Rejected by the Alpha, Marked by the Lycan King Chapter 2

Countdown: 20 days.

Liam was leaving early and returning late more frequently than ever. He always smelled of that sickly sweet vanilla scent—Chloe’s pheromones.

The promised ceremony seemed like it never existed.

Occasionally, I’d scroll through his pack brothers' Instagrams. In the corners of the photos, there was always a glimpse of him with another woman.

That day, my design studio partner, Sarah—a mixed-blood werewolf—stopped me.

"Grab the design drafts. We’re going to sign a contract with the client."

"I heard the client is the rumored girlfriend of the Alpha from the Silver Moon Pack."

I nodded, feeling a bit dazed.

Although Sarah is my partner, she doesn't know I know Liam.

She definitely doesn't know that Liam and I are fated mates.

The client's office was located right in the Miller Tower, downstairs from Liam’s office.

I knew this was the new fashion company Chloe started upon her return. Wholly funded by the Miller Pack.

Walking into the CEO's office, I wasn't surprised to see Liam.

He was holding an exquisite cake box from the famous La Pâtisserie, handing it to the woman in the executive chair.

Chloe.

Liam’s expression froze the instant he saw me.

Everyone in the room felt the sudden agitation in the pheromones in the air.

Chloe looked at me with a playful gaze, as if scrutinizing a low-ranking Omega.

"And who is this?"

Liam fell silent, seemingly weighing how to explain.

I smiled, suppressing the growl of the wolf inside me, and extended my hand to everyone.

"I’m Elena, the designer for this project. Alpha Liam and I are..."

Liam spoke at the exact same time as me:

"College alumni."

As the words fell, my knuckles turned white as I gripped the design drafts.

My fingernails left a deep scratch on the paper.

This wasn't the first time I’d covered for Liam, nor was it the first time Liam didn't want to make my identity public.

The so-called "unmarked mate" status hid the soul bond between us.

It also destined us to have no future.

The business meeting that followed was unpleasant.

Liam reverted to his cold-blooded Alpha persona. Representing Chloe, he was aggressive in the negotiation, using his Alpha pressure to intimidate Sarah.

"Drop the price another 10%."

Liam pushed our profit margins and bottom line to the limit.

Sarah, as a mixed-blood, couldn't withstand the pressure of a pureblood Alpha. She gritted her teeth and agreed.

"Fine. Alpha Liam really lives up to his reputation."

The man lowered his eyes, not daring to look at me.

He was indeed as ruthless as the legends said.

It’s just that now, he was using that ruthlessness against his true mate.

Chloe stayed silent the whole time, wearing the smile of a victor.

She reached out to untie the cake box on the table.

"Let's all have some cake."

Unexpectedly, Liam, who had been as steady as a mountain during the negotiation, panic-strickenly snatched it away.

"Elena, don't move! You're allergic to silver powder. Let me check it first."

The scene before me turned into invisible claws, tearing my heart into bloody shreds.

In five years together, this man had forgotten the anniversary of our meeting and remembered the wrong date of my first shift.

But he always remembered that I was allergic to silver powder—a fatal weakness for werewolves.

I had secretly rejoiced before. Maybe all the other details revealed the truth that he didn't love me...

But there was this one thing that showed a trace of care.

Turns out...

Even that trace of care was fake.

He called the wrong name.

He shouted "Elena," but his eyes were locked on Chloe.

What he remembered wasn't my allergy.

He remembered that Chloe was allergic to nuts.

The cake was a nut cake, not a special food containing silver.

His instinct was to protect Chloe, but he slapped my name on it.