The Alpha’s Fated Mate Is an Outcast

Alexis was afraid as she walked into the manor with her mother. Her father had looked at her with eyes that would kill if they could, and she doubted he wasn't still furious.

But she had to talk to him. Her mother couldn't stay out, not when she wouldn't be able to be here. And everything should be fine once she explains to her father that she didn't implicate him in any way. 

Gulping, she opened the door and made her way into the grand foyer with guest sofas at the far end. Her legs forced her to a stop, eyes locking with her father, who'd just got up from one of the sofas, shaking hands with what seemed to be a friend. 

"We'll talk more later, Adolf." 

"See you, Kael." Mr. Ruderth nodded. 

The guest, Kael, turned to leave, only giving an acknowledging smile once he passed them.

Eleni gripped her hand. "Alexis, we need to get out. Your father—" 

"I know." Alexis breathed. "He's angry, but I have to talk to him." 

She squeezed her mother's hand and began to approach her father, who stood watching her, hands clasped behind his back. 

She met his eyes, refusing to show fear. 

"Dad." 

There was no response from the man. 

She swallowed. 

"I want to talk to you about—" 

A slap, one she didn't know when it even came, landed so harshly across her cheek that she staggered, almost falling.

"You are very brave, I'll give you that." He stepped closer to her, his tall frame towering above her. "I warned you! I warned you not to rope me into your mess, Alexis, but you don't listen." 

Alexis shook her head at him. "No, it's not like that. I didn't implicate you in any—" 

He raised his hand, and before she could move, the sharp crack of his palm met her cheek, cutting through the room and throwing her to the floor.

Alexis's breath hitched, eyes fluttering rapidly in stinging pain. 

"I strictly warned you that the gala was not for you. I didn't want to see you there. I didn't want to see you anywhere! What did you tell the alpha? What mess did you get me into?" he bellowed and grasped a good amount of her hair, yanking her off the floor. "Answer me, you damned brat!" 

"I didn't tell him anything!" Alexis frantically shook her head at him, blinking off the hot tears in her eyes, her hand reaching to his wrist. "I didn't tell him anything, I swear. No one knows. He—he asked me who my father is, but I did—" 

"You did it on purpose, didn't you?" The air seemed to vibrate with his anger, and the walls suddenly seemed to close in on them. "You envious little shit! That gala was for your sister, and you ruined it. Sending you out wasn't enough, you—"

"Leave her alone!" Eleni rushed towards him and shoved him hard. "Don't touch her, don't ever touch my daughter again!" Shoulders were rising and falling in heavy breathing. "She didn't do anything wrong! She only came there to find you, to talk to you! All you care about is Eve, so why would it ever, for once, occur to you in your head that Alexis doesn't want to be in Eve's shoes? She's an outcast, but so what?" 

The woman was full-on crying. 

She grabbed Alexis and tried to help her off the floor. "Touch her one more time, Adolf, and I'll burn this house down if I have to." 

Ruderth stared at her, face turning red in pure rage. 

"Eleni, do you want to stand and watch this thing you brought into this world bring us all down because of her mess? Is that it? Do you know what she's done?" he snapped at her. "Do you realize the kind of jeopardy my business is in because of her? I don't think you do, because I am the one who has to work my ass off, and this thing is about to—" 

"I'm sorry!" Alexis hurried closer to him and fell on her knees right in front of him. "I'm sorry that I was born, I'm sorry for everything I've done. You're right, I never should have come to that gala. I ruined things for Eve, and yes, it's my fault. But please." She cupped her hands together at him. "My mother, you have to let her in, to stay with you. I'll find my way on my own, I won't insist on staying. All I'm asking is that you let her stay. Please, I'm begging you."

"Alexis, stop it!" Eleni stormed towards her, grabbing her to get her off the floor. "Stop begging a man who doesn't even regard you. Get up from there." 

"Dad, please." She grabbed his leg. "You said before that my mom can stay. Please, let her stay with you. I promise I won't bother anyone here, I'll even pretend I don't know—" 

"Alexis!" Her mother snapped at her. 

Still, she didn't listen. And by now, Mr. Ruderth was growing even more irritated by the entire scenario, so much so that he suddenly kicked her, causing Alexis to fall back, the air knocked out of her lungs. 

He glared at his wife. "Get her out of here! Now." 

Alexis coughed frantically, the blood that had rushed to her throat spurting to the floor. She rubbed her chest, shaking her head at her father. "Please…I'll do anything you want. Just let her stay. Dad—"

The man stormed towards her, grabbed her by the arms, and proceeded to drag her out of the house if he had to, but then—

"Enough." 

The voice was familiar, frighteningly so, but never heard around the manor. Mr. Ruderth stiffened, taking a few terrified moments before lifting his head. 

His eyes flew open, the ring around his brown irises widening. "A-Alpha…" 

"That's enough now, Ruderth." 

Keelion was moving further into the foyer, hands shoved into the pocket of his slacks, suit jacket—a fine design of pristine black. Everyone was staring at him—Eleni's mouth opened, Ruderth with pure sudden fear in his eyes, and Alexis in complete confusion. 

He sat down on the loveseat, one leg draped over the other, and his eyes, bluer than the ocean, rose to the man.

"Take your hand off her."

Ruderth's hand flew off Alexis's body and he went so stiff, he was no different from a statue. 

"Alexis, come over here." He shifted his gaze to her, no trace of amusement on his face. 

Alexis rapidly blinked, still not sure what was going on. She was sure she hadn't told Keelion Fane who her father was, so how did he know? Why did he come? 

Her gaze fell on her unmoving father, gaze stuck on Keelion, and then towards her mother, who was the same, before they finally landed on Eve, who'd just come downstairs, stopping at the sight of him. 

A smile almost popped on her face, but the tension within the room was too clear—very much a situation not warranting any form of smile. 

"You like making me repeat myself, do you know that?" Keelion eyed her with a hardened gaze. 

Alexis's body sprung from the floor, hand clutching her aching side where her father had kicked her. She slumped her way towards Keelion, and once she stood in front of him, she refused to make eye contact with him, turning her face away.

"Sit." The man tapped his lap. 

She rapidly blinked, almost choking on her breath. "I-I should—" 

"Sit, Alexis!" 

She dropped on his lap without a second thought, wincing at the pain on her side and her forehead fell against his shoulder. Her breathing was shallow.

Keelion glanced at her frame and slowly looked up at Ruderth. 

He studied him in silence. 

The old man's eyes were darting all over the room. "Sir Fane, I-it's not what you think. It's family problems and—" 

Keelion hummed. "I didn't ask you any questions, Adolf." 

Mr. Ruderth went silent, swallowing the rest of his words.

He watched the beads of sweat running down his face, and his hand crawled to the back of Alexis's neck, grabbing gently.

His gaze narrowed on the old man, and he questioned, "I never knew you had another daughter, why is that?" 

Mr. Ruderth gulped. 

It was over… It was over for him.