Rejected by Kin, Claimed by the Alpha

When I was kidnapped, my mate and my brother dismissed my pleas for help, choosing instead to revel in my stepsister’s birthday celebration.

"Estelle, when did you start imagining things? Do you really think you're living in a crime show, getting kidnapped left and right?" they mocked before hanging up.

Just when all seemed lost, I managed to break free and jumped into the river to escape. After narrowly surviving, I finally lost all faith in them and decided to leave. Ironically, it was then that their regret began to surface.

…

After I emerged from the river and crawled onto the bank, a kind stranger helped me call the local law enforcement pack. Once I had given my statement, the officers took me back to the Red Fang Pack territory. As I approached the packhouse, the sound of laughter echoed from inside.

My own brother, Lawrence Hoffman, the Gamma of the Red Fang Pack, and my mate, Rio Wheeler, the Beta of the same pack, were celebrating with Emersyn Hernandez, an Omega in our pack. I stood there soaked and dirty, watching her in a beautiful Victorian-style dress, and felt a bitter laugh escape me.

My presence caught the attention of everyone inside.

"Why is Estelle back?" Emersyn feigned surprise, covering her mouth and nose at my disheveled state.

"Estelle, there's no need to play for sympathy, making yourself look like a vagabond," she taunted.

Her words turned the initial surprise on Lawrence and Rio's faces into disgust as they glared at me.

"Estelle, didn’t you claim you were kidnapped? What happened, couldn’t keep up the charade and came back for pity?" Lawrence sneered.

I stood there, visibly hurt, my clothes and hair soaking wet, making it clear something was wrong. Yet, with Emersyn's words, they dismissed it as an act.

A lump formed in my throat as I struggled to fight back tears, clenching my fists.

"Estelle, enough of the theatrics. We were genuinely worried about you," Emersyn continued, stepping forward to take my hand.

I stood unmoving, watching as she suddenly fell to the floor, knocking the spiced honey cake off the table.

"Estelle, how could you push me and ruin my cake? Do you truly despise me?" Emersyn's eyes filled with tears as she cast a pitiful glance my way.

Before I could respond, Lawrence stormed over and slapped me hard across the face.

"Estelle! Must you create chaos the moment you enter? Can’t you just let Emersyn be happy?" he shouted.

The cold reprimand cut through me like a knife. I covered my swollen cheek, tears streaming down my face. It was the first time Lawrence had struck me. Even when I accidentally broke his favorite vase, he had never uttered a harsh word.

But now, he hit me for Emersyn.

Perhaps the desolate look in my eyes caused a flicker of regret to cross Lawrence’s face, but indifference quickly overtook it.

As for Rio, who had once promised to love me endlessly, he was