The Alpha King's Forgotten Luna

The Moon Palace glittered like a cruel dream. Silver chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling, their light dancing over jeweled gowns and polished marble floors while the most powerful wolves in the kingdom filled the grand hall with laughter. Tonight was supposed to be my night. My mating ceremony. My future. I stood at the top of the staircase, fingers trembling against the soft fabric of my white dress as hundreds of eyes turned toward me. The orchestra slowed into a haunting melody while whispers spread through the crowd. “That's her?” “The future Luna?” “She still hasn’t shifted…” I kept my chin high even though every word cut deep. Wolf-less. Weak. Unworthy. Those whispers had followed me my entire life. But none of it mattered tonight because Alpha Kael Draven had chosen me. My mate. My heart beat wildly as I searched the crowd for him. And then I saw him. Kael stood beside the throne platform dressed in black ceremonial armor embroidered with silver thread. The future Alpha King looked devastatingly beautiful beneath the moonlight pouring through the glass ceiling. His dark hair fell over his forehead, his sharp jaw tense as nobles bowed around him. The moment his eyes found mine, my wolf stirred weakly inside me. Mine. A small smile touched my lips. For one foolish second, I believed everything would finally be okay. Then the palace doors opened again. A woman entered wearing crimson silk. Lady Lyra Ashbourne. Beautiful. Elegant. Deadly. The entire hall shifted. I frowned. Why was she here? Kael’s expression changed the instant he saw her. His body stiffened. His gaze darkened with something I couldn’t understand. Fear. No… guilt. My stomach tightened. Lyra walked slowly across the ballroom until she stopped beside Kael. Her fingers slid possessively around his arm. Gasps erupted around the hall. “What is she doing?” “She returned?” “No…” I looked at Kael, waiting for him to move away from her. He didn’t. A terrible feeling crawled up my spine. “Kael?” I whispered. His jaw tightened. Then he stepped forward. Not toward me. Toward the crowd. The music stopped completely. Silence swallowed the palace. Kael’s deep voice echoed through the hall. “There will be a change tonight.” Cold spread through my chest. Every instinct screamed at me to run. But I couldn’t move. Kael avoided my eyes as he spoke again. “The Moon Goddess guides all bonds. After careful consideration…” He paused heavily. “I have decided Lyra Ashbourne will stand beside me as the future Luna of the kingdom.” The world stopped. At first, I thought I had heard wrong. A nervous laugh almost escaped my throat. This had to be some kind of joke. But then Lyra smiled. And Kael still wouldn’t look at me. The crowd exploded into whispers. “Oh my God…” “He rejected her.” “The ceremony hasn’t even begun…” “How humiliating.” My ears rang violently. I stared at Kael while my chest burned with disbelief. “You…” My voice cracked. “You said I was your mate.” His eyes finally lifted to mine. And somehow the pain inside them hurt worse than hatred would have. “I was mistaken.” The bond inside me snapped like shattered glass. Pain tore through my body so suddenly that I staggered backward. A sharp cry escaped my lips. Every wolf in the room felt it. The rejection. Tears blurred my vision as humiliation crushed me alive beneath hundreds of watching eyes. Kael took one step toward me instinctively— Then stopped himself. That hurt even more. Lyra leaned against him, victorious. “She deserves honesty, Kael,” she purred softly. “Not pity.” Something inside me broke. I looked around the ballroom desperately, praying someone would stop this nightmare. But nobody moved. Not one person. Because weak wolves were disposable. And wolf-less girls did not become queens. My hands shook violently as I fought to breathe. “Why?” I whispered. Kael’s expression darkened. “You would never survive life beside a king.” The words sliced deeper than any blade. The crowd pitied me now. I could see it in their eyes. Poor Selene. Rejected before the entire kingdom. I wanted to disappear. Instead, I lifted my chin. If they wanted to destroy me, they would not see me beg. Slowly, I removed the moonstone bracelet Kael once gave me—the one he promised I would wear as his Luna. My fingers trembled as I placed it on the marble floor between us. The sound echoed through the silent hall. “I hope she was worth it,” I said softly. For the first time, Kael looked shaken. Real regret flashed across his face. But it was too late. I turned before anyone could see the tears finally falling down my cheeks. And I walked out of the palace alone. Unaware that before this night ended… I would discover I was carrying the heir to the Alpha throne.