The Alpha's Discarded Mate

Elowen could barely keep her head up, her frail frame trembling under the weight of exhaustion. The sharp crack of a slap echoed in the large kitchen hall, silencing the chatter of the omegas. 

She staggered backward, her cheek burning with the sting. Her stepmother, Mara, loomed over her, sneering in disgust.

"You useless piece of filth!" Mara spat loudly. "Can't even keep that brat in line, and now look! A vase worth more than your pathetic existence, shattered!" She yanked Elowen's hair, forcing her head back, her words laced with cruelty. "You're worthless, both of you. Nothing but a burden on this pack."

Behind Elowen, her small brother, barely twelve years old, trembled with fear. He clung to her skirt, hiding his tear-streaked face, his small frame shivering. The vase had been an accident, but Mara didn't care about reasons. All she cared about was belittling them.

"You let him wander off like some feral dog!" Mara continued, shaking Elowen by the hair before shoving her back. "Do you even have a brain in that thick skull of yours? Or are you too stupid to even follow simple orders? You're both pathetic, disgusting excuses for wolves. No wonder your real mother is dead. She probably couldn't stand looking at you either."

Elowen winced, her eyes welling up with tears, but she kept silent. This was her life now—her duty to protect her brother from their stepmother's wrath. 

The other omegas in the kitchen looked on. Some pitied her, but others sneered and snickered, relishing in her humiliation.

Mara finally released her grip, glaring at the other omegas who had paused in their tasks. "What are you all looking at?" she barked. "Get back to work! We have alphas from every damn pack coming tonight, and I won't have any of you slacking off like this pathetic excuse for an omega."

As Mara stormed out, the room slowly returned to its frantic pace. Elowen sighed, the pain in her scalp throbbing as she turned to her little brother. 

She knelt down and gently brushed the hair out of his eyes, her voice soft despite her own hunger and exhaustion. "Are you okay, little one?" she asked, forcing a smile to reassure him.

He nodded weakly but whispered, "I'm hungry, Elowen..."

Her heart twisted at the words. She hadn't eaten all day either, but it wasn't uncommon for them to go hungry while they worked. "I know," she said, keeping her tone as gentle as possible. "But we have to finish our work first, okay? I'll clean up here quickly, and once we're done, we'll find something to eat."

"But I broke the vase..." he mumbled, guilt flickering in his eyes.

"Shhh, it's alright," Elowen murmured, hugging him tightly. "It was an accident. I'll take care of it. You just sit here, okay? Don't wander off again."

He nodded, sniffling. Elowen gave him a small smile and gently patted his head before standing up. The pile of potatoes waiting to be peeled seemed endless, her fingers already raw from hours of scrubbing and cleaning.

She took a deep breath, pushing away her hunger and exhaustion. She couldn't afford to break down now. "I'll be quick," she promised her brother, glancing back at him with a reassuring smile, though inside, she felt just as broken as the vase that had caused all this trouble.

But for him, she would endure.

Her mind drifted to thoughts she could never speak aloud. Her mother was strong—an Alpha with a presence that could command any room. But one day, she was just gone. No explanation, no closure. She had died tragically, and the whispers of her mysterious death had haunted Elowen ever since. 

Though she longed to uncover the truth, she felt trapped by her status as an Omega, her once-powerful lineage nothing but a distant memory.

Being an Omega was a curse to her. It stripped her of everything—her dignity, her freedom, and any hope of ever discovering what had really happened to her mother. She was nothing like the Alpha her mother had been, and that realization weighed on her every day.

As she wiped down the counters after peeling the potatoes, she overheard the other omegas chattering nearby, their voices hushed but filled with excitement. They were talking about the upcoming party and the alphas who would soon arrive. Their words made Elowen's stomach twist in knots.

"Have you heard?" one of them whispered, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. "Cassian's coming. The Cassian."

Elowen's hands paused mid-wipe, her heart thudding in her chest. She had heard stories about Cassian—everyone had. He was known for being one of the most dangerous alphas in the region.

"Isn't he the one who...?" another omega started, lowering her voice further.

"Yeah," the first omega confirmed. "He's the one who slaughtered an entire pack for disrespecting him. Left no one alive. Not even the young ones."

The others gasped, their eyes wide with fear. "I heard he tore apart his own beta once," another omega added. "Just because he questioned one of Cassian's orders."

Elowen's breath caught in her throat. The more they spoke, the more vivid the nightmares in her mind became. 

Alphas were terrifying—inhumanly strong, ruthless, and merciless. She couldn't understand how anyone could admire them. To her, they were monsters, the very embodiment of everything she feared.

"But they say he's incredibly handsome," one omega said, a hint of awe in her voice. "Even if he's dangerous…I wouldn't mind catching his eye."

"Are you insane?" another one hissed. "He'd probably kill you the second you looked at him wrong."

Just then, the door to the kitchen swung open, and the beta of their pack stormed in. The room fell silent immediately as he glared at the group. 

"Enough of this nonsense," he snapped. "The guests have arrived. Get back to work, all of you."

The omegas scattered, hastily returning to their duties, and Elowen quickly resumed scrubbing the counters. Her heart raced at the thought of the alphas already being here. The very idea of being anywhere near them filled her with dread.

Unlike the others, she didn't want to catch the eye of any alpha. She feared them, knowing all too well how cruel and dominating they could be. Her life had already been filled with enough torment. The last thing she needed was to end up bound to one of them.

She caught herself hoping, wishing desperately, that her mate would not be an alpha. She knew it was foolish to wish for such things, but she couldn't help it. Maybe fate would be kind for once. Maybe she would be given a beta, or even better, an omega like herself. Someone who could understand her struggles, who would take her and her brother away from this living hell.

But deep down, she knew the chances were slim. With her luck, she feared she would be tied to an alpha—one of the very monsters she had spent her life avoiding. The thought made her shudder as she tried to block out the noise of the kitchen around her, focusing instead on finishing her work.

All she could do now was pray that her mate, whoever he might be, would be her salvation—and not her undoing.

She wiped her hands on her worn apron, her work finally done for the night. Exhaustion clung to her like a second skin, but she had to stay strong for her brother. She found him curled up in the corner where she had left him, his eyes drooping with fatigue. 

Smiling softly, she offered him her hand. "Come on, let's go to our room. We can rest now." 

They walked together through corridors of the pack house, heading toward the small, cramped room they shared. But to get there, they had to pass through the grand hall where the party was being held. 

As soon as she stepped closer to the hall, her body tensed involuntarily. Her omega instincts flared to life, warning her of the danger that lay ahead. The thick, dominant scent of alphas filled the air, making her head swim. She swallowed hard, trying to steady her breathing, but it was nearly impossible to block out the overwhelming energy that radiated from the hall.

Each alpha's scent was different, but they all carried a similar power—a raw, dominating force that made Elowen's knees feel weak. As an omega, she was naturally submissive in their presence, and no matter how hard she tried, her body reacted to their proximity. 

Her vision started to blur as her senses became overwhelmed. Every step felt heavier, her limbs sluggish. She could hear the deep, rumbling laughter from within the hall, the conversations blending into an intimidating hum of voices. It made her stomach churn.

Just as she was about to pass the entrance, her foot caught on something, and she stumbled forward, crashing into someone. The sharp curse that followed rang in her ears like a slap.

"Watch where you're going, you stupid omega," the voice snarled.

Her heart lurched in her chest. She quickly bowed her head, forcing herself to speak despite the dizziness that clouded her mind. "I-I'm so sorry," she stammered, her voice shaking. She kept her eyes downcast, unwilling to meet the gaze of whoever she had run into.

The person grumbled something under his breath and shoved past her, leaving her shaken. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, but the oppressive weight of the alphas' presence made it hard to think clearly.

Beside her, her brother tugged at her sleeve, looking up at her with wide, innocent eyes. "Elowen, I'm hungry," he whispered. 

Before she could respond, she noticed his gaze fixed on the servants carrying trays of decadent food into the hall. Without warning, he darted after them, his hunger and curiosity getting the better of him. 

"Wait—!" Elowen gasped, reaching out for him, but he slipped through the crowd before she could stop him.

Panic surged through her veins. "No…please, not in there," she muttered to herself, her heart racing. But she couldn't leave him alone at such a dangerous place. 

Despite her fear, Elowen hurried after him, her footsteps quick and light as she followed his small figure into the hall. The instant she crossed the threshold, the full force of the alphas' presence hit her like a tidal wave. Her senses screamed at her to turn back, to flee from the danger that lurked within this room filled with wolves so much stronger than her.

Her body trembled with instinctual fear. She felt like a rabbit walking into a den of wolves. Her head spun, the scents, the sounds, the power—it was all too much for her frail omega body to handle. But her brother…she couldn't leave him there alone.

Steeling herself, she pushed deeper into the hall, scanning the room frantically for him. Her heart pounded in her chest, trying her best to remain unseen. 

Every alpha she passed sent a fresh wave of discomfort and fear rolling through her body. They didn't even need to acknowledge her—just their presence was enough to make her feel as though the very ground beneath her feet was shifting.

And yet, she kept going. 

Unaware of the disaster that was waiting for her.