From Rejected Mate To Alpha's Vengeance

Zaiden Ortiz, my mate of seven years, handed me a positive pregnancy test and announced he was going to mark his mother’s servant, Ophelia Brooks. "It was a mistake; I drank too much. I have to take responsibility. Once the pup is born and everything is settled legally, I’ll reject her. Just wait for me," he insisted, his voice laced with that infuriating charm that had once made me believe in him. "You love me because I’m responsible, right? Trust me."

To avoid confrontation, he even brought his mother, Isabelle Ortiz, a Delta in the Ortiz Pack, to mediate.

But this time, I packed my things and moved out of that cramped apartment willingly. I agreed to the arranged mating with Hugo Kelly, the Alpha of the Kelly Pack, a union forged by our grandfathers' alliance during the war.

In the past, I had slapped Ophelia in a fit of rage, causing her to lose the pregnancy. Zaiden never mentioned it, marked me as his mate, and soon had me pregnant. On the day our pup was born, he deserted us in the snowy Alps.

"Zaiden, how can you be so heartless? This is your own flesh and blood!" I screamed, clutching our newborn pup close to my chest.

He sneered, his wolfish eyes glinting with malice, "Do you think I would ever touch someone as vile as you? The one who sired your pup was some rogue I found in the forest!"

"You should understand what it’s like to lose a pup."

The snow buried us, and my pup and I froze to death.

So, in this new beginning, I decided to let go and allow them their sordid affair.

Five years later, at a pack business conference, Zaiden spotted me and urgently pulled me aside. "I’ve been searching for you. You finally appeared. This project is crucial for me. I know you’re upset, but let me explain after it’s over. Please, don’t cause trouble."

I pushed him away, my voice cold and authoritative. "I’m the one hosting the bid. This territory is mine."

Zaiden was stunned, uncertainty clouding his face. Just then, a voice dripping with sarcasm came from behind him.

“Oh, no wonder you looked familiar. It’s Beta Jasmine Kelly. Five years apart, and you’re still dressed so plainly. What are you hiding under all those layers?”

I was dressed in a tailored professional outfit, devoid of any pack insignia, yet it cost more than Zaiden’s annual earnings. Ophelia, in contrast, wore a cheap, tight-fitting spaghetti strap dress with towering heels, her makeup as exaggerated as for a mating ceremony.

I gave her a cold look and moved to walk inside, but Zaiden grabbed my arm again.

"You’ve become so disrespectful. Ophelia greeted you, and you didn’t even acknowledge her?"

I frowned, pulling away and smoothing out the wrinkles in my sleeve. I retorted coolly, "Grabbing another female’s arm in front of your mate—that’s quite disrespectful, wouldn’t you say?"

To my surprise, he then said, "We are