The Rogue Alpha’s Claim

Definitely not a Luna Jennifer's POV Today was my day. The day I walked down the aisle and into Mark's arms as he claimed me as his. The day my family finally got the relevance they needed in the pack. The day I was going to be validated. I sat before my mirror brushing my hair, my mind racing through the thoughts of times I and Mark spent together. Days he'd told me he loved me and couldn't wait to claim me publicly. My mom appeared behind me and I stared at her through the mirror. She began to braid my hair humming a soft tune. “Mom I have to go”. “Just a minute Jen, your edges… I stood up abruptly, smoothing down my dress. “Mom I'd be late for the ceremony”. Mom looked at me, her eyes were full of something I couldn't name at the moment but I am sure they were of joy. This alliance was going to help us, help Dad. She planted a soft kiss on my head, wishing me luck. *********** It was time for the claiming ceremony. Mark had already taken the oath as the Alpha and leader of the pack. He was scanning the crowd for someone grinning from ear to ear. Me. I smiled, hoping he'd see me and trying not to get swallowed in the sea of people who'd attended the ceremony. “Now Alpha Rowland, it's time to choose your Luna and claim her publicly”, the pack elder’s voice intoned. My heart missed several beats but I dare not take my eyes off Mark. The crowd parted for him as he walked towards me. I clasped and unclasped my hands, feeling jittery and excited. He took one quick look at me as he approached and I smiled at him. He smiled back but then he took a corner around me. My heart sank. I turned around to see him holding a young woman's hand and kissing it softly. “I, Alpha Mark Rowland choose Sophie Chase as my Luna”. A loud cheer erupted from the crowd and suddenly my world began to spin. I watched as Mark led out my cousin to the podium, the both of them smiling at each other like long lost lovebirds. My cousin—Sophie? Sophie? Mark? What was going on? No! This is not possible. Mark promised me, he gave me his word and he is a man of his words. We had a thing, a strong relationship. He loves me or so I thought. The pain I felt was unbearable, I slowly walked towards them, choking back my tears and trying to steady my steps. “Mark, what's going on”? He looked at me, the way you'd look at a stranger who was suddenly interrupting something important. My eyes found Sophie’s and she sneered at me, holding Mark's arm. The whole crowd was pretty quiet now. “How dare you call the prestigious Alpha of this pack by name Jennifer. Such insolence!” She said and a murmur arose from the crowd. I fixed my gaze on Mark, my heart breaking with every passing second. “Mark. Look me in the eye and say I'm not your mate?” “That's ridiculous Jennifer. Why would he have two mates? Are you insane?” Mark raised his gaze to meet mine and I almost shook at the coldness in his eyes. The same eyes that had loved to see me grunt in pleasure whenever he stroked me. All those stolen nights, kisses, promises were just a game? “Mark?” I said reaching out to touch him. Maybe this was all a bad dream “You're not my mate Jennifer. I reject whatever bond I may have shared with you. Sophie is my Luna”. The pain in my chest became excruciating at that and I could hear my wolf howling. She was outraged instead of hurt and whimpering. I could feel her restless beneath my skin. Trying to process all of this. Sophie pushed me away from Mark and I fell to the gravel floor, bruising my elbow. “Did you really think he'd choose you Jennifer. You're super pathetic and you belong amongst the filthy, with your parents”. Mark raised a toast to Sophie and his new position smiling over the crowd, Sophie playing the dutiful wife. I quietly crawled up from the ground, making my way out of the hall and heading to nowhere in particular. My unshed tears threatened to choke me. I broke out into a sprint, running as fast as my legs could carry me into the woods surrounding the territory. I, Alpha Mark Rowland choose Sophie Chase as my Luna It was supposed to be me, not Sophie. After everything, this was what he used to say thank you? I fell to my knees before a tree and wept my heart out. Liar. The f*****g liar he was. I cried until all my tears were spent and I had none to shed. I had no idea how long I'd been here. My parents would have probably heard the news by now. They'd be looking for me already. I couldn't, I just couldn't face them again and Sophie? The disbelief hurt more than her betrayal. She knew, she knew I loved him. I sat there for a long time, I lost track of time and I noticed the sun was setting. I decided to go home. It was better to face the shame at home in my mother's arms than be eaten by strange creatures here anyway. My wolf wasn't exactly that powerful to fight alone here. I traced my steps back home, literally dragging my feet as I walked along the path littered with dry leaves. I heard a splashing sound and paused. I heard it again and suddenly my wolf leapt up, nudging at me. I quietly approached the source of the sound, making sure I wasn't heard. There was a stream here and I needed to know what exactly fell into it. I came into a small clearing and stood behind a tree that obscured me from sight. There was of course a stream, a crescent moon was already high up in the sky. There was a man in the stream, shirts off and his muscles sleek and rippling in the water. Wolf, not man, my wolf whispered. I stood there for a while, mesmerized by the sheer beauty of him. Then suddenly I snapped to my senses and turned to leave. I accidentally kicked an empty coconut shell and I froze. My instincts told me that he'd heard that and I didn't look back. I broke into a run, as fast as my legs could carry me.