The Rejected Alpha's Heart

"Don't stop," I told him.

Goddess, he felt so fuckin good. I had always wondered what sex would be like with Erick, and now that it was happening, I wanted it to last all night. As my body heated, my heart raced faster, and my breath became shallower. The intensity between us escalated as I scratched his back and encouraged him to go deeper. It was a moment I never wanted to end. Erick, being my mate, came just as a surprise to me as it was to him. Tonight was not only my eighteenth birthday but also the Wolf's Moon Gala. In my opinion, tonight was one of the most important nights of the year. The wolf's moon was sacred to all packs because, for one night, we felt a deeper connection to each other. A chosen pack would host a grand ball in honor of the Wolf's Moon. Alphas, Luna's, Betas, and some chosen Omegas from surrounding packs would come together once a year for the Gala, a tradition set in place long ago. The only pack that was absent was the Crystal Blood Pack. It was said that the Alpha killed his mate years ago; others said he was gay, while some thought Selene punished him for something he had done in his past life. This year, we held the ball at the Dark Moon Pack. Since my father was the Beta of the Blood Rose Pack, we arrived two days before the main event.

"Maliyla, hurry, you're going to be late," My mother yelled at me from the bottom of the staircase. I was supposed to have left with my best friend Gisselle an hour ago, but we were so busy playing around that we lost track of time. Gisselle and I had been friends for as long as I could remember. Her dad was the delta of the pack, so we spent every minute of the day together.

"I'm coming!" I yelled back to my mother, who was as impatient as ever because she wanted to ensure we had enough time to take pictures. After one last glance in the mirror, I finally descended the stairs, and my mother's eyes lit up. I could see the tears begin to swell up.

"Mom, don't start crying," I said, rolling my eyes.

My mother smiled as she replied, "I'm sorry, sweetie. I'm just so proud and happy for you!" I smiled back, "Thank you, but please stop crying. OK. Let's take those pictures now!" I said as I stopped on the last step before her.

"OK," my mother whispered, pulling me in for a quick hug before grabbing her camera and taking pictures. Even though I felt silly, I smiled and posed. After a few minutes, she put the camera away, and we both laughed. Finally, Gisselle descended the stairs, clad in a stunning teal mermaid strapless sweetheart gown that seemed to have been poured over her perfectly shaped body.

Although we were best friends, I was