Marked By The Lycan King, Betrayed By Fate

CHAPTER 36

(Selene’s POV)

The moment the last noble bent their knee, a strange calm washed over me. It wasn’t triumph—not yet. But it was a beginning. A silent declaration that they would at least pretend to respect me now. And sometimes, in a court like this, pretense was more powerful than truth.

Lucian tightened his hold on my hand. "You did well," he whispered, voice brushing against my ear like velvet.

I nodded slightly, still keeping my gaze on the bowing wolves before me. "They hate me."

"Let them. Hatred is easier to control than loyalty."

We exited the throne hall together, our every step echoing across the cold marble. Once we were beyond the ornate doors, I let out a slow breath and turned to him.

"What now?" I asked.

Lucian met my gaze, his expression unreadable. "Now, we prepare for their next move. Because they won't stop here."

The next morning, I descended the grand staircase, drawn by the smell of roasted coffee and the familiar clinking of cutlery. I wore a simple satin robe, hair loosely braided. I wasn’t in the mood for royal attire today.

I had just stepped into the dining hall when I saw him.

Dexton.

He sat at the edge of the table, lazily poking at his food like it offended him. Harper was seated across from him, visibly tense. The moment he looked up and saw me, his lip curled.

"Look who decided to grace us with her presence," he sneered. "The shameless b***h who couldn’t keep her place as a mate, so she clawed her way into my father's bed."

Harper gasped. "Dexton! That’s enough."

I raised a hand, stopping him. "No. Let him speak."

Dexton stood now, the chair screeching behind him. "You want me to speak? Fine. You were mine, Selene. And now you're my mother? Do you have any idea how disgusting that is?"

I walked toward him slowly, each step deliberate. "I wasn’t yours, Dexton. Not truly. You gave me away the moment you chose that omega over me."

His eyes darkened. "And my father took you like a stray off the street? You think mating him makes you powerful? You're nothing but a replacement."

"Then why does it scare you so much that I’m here?" I asked softly. "Why does it burn you to see me standing where you thought I would crawl forever?"

He clenched his jaw. "You’re not fit to be queen. You’re not fit to be part of this family."

"And yet here I am," I said, voice icy. "Mated. Crowned. And whether you like it or not—your mother."

Dexton made a sound between a scoff and a growl. "You’ll never be anything to me. Just a power-hungry w***e with a mark."

That was it.

I strode forward, standing toe-to-toe with him. "And you," I snapped, "are a spoiled boy who can't stomach the consequences of his own cowardice. You rejected me, remember? You spat me out for something weaker. And now you can’t stand that I survived. That I thrived."

Harper stood, his voice breaking. "Selene, maybe you should—"

"No," I said without breaking eye contact. "He needs to hear this."

Dexton's fists were clenched at his sides. His breathing had grown shallow, and a visible tremble rolled through his frame.

"I will never call you mother," he growled.

"You don’t have to," I said coldly. "But you will show respect. Because if you dare raise your voice to me again, insult me in my home, I will show you what regret truly feels like."

His eyes widened, rage warping his features. "You think you scare me?"

"I don't think," I said, stepping even closer until our noses nearly touched. "I know."

He pushed my arm. "You don’t belong here!"

I shoved him back, hard. "Don’t touch me."

Then, with all the fury he deserved, I slapped him across the face.

The sound echoed through the room. Harper gasped.

I leaned in close, my voice low and venomous. "It is not appropriate for a child to behave like this to his mother. Isn’t that right, son?"

Dexton looked stunned. Not because of the slap, but because I meant every word.

He stepped back. "I won't stay here. Not with you."

"Then leave," I said simply, turning my back on him. "Run, like you always do."

He stormed past me, knocking over the chair in his path, and disappeared through the front door without another word.

I let out a slow, controlled breath.

Harper stepped toward me cautiously. "Selene... are you alright?"

I smiled faintly. "I will be. Eventually."