Rejected By The Alpha, Claimed By His Uncle

Seraphine's POV

What was more disheartening than not being able to respond with even a trace of desire in the heat of intimacy with your mate?

"You can't do anything right." He rasped, tugging at the underside.

I lay bare on our matrimonial bed. Like a turkey spread out on a tray during Thanksgiving.

I tried. Moon above, I tried. But my body remained unready. I can't get wet.

Fael leaned down. There was bold frustration in his eyes. My heart sank when he jutted his chin toward me in disappointment so thick I could taste it in the air.

"Never. Never Seraphine. Do you hear me?" I whimpered; his grip on my cheeks was too firm. "Never have I needed any aid to prepare my partner with any of my women. But with you, it's like a recurring rite for goodness' sake!"

"Fael. Please. Just... give me a moment. If you allow me to-"

"Allow you to do what?"

He shifted his knee off the bed and pulled his pants back on.

"That's not wh-"

"Seraphine. It's one thing that you were paid for a debt. And it's another for you to talk down on my prowess as a man."

Heavens, I would never.

"Fael. If you-"

He raised a finger up, cutting me off completely as he tussled with the zipper. He was still hard, the imprint of him visible still. I wanted him too, so badly. I couldn't let him leave.

I lowered myself down from the cream coloured sheets and onto the ground. I had a plan forming in my head, and if I eased him into it, it could be a solution we mutually desired.

"Fael. What if you present me in front of the pack as yours, officially? Officially. Maybe that is why my wolf is hesitant to produce readiness."

The laughter that followed was loud. Fael's buckle shook in his hand from how hard he laughed.

"This agenda again." He shook his head. "Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Same old, same old."

I refused to give up. I crawled on my knees to him. Placing both palms at his feet.

"At least give it a thought."

I thought he was going to get angry, or at least leave and slam the door in my face. But Fael lifted me by the arms till we were face level with each other. His lips met mine for a moment.

But we didn't feel the spark of the bond.

And we both knew why.

He kissed me, slowly, and then pulled away. Stroking my cheek.

"You want me to parade you around the pack like mine? Right? You want a full coronation? Right? You want me to maybe spoon-feed you and whisper affirmations to you every day?"

"Who wouldn't want that from her mate, Fael. Every she-wolf would."

His entire body withdrew from mine as I had burned him. Like he was repulsed by a barrier between us.

"You shouldn't want that, Seraphine! You shouldn't. Every she-wolf out