Chapter 1
“Aargh… Yes Baby…” The head of my alpha mate’s manhood popped from the rogue’s mouth.
I covered my mouth, tears brimming in my eyes.
The one I’d loved for 10 years was now cheating on me…
So I rejected him and mated to the Lycan King, instantly becoming the powerful Luna Queen.
***
My wolf recognized Alpha Darren as mate many years ago, and today was supposed to be our marking ceremony–the day I would officially become the Luna of the Duskwood Pack.
With a nervous yet graceful smile, I carefully lifted the hem of my dress and stepped onto the stage.
Looking around, I felt the gaze of the entire pack settle on me.
I took a deep breath to calm myself and took a glance at my watch–Darren should’ve been here before.
Whispers began to ripple through the pack below. I anxiously scanned the hall, only to realize that Beta Landon, who was always by Darren’s side, was also nowhere to be seen.
Just then, the elder walked in and announced in a booming voice, “Alpha Darren has gone to the border on important business. Today’s marking ceremony is canceled.”
Border? Was it the enemy coming to invade?
I hurried over to the elder, desperate to confirm their safety, “Elder, what happened? Do they need me there?”
The elder glanced at me and said, “they’re just going to pick someone up. There’s no need to be so anxious.” With that, he left, leaving me alone to face the entire pack.
My heart sank, and a chill crawled up my spine.
The “someone” who could make Darren and Landon so eager to pick up, even abandoning me all alone, could only be her.
Xandra Young–the rogue they took in three years ago.
When they brought her back, Darren had just become the Alpha of the Duskwood Pack with the secret support of my family, and as his matę, I was supposed to soon become the rightful Luna of the pack.
But Xandra’s arrival ruined everything.
Xandra never hid her desire for Darren and was almost always by his side. Even Landon seemed enchanted by her, constantly fawning over her. Meanwhile, I, who had grown up with them, was slowly pushed aside.
I kept giving in, but all I got in return was her pressing harder- because what she wanted was never just Darren.
She wanted to take MY place.
On the day Darren went into mate heat, she set it all up–had Landon hold me back while she deliberately got my scent on herself to lure Darren into losing control.
By the time I realized something was wrong and broke free from Landon, they were already tangled together, both naked, about to complete the final bond.
That was the first time I let my wolf take over–raw, furious, and out of control, nothing like the docile Hannah they were used to.
In an instant, I shifted into a massive white wolf and pounced on Xandra, pinning her down with my fangs against her throat.
But the next second, Darren and Landon’s wolves came out, growling and forcefully throwing me off.
When I regained my senses and looked up, all I saw was them surrounding Xandra with concern, not even sparing me a glance.
After that day, Xandra “left the pack.”
No one knew where she had gone, but they said she had “left to recover from her injuries.”
But I hadn’t even touched a hair on her.
They all believed that I had driven Xandra away, and after that day, for three years, Darren didn’t touch me. Landon became distant towards me as well.
When three days ago Darren suddenly arranged this marking ceremony for me, I almost thought he changed his mind. I spent those three days preparing for it, carefully selecting every piece. of jewelry, every vow, even wore the perfume he once said he liked.
But today, Xandra returned, and without hesitation, Darren and Landon abandoned me once more.
Malicious whispers from the crowd instantly rushed toward me like a wave.
“Hannah’s just an orphan. Does she really think growing up with the Alpha means she can be the Luna?”
“It’s all just her wishful thinking. Alpha Darren never loved her.”
The silver moon gown I had carefully chosen made my skin look as pale as snow. Moonstone earrings–my mother’s gift–hung delicately by my ears, radiating the ancient grace of royal blood.
And yet, I stood there like a discarded clown.
Everyone in the pack knew what the Alpha’s absence from the marking ceremony meant–he was rejecting me as his Luna.
Unable to face the mix of pity and ridicule in their eyes any longer, I turned and ran away in disgrace.
I finally stumbled into an empty clearing, away from the pack. I could no longer pretend to be composed–tears streamed down my face, ruining the carefully applied makeup I had spent hours. perfecting.
I ripped off one of the moonstone earrings my mother had given me. A teardrop landed on the cold gem, and it shimmered faintly with moonlight, as if trying to comfort me.
I whispered, “Mom… I regret it. I want to go home. I will marry the Lycan King of the Nightshade Kingdom.”
