REJECTION:MY ALPHA MATE WANTS ME BACK

CASEY'S POV

As I floated, wrapped in the comfortable embrace of the warm water, my thoughts wandered away from my problems and insecurities, and I silently prayed to the moon goddess.

"I need my wolf..."

The silence was broken by the approaching voices of young people. My pulse pounded when I realized I had wandered far away from the riverbed.

The owners of the voices were eventually revealed, and it came as no surprise that they were Abel, one of the elders' sons, and his cronies. Abel had made it his purpose to orchestrate my humiliation among his colleagues, taking pleasure in humiliating me at every chance.

"What is a forlorn person like you doing in this river? Have you come to bring bad luck and curses to this river?" Abel's voice echoed across the river, dripping with hatred.

I shot him a quick glare, "Abel, everyone bathes in this river, even desolate people," I retorted.

His friends snickered, supporting him as he resumed his rant. "Get out of the river this instant!" Abel commanded, his authority bolstered by the laughing audience surrounding him.

"I- I can't, Abel," I stammered, feeling a mix of frustration and embarrassment rising. "I don't mean to be crude, but I'm naked."

Abel's laughter resonated over the riverbed, accompanied by his friends' chuckles. "Who cares?" he jeered, his words piercing the air like a blade.

"I doubt anyone would be excited by your fragile, unappealing figure. Just swim, get your rag or towel, and leave."

While most individuals slept well, members of the Ironclaw pack remained awake, scheming new methods to degrade and humiliate me.

I clenched my fists, resisting the temptation to vent my frustrations. In the end, I realized I had little choice but to follow Abel's demands to avoid being reported to Alpha Bran.

With a gloomy sigh, I swam to the riverside, my movements being monitored by eager bystanders.

I grabbed my towel and wrapped it over myself, protecting my modesty as much as I could. I ignored the snide remarks and perverted glances and returned to the shack. I wasn't surprised, it was just the standard way to begin my day.

I examined my reflection in the broken mirror, the jagged edges casting a distorted image of myself.

My loose, tangled hair framed a face with tired grey eyes, thin skin that appeared almost translucent in the low light, and a weak physique that defined the features of my rib cage, chest bone, and pelvic bone. I couldn't help but laugh bitterly at the irony of the situation.

"Aah, Casey, you have the makings of a beautiful woman," I murmured to myself, "they just don't see it."

With a resigned sigh, I turned away from the mirror, unwilling to linger on others' superficial judgments. It was time to get ready for another day of toil and humiliation in the Ironclaw pack.

I headed out to the general store, my arms full of cleaning supplies.

The daily labor awaited me: sweeping the town square, washing laundry, and cleaning the chambers of all the high-ranking wolves in the pack, from the Lycan king to the clan's 24 elders.

These were the enjoyable responsibilities handed to me by none other than our illustrious Alpha Bran.

As I moved out of the store, a coworker approached me with a cold and unfriendly attitude. After all, why bother with pleasantries for an outcast like myself?

"Alpha Bran commands that you add the new Beta wolf's chamber to your duties beginning today," they said, unconcerned about my situation.

I couldn't help but let out a sardonic laugh. "Ah, just what I always dreamed of," I said to myself, the irony not lost on me.

"More cleaning duties, because clearly, that's the most damage I could do around here."

She offered a half-hearted shrug and walked away, leaving me to ponder the benefits of my increased cleaning chores.

I felt surprisingly not yet stripped of my strength as I went about my cleaning duties, a rare occurrence that left me slightly puzzled but grateful nonetheless.

The evening sun casts golden hues and elongated shadows, its reduced brightness making it more bearable to look at directly as I swept the town square, cleaned the elders' rooms, and did their laundry.

Without further ado, I went to work, armed with cleaning products and an optimistic mindset.

As I washed and tidied, my thoughts drifted to the absurdity of my circumstance.

Here I was, cleaning up after a Beta wolf whose entire aim seemed to be to cause chaos wherever he went.

Midway through my cleaning frenzy, I heard the door creak open behind me, followed by the distinct sound of it closing again.

I turned to see Thorne standing there, a sneer on his lips as he saw me surrounded by cleaning products and a room that desperately needed to be cleaned.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" Thorne's voice was filled with amusement, his gaze lingering on me in a way that made my skin crawl.

"Just the pack's diligent maid doing her duty," I replied with a fake smile, my irritation concealed with practiced ease.

Thorne chuckled, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "You know, Serena, you are too talented at what you do. "I almost feel bad for causing such a mess."

I arched an eyebrow, not buying into his fake sorrow for a moment. "Almost being the operative word, I assume." He grinned unabashedly. "You assume correctly."

As I worked diligently in Thorne's chamber, his presence loomed over me like a dark cloud. It was as if he had a magnetic pull, never leaving me a moment of peace.

His gaze, once playful, now turned predatory, sending a shiver down my spine.

"Do you know how beautiful you are, Casey?" Thorne's voice cut through the silence of the room, his tone laced with an unsettling mix of desire and arrogance.

I chose not to respond, focusing on finishing my tasks as quickly as possible to escape his unsettling presence.

However, Thorne had other plans, his massive frame blocking my path as I tried to move toward the bathroom.

"Do you try to ignore me, Serena?" His voice held a hint of annoyance, his grip on my arm tightening slightly.

"I just came here to work, Thorne, nothing more," I replied curtly, attempting to sidestep his imposing figure.

"But where's the fun in that? Don't you want a pleasurable break from all this mundane work?" His words dripped with suggestive undertones, his gaze lingering on me in a way that made my skin crawl.

"That question would be best answered by Alpha Bran," I retorted, trying to maintain my composure despite the rising unease within me.

Before I could protest further, Thorne's actions turned aggressive. He hurled me onto the bed I had just finished arranging, his overpowering strength making any resistance futile.

Panic and rage surged through me as he pinned me down, his intentions clear despite my protests.

"No one is coming to help you, Serena," Thorne's voice was low, his face contorted into a wicked grin. "You're alone, desolate, and weak."

I screamed in terror and frustration, feeling my bones ache under the pressure of his hold. The sense of helplessness fueled a surge of something primal within me, a force I couldn't comprehend.

In a moment of sheer desperation, my screams morphed into a powerful growl, resonating through the room with a ferocity that shocked us both.

In the blink of an eye, Thorne was thrown across the chamber with such force that the walls shook.

I lay there, bewildered by what had just transpired. That growl, that strength-it wasn't me. Or was it?

As I looked at my hands, I noticed a transformation taking place. My skin seemed to ripple, muscles bulging, and claws extending from my fingertips.

Fear mingled with awe as I realized what was happening-I was turning into a wolf.

I stumbled toward the shattered mirror, my heart racing with a mix of dread and curiosity. What would I see? What had I become?

The reflection that greeted me was both terrifying and breathtaking. A she-werewolf stood before me, her fur a majestic blend of grey and white, with blazing amber eyes that held a wild intensity.

Her legs were strong and agile, her tail swishing with controlled power, and a thick mane of fur framed her neck like royalty.

I couldn't help but be in awe of her majesty, even as my mind struggled to process the reality of what I was seeing. This was me, or rather, a part of me I had never known existed.

The she-wolf's attention turned to the shattered door where Thorne lay, still recovering from the unexpected force that had sent him flying.

Without hesitation, she bounded past him, a silent yet commanding presence that left no room for argument.

As we ran with exhilarating speed, I felt a rush of excitement and freedom, unlike anything I had ever experienced.

The world blurred around us, the wind whipping through our fur as we navigated the wilderness with effortless grace.

Suddenly, a sweet scent filled my nostrils, triggering a surge of hunger and anticipation.

The she-wolf sensed it too, her movements becoming more focused as we zeroed in on the source of the tantalizing aroma.

We came to a halt abruptly, as if in unison, our senses heightened and attuned to the surroundings. The tingling in my belly grew stronger, a primal instinct urging me forward with renewed purpose.

What lay ahead was unknown, but one thing was certain-this newfound transformation had unlocked a part of me I never knew existed, and I was eager to embrace the wild, untamed freedom it offered.

My wolf and I bounded through the wilderness, following the intoxicating scent that led us closer to our destination. Each step was filled with anticipation, the tingling in my belly growing stronger as we neared the source of the irresistible aroma.

Heartbeats echoed in my ears, a telltale sign that we were approaching living beings. The smell intensified, teasing our senses with its sweetness.

Abruptly, we came to a halt, our sharp gazes fixed on a group of wolves led by none other than Alpha Bran himself. They were on their way for a hunt, unaware of our presence until we stood before them, our forms shifting from the shadows.

My eyes locked with Alpha Bran's, and at that moment, I felt a connection, unlike anything I had ever experienced. It was as if he could feel what I felt, a primal understanding that transcended words.

"Shift!" Alpha Bran's command cut through the air, and I felt the familiar bone-deep ache as I morphed back into my human form.

The rush of transformation was accompanied by a mix of excitement and apprehension, knowing that this encounter could change everything.

As my human form materialized before Alpha Bran and his men, what I saw shattered any hope of a warm reception.

His excitement and anticipation were replaced with shock, rage, and hate as they twisted his features.

His eyes narrowed with a venomous intensity. The air around us grew tense, the silence heavy with unspoken words and volatile emotions.