The Rejected: she's the mother of his heir.

Julieta's pov.

Many scenarios flood my mind as I stood in front of my stepfather, patiently waiting for him to tell me the reason he's summoned me. But it doesn't seem like he's even noticed my presence, he's just so focused on lighting his cigarette and groping the teenager sitting beside him.

I wanted to make my presence known, but I'm scared he's going to lash out on me since my existence irritates him, and he finds the slightest chance to hit me.

“... I'm already feeling wet, drop the cigarette and let's have fun” the teenager said, her words alerting me of what's coming next if I don't announce my presence.

Taking a deep, shaky breath, I coughed lightly, and it indeed attracted my stepfather's attention. He snapped his head towards my direction with a displease scowl on his face, as he glared angrily at me.

“Why do you always show up at the wrong time?” he growled, he grabbed a glass cup on the table in front of him and threw it at me.

I tried to dodge the glass cup as it approached my face, but I guess I wasn't fast enough, and it landed on my forehead, making me hiss quietly in pain. The teenager snickered while pointing at my forehead, which made me curious, and I touched it only to realize the glass cup has left a big cut on my forehead.

“What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in the kitchen cooking the alpha's lunch?” The teenager asked, earning a glare from me, but I quickly wiped off the glare and wore a bright smile when my stepfather raised his brows at me.

I ignored the teenager and faced my stepfather. “Mrs. Moore said you want to see me, dad” I said.

My stepfather inhaled his cigarette as he nodded in agreement. He reached for an envelope at the far end of the table, and threw it at me.

“Go get dressed” he ordered. I wanted to ask why, but then he continued. “The Alpha King is selecting a female wolf to birth his heir, and you're going” he said.

Hearing his words, I couldn't help the chuckle that escaped my lips because he sounded ridiculous to me. But I immediately played it off as though I were coughing, so as not to incur my stepfather's anger.

“Clean yourself up and wear some clean clothes, you're leaving at 5pm” he added.

“But I'm…" I wanted to object, but one look from him made me flinch back, and I swallowed my objections.

“But you're what?” he asked, narrowing his eyes and daring me to speak.

I don't want to go to the palace because I know going, there is just a waste of my time since the Alpha King won't even spare someone like me a glance — I'm a plus-sized girl. I'm not as beautiful as other girls, coupled with the fact that maltreatment is written all over me.

“Why the hell is she still standing there?” My stepfather growled, making me jump back subconsciously.

“I don't want to go” I found myself saying.

My stepfather's brows raised as though he has seen or heard something interesting. He slowly got up, with a sick, sarcastic grin on his face.

“You don't want to go?” He took slow steps towards me as he asked this question.

Shaking my head sideways, I also took slow steps backwards.

“Why, sweetie?” he asked in an overly sweet tone, which obviously sounded fake.

I would rather not say anything, in fact, I have convinced myself not to speak, but my mouth just seemed to have a mind of its own. “The Alpha King won't pick me because I'm ugly!” I screamed before I could stop myself.

What on earth are you doing, Julieta? Why did you raise your voice? Where on earth did that confidence come from? I scolded myself mentally. But you know what they say, it's too late when the head is already cut off.

Before I could redeem myself, my legs were already off the ground and dangling in the air, with my stepfather's hand tightly wrapped around my neck, and making it hard for me to breathe.

“You're ugly, and you don't know whom to blame that on?” his grip tightened. “Blame it on your whore of a mother!” he bellowed in my face.

My breath is slowly draining. I tapped his hand desperately and stared at him with apologetic eyes, but he didn't care.

“I don't know or care about how you're going to do it, but you must make sure the Alpha King picks you because that $10,000 is mine”

Ten thousand dollars? What does he mean? Was a price placed on anyone who will give the Alpha King an heir? Does this mean he's selling me to the Alpha King?

“I'm going to put you down, and you'll go inside, clean up your stinking self and get dressed in something nice” I nodded quickly, desperate of getting away from his death grip. “And don't even think of escaping because I'll hunt you down and bring you back, tie you up and make every unmated male wolf in this pack fuck the hell out of you” he threatened.

Knowing he's someone who doesn't say words just to scare me, but actually mean every word he says, I nodded quickly in agreement. He smirked in contentment, then let go of my neck and I fell on the hard floor, dislocating my ankle in the process — but who am I to complain?

Picking up my helpless self, I head towards my room to do as he has directed. I heard his teenage girlfriend laughing at my misfortune, but ignored her since there's absolutely nothing I can do.

★★★

“His Majesty will be with you soon, ladies” a lady announced as she inspects us while walking through the neat row we've formed.

The other ladies and I have arrived at the palace and have been waiting in the ballroom for the past two hours, but there's no sight of the Alpha King yet — and honestly, I'm feeling sleepy already because I'm still tired from the tedious work I did before coming.

“I want everyone to be on their best behavior before the king” she said. “But you can behave otherwise if you're tired of existing” her voice became sterner while saying that last part.

I don't know if I'm the only one, and I don't understand why I'm feeling this way, but there's this nagging feeling at the back of my mind that something's about going down tonight.

Anyway, I'm not concerned about whatever is going to happen, I just want the Alpha King to come already and pick the potential lady to birth his heir.

“His Royal Majesty, King Alejandro Guillermo, has arrived!” A guard announced from the entrance of the ballroom.

Everyone, including me, straightened up their postures subconsciously. Even the council of elders, that sat at a safe distance away from us, also stood up to honor his Majesty's arrival.

"Your Majesty” the council of elders greeted with a respectful bow, immediately the Alpha King reached a chair that was obviously prepared for him.

"Your Majesty” everyone else also greeted with a respectful bow. I also quickly bowed my head.

My brows furrowed as I noticed my wolf becoming restless the moment the Alpha King walked in, and closed my eyes as I tried to consult my wolf to find what's going on with her — yes, I can only speak with my wolf when my eyes are closed, my wolf is that weak.

*Are you feeling alright, Ana?* I asked her.

*No* came her short response.

*What's wrong?*

*I don't know* she replied. I can already imagine how confused her face is right now.

“Who let this pig in?” I heard an angry voice growl in disgust, pulling me out of the conversation I was having with my wolf.

Not processing the question yet, I looked around as if searching for the person being referred to as a pig, then realization hit me… I'm the only plus-sized girl here and the only one who fits that description.

Facing my front, I saw the Alpha King standing in front of me, glaring at me with pure disgust clearly written on his face.

*Mate* I heard Ana say excitedly.

Mate?

*Mate* she repeated. I can feel she's already jumping in my head.

No. This can't be. My mate is the Alpha King? How come?

Looking back to the Alpha King, I saw not only disgust but disappointment and disapproval clearly pasted on his face. He looked as though he'd kill me in a second.

Can he feel our mate bond? Is that the reason he is giving me this murderous look?

“Who let her in?” His voice thundered again, sending everyone to their knees as we all fell on our faces.

“I… I'm…" the lady from earlier is struggling with her words.

I didn't want her to get punished because of me. So, I made to get up and bear the consequences myself, but the Alpha King's next words shattered my heart.

“I, Alpha King Alejandro Guillermo, reject you as my mate!”

Gasps echoed throughout the ballroom.