Ocean The Rejected Mate

Jessie Miller stood in the shadows of the grand hall, her hands shaking with rage as she watched her half-sister, Vanessa, lapping up all the attention of the pack. Their father, Alpha Miller, had always made it clear that Vanessa was his treasured daughter, born to his favorite mate, while Jessie was the forgotten one, a blemish on the family name. Her mother had died when she was young, after which she was left at the mercy of the pack that hated her for things she had no control over.

Day by day, their scoffs weighed upon her spirit, but nothing hurt as much as seeing the man she thought was her fated mate, Alpha Cade, proudly standing next to Vanessa.

She'd felt it the moment Cade walked into the room-the undeniable bond pulling her toward him, the spark of recognition that he was hers. But Cade's eyes had slid over her, dismissing her as if she were nothing. It wasn't until Vanessa had taken his arm that Jessie realized the truth: Cade had chosen her half-sister. He would make Vanessa his Luna, leaving Jessie as nothing but a forgotten Omega-just like the pack had always wanted.

Every look they shared was like a knife through her chest. The mate bond wailed at her to fight-to claim what rightfully belonged to her-but with every second passing, her heart broke further, while Cade bestowed on Vanessa the admiration Jessie so desperately yearned for.

The pack was in joyful jubilation over the union, never once recognizing Jessie's silent anguish. She tried to back further away, hoping to go unnoticed to slip away, but her father's voice boomed across the hall.

"Jessie! Come here and congratulate your sister.

Her footsteps faltered, but she had little choice. The room fell silent as she drew near to the two of them, all eyes upon her. She swallowed hard, forcing herself to meet Cade's gaze. His cold indifference burned into her soul.

"I... I'm happy for you both," Jessie choked out, her voice barely above a whisper.

Vanessa smirked, looping her arm through Cade's possessively. "Of course you are, little sister. After all, it's not like you were ever meant for anything more."

The sting of Vanessa's words was nothing compared to what came next. Cade leaned down to kiss Vanessa's forehead and his mark shimmered bright on her neck. His voice was low, but loud enough for Jessie to hear.

"Vanessa is my mate, my Luna. There was never anyone else."

Jessie felt the air leave her lungs as her legs gave out from under her. In those words was a rejection silent, cruel, and final. Cade had chosen. And it wasn't her.

She felt tears prick at her eyes as she stumbled away, their laughter still echoing in her ears. The bond that had warmed and promised now twisted inside her, tearing with every breath.

She fled the hall, the pack, and out into the dark forest that wrapped around their land. The anguish of rejection coursed through her veins, sending shivers of pain within her very being-heart and mind. She fell to her knees at the riverbank, clutching her chest as if that could dam the ache from coursing through her.

The days after the announcement had turned into one big continuous wave of torture for Jessie Miller. Every moment within the pack house was a punishment. Her half-sister pranced around, touting her new status as Luna-to-be, and Cade-her own mate, the Alpha-treated Jessie as if she did not exist. The pack, however, had noticed. They knew like she did: she was meant to be with Cade, but he had picked Vanessa, uncaring that he had broken their bond in utter silence.

With every step Jessie made, her feet felt heavier, the whispers getting louder.

"Why would Cade want her?"

"She's just an Omega."

"She's always been weak, even her mother was worthless."

"Vanessa's the real Alpha's daughter-beautiful, strong, everything Jessie isn't."

She tried to keep her head down, tried to avoid their stares, but the humiliation was suffocating. And her father, Alpha Miller, did nothing to defend her. He never had. Jessie had always been a constant reminder of his first mate's death and the shame he felt for her mother's legacy. Now, with Cade's public rejection, Jessie was just another burden-one he could finally dismiss.