Rejected By The Alpha, Claimed By The Beast

The Ball 1

Chapter Five

Marigold

It had been days since he asked me to go to the ball with him, but I couldn’t get it out of my mind, especially the way he asked, it was like he was proposing to me.

His voice, the way he spoke so calmly, with such strength and gentleness... it was unlike anything I had ever experienced before.

The way he looked at me, like I was someone worth more than just a fleeting glance, left me feeling exposed and vulnerable in a way I didn’t expect. If I was told I would feel this way just days ago, I’d bet against it with all I had.

I had vowed, just days ago, to shut every man out of my life. Never again would I let one crawl into my heart. I had vowed to never give any being with c**k and balls any chance again. But this man… this man just had a way of slipping past my defenses.

I had only met him once… or twice, the first being when I was on the verge of death.

Maybe it was because he was my mate, could it be that? Could he feel it too? I wasn’t sure he did. He didn’t act like he knew, but something about the way he treated me—calm, gentle, patient—made me wonder if he sensed the bond, even without realizing what it was.

The thought of him eventually discovering we were mates made my heart skip a beat. If he knew… would he be even more gentle? How sweet would that be?

A soft chuckle escaped me, and I felt my cheeks burn as I stared at my reflection in the mirror.

“Get off it, Mari!” I murmured under my breath.

What am I doing? I shouldn’t be thinking of any man, not after what Emeric did to me. What am I doing now? Acting like some giddy young girl. But today was the day of the ball, and he had asked me to go with him. The ball wasn’t just any event—it was a royal affair, a gathering of the kingdom’s most powerful alphas, and he wanted me there with him. Me. Marigold.

I couldn’t help but compare him to Emeric. I wish I didn’t, but I did anyway. I had spent years with that man, that f*****g bastard, and he never once took me to any of the events he attended. There were so many nights I stayed behind, all alone, while he paraded around with someone else on his arm. I thought maybe one day he would see me, truly see me, but no. His actions had proven that he never loved me. Did he even care about me at all?

I sighed, smoothing down the dress I had chosen for tonight. It was elegant, a far cry from the simple attire I had grown accustomed to wearing while trying to make Emeric comfortable. But tonight, I would shine. Shine over everything, everyone- Emeric, Josie, and whoever the f**k wants to stand in my way.

A knock came at the door, interrupting my thoughts, and when I turned, my father was standing there, a wide grin on his face. “You look stunning,” he said, his eyes filled with pride, just as usual. “I still don’t understand why you wasted your beauty on Emeric for all those years.”

I smiled weakly, but before I could respond, he leaned in closer, lowering his voice. “Take your chance with this new alpha. You remember what you asked me for when you were in the hospital? A wealthy and powerful alpha? Well, Alpha K is the best you could land.” He chucked naughtily

His words sent a shiver through me. My father had always been blunt, and I knew he meant well. He had seen what Emeric did to me, watched me suffer in silence. But as I nodded in agreement, deep down I knew this wasn’t just about revenge, or Emeric. There was something about Alpha K that pulled me in, something I couldn’t explain. The way he looked at me, the way he treated me, the way he talks to me… it wasn’t just about power or wealth anymore.

I was falling, and I wasn’t sure I could stop it. God! It had only been few days since I met and spoke to him, but I couldn’t get him off this weak mind of mine!

Dad smiled at me, leading me down the stairs with a steady hand on my back, his firm touch guiding me toward the entrance. My heart was already racing, but when we reached the main room, it nearly stopped. The same set of men who had accompanied Alpha K the last time he came were there, waiting.

They stood tall, serious, exuding the same quiet authority that surrounded him like a shadow. My heart skipped a beat, and I couldn’t push back the wave of excitement that rushed through me.

I glanced toward the open door, hoping to see him step through, but he wasn’t there. Disappointment crept into my chest, but before I could ask where he was, one of the men stepped forward and said, “Madam… The alpha sent us to bring you to him before heading to the ball together.”

I turned to my father, searching his face for any sign of hesitation, but he nodded immediately, a smile tugging at his lips. “Go on, Marigold. You’ll be fine.” He squeezed my hand gently. “You brother will be there. He’s going to represent me for the event.” He stated.

My brother being there wasn’t what would calm me down, it rather made me more concerned. Evander wasn’t the best brother. He doesn’t like me, and he doesn’t hide that.

Having him in the ball would only make me uncomfortable.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, I needed to face this. If I could face Evander without any problem, then I would be able to face Emeric and take back every single thing I spent on him.

I nodded back at my father, “I will see you when I get back.”

He smiled. That naughty smile, and I knew what would follow. “I can’t wait to hear how it goes. Make sure you get him!”

“See you later, dad!” I waved at him, following the men outside to a sleek black car.

As soon as I settled into the car, I couldn’t stop myself from fidgeting. I stared out the window, my fingers nervously playing with the hem of my dress. The excitement bubbling inside me was almost unbearable. I tried to shake it off, tried to remind myself that this was about revenge—nothing more. I couldn’t fall for anyone again, not after everything Emeric had put me through.

But no matter how hard I tried to focus, my thoughts kept drifting back to him. Alpha K. His calm presence, the way he looked at me with those intense enthralling eyes, like he saw straight through the walls I had so carefully built around myself, and broke it down into pieces.

I bit my lip, shifting in my seat. What if I couldn’t keep my heart out of this? What if I fell for him, just like I’d fallen for Emeric? No. I couldn’t. I wouldn’t. This was about using him, not falling for him. I tried to talk some senses back into my mind which had been filled but with his thoughts, but it didn’t really work.

The car finally pulled up to a big estate, and when I stepped out, my breath caught in my throat. What was this beauty?

His mansion was massive—far bigger than anything I had ever seen. Was this a house or an artistic museum?

My father was the number one alpha in this kingdom, and even his estate paled in comparison to this. How did he manage to pull something this great? This awesome?

The sprawling grounds seemed to stretch endlessly, with perfectly manicured lawns, towering trees, and marble columns framing the entrance. The mansion itself was an architectural marvel, with high arches, enormous windows, and a grandeur that made my father’s home look just modest. My father’s house which was starred in the kingdom’s papers headline for years as one of the biggest buildings in the kingdom, was a cubicle compared to this. I could hardly believe my eyes.

Before I could fully take it in, the front doors opened, and there he was. Alpha K stepped out, and my heart nearly stopped.

He was breathtaking. God! I shouldn’t focus on this, but I couldn’t help it. Every single thing about him, every single detail seemed to draw me in.

His dark hair was perfectly trimmed, styled in a way that made him look both effortlessly refined and impossibly handsome. I thought Emeric was the most handsome man I had ever seen, but now I realized I was just blinded by the love I had for him.

Alpha K wore an impeccably tailored suit, black with subtle silver accents that shimmered under the light, obviously expensive.

Everything about him, from his broad shoulders to the way the suit clung to his muscular frame, exuded power. But it was his eyes, those deep, teal green piercing eyes, that locked onto mine and immediately sent a shiver down my spine.

My legs felt completely weak, and I stumbled. Before I could fall, his strong hands were on me, steadying me with such ease, as though I weighed nothing at all.

“Careful,” he said, his low and warm voice sending a flutter through my chest. He smiled softly, his gaze roaming over me. “I wouldn’t want the most stunning woman here to miss her own entrance.” He held my hands gently. “You are really the most beautiful lady I have ever seen.”

My heart skip a beat. His words, his touch—it was all too much, too much for what I planned. I couldn’t help but blush as I steadied myself, looking up at him with wide eyes. How was I supposed to keep my heart out of this? I was failing, and I knew it.