The Alpha King's Rejected Mate

Chapter 1

Alyssa's POV

I groaned and dropped onto the edge of the bed, staring at the pile of clothes scattered across the floor. My legs ached from running errands all day, making sure everything was perfect for the ceremony that was going to be held in a few hours. My eyes felt heavy, begging me to at least get some rest but I couldn't afford that seeing how I still needed to look presentable.

Presentable. A word that made my skin crawl.

Ignoring the way I felt, I pushed myself up from the bed to continue my search. Nothing I owned fit my body since they were all passed down from my stepsister, who was two sizes smaller than I was. I hated how my hips looked when I finally got something that fit me…I hated how it was the only thing people saw when they looked at me.

The door creaked open, jolting me out of my thoughts. And my mom walked in, an annoyed look on her face, making me wonder what I had done this time around.

“You're not ready? What have you been doing since you entered this room?” She asked, her voice low, but it was anything but calm. Her eyes shot daggers at me, warning me to say something wrong.

“I…I'm just choosing my dress.” I replied.

She looked around my scattered room, opening her mouth to say something but changed her mind midway. “Don't ruin this for your sister.” She warned. “She spent sleepless nights preparing for today.” She added, and I resisted the urge to scoff at that.

The only thing my stepsister, Iris did, was worry if her dress was perfect enough for the ceremony or if her face was blemish free. But I knew better than to make my mom more angry than she already was.

“Yes mom.” I murmured.

Once she was convinced I wouldn't ruin the ceremony that was supposed to be mine in the first place, she left, leaving me to continue my search for what to wear.

After a few minutes, I settled for a blue gown Iris had gotten and felt was too big for her. A part of me was convinced that she bought it just to remind me that I was built like a whale…not like I needed the reminder.

Next, I put my hair in a messy bun before rushing out of the room to the kitchen to help out. A lot of top Alphas had been invited which means one mistake could lead to a disaster. And with everything going on with me, the last thing I wanted was getting into trouble with Alpha Ryder.

“Did you hear?” I heard one of the Omegas say, and several heads turned to listen to her. “The Alpha King is coming.” She continued and a series of gasps filled the air.

“Omg! I heard he's so hot..”

“And single too.” Another person added. “I can't wait to see him.” She said and the girls nodded excitedly.

The smile was quickly wiped off their faces when the loud footsteps that belonged to Iris reached out ears. Everyone pretended to be busy with one thing or the other to avoid her anger.

She stopped in front of me, her minions standing behind her, “my room is messy and I need it to be perfect for tonight.” She said.

Iris…” I began, but was cut off by her hand on my face.

“That's Luna Iris to you, you filthy Omega.” She snapped and I fought back a groan. The other Omegas looked away before they became her next victim. My eyes burned with tears and my nails dug into my palm.

“I'll get to it now, Luna.” I murmured, the words sounded bitter coming out of my mouth.

“You better.” She replied, before stomping away.

Pushing the door to Alpha Ryder’s room, the one he now shares with my stepsister, whom he picked as his chosen mate after I failed to shift into my Wolf. The room was barely recognizable now. Iris had changed everything to fit her preference, completely erasing any trace of me.

“He's no longer yours." I reminded myself, ignoring the sharp pain that shot through my chest.

I sighed as I got to work, picking up the clothes that were scattered all over the floor and bed. Ryder's smell now mixed with Iris’s own hit my nose, another reminder that I needed to move on but it was easier said than done.

The door burst open and Iris entered, shooting daggers at me, her eyes landing on the clothes in my hands and a smirk appeared on her lips.

“Ryder is insatiable, he couldn't get enough of me.” She said, and I clenched my fist, my grip on the clothes loosening but my lips remained shut. "Make sure the room is spotless before the ceremony is over.” She continued.

And without waiting for my response, she opened the door again and was gone.

I felt my eyes burn as I fought back the tears that were threatening to spill. Crying over something that wasn't going to change anytime soon was a waste of time, so I focused on arranging the room before she changed her mind and came back again. But that didn't last long as the door opened and this time, Ryder's smell filled my nostrils, causing me to freeze.

“Good morning, Alpha Ryder." I greeted him, ignoring the sour taste in my mouth when I called him Alpha.

He hummed, but didn't say anything as he took off his jacket, throwing it on the already laid bed.

With him in the room, it felt smaller, making it hard to breathe and I fought the urge to look at him. “I'll leave now, Alpha." I told him, but when I didn't get a response, I moved to leave the room but just as I took a step, a hand held my wrist, holding me in place.

“How long do you plan on behaving like this?" He asked, not letting go of my hand.

“Behaving like what, Alpha Ryder?”

He paused, "you know what I'm talking about, Ally .” He said, calling me by the nickname he had given me.

"I don't,” I replied, snatching my hand away from him and I immediately missed the warmth his hand provided but I ignored it. “So you tell me Ryder, what are you talking about?"

He sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. “I’m with Iris now, you have to get over whatever feelings you have for me. Turn it down or something.” He spat and the eyes that once held love for me, stared at me with nothing but disdain.

I resisted the urge to scoff because as much as I wanted to, he was still the Alpha of the Pack and I was just a lowly Omega. “And turn down my feelings? Does he think there's a switch for that?”

Taking a step backwards, I looked up to meet his eyes. "And how do you suggest I do that, Ryder?” I asked. "Four years and you expect me to move on like nothing happened? That's insane and you know it.” I finished, and he growled loudly.

I didn't recognise the man in front of me anymore. After my dad's death several years ago, my mom married the beta of the Pack and all her attention and love was poured on his children, leaving me to fend for myself. Ryder had found me, comforting me until he was certain I was okay.

He didn't care that I was just an ordinary wolf and I felt myself falling for him.

The day he asked me to be his girlfriend was the happiest day of my life, much to the disappointment of the members of the Pack…both male and female. He made me feel seen and loved and my only wish year after year was for him to be my mate.

As if the moon goddess was listening…she definitely was because on my eighteenth birthday, his wolf recognised me as his mate and it was like a dream come true until I failed to shift into my Wolf that night and everything came crashing down. The very next day, he chose Iris, my stepsister as his chosen mate.

When he didn't say anything, I made attempt to move past him again but he grabbed me, pressing me against the wall with his body caging mine. “And where do you think you're going, mate?” The unmistakable voice of his wolf asked, his hand cupping my face.

“D-Dagger…don't…” I whispered, my chest tightening as a knowing smirk played on his lips.

“Call my name again.” He commanded, his tone a low growl that sent shivers down my spine. His eyes darkening as he caressed me gently sending my whole body into a state of frenzy. “You're wet for me…I like it.”

I wanted to push him away, in an hour or two, he was going to bind himself to someone else— my step sister. I shouldn't want him, but my body betrayed me, craving his touch like my life depended on it.

“We shouldn't be doing…”

He didn't let me finish, “you're mine Ally…your body belongs to me, that will never change.” he murmured, his lips left trails of kisses along my jaw, causing my knees to tremble slightly.

“See, you're trembling for me.” He teased, nibbling gently on my ear. His words sent a wave of feeling through me, tearing me apart inside.

And then the door creaked open.

Iris.

Her scream cut through the room like a blade. “You bitch! What the

hell do you think you’re doing?”

At that moment, I wished the ground would open and swallow me whole.