The Alpha Fated But Rejected Mate

CHOSEN

Summer is here again with its hot and dry state for Idaho. It bathed over me, swirling the tall trees and shrubs around. Mixed with the smell of Citronella, my father's sweet scent whacked me, followed by the sound of his huge footstep approaching.

I was just returning from a run from the wood and had shifted back to human with my skin still tingling; my wolf was half close to the ground.

With a smile on my face, I sat up and turned toward him.

"Dear, Father."

The minute I noticed his somber mood, my heart plummeted into my stomach. The heartbeat races.

"What could be wrong?" Without waiting for an answer, I popped up to my feet and employed my Alpha heir power, trying to feel if anyone in the pack had been mortally killed or injured.

I didn't notice anything unusual, so why does he look so troubled?

"Father?"

He faked a smile, but the expression wasn't vivid enough.

"You are been summoned by the Alpha King. It's time."

I started at the rigid white paper in his hand. Embossed lettering paced on the page, striding in golden spins, and there was no mistake in the logo. We all knew that symbol at the top of the paper, an official statement from the Alpha king. I tried to stabilize my pulse while my heart made a try to escape my chest.

"Already?"

Gulping the lump at the back of my throat, I squinted and decided not to cry. Tears were not suiting an alpha's daughter. No one wanted a leader whose first intuition was emotion. I had got to be strong for myself and my pack.

But before I could resist myself, words tumbled out: "I supposed I had another year at home."

"So did I," my father said with his nostrils, flaring.

His eyes gleamed with emotion. Was it fear? Wrath? As quickly as I saw it, he reined it in. Of course, a shifter must control their emotions at all times lest they lose themselves to their animal instinct.

"But you are of age."

He broadened the letter as if he could not stand to touch it any longer, and a cry formed in my throat.

These mountains, this blue sky, the trees covering our land ... the grief of leaving home tore through me. I was bred of this place, bounded to the earth here like all of our pack. To go to Alpha Islet, to leave my pack ... the thought made my stomach swirl.

I would not be permitted to see or speak to anyone from home for four years, only letters—and only if I could find someone to bring them here, to the mortal realm where our pack was exiled. Judging by the frequency of visitors, the odds didn't fall in my favour.

I yanked the paper from his hand, angry with the inKelly of the system.

"They don't even like our clan. We all know it! I hate that we have to play by their rules."

My father frowned at my outburst.

"It is the way of the alpha, and our pack needs you to lead. Without training your magic, you won't be ready to take over when I die."

I scowled, knowing the other option. Those who refused the summons to Alpha Islet were convicted to life sentence, traitors to their alpha heir blood and pack. One hundred per cent not going to happen.

My father cleared his throat. "The pack will need a strong leader when I'm gone. You must train. Show the other packs we have sufficient power to deserve their respect."