The Alpha Rejected Me Again

PROLOGUE

TRIGGER WARNING. Some scenes contain child abuse and violence.

“Aah! Papa stop!” a young boy screamed. His voice echoed through the dark, empty walls around them.

“How many times do I have to tell you that you will never address me that way?!” a man, probably over seven feet tall with long black hair stood menacingly in front of the little boy. He raised his hand to hit him once more in the face. The impact caused by his force made the boy's face turn sideways.

The boy's innocent face is now covered in blood and bruises. Half of it was swollen. It's almost unrecognizable. His lower lip was busted and blood dripped out of his nostrils.

“Alpha! You should call me Alpha!” he roared before grabbing his whip from the floor.

The boy’s back arched in an attempt to get away from the lash of his leather whip. It still hit him though, biting his skin in a stinging pain, leaving nasty raw marks that would definitely last for days. The boy is still too young, five years old. He doesn’t have a wolf yet to protect him or to help accelerate his healing process.

He gasped in an attempt to control his tears. Because he knows that the man, his father, the alpha of their pack, won’t like it and will only hurt him more.

“Stop crying! I told you to never show weakness!” the man he called Papa growled as he continued to strike the young boy’s small body. It didn’t matter where his whip landed. All he wanted was to inflict pain on the pup. His own pup.

His leather whip left red bloody marks on the boy’s back, shoulders, thighs... Sometimes it lands on the same spot over and over, leaving it bleeding.

When he stopped to breathe, the young boy’s body limped. He would have fallen into a heap on the floor if not for the ropes that were holding his wrists up. Each of his hands is tied tightly with thick, rough ropes. The other ends of it are hooked into the ceiling.

They were in a dark, empty cellar. The air was musty but now it stinks with the stench of blood and sweat. Sweat from the huge man holding a whip and blood from the boy’s body.

A small sob erupted from the boy’s quivering lips.

“I'm so s-sorry A-alpha…” he whispered. He was silently wishing that his father would stop the torture after he apologized. Though he didn’t understand what his mistake was. He was just playing with his mother when his father dragged him away from her.

“There. See? It’s good when you listen to me. That’s how you will learn.” The Alpha went to tug the rope from the hook in the ceiling. The boy fell to the ground with a soft thud. He was writhing in pain but he stopped himself from making any sound that could anger the Alpha again.

All he wants now is for the ordeal to be over. And it will only happen if he is a “good boy”.

“You should stay here until I say so.” The Alpha then walked away without looking back. He slammed the door behind him, leaving the boy in complete darkness. If not for his heightened senses, he wouldn’t be able to see a thing. But it still didn’t make things better.

Lying on the cold floor, his tears started to fall from the corners of his eyes. He didn’t move even when the Alpha was gone. His fresh wounds hurt whenever he does. So he lay there crying. Silently praying for the moon goddess to just stop his suffering.

“Mom…” he silently whispered. "Mom..."

His mother’s smiling face appeared in his mind. Her long blonde hair, her kind eyes, her loving smile, and warm hugs… How could he have such a loving mother but a cruel, heartless father?

The boy was sure that his mother’s smile was now gone. It was replaced with tears and sadness because she knew what was going on. She was aware of her mate's cruel ways but didn't have the power to stop them. He is so much stronger than her. There's nothing she can do to save herself and her beloved son.

She’s now probably begging the Alpha to let their son go. But as usual, the Alpha is too heartless to care.

He doesn’t have a heart.

Not for his own mate nor for their only child…

***

"Get up!" the Alpha growled when he fell to the ground once more.

He tried to push himself up despite his buckling knees. They have been training non-stop for hours now. He raised his trembling hands. His body ached all over but he couldn't complain.

The last time he did, the Alpha beat him until he couldn't stand on his feet anymore.

When he got himself into a fighting stance, the alpha charged in his direction again. He took a deep breath then crouched to slip between his legs. He was small enough to fit there. A small smile tugged on his lips when he was able to dodge his father's attack. He can already consider it as a small victory!

He jumped on the alpha's back and wrapped his arms around his head. But his strength was nothing compared to his father's. He easily grabbed his arms then slammed him back to the ground!

"Ugh!" a small groan escaped the boy's lips when his back hit the solid ground. He can even feel small rocks piercing his skin.

"Too weak!" the alpha grunted as he harshly wiped the sweat on his forehead with his arm.

What does he expect from an eight-year-old boy?

"Up!" the alpha growled again.

The boy had no choice but to get back on his feet, no matter how hard it was.

"Dominic!" a woman came rushing to them.

"Dominic, please take some rest." she said while glancing at her son.

"How many times do I have to tell you to call me with respect?!" the alpha growled at her. His huge palm landed on her cheek.

"I'm sorry, Alpha Dominic!" the woman gasped. "But please take a rest. I've already prepared refreshments for you," she bowed.

"Fine! But don't give anything to that mutt! He doesn't deserve anything!" he snapped before leaving his mate and pup behind.

The woman made sure that the alpha was gone before she approached her son.

"Zander, are you okay?" she asked with tears behind her lids. She raised his arms and inspected each one for injuries.

"I'm okay, mother," he told her. He got some cuts and bruises but not a single broken bone in his body. For him it was enough.

"I'm so sorry that you have to go through all this..." her voice broke but she quickly composed herself. She took a small package under her shirt then tucked it under the boy's clothes.

"Mother!" he whispered. "The alpha said-" he tried to protest but she quickly cut him off.

"Shh, you deserve this. You worked hard today," she smiled despite her tears, which she harshly brushed away.

"Now go to your room and eat. Then clean up, okay?"

"Thank you mother," he whispered.

"There's no need to thank me son," she bit back a sob. No need to thank me when I wasn't even doing enough to protect you... She thought.

"I love you, Zander," she whispered while wiping his sweat. "Go now, I still need to go to your father."

She watched the boy walk away, her chest constricted with bottled up pain and misery. When he disappeared, she went on her way back to her ruthless mate.

She wanted to leave him for his son but they had nowhere else to go. Their pack is one of the biggest in their kingdom. No one in their right minds will go against Alpha Dominic. She had thought about bringing the matter to the king, but no matter how much pain he brought upon her and her son, she still couldn't bring herself to betray him.

Somewhere, deep in her heart, she was still hoping that the mate she once loved and adored would come back. She was hoping that he would still come back to his senses and realize his mistakes. That they still had a chance to become a happy family.

It was what the boy was hoping as well. He longed for his father's approval. He wanted to be worthy enough to be called his son. It was already instilled in his young mind that he would do anything just to experience his father's love...