Rejected By The Alpha, Claimed By The Beast

A Second Chance Mate

Chapter Three

Marigold

It has been days since I woke up again in this cruel world, and it has been overwhelmingly difficult, harder than I ever imagined. I couldn’t bear the pain and agony of being all alone after I wasted years serving a man, after I spent so much to raise his once-dejected pack, only to be tossed aside like I never meant anything to him. Not only did he do that, but he and his fiancée treated me like trash, hurt me, and left me to die.

If only he knew I was the one who had been secretly helping him for years, building his pack to what it is now. Would he still have sent me away? Would he still have treated me the same way he did?

I wonder what the look on his face would be when he realizes that I’m alive—not just alive, but no longer the wretched and pathetic young lady he thought I was.

I remember every single thing he said to me; the memories are as clear as day. “Why would I choose you over a young, hardworking, ambitious, and wealthy woman like Mabel?” he had said to me. “She is not just wealthy and gorgeous, she is also good at everything. Including sex.” I remember vividly how he moved closer to me after saying that and leaned in. “Unlike you, who is good at nothing! If only you were good at s*x, I might have considered staying with you, but no! You are the worst.”

I should have known I no longer meant anything to him when all he wanted from me was s*x—s*x and more s*x. Even though I didn’t enjoy a bit of it, I never enjoyed intimacy with him. I thought it was because there was no bond between us; he was just my chosen mate. Yet, I let him do whatever he wanted with me. Sometimes he would resort to b**m, hitting me and riding me roughly, and I never complained. But the f*****g bastard still wasn’t satisfied.

He wanted more than I could give. He wanted a woman with money and power. But what he doesn’t know is that no woman in the entire kingdom could match the wealth I possess. Even after giving up my father’s wealth, which was supposed to be mine, to my brother, I still had almost as much as my father had.

Oh! I can’t wait to see the defeat on Emeric’s face when he sees me standing tall, above him, and when I crush him and take back everything I gave him. The move for my revenge has begun, and I won’t hesitate to do whatever it takes to make him pay for the pain he caused me.

I was still in my room when a knock came at the door, and I slowly walked over to open it. I was back at my father’s house after eight years, yet everything still felt the same. From the usual disgusting and awful look on Elowen, my stepmother’s face whenever she sees me, to the uncomfortable and dissatisfying gaze on Elisha, my stepbrother’s face.

A lot has changed in the past years, but not the two of them. They still hate me as much as they did over a decade ago, and I tried so hard to change how they feel about me, but I gave up after so many failed attempts.

“He’s here!” Father said, absolutely buzzing. I could see the excitement on his face. “The man who saved you three years ago is here, and I’m sure you’re going to like him.”

“Dad…” I whined. “This is just a formality. He’s only here so I can thank him for saving me. I would have been dead if he hadn’t saved me.”

“Well… you could just kill two birds with one stone.” He chuckled, stepping into the room, and I stepped back to let him in. “Remember you asked me to introduce you to a top alpha?” He leaned in. “He’s one of them, a hot bachelor!” He whispered with a soft giggle.

Maybe he was right that I asked him to introduce me to a top alpha, but to the same one who saved me years ago? I wasn’t sure that was a good idea. I mean, how would that person see me? As a pathetic woman who got dumped by her ex-husband? I don’t want pity or unnecessary love. I want to marry a top alpha, not for love, but for revenge. I want to show Emeric what I am capable of and what I truly deserve.

I smiled at Father and nodded. “I’ll think about it.” It was the only way to stop him from saying more than he already had.

“Alright, come on down, don’t keep him waiting,” he said as he turned to leave. “Meet us at the dining table,” he added.

I turned back to the mirror, readjusting my clothes and doing the final touches on my hair and makeup. I missed the feeling of elegance. Because I didn’t want Emeric to feel intimidated by what I had, I had to downplay my looks and everything else, but he took it all for granted and assumed I belonged in the trash.

No! I won’t stop until I show him the difference between us and the gap he will never be able to close.

I walked out of the room, heading for the dining area. I was about to take the last step when a hand reached out in front of me.

“May I, beautiful?” The husky, deep, yet soft and gentle voice sent a chill through me, freezing me on the stairs. My legs felt glued to the ground, unable to move.

The voice stirred something in me, something I hadn’t felt in a very long time—a stir in my wolf. I didn’t want to believe what I was thinking was true.

My gaze moved from his strong hand to his chest, down to his legs, where I saw the black Amedeo Testoni shoes on his feet. My eyes scanned back up to his chest and finally to his face. Our eyes locked, and the stir in my wolf intensified.

It can’t be! Is he my mate? The same mate I searched for years before meeting Emeric? Or a second chance mate?

I shook my head multiple times. It just can’t be.