Rejected By My Mate, Claimed By Contract

Fiona's POV

 Alpha Derek rose up with an unhurried confidence before going on to strip off his jacket and unbutton his shirt with a sickening precision. Leaving just his pants as the top fabric fell off revealing a sculpted chest and tight muscles.

I stupidly waited for him to remove his glasses, but he didn't. Instead, he handed his clothes to a warrior next to him and strode to the stage with one of the warriors leading him, proving the rumors about how he fought and kept it on till the end to be true. 

The arena fell silent leaving only the drums that my heart matched the rhythm pounding like the drummers were possessed as he stepped into the ring.

The bell rang, and with his hand stretched out like he was feeling the air, he lunged without warning. His fist sliced into the air, the force of it grazing my cheek as I ducked back. He pushed one hand forward again before another blow came for my jaw as quickly as the first, but I caught it with both hands, my knees buckling under the force. 

"Alpha Derek," I called politely in a breathless manner. "I did not come here for a fight, but to talk to you," I added, shifting sideways to avoid another blow.

"I have been trying to get your attention for a while now because I urgently need your help in setting myself free from the cage your ex who recently returned to my pack had thrown me in," I continued, ducking a jab before twisting to throw him a kick but he caught my ankle mid-air and shoved me back, saying nothing to me.

I hissed as I stumbled backward. "She said she was wrongly accused and exiled, hence her return back to the Moonveil, but I don't trust that so I was hoping you could share with me what truly happened," I continued breathlessly, "I would have walked away from it all, but Kael wouldn't let me."

Without saying anything, he struck again-a punch to my ribs and a knee aimed at my thigh. I managed to block the second, but groaned as the first landed. His hand clamped my neck the next second and he hurled me to the ground. 

"Say something!" I screamed in frustration, swinging my fist wildly at him.

Finally, his voice cut through the air like a blade. "You talk too much for a woman."

I froze in a spot and he circled me like a predator, slightly hunched forward with his head twisting ceaselessly like he was trying to sniff me out while his hand wandered in front of him.

"Yes, plus your desperation stinks and I don't have the time to give to a weak link who is choosing to run away from her marriage like a coward instead of fighting to win." 

My fist clenched as rage exploded through my body from his words, and without thinking, I launched at him. My fists flew faster without aiming and he caught some while he grunted at the others that hit him. He tried to shove me, but I used his momentum to flip him to the ground.

I quickly got on him and pinned him down, as the crowd erupted into a loud round of applause. "Am I worth your time now?" I spat, heaving.

He shoved me off, stood up, and walked off the stage with the help of his warrior that was on standby throughout the fight. I went after him, pushing through the crowd backstage. "Don't walk away, we're not done here. I know you want this fight as much as I do because of how she discarded you despite your status so why shy away from it?"

His warriors stepped in, forming a wall between us. "He's not interested," one of them muttered. 

I stood there, stunned and breathless as I watched him walk away.

"Why are you trying to speak with Derek?" Kael's voice landed behind me like a whip and I turned quickly.

"Just trying to thank him for...not breaking my ribs," I lied, forcing a soft smile. 

Kael eyed me for a bit too long, and without praising me for scaling through such an intense match, "Go get changed, we are about to leave," he went on to say.

Back at the pack house that night, I couldn't sleep so I slipped into the woods for air. As I made my way further into the woods under the full moon with cold biting my skin and dress dragging dried leaves and broken twigs, I fought back tears. Everything I held dear-my hope, mate, pack, and pride-had crumbled as if the universe had yanked the ground beneath me.

I stopped at the edge of a hill, clutching my belly as tears effortlessly streamed down my face. Exhaustion and confusion consumed me as I thought about how raising a child who would end up competing with Laila's own for Kael's attention just like I was, felt unbearable. I wanted to confront him, explain why I sought after Alpha Derek, and demand freedom from the marriage. But would he even listen? 

I turned to head back to the pack house, ready to face my fears, when I saw Laila leaning against a tree, arms folded across her chest.

I sucked my teeth. "How long have you been standing there?"

Stepping out of the shadows, "Long enough to witness you accepting your glorious fall, Luna Fiona. You're unraveling beautifully," She said in a voice that lacked the innocent part she always tries to play around Kael as she blocked my way. "Anyways, where are you going? I thought you were going to throw yourself off the hill to save us all the trouble."

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. "Get out of my way, Laila, I don't have any time to waste on a bitch like you," I muttered.

"Oh wait," She continued, tilting her head mockingly, "Are you going to remind him of that worthless thing growing inside of you? Because he seems to have forgotten that as he only talks about me and mine."

"You don't get to talk about my child in such a manner," I snapped, slapping her hard across her face.

She held her cheek and straightened her head that had snapped to the side from the slap. "It is hopeless for you to think that the baby would fix anything. He doesn't love you, Fiona, can't you see? You were just a convenient warm body when I wasn't around. And now that I am..." she leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "You're just in my way."

I let out a bitter laugh. "You walked thoughtlessly away from him and I was the one who stood by him and made him who he is today when you damaged him."

"And somehow, he still wants me," She broke into a clacking laughter. "He always steals kisses from me in the open, like a hopelessly romantic college boy and he rides me like he's starving. I bet he has never had something as good as me, not even from you, that was why he was quick to dash back into my arms."

"You're lying," I whispered, not wanting to think about her words.

"Am I?" She whispered back, circling me. "You know it's true. He only mated you because he couldn't have me. And now you are here, stuck in a marriage where you are your unborn child are just obstacles. But somehow, you still want to play the victim card and act all innocent when you are the real devil here." 

"Shut your damn mouth!" I exploded, shoving her hard in the chest.

She staggered back, laughing heartily. "There it is. The real you. Not so innocent."

"You are delusional," I spat, reaching to grab her hair, but she slapped my hand away and kicked my stomach, knocking me towards the hill edge. I struggled to get back on my feet, ready to strike, when she shoved me from behind, sending me tumbling down.

I crashed at the foot of the hill, pain exploding through me in a blinding manner. Warm blood spread through my thighs as my body refused to move. 

I slowly lifted my gaze up the hill and saw Laila staring at me with no remorse at all before quietly walking away. "No...no, please..." I gasped, my fingers trembling over my stomach. "Please don't go...help me."

The world blurred as searing pain tore through my abdomen. A choked sob escaped me, and through the misery that engulfed me, I started hearing footsteps.

I tried to lift my head as the steps drew closer to me, but I was too weak to. "Help," I cried out weakly, "help me."

Minutes later, a tall, broad silhouette which I think coincidentally happened to be Alpha Derek appeared. He crouched beside me looking straight ahead, face as unreadable as during the brawl, with two warriors standing silently behind him.

Taking a deep breath, "Please...I'm losing...I lost..." I tried to talk.

"I know," he said quietly, his voice too calm for someone seeing misery unfold. 

I gripped his wrist weakly. "How did you know?"

"I followed the scent of your blood. You leave quite a trail when you bleed. I thought it was a wanderer being attacked, but now that I know it's you I will..."

"No, don't leave me here," I cut in sharply. "I need your help, I will do anything in return," I continued, choking back a sob.

A faint smirk curved one side of his mouth. "Anything is a dangerous word, Luna."

"I know, but I need...I want...to be free from him and everything I once knew. I want revenge, and I want my pack back," I managed to say, my words slurred as I fought to stay awake.

He paused, letting the weight of the silence fall between us for a while before speaking again. "I am going to help you get rid of your unfaithful husband along with his side piece, and also get you your pack back. But," his lips curled again, "you have to sign a contract to be my Luna for one year."

"I...I..." my words slurred as my eyes came shut.