How pathetic that the one person I never wanted turned out to be my mate. From the moment I learned Eliana was human four years ago, I prayed she wasn’t my mate. It felt like a cruel joke, fate mocking me. But as the future Alpha, responsibility came with the title. So, despite her being human, I did my duty and treated her with the same respect as everyone else.
But I hated it. I hated hiding my disdain for the lower-ranked wolves. I didn’t want to associate with them. I had spent my life trying to meet my father’s expectations—avoiding flings, staying focused on becoming Alpha.
I considered my school years a success, living a respectable life. Dad always said being Alpha was about responsibility and honor. So, I waited for my mate.
At first, it wasn’t a problem. But when I realized Eliana was my mate, all hope vanished. My mother, the Luna, fought beside my father—strong, fearless. That’s the kind of Luna I wanted. But fate gave me Eliana, the only human in the pack. She couldn’t even protect herself from a rogue attack. What use was she in battle?
I’d watched her family protect her time and again. I didn’t understand why rogues targeted her. What was she to them? She wasn’t worth the effort. Without her, everything would be easier.
But when she accepted the rejection, something I hadn’t expected happened—my heart shattered. The pain of rejection hit harder than I imagined. But she wouldn’t feel it. She was human. How could she?
I wanted her to feel the pain too. So, I hurt her with my words, telling her it would’ve been better if she had died. It was vile, but I didn’t care. I was angry—angry at the bond, angry at myself, angry at her.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside me, before storming out of the packhouse and into the garden. The cool air hit me like ice, but I didn’t stop. After what felt like an eternity, I stood near the bonfire, trying to mask the chaos inside.
I forced a smile. I couldn’t let anyone see the storm inside me. I joined my friends, focusing on their laughter to drown out the thoughts in my head. Among them was Aaron—Eliana’s so-called “brother.”
I couldn’t look at him without thinking of her.
I felt a twinge of guilt as I thought about what I had just done—making her cry. But I was angry, too. Wasn’t that enough of an excuse? After all, everything was her fault. Or at least, that’s what I tried to convince myself.
“Hey, man!” Aaron’s voice broke through my thoughts, and he pulled me into the familiar brotherly hug we always shared.
I patted his back absently, unable to respond, my emotions swirling too violently inside me.
“Hey, man, congratulations! Your dad’s about to announce you as the Alpha,” Victor chimed in, grinning with that mischievous gleam in his eyes.
“Really?” I replied, a hint of surprise in my voice, the worry and anger I had been holding onto beginning to fade, if only for a moment.
“Yeah, he just announced the alpha ceremony for this weekend. You’d better get your act together and find your mate, dude!” Aaron laughed, his eyes sparkling with humor.
“Yeah, what’s an Alpha without a Luna?” Victor added, his grin widening, playful as ever.
“Yeah… just be mindful of the PDA,” Aaron wiggled his eyebrows, both of them bursting into laughter, high-fiving each other.
I sat down beside them quietly, lost in my own thoughts. Normally, I would’ve joined in, joking around, maybe giving them a playful shove. But tonight, I couldn’t. Tonight, I felt like a stranger in my own skin.
What would they think if they knew the truth? What if they found out that she—Eliana—was my mate? The human girl. And how would Aaron react? He had always seen her as a little sister, loved her like family. Would he ever forgive me for rejecting her? And the words I had said—telling her that it would be better if she were dead. If he knew… he would probably never speak to me again. The guilt ate at me, but I kept it hidden. I had to.
I let out a nervous laugh, trying to mask my discomfort. The two of them exchanged confused glances. Of course, they would notice something was off. They had known me my whole life, since we were just pups. They were my best friends, my brothers.
“Are you okay, man?” Victor asked, his voice laced with concern. I could feel both pairs of eyes on me, searching for the answer I wasn’t ready to give.
“Yeah…” I lied, my breath catching slightly as I inhaled deeply.
“Yeah, just… overwhelmed, you know? Being Alpha is a lot…” I trailed off, the words feeling hollow. It wasn’t the real reason. But I couldn’t say what was really going on. Not to them. Especially not to Aaron. This… this feeling I was stuck with—this confusion, this ache—it was mine to bear. And maybe I would have to live with it for the rest of my life.
“Okay, man. If you say so.” Aaron paused for a moment, his concern deepening.
“But we’re always here for you, you know?” He smiled, clapping me on the back.
I managed a weak, forced smile, nodding, though my chest felt tight, like something was wrong—something was off, and I couldn’t shake the feeling. Everything seemed to be spiraling, turning out nothing like it was supposed to.
“Dude… you look pale!” Victor exclaimed, sounding genuinely worried, and handed me a drink.
“Here, maybe this’ll help?” He pushed the drink toward me, his gaze filled with concern.
“Thanks,” I muttered, taking the shot and swallowing it in one go. The burn of the alcohol seared my throat, but it didn’t dull the frantic pounding of my heart. I tried my best to hide it, to appear calm. I had to be cool, I told myself. I had to be strong. I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees, forcing my posture to remain composed.
“Aaron!” His mother’s voice broke through the air, frantic and full of worry.
“Have you seen Ellie?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
My head snapped up, my heart lurching at the sound of her name. No, not her… I thought, panic bubbling in my chest. Why is she here in my mind again?
I shook my head. No, I shouldn’t feel this way. I don’t want her. She’s been rejected, she’s nothing to me anymore
