Rejected by My Alpha Mate

At the marking ceremony, the Alpha of the Silverfang Pack, Julio Riley, forced me to kneel before his beloved muse, Daphne Aguilar, a Gamma warrior, to console her tears.

I refused, and he ordered his Delta warriors to escort me out of the grand hall.

To the applause of all the guests, he slipped the marking band meant for me onto her finger.

Someone urged him to stop and go after me.

He waved them off casually, saying, "Don’t worry, she won’t be angry. She can’t live without me!"

Right then, I tore off the marking band and canceled our mate bond report.

Without hesitation, I signed up for a volunteer teaching position in a distant frontier pack.

---

After signing up, I headed to the healer’s den.

Unexpectedly, I ran into Julio and Daphne, who had been cozying up at my marking ceremony.

Seeing me, both looked briefly stunned.

Soon, Daphne’s eyes welled with tears, as if she was the one whose ceremony had been wrecked by me.

"I’m sorry, Ayleen," she said, voice trembling. "I didn’t mean to cry at your marking ceremony. I was just scared Julio wouldn’t want me anymore."

Julio gently patted her head, his alpha aura radiating sympathy. "Don’t worry, no matter who I mark, you’ll always be the most important person to me."

Turning to me with disdain, he said, "Ayleen, do you realize Daphne was so worried about your sudden exit that she nearly fainted?"

"Apologize to her, and I won’t hold it against you. But don’t expect me to reschedule the marking ceremony!"

Whether it was the pain in my stomach or the heartache, my clenched hands trembled.

My sudden exit? Wasn’t it him who had me thrown out?

Before Daphne showed up, Julio had also told me I was the most important person to him.

Yet in just a year’s time, that position in his heart had already shifted.

He humiliated me at our own marking ceremony for her.

I said nothing, just curled my lips in self-mockery and turned to enter the healer’s chamber.

When I came out, I had two bottles of medicinal herbs in my hands.

When Julio publicly forced me to kneel, my stomach condition had already flared up.

I didn’t show it then to preserve what little dignity I had left.

My face was pale; I could barely stand upright.

After several attempts to hang the IV bag on the stand, I failed.

At that moment, Julio appeared behind me and hung the bag for me.

"Thank you," I said politely, seating myself on a nearby chair without looking at him.

Julio furrowed his brow as if he wanted to say something.

Suddenly, Daphne coughed beside him.

Julio immediately returned to her side, his alpha tone softening. "What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Daphne glanced at me nervously, speaking softly, "I cried too hard earlier; my throat hurts."

"Ayleen’s spiced honey cake was good last time. I kind of want some."

Julio commanded me, "Ayleen,