ONE REJECTION,TWO CLAIMS.

Kayla's POV "Do you, Lucian Ravenwood, take Kayla Blackthorne to be your Luna, to lead beside you and guard this territory with your life?" the priest’s voice boomed off the cold stone walls. Lucian didn't hesitate. His answer came out smooth, deep, and utterly devoid of warmth. "I do." It sounded like a man agreeing to sign a business contract. No tremor in his chest, no sudden jump in his heart rate, no spark of emotion whatsoever. Just a crisp, clean transaction. My fingers tightened around my bouquet of white roses. The stems dug through the thin satin ribbon, pricking my palm. The tiny sting of pain was a welcome distraction from the hollow ache spreading through my chest. "And do you, Kayla Blackthorne, take Lucian Ravenwood to be your Alpha and husband?" I swallowed the dry lump in my throat. My father’s dying face flashed in my mind—his pale skin, his weak grip on my hand, and the desperate whisper he left me with three months ago: 'Save our people, Kayla. Marry Lucian. Put the pack first.' I forced my shoulders back, taking a slow breath until my voice stopped shaking. "I do." Lucian took my hand to slide the heavy silver band onto my finger. His skin was warm, but his touch was completely dry and light, barely touching me longer than necessary. There was no electricity. No sizzle. No pull of the mate bond. I knew why, of course. His heart was already claimed. It belonged to Hazel, the girl who vanished two years ago—his first love, and his true mate. I was just the replacement. The strategic bride. The daughter of a powerful Alpha whose lands and wealth Lucian desperately needed to secure his borders. "I pronounce you husband and wife. Alpha and Luna," the priest declared, turning to face the quiet crowd. "You may kiss your bride." A heavy silence fell over the cathedral. I felt the gaze of hundreds of Ravenwood pack members pressing into my back. They weren’t looking at me with respect or welcome. They were looking at me like an intruder standing in a dead woman's shoes. Lucian turned to face me. His eyes were a pale, icy gray—strikingly handsome, but completely empty when he looked at my face. He didn't lean in with desire. He didn't cup my cheek or smile. He simply bent down and pressed his dry lips to my cheek for half a second. "Keep your head up," he whispered in my ear, his voice so low only my wolf could hear it. "The pack is watching." That was it. My wedding kiss was a command to maintain public appearances. He turned toward the crowd, offering me his bent elbow. I placed my hand on his dark suit jacket. His arm felt like iron under my palm—strong, unyielding, and totally distant. As we walked down the central aisle toward the heavy wooden doors, the quiet whispers from the pews drifted into my ears. "She doesn't look like Hazel at all." “ How dare she take our Alpha.” “I heard she hasn't found her mate.” “Yes, that's why she chose our Alpha.” "Hazel had those soft green eyes . . . Kayla looks too cold." "It's just for the land alliance anyway. Everyone knows Alpha Lucian’s heart died the day Hazel went missing." Each word hit me like a small stone. I kept my chin high and my eyes locked on the exit doors, refusing to let a single tear spill. I was an Alpha’s daughter. I had been trained to lead, to endure, and to protect. I didn't need Lucian to love me. I just needed to do my duty. ~~~~~ The reception was held in the grand hall of the Ravenwood estate. Golden chandeliers hung from the high ceilings, throwing bright light across long tables piled high with food, wine, and roasted meats. Music echoed off the wooden beams, but to me, it sounded like background noise. I stood beside Lucian near the head table, nodding politely as elders and pack officials came up to offer their congratulations. Lucian spoke well. He answered every question with authority, talked about pack security, and discussed trade agreements with neighboring leaders. He was a brilliant Alpha–disciplined, smart, and respected. But he never once looked at me while he spoke. "What does she expect?" I eavesdropped. Two high-class ladies stood parallel to each other, their necks were adorned with jewelry that shimmered under the even glow of the hall. "Look, Lucian isn't sparing her a glance," "Such a cheap substitute." "And she's an alpha daughter at that." They were just talking about my predicament, like the weather. My nails clutched so hard I thought I would pierce my palm open. They weren't worth it. I had other things to worry about, not just two jobless Lunas whose sole purpose was to spread their legs and conceive for their alphas. But they weren't wrong though. Lucian didn't check if I was tired. He didn't offer me a glass of water. When an elder asked if we planned to remodel the Luna's private quarters, Lucian simply said, "The estate will remain as it is the way Hazel likes it." As it was when Hazel lived here. A cold weight settled deeper into my stomach. I excused myself quietly and stepped toward the edge of the room, leaning my back against a cool stone pillar. My feet ached in my heels, but the emotional exhaustion was far worse. ‘Why did you agree to this, Kayla?’ Nyx, my wolf, whimpered. I squeezed my eyes shut for a brief second. ‘Didn't we agree to wait for mate?’ she added, ‘You choose Lucian over our mate.' Her words echoed in the deepest hollows of my mind, my chest clutched with hurt. ‘ Nyx, I had no choice. Father's pack was struggling after his death, and Lucian’s territory was the only force strong enough to keep rival packs from tearing our lands apart. I traded my freedom and my chance at true love, so my people could eat and live in peace’. She muttered something before cutting off the connection. I took a deep breath, smoothing down the front of my white dress. I couldn't afford to feel sorry for myself. I had signed the papers. I am Luna Kayla Ravenwood now. ~~~~ "Attention, everyone!" Cole, Lucian's Beta rang out across the hall, cutting through the music and laughter. He held a glass of wine high in the air, clinking a silver spoon against the crystal. The hall gradually fell quiet as guests turned toward the main platform. "Let us raise our glasses to our Alpha," Cole said, smiling broadly at the crowd. "And to the new Luna who stands beside him tonight! Alpha Lucian, the floor is yours." Lucian picked up his crystal glass from the table. He stepped forward to the front of the raised platform, his tall frame commanding the entire room instantly. The crowd quieted down until you could hear the crackle of the fireplace at the far end of the room. I stepped up beside him, standing half a pace behind his right shoulder as protocol required. I folded my hands in front of my dress, holding my breath. Lucian cleared his throat. His gray eyes swept over the hundreds of faces looking up at him. "Tonight marks a new chapter for the Ravenwood pack," Lucian began, his clear, deep voice carrying effortlessly to every corner. "This union secures our borders, strengthens our warriors, and ensures that our territory remains prosperous for years to come. I thank you all for standing with me." He paused, turning his body slightly toward me for the first time all evening. He raised his glass toward my face. "To my wife," Lucian declared, his voice ringing loud and firm across the silent hall. "To Luna Hazel." The room froze. The air seemed to get sucked right out of the hall. Nobody clapped. Nobody cheered. The silence was so sudden and heavy it felt like a physical blow. Lucian stood motionless, his glass still raised in the air, but the color slowly drained from his face as he realized what had just come out of his mouth. I stood beside him, completely frozen, my fingernails dug harshly into my silk dress, my eyes moistened, but I refused to shed a single tear. I felt embarrassed. I quickly blinked my eyes, suppressing my tears. The name hung in the cold air between us, sharp as a blade. He hadn't just slipped up. He had given my title, my wedding, and my presence to the ghost he was still in love with.