The Rejected Mate And The Alpha Prince

"Now where is that girl when you need her to be here? Olexa!" Victoria called out angrily, looking for her stepdaughter.

She had a lot on her plate for the past two days and needed all hands on deck to make this happen. Her daughter was to be married to the werewolf prince.

It was a scheme of her's to bring her family and herself, to more power and influence amongst the werewolf packs of the four kingdoms. Her lust for power was insatiable.

"Where is Olexa?" Victoria asked a maid randomly.

"I do not know where she may be, my lady," the maid replied, a bit jittery. Victoria was a fierce Luna of one of the most powerful packs in the four kingdoms. She had a terrifying aura, which made her subjects fear her.

Victoria sighed frustratedly, with a note of anger written all over her face.

"Go find her," she ordered a guard. He speechlessly nodded in acknowledgment, and walked out briskly.

"And Vonni. Where is she?" Victoria asked.

"She is in her room getting ready, my lady," a different maid answered, bending slightly. No one dared to make eye contact with her.

_______

"Whoa! Get him. Finish him off!"

The crowd cheered at the gruesome fighting pits. Spectating folks cheered as one of the fighters had the upper hand against his opponent.

Both individuals fighting had transformed into werewolves as they fought. Their blood was splattered around the pit.

One of the excited and enthusiastic spectators was Olexa, disguised as a commoner, to blend in with the crowd.

She loved everything about being a warrior. The rush of adrenaline from combat was unusually appealing to her. But being a Vanderholt, a royal bloodline, and female at that, it was expected of her to be a diplomat, and not a warrior.

Against her father's wishes, she periodically snuck out to visit the fighting pits.

The guard sent to locate Olexa arrived at the location. He was accompanied by another guard. He was sent because he knew his way around with the commoners. Both guards blended in with their disguises also.

As the crowd cheered, he heard a compliment from someone in the crowd. It was Olexa's. He turned towards the direction of her voice, and spotted her. Pressing through the crowd, he reached her, grabbing her hand, firmly.

Furrowing her brow, Olexa turned, trying to break the grip of whomever it was that held her, wondering who it was.

"Let go of me." Olexa struggled, but to no avail.

The guard pushed back his hood, revealing who he was. Seeing him, Olexa knew who it was, and refrained from struggling.

The guard let go of Olexa, and she walked on ahead, with a gloomy demeanor. Not long after, they got to the Vanderholt's palatial residence. Olexa was led to the Vanderholts' great hall.

Seated on a throne-like chair ahead was Victoria, glaring at Olexa as she walked towards her. "Mother, you sent for me?" Olexa asked, unexcited.

"Where were you?" Victoria asked.

"Let me guess, she was at the fighting pits. Wasn't she?" Victoria asked, as she stood up and walked towards Olexa.

"Yes, my lady," the guard answered, bowing slightly.

"I was jus-"

Out of nowhere, Olexa felt a sharp pain across her face. Victoria had slapped her.

Olexa held her face, wincing in pain, as she heard a buzzing sound in her ears. She turned, glaring at her stepmother, sulking, with tears welling up in her eyes.

"Oh, does it hurt?" Victoria asked mockingly. "Now you'll how to be around when you're needed the most."

Olexa glared hatefully at her stepmother, but did nothing.

"Are you jealous of your sister's marriage to the prince? Did you leave the palace out of spite and jealousy?" she said, trying to demean Olexa.

Hot tears ran down Olexa's cheeks, as she glared at Victoria. She then ran out of the great hall sobbing.

"Pathetic." Victoria scoffed, feeling accomplished.

Olexa ran past some guards and servants, who were quite familiar with Olexa being treated this way. All they could do was feel sorry for her.

Olexa ran out to a juniper tree, her usual spot where she goes to whenever she's hurt and needs to cool off, or cry out her heart.

This was her place of solace and tranquility, ever since her mother died when she was little. Olexa cried her heart out, as she laid on the leaves and shrubs beneath the tree.

Olexa wondered why was she being maltreated constantly, and her father barely intervened. Olexa wondered what had happened to her fierce and courageous father who would defend her against even her mother.

His marriage to Victoria had caused a depletion in his power, control, and fame over the years in their pack. Victoria had been the one running the affairs of the pack, a few years into their marriage.

Olexa wondered what had made Victoria change so radically towards her in a negative way. She wondered what she ever did wrong to be treated in such a way by her stepmother.

Olexa lay there sobbing, until she pulled herself together, wiping her tears. She sat upright, enjoying the cool evening breeze, which gently caressed her soft skin.

Her attention was suddenly drawn towards the sounds of metal clanking, from a barn that wasn't too far from where she was.

The breeze caused the sound to be blown towards her. She was puzzled as to who would be there now, as folks barely ever went there. It got her curious.

She stealthily walked to the barn, following a path that no one would easily notice her. She was familiar with her way around there.

As she got in through the back, she heard the moans of a female. The voice was way too familiar to her not to accurately guess who it was.

Then she heard the lady moaning call out a name that was even more familiar to her. As a result, she emerged to have a clear visual.

She saw her fiancee, and her stepsister, Vonni, secretly having sex.

Olexa was shattered at the sight before her. She felt like a sword was pierced through her heart. The duo caught sight of Olexa and stopped what they were doing, as they quickly got dressed.

"Khris? Vonni?" A daze hit Olexa, and she stumbled backward, placing her hands across her chest.

"Olexa, it's- it's not what it looks like. Let me explain." Khris stuttered, looking pitiful as he walked towards Olexa.

Vonni scoffed, wearing a scornful smirk.

"Olexa, I promise you, I can explain. This has never happened before. I swear to you. I was seduced. You know I can't cheat on you, my love." Khris pleaded pitifully.

"Oh, come on, Khris. You just told me how sweet I was when you were inside of me moments ago. Moaning that I was better than Olexa."

"Could you shut the hell up?!" Khris yelled angrily, clenching his fists, as he glared at Vonni

Her words came out with no iota of remorse, as though it gave her satisfaction seeing her stepsister hurt. And indeed, it gave her satisfaction.

"Oly, please..." Khris begged trying to reach for Olexa's hand.

"Don't touch me." Olexa pulled her hand away, feeling disgusted at him.

"And how could you do this to me, Vonni? You're my sister! Aren't you to be getting married, or whatever to the prince today? So why are you doing this?" Olexa asked, heartbroken.

"The prince," Vonni scoffed, then hissed. "Haven't you heard he is disabled, a cripple? You want me to spend the rest of my life with such a person? No way."

Olexa couldn't believe Vonni's senselessness in justifying her misdeed.

"Moreover, Khris was absolutely right. This is the first time we're doing this. I felt we were sisters, so we could share anything. Isn't what's yours mine?" Vonni said mockingly with a smirk.

Olexa's head swirled, even more than the effect of Victoria's slap. She screamed in pain, crying her heart out.

"Olexa, please I-"

"Get out!" Olexa screamed at her fiancee, with her eyes turning red as she began transforming partially.

"I don't want to see you. Any of you!" she screamed.

Vonni smirked, walking out of the barn feeling accomplished.

Khris left Olexa there, feeling terrible at what he did, cursing within himself the day he ever met Vonni.

Olexa cried even more, somehow wishing she could end her life, but she didn't have the willpower to bring herself to do such. Olexa was curled up into a ball, sobbing, until she fell asleep.

_______

"Mother, I will not marry the prince," Vonni argued with her mother.

"You know as much as I know that he's handicapped, a cripple for moon's sake. And yet you still want me to be his mate? No way mother."

Vonni vehemently refused to go along with her parents' arrangement. Well, more like her mother's arrangement. Prior to this day, she had no idea that he was crippled, so she was okay with it. But upon discovery, she had a change of heart.

"Vonni, this is for your own good. This is an opportunity for you to be one of the most powerful lady of the five kingdoms. You'll be feared, and respected," Victoria tried convincing her daughter.

But Vonni knew it was all for her mother's selfish interests. Her greed for power. Victoria came from humble beginnings and was able to somehow worm her way into the life of the Alpha of the Vanderholt pack.

"Vonni dear, all I want is what's best for you."

"Tch! Yeah right," she responded. "You want what's best for me, or what's best for you?"

Victoria got furious. "How dare you?"

As they argued behind closed doors in Vonni's room, a steward knocked on the door.

"Lay one more hand on that door and I swear by the Moon Goddess that your head will be on a pike before dawn," Victoria yelled angrily.

"Ye- Yes my lady," he stuttered frightfully. "My lady but- But you asked me to let you know whatever our scouts report, and they have reported that the royal delegates from the capital just got through the city gates, and will be here not too long from now."

That news didn't put her in a good mood, because of Vonni's refusal.

"Vonni, snap out of whatever fantasy you're in. They are already here, and they won't leave without a mate for the prince."

Vonni frowned, very displeased at what her mom said. Victoria felt that Vonni had finally obliged, so she turned to leave Vonni's room, when she heard, "Let Olexa be his mate."

"What did you say?" Victoria halted, and turned, furrowing her brow.

"Olexa, she can marry the prince. Besides, she just broke up with her lover, and you have control over her. She'll do whatever you want," Vonni craftily suggested.

Victoria reasoned within herself that her daughter could be right. She sighed, and walked out of the room. Vonni smiled, applauding herself for being such an evil genius. She knew her mom would yield to her suggestion.

Victoria asked a servant to find Olexa and make her get ready for the arrival of the delegates.

Moments later, the delegates arrived at the palatial home of the Alpha. An array of the Vanderholt soldiers all adorned in armor stood in formation, facing each other, as the delegates arrived with the royal guards and a royal carriage.

Victoria and the commander of the Vanderholt's army, along with some senior administrators of the second kingdom awaited their arrival, in front of the palace, to welcome them.

Two of the royal guards opened the carriage doors, each holding one door to the left and to the right. The Advisor of the King stepped out of the carriage, dressed up in his official apparel, carrying his insignia.

Thinking that was all, Victoria noticed a figure emerge from the carriage. Seeing who it was, Victoria smiled.

It was General Klaus, the commander of the King's army. He was a prolific military strategist, and he was also known for his brutality. He looked around, observing the soldiers, then he walked towards their hosts.

"My Lord, General Klaus, and everyone else. Welcome to the Second Kingdom," Victoria genuflected respectfully.

"Thank you, Lady Victoria. The years have been kind to you," Lord Kane, the King's Advisor responded.

"It sure has, my lord," she smiled. "I apologize on behalf of my husband for not being here to receive you. His health has been challenged even more, recently."

"Oh my! How is he?"

"He has seen better days. But anyway, I know your journey was quite long and daunting, so I hope to give you the utmost hospitality as befitting such royal dignitaries," she said with a welcoming smile.

"Been looking forward to it," the King's Advisor said with a smile.

"Please, follow me." Victoria led the delegates in, as she and General Klaus sneakily made eyes at each other.

Olexa could see the delegates from up her room. She thought she would see the prince. But it was obvious that he didn't come.

She wondered what all the ruckus in Vonni's room was about. She also wondered what would happen, now that Vonni had said she wasn't going to marry the prince because he was crippled.

"Not my problem," Olexa blurted her thought. But she thought wrong.