came out as a weak omega who couldn't defend herself.

"She should be ashamed coming out on a day like this!"

The whispers got louder and usually, it would have spoiled my mood but not tonight.

Tonight I was going to find my mate.

My skin tingled as his image flashed before my mind —Kael Nightshade.

He was the only friend I had in Rivermoon pack. He was the only one who stood by me when the whole town thought nothing of me.

I was a rejected stone to the entire world but to Kael, I was a rough diamond.

We had both felt the sparks of our bond long before tonight, but we were too scared to admit it. He was the beta of the pack, and I was the weak Omega princess.

An awkward pair the world never saw coming.

Tonight, his wolf was going to recognize mine and he was going to save me from all the taunting and heartache I have had to endure all my life.

Being an omega was painful, but being mate-less or rejected was a different pill to swallow.

The music from the centre of town where the ceremony was being held got louder, and I had to stop my legs from skipping. I could feel the mate's pull sizzle underneath my skin.

Kael was there. I could feel him.

I walked faster, my smile growing brighter and brighter till the decorations became jealous of it.

My father, Lucien Rivera, had just finished his speech and I could hear love proclamations in the air as the mating bond pulled partners together.

The path that led to the centre was lit with squared paper lamps lining the area. I looked up to the moon and clenched my heart.

"This is it..." I whispered as I felt another sizzle bounce through me.

I took my first step into the decorated space. My eyes searched the crowd for his piercing hazel eyes. I saw my father at the podium and as usual, I ignored him — he was no different from his vile and cruel people.

And finally, my eyes landed on the one whom my heart was beating for.

But as my eyes focused on who was before him, my heart fell.

A throb started from my chest and slowly made its way into my head. I couldn't believe the sight ahead of me.

There was another girl by his side, and the way he looked at her... It was the very same way he looked at me. The music turned mute in my head as my legs developed a mind of its own and carried me to him.

My head was ringing and my brain was useless. I couldn't think straight. This had to be a mistake.

"Kael," I called softly and despite the wreck of confusion in my mind, I managed to pull up a smile.

He turned to stare at me and for a second, I thought his hazel eyes softened — but I was wrong.

"What do you want, Thalia?" He hissed his voice so loud, I could feel the resonating vibrations in my trembling heart.

I opened my mouth to speak but nothing left my lips. I could only stare at him.

His hazel eyes shifted and for a second, I saw his tinted dark-eyed wolf phase to the surface. It recognized me. My wolf, though weak, recognized his too. We were mated.

Yet, he stood with another woman.

All my life, I was too scared to speak for myself. I was too weak to claim what was mine, but not tonight.

"Kael, I am your mate. You are my mate," I said and though my voice was shaking, I could feel the pull grow stronger at my declaration. All that was left was for him to admit it out loud too.

His eyes shifted once again and they returned to their hazel colour, but with a glint I couldn't put a finger on.

Time seemed to stop as I waited with a dying heart for Kael to reply but he didn't. Refusing to admit what was happening, I took a step closer to him and took his right arm.

"Kael, please... Say something," I begged.

People were starting to gather. Everyone wanted to watch how the useless Omega was getting humiliated but I refused to admit my fall. Kael was just having a moment of doubt.

"Kael, come on, remember your promise," I said, squeezing his arm, hoping for a reaction.

I did get a reaction but it wasn't what I had expected.

"Have you lost your bloody mind?!" He yelled so loud, his voice boomed around us.

My voice caught in my throat as I tried to get him to calm down. "Kael, we can —we can talk about it... I —I am... We can—"

"Stop it, Thalia! Just stop! You look pathetic!" He hissed and my heart stopped.

The dam of tears I thought I could never spill in public, broke free at the shock of his words.

"Kael... I am your mate... My wolf—" I started to say but his stern voice took over the entire place.

"Oh please, don't even say that again!" He hissed as his features turned darker.

I shook my head, refusing to believe this was happening. It was a nightmare. I had to wake up from this.

"You want me to say it out loud so you can believe me?" He asked and my heart caught in my throat.

"Kael, no..." I whispered, knowing what he was about to do.

"I, Kael Nightshade, reject you, Thalia Rivera, as my mate!" He spat out and I felt my world shatter into thunderclaps.

"Kael, no!" I whimpered as my face became overflowed with my tears. "No no... You don't mean that..."

He clicked his tongue and looked around in frustration like I had just said the most absurd thing in the world.

"You really think I will accept a weak and useless omega like you as a mate?" He snapped, clicking his tongue. "The goddess be damned!"

"Kael—" I called, reaching for his hands but he pushed me roughly to the side and the crowd parted, leaving the cold ground to welcome me.

"Don't you dare touch me! You desperate whore! Don't you feel ashamed of yourself?! What do you want me to do with a useless mate like you, tell me?" He screamed. "Tell me?!"

I opened my mouth to defend myself but no words could be formed. I couldn't recognize the Kael I knew in him.

My tears meant nothing to him. He looked mad with rage so deep, nothing I said changed anything but I refused to give up.

I wiped the tears from my face and scurried to my feet. I knew he could push me again but I grabbed his hand with both of mine.

"Kael, please... I will do anything you request of me. I will be the perfect mate... Please, just give me a chance... Please —don't do this to me. Don't throw me away like this... Please..."

I knew it was too low even for me to beg a man so desperately but I had no choice. This wasn't just about Kael being my mate, it was also about the deal my father and I made a very long time ago.

If I didn't get a mate, he was going to sell me to the first bidder he got.

"Kael, please... I don't want to be sold... Please," I begged over and over as tears clouded my vision.

I prayed to the goddess to do something. To help me but she never listened.

Kael dragged his hand out of my hold and the force sent me staggering backward into the strong arms of my father.

"Alpha, control your useless daughter. I can never be with someone like her. Our friendship was the best I could do for her and now, it's over!" Kael wrapped his arms around the woman beside him and kissed her forehead. "This here, is my chosen mate and I do not want your daughter causing problems for me!"

The woman smiled as if mocking me and then they walked away, leaving me to deal with the pain and shame.

I felt my insides melting away with him and I struggled to get out of my father's hold.

"Kael! Kael!" I cried, stretching my hands towards him but my father held me in place.

"Get a hold of yourself, Thalia! You have embarrassed me enough!" His deep baritone voice sank into my ears like he was using an amplifier.

My wolf mellowed down at once and my weak body gave up. Only tears continued escaping my eyes as he led me back home like a bag of rotten potatoes.

He continued dragging my body till we got to the house. Without a word of comfort, he unceremoniously threw me to my room.

"Clean those silly tears at once, your maids will be up here to help make you presentable. Your owner is coming to pick you up!" He said and that was when my numbed body regained control of itself.

"What did you say?" I asked slowly, turning to face him.

"You heard what I said. Now, do as you are told!" He growled.

I felt anger crawl into my veins and for the first time, I refused to be used and played like I was nothing.

"No, Father. No! I will not be sold like some animal! You can't do this to me!" I screamed and despite the tears in my eyes, my voice was impressively clear.

"I just got rejected by my mate and you... You have already sold me? What sort of a monster are you?" I yelled.

My father's eyes turned dark and the next thing I heard was the echo of a slap followed by the stinging pain on my left cheek.

"You should be grateful I sold you to Alpha Ryker, and if you succeed in carrying his child, for once in your miserable life, you will be respected! Yet you stand there and call me a monster?"

Blood drained from my body and my fingers began to tremble as the name he mentioned echoed in my head.

"Did you just... say, Alpha Ryker? The Alpha Ryker?" I whispered as my hand clutched my burning cheek.