Rejected, Then Crowned Queen

Chapter five

The clearing was silent.

The voices of wolves and stone guardians still resonated from the forest.

"Long live the Lunar Queen."

Lyra stood motionless, her gaze fixed on the kneeling figures.

It couldn't be real.

Only a few hours ago, she was just the outcast, the girl without a wolf, the girl whose fate was to be rejected by her destined mate.

Now an entire army was at her command, bowing before her.

She shook her head in disbelief.

"No... it can't be true."

Fenrir met her gaze.

"There is no mistake," he said, his voice calm and steady, as if he had been expecting this moment to arrive.

"You are the last descendant of Queen Selene, the ruler of the Lunar Kingdom."

Lyra frowned.

"My mother's name was Selene."

"That it was," Fenrir nodded.

"Because she was Queen Selene."

The words struck her like lightning.

She gasped, taking a step back.

"No... you're making it up.

My mother was not a queen.

She baked bread, healed injured wolves, and scolded me for skipping breakfast."

A sad smile graced her lips.

"She was my mother."

Fenrir's expression softened.

"And that was the most important position she ever held.

When the Lunar Kingdom fell, she gave up her crown to protect you.

If anyone had known you were the royal heir, neither of you would have survived."

Lyra's eyes widened in shock.

She had wondered why her parents had vanished without a trace, why no one had pursued them.

It all made sense now.

Emma's hand slipped into hers gently.

"You don't have to believe all of this right now," she whispered.

"It's a lot to take in."

Lyra managed a small smile, grateful that at least one thing in her life hadn't changed.

---

Captain Gareth pushed himself to his feet, his face red with rage.

"This is madness!" he accused, pointing his sword at Fenrir.

"The Lunar Kingdom was destroyed a thousand years ago.

There is no queen.

There never will be."

Fenrir regarded him calmly.

"History is written by the victors," he said simply.

"But the truth tends to survive."

The captain's jaw tightened.

"I've heard enough," he growled, raising his sword.

"Soldiers!

Attack!"

The remaining warriors rushed forward, only to be met by the stone guardians.

One guardian raised its massive sword, slashing at the soldiers' weapons, sending them clattering to the ground.

Another brought its shield down on the ground, sending a wave of silver energy washing over the clearing.

The soldiers let out cries of surprise as they found themselves on their knees.

Within moments, every royal warrior was disarmed.

Captain Gareth dropped to one knee, his breathing shallow.

All the confidence had drained from him.

"This..." he began, his voice shaking.

"This isn't possible."

Fenrir approached him.

"When you came to this forest, you thought you were chasing some frightened girl," he said.

"When you found her..."

He turned to Lyra, a small smile on his lips.

"...you found your queen."

---

Miles away, in the Silver Moon Palace, Kael stood alone on the balcony of his chambers.

The crimson moon loomed over the kingdom, casting eerie shadows across the palace walls.

He couldn't explain the feeling of dread in his chest.

The bond between them was severed, but somehow the emptiness that was supposed to follow never came.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Enter."

The door opened, revealing Ethan.

His Beta was rarely ever at a loss for words, but tonight was an exception.

"The scouts have returned, Your Highness," Ethan announced.

Kael turned around.

"What news do you bring?"

"The... the Forgotten Kingdom has appeared," Ethan hesitated.

Kael raised an eyebrow.

"I thought it was just a legend."

"So did everyone else."

Ethan hesitated again.

"There is something else."

Kael narrowed his eyes.

"What is it?"

"It's about Lyra."

His heart skipped a beat.

"What about her?"

"The scouts found her.

They tried to take her back with them, but..."

Kael's expression darkened.

"But what?"

"They encountered an army.

They said it was made up of stone warriors and wolves, but they weren't attacking her.

They were... kneeling before her."

Silence stretched between them.

Kael turned to stare at Ethan, searching his face for some kind of reassurance.

There was none.

Every word was spoken with absolute certainty.

His mind reeled at the implications.

The thought of Lyra standing at the head of an army, commanding stone guardians and wolves, sent a jolt of electricity through him.

He remembered the ceremony, the look on her face when he told her to leave.

There had been heartbreak in her eyes, but also something else... something he couldn't quite place.

Perhaps, just perhaps, he had made the biggest mistake of his life.

He closed his eyes, his hands clenching into fists.

"What have I done?"

---

Beyond the great gates, the forgotten city stretched before the new queen's eyes.

White buildings shimmered under the crimson moonlight, while rivers of crystal-clear water snaked through the streets.

Beautiful silver flowers grew in the gardens, adding to the ethereal feel of the place.

It was as if the city had been abandoned only moments ago.

Lyra took in the sight with a mixture of awe and something else she couldn't quite describe.

"It's beautiful," she murmured.

Fenrir looked proud.

"Welcome to Luna.

Your kingdom has been waiting for you."

He stepped to the side, bowing once more.

"Come, milady.

Your subjects are waiting."

Lyra looked out over the city and the countless warriors at her command.

A wave of doubt crashed over her.

"I don't know how to be a queen."

Fenrir only smiled.

"You don't have to know everything today.

You only have to take the first step."

With a steadying breath, Lyra stepped forward, her heart pounding in her chest.

She caught Emma's eye, and the other girl gave her a reassuring smile.

As Lyra crossed the threshold, the city seemed to awaken around her.

Silver light raced up the buildings, while ancient bells tolled from distant towers.

Magic filled the air, flowing through the streets like water.

Deep beneath the palace, in a chamber long sealed away, a jeweled crown on a marble pedestal began to glow.

Within the darkness, unseen eyes snapped open.

Their owner's lips curled into a smile.

"So..." the figure murmured.

"The queen has returned.

But she wasn't the only one waiting to awaken."