Sharing my dissatisfaction and sentiments with others is extremely beneficial since it alleviates the ache inside my heart. And there is no one I trust more than my mother and my friends; they always took half the pain away and I rapidly regained my strength.

She pulled out a chair under the wooden table and offered me to sit.

"Please tell me how it happened," she said, concerned, her gaze fixed on me, eager to listen.

I exhaled a frustrated sigh and curled my lips to speak. "He despises me and claims that an Omega cannot be his mate!"

My mother tenderly caressed my back to comfort me and she also fulfilled the duty of my later father who passed away when I was still a kid. Unfortunately, I was too young to remember him, so the memories my mother told me about him are all I have. We may be the poorest pack, and I may not always receive what I want, but the love and care that my mother has shown me is what makes me feel so proud and happy.

"You are destined to be better, Sophia," she gripped my hands tightly, and I could see how much she cared for me as I looked her in the eyes. "Everything's going to be okay!"

As much as I love my mom, I contradicted her advice. "I doubt, the Moon Goddess chose him to be with me. He was my destiny."

"Did the Moon Goddess mean you to be mated with him?" she replied promptly. "What was the reason for her choosing him as your fated mate?"

I cannot seem to understand. Why would the moon Goddess intend for me to be rejected in the first place? I knew she would see it coming unless the Moon Goddess wanted to humiliate me. I tried to flash back some memories in the past to see if there was something I did that caused her to hold a grudge against me. Then, I realized that I refused to accept a task she assigned to me because I had other things to do back then. Back then, Steven took my side, and the Moon Goddess could no longer object anymore as she owed his family a lot.

"You seem to have a lot on your mind right now Honey," my mom said interrupting me from my deep thoughts. Anyhow, if Ace rejected you as his Alpha mate, then let him be. You need not to worry. He chose to go against the Moon Goddess's decisions and let him face the consequences of it. Move on with your life!"

"I was under the impression that we cannot disobey the Moon Goddess... not until Ace rejected me!"

Before my Mom could reply, there was someone who knocked on the door and went to the kitchen, maybe because he also smelled the aroma of the dish my mom cooked for my birthday. It was Conan, the guy that she met before at the party club. He was also a member of the Alpha pack and one of the most influential among them. At the age of 40, he was still handsome and so masculine. From the way my mom looked at him, I knew that she already had feelings for Conan in spite of the fact that they only met twice in a month after the party.

The attention of my mom suddenly shifted to him and I was shocked that they kissed in lips.

"I missed you, honey, I thought you would come late!" my Mom, whose eyes were full of happiness said to Conan

"I missed you too, I filed a leave on the office so I can join earlier on the special day of your daughter," Conan looked at me and greeted me cheerfully. "Happy Birthday to you Sophia, I have a special gift for you!"

He took something from his pocket and handed me a small red box that kinda of resembled a box for a wedding ring. "I have decided to give you a precious ring so once you confess to Isaac that he is your fated mate, you can hand him that ring as a symbol that you are fated for him!"

I accepted the ring and looked at my mom with my eyes widened in shock. Never did I imagine that she was already in a relationship with someone, at least that is what I interpreted when they kissed each other. Not to mention that he gave me a ring for my fated Alpha.

"Mom what is going on?" I asked in wonder.

She holds him on the shoulders and happily announces that they are in a relationship. "Honey, I would like to apologize if I did not inform you right away about my relationship with Conan. We've been boyfriend and girlfriend for one week already!"

I was too lazy to reply, this was the very first time I felt upset with her. I would never have thought she was going to lie to me, I thought we promised each other that we would never hide anything. And I don't feel the sincerity in her voice either.

"Conan, as I told you before, the Moon Goddess said that Ace is the fated mate of Sophia but he just rejected her earlier!"

I looked down and frowned, tired of hearing that many times. I want to disappear and consider this birthday the worst one.

"Oh, I have never been close to Ace. He seems so aloof and distanced himself most of the time. I felt like he looked down on those below his ranks!"

"You are on the same rank, can you talk to him to see if he really wants my daughter? This is her birthday and I don't want her to be sad!"

I protested adamantly and for the very first time, I raised my voice to my mom. I respected her so much before, yet she dared to make me feel so pitiful and helpless.

"Please Mom," I begged, and I sounded as if I was about to cry. "I feel so heavy right now, refrain from talking too much about what happened earlier. Is it too much if I wanted to lock myself in my room?"

"Sophia, please forgive me as well. I don't like you to be rejected by Ace either. Still, the rule is crystal clear, the Moon Goddess declared him as your fated mate and he is not in the right place to object or complain about that. I need to talk to him and force him to say sorry to you in front of us. Such arrogant behavior is never tolerated in our pack!" said Conan, he is obviously covering up his relationship with my Mom and wanting to gain my trust.

I put the small red box he gave me on the table and spoke candidly. "There is no need for you to do that Conan, I have respect for his decision and it's not a good thing to force someone to love somebody they don't want to hang out with!"

Without hesitation, I left the kitchen and went to the room. I like Conan as a friend of my mom but not as her partner. To think that she already replaced my father is so offensive and disgusting to me. I went straight to my bathroom, looked in the mirror, and cried while pretending like a lunatic who talks to herself just to ease the pain.

"This is too much for me to take, I have been rejected and my mom hid her true relationship with Conan. My friend Marry is also happy with her life while I am not. I am alone and rejected, I wonder if my father is still alive, I am certain that he would never let me feel this way!"

"Honey come out, Marry is here and she wants to join us for lunch!" said Mom who knocked on the door.

I wiped my tears and washed my face, my gorgeous makeup was ruined but I didn't care anymore. "I want to be alone, stay away please!" I shouted.

"Hey Sophia we promised to drink red wine today, didn't we? I know you are upset but it's no use if you just cover yourself in your blanket and cry alone!"

I have my utmost respect for Marry, she is a very supportive friend and wants nothing but the best for me. However, I am in pain right now and not in the mood to each lunch with them. I decided not to answer her and went to my bed.

"Honey, if you do not open the door, you leave me no choice but to open it!"

My Mom was so persistent and insensitive at this moment.

"No, let her rest if she wants to!" disagreed Conan. "Your daughter is brokenhearted and upset right now, any teenager undergoes such moments and I guarantee you she will be fine!"

"I am not leaving your house until I see your face, Sophia!" said Marry. 

Loneliness is calling me and I sank on my bed while flashing back on everything that had happened earlier. Secretly wiping my tears. Damn! Why I am so obsessed with Ace? Maybe because I am physically attracted to him? Or there is something special on him that I really like?