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 now comforting Emersyn with the tenderness that should have been mine.

"What are we wasting time on? Estelle, get on your knees and apologize to Emersyn, and perhaps we’ll forgive you," Rio said disdainfully.

I met his gaze, disbelief washing over me.

Kneel and apologize?

We grew up together, and no one knew better than him how fiercely proud I am. Yet now, he demanded I kneel and apologize to Emersyn.

"I didn’t do anything wrong. Why should I apologize?"

Rio's face hardened, his voice cold. "First, you lie about being kidnapped, then you ruin Emersyn’s cake. How can you say you’ve done no wrong? I wish you really had been kidnapped and never came back to bother us!"

Being viciously attacked by those I trusted most left me reeling with pain. Yet they still wouldn’t let me be.

Lawrence grabbed my wrist, kicking sharply at the back of my knee. Caught off guard, I stumbled forward, forced to kneel as Emersyn smirked triumphantly.

The pain in my knee was the breaking point, and two decades of shared bonds crumbled to dust. I broke free from their hold, frantic, stood up, and walked out.

I wanted none of their affection, neither familial nor romantic.

...

"Estelle, stop right there!"

"If you walk out today, don’t ever think about coming back!"

Lawrence’s grip burned with rage as he held my arm. I laughed bitterly, prying his fingers off one by one.

"Don't worry. I won't be coming back."

This place was no longer my home.

Lawrence wanted to say more, but Rio interrupted with a dismissive snort. "Ignore her. It’s nothing but a stunt to grab attention. Who knows who taught her that."

"Let her go. She’s a pest to Emersyn here. She’ll plead to return once she faces enough trouble outside."

Lawrence's brief concern morphed into annoyance.

I knew they wouldn’t stop me. But tears continued to flow as I turned away.

The emotional and physical toll blurred my senses, and I barely made it past the driveway before collapsing.

When I regained consciousness, I was in the pack’s infirmary.

Celine Brown, the pack’s Healer, greeted me with a gentle smile. "Those two handsome men from last time didn’t come with you today?"

She was referring to Lawrence and Rio. The last time I was in the infirmary was six months ago. I had a bout of gastroenteritis, and those two, despite their busy schedules, rushed to my side, keeping vigil through the night.

The story quickly spread through the pack, and soon everyone knew I had a doting brother and a mate who adored me.

But now, that affection was a thing of the past.

Noticing my silence, Celine wisely didn’t press further.

The cold IV drip flowed through my veins, and I drifted back into a fitful sleep.

I dreamt of the past again.

Emersyn, my stepsister, had moved in with the Hoffmans six months ago with her mother. Initially, both Lawrence and Rio were wary of her, believing she was there to take what was mine and even scheming ways to get rid of her.

However, somewhere along the line, they began to accept her, and soon she became the focal point of their affection.

Seeing the shift, panic welled up inside me, driving me to tears and tantrums. But the same two people who had vowed to never let a tear fall from my eyes began to chastise me harshly.

"Estelle, stop being unreasonable. You’re the Hoffmans' eldest. You’ve always had everything, but Emersyn has only us!"

The two people closest to me had shifted their loyalty to Emersyn, allowing her to replace the bond we’d shared for over two decades.

How ironic.

If they no longer wanted me, then I no longer wanted them.