Alpha Rejected By His Human Mate

Ryan.

"Good morning, darling. How are you feeling today?" My mother's voice floats in from the open door.

Glancing at the doorway briefly, I watch my guards bow as they let her in. Dressed in an emerald green dress, she moves with the type of dignity that has been honed from age.

"Mother," I mutter in greeting as she steps in front of me, bringing up her hand to cup my cheeks.

Snapping a finger at my guards, they shut the door to give us some privacy. My attention is drawn back to my mother when she pulls my head down-due to the height difference-to plant a kiss on my forehead.

As she steps back, she begins fussing over my ceremonial robe, and even though it makes me feel like a child, I let her.

She had single handedly raised me up after the death of my father in a war twenty years back. I was two years old at the time but I can still remember how she went to bed every night, crying herself to sleep.

And even with her weakened state, coupled with the loss of her mate, she still somehow managed to rule over the pack until I came of age to take over four years ago.

"I'm so proud of how far you've come," my mother's words snaps me out of my thoughts. I look down at her to see her eyes glistening with tears, and my wolf rears his head to give an appreciative purr at the compliment.

"Hey mum, don't you dare go soft on me today." I smile as I brush the single tear that had rolled down her cheek.

My mother had been my mentor since I became the Alpha of the Loren Pack. She was always strict with me but once in a while, in moments like this, she drops her facade and lets her personality shine through.

"Oh shut up. A mother is allowed to be proud of her son, especially when he's the best Alpha this pack has ever seen, and she should also be able to celebrate his milestones. Even more so when she's the reason behind his every achievement," she concludes with a smirk on her face which makes me shake my head at her, even though I'm grinning.

"And people think I'm cocky," I scoff as I reply to her, ruffling my hair as I prepare to head out for the ceremony. Clearly, they've never met Leigh Stones, my mother and the matriarch of my pack.

"Well, you are cocky," my mother starts and I roll my eyes as she continues, "but you got it from me."

She winks as I extend my hand to her. "Ready to go?" I ask.

She accepts my extended hand and as we make our way to the door, she mutters, "I can't wait to see what choice you'd make."

___

The Hall of Loren stands proudly in the middle of the city. It was built in such a way that it can be spotted from every part of the city.