Rejected by the Alpha, crowned by the Lycan King

“Make a wish Selene! Oh wait!” Lila laughed, her voice echoing across the packhouse lawn. “You would need a wolf for the moon to hear it.” “Leave Selene alone “ Miranda said, stepping between me and Selene with her arms crossed. “It is Selenes birthday. Even Selene cannot be this ugly for one night.” “Ugly? I am being generous “ Lila swirled her wine. “Twenty-three years. Not even a whisper of a shift. My grandmothers poodle has wolf in it.” A few people laughed. Not all of them. That was almost worse. I kept my hands at my sides. Looked at the cake instead of Selene. Twenty-three candles. The pack had chipped in for it probably so they would have an excuse to gather and stare at the orphan who cannot shift. Charity tastes better with frosting. “Say something, birthday girl “ someone called. “Yes Selene. Give us a speech. Woof once for yes twice for no.” “Grow up “ Miranda snapped. “I would say something “ I. My voice came out steadier than I felt “but I do not perform on command. Ask your Alpha. He does it for free every moon.” The laughter died. Good. Let it. “Careful “ Lila murmured. “Kael is here tonight. Watching.” I did not look. I had not been looking at Kael Ashford for three years ever since I came of age and the whole pack started treating me like a stain on his bloodline. The Alpha who would one day lead them. The omega who cannot even earn the moons attention. “There is my boy.” The voice came from the terrace steps as honey, sharp as glass. Celia Ashford. Kaels mother. She swept through the crowd in green silk and the crowd departed like she had cut them. Kael walked behind her quiet jaw tight in that way it was always when his mother was performing. “Happy birthday, Selene, dear.” Celia kissed the air beside my cheek. “Twenty-three. Imagine.” “Thank you Luna.” “I do imagine.” Her smile did not move. “I imagine what this pack could be if every member carried their weight. Do you not?” Miranda made a sound. I stepped on her foot. “I carry mine “ I said. “You wash dishes, darling. It is not the same as carrying.” Celia turned to the crowd. “Everyone! A toast to our Selene. May this be the year the moon finally remembers Selenes name.” Glasses raised. Blessings murmured. It sounded like a funeral. Kael had not said a word. He was standing three feet from me. He had not said one single word on Selenes birthday. “Alpha?” I looked right at Kael. Might as well. “Nothing to add?” The lawn went silent. Celias smile twitched. Kaels eyes met Selenes eyes grey, cold in a way I did not understand. “Happy birthday, Selene.” “Is that it?” “Is that it.” “Cold “ Lila whispered, delighted. I nodded slowly. “Right. Thanks for the warmth Kael.” I turned back to the cake. My hands were shaking so I pressed them flat on the table edge. Leaned toward the candles. “One thing “ Celia said brightly. “Since the moon has not blessed Selene the least we can do is bless Selenes future. Lila, darling tell everyone your news.” Lila practically floated forward. “Kael and Lila are getting engaged.” The words landed somewhere under Selenes ribs. Sat there. Selene did not react. Selene made sure of it. Selene watched the candles blur. Willed Selenes face to be a wall. “An alliance, with the Silvercrest family “ Celia went on. “It is what this pack needs. Strong blood. Real wolves.” “Congrats “ Miranda said flatly. “When is the wedding? I will be busy that day. Every day, actually.” “Miranda “ Selene said quietly. “What? Somebody in this family has to have teeth.” “Somebody in this pack already does “ Lila shot back. “More than I can say for” “Enough “ Kaels voice cut through low. Everyone shut up instantly. Kaels eyes were on Selene now, for the first time all night. Something flickered across Kaels face. Something wrong. “Selene “ Kael said. “Your eyes.” “What about them?” Nobody answered. The silence changed shape. Selene felt Mirandas hand close around Selenes wrist. “Selene “ Miranda said, carefully “look at Selene.” Selene did.. In the reflection of Mirandas wide brown eyes Selenes eyes flashed silver. Not grey. Not blue. Silver bright as moonlight on snow, for one second. A murmur rippled through the crowd like wind through grass. “That's impossible “ someone breathed. “She's human.” “I knew it “ Lila hissed. “Freak—” “Shut up “ Miranda snarled. The silver faded fast as it came. Selenes knees went soft. Heat crawled up Selenes spine like something waking from a long sleep and for an instant, Selene heard a sound that didn't come from anywhere around Selene. Like a heartbeat that wasn't Selene. “Selene.” Kael was in front of Selene now close, too close. Kaels voice had dropped to something private. “When did that start?” “Selene—never. It's never—” Selene pulled Selenes wrist from Mirandas grip. “Selene doesn't know what that was.” “Kael.” Celias hand landed on her sons arm like a verdict. “The guests are waiting. Finish the toast.” “Mother—” “Finish. The toast.” Kael looked at Selene for a moment. Too long. Then Kael stepped back. Whatever that was in Kaels face shut down like a door slamming. “ Birthday, Selene “ Kael said again and this time it sounded like a goodbye. The party limped back to life around Selene. Lila gloated. Celia circulated. Nobody met Selenes eyes because they'd all seen it and seeing it meant the world they'd built where Selene was nothing, where Selene was safe to mock had cracked down the middle. “We're leaving “ Miranda said. “Miranda—” “Now. Before someone decides silver eyes are a crime. Before Celia decides it. Move.” Miranda dragged Selene around the side of the packhouse away from the lanterns and the noise. Thats when Selene felt it. the prickling on the back of Selenes neck. The oldest feeling there is. Being watched. “Someone's in the trees “ Selene whispered. Miranda stopped. “Where?” “The tree line. Past the garden.” Selene couldn't see him. Selene just knew. Selenes skin knew. A figure stood between the trunks still as the bark itself too far away for a face.. Selene can feel his eyes on Selene and he had been there long enough to see everything. The humiliation. The toast. The flash. He raised one hand slowly. Pressed two fingers to his own eyes. Then, to his heart. Then he. Was gone, swallowed by the woods like he'd never existed at all. “Who the hell was that?” Miranda breathed. “Selene “ Selene said. Selenes blood did. Selenes blood was humming warm and silver and alive like it had just remembered something the rest of Selene was never told.