Rejected By The Alpha Brothers, Claimed By The Lycan King

"Future Luna!" I rolled my eyes as one of the younger wolves shouted across the snowy courtyard. "You should not assume such things," I called back. The young boy grinned mischievously as he jogged backwards through the snow. "Why not? Everybody knows that if not all, then one of the Alpha brothers is going to mate you." I could feel the heat creep to my cheeks instantly. "Be quiet before I tell Beta Isaac that you've skipped training again." I watched as his face paled into horror before he spun around and sprinted towards the training grounds. Shaking my head, I could not help but smile. Snow drifted softly from the grey winter sky, completely covering the entire Blackthorne territory in white. I had to admit it was beautiful. Smoke curled from chimneys whilst wolves moved through the busy morning. This place had been my home for ten years. Ever since the day Alpha Magnus Blackthorne had found me alone near the territory border during a bad snowstorm, the worst that had been seen in decades. I still barely remembered anything from that night. Only the coldness and pain that rippled through my body, and then those pair of silver eyes watching me. “LYRA!” I looked up as Damon Blackthorne leaned over the wooden railing that surrounded the training grounds. His dark hair was damp with sweat, and amusement danced across his handsome face. “Yes?” I smiled. “You are late, Lyra.” “I am not late,” I argued. “You are if I say you are.” “What? That doesn’t make any sense,” I pouted. Damon grinned. “It makes perfect sense to me.” I walked towards the training grounds and pulled my fur-lined cloak tighter around myself. The wind was cold, and I noticed the younger wolves straighten as soon as they spotted me approaching. I told myself that was because all four of the Blackthorne brothers were there. Kael stood near the weapon rack, spinning a sharp blade carelessly between his fingers, whilst Elias sat cleaning his knuckles after training. Rowan stood in the centre of the field speaking quietly to Beta Isaac; he seemed tense. And even from here, my eyes found him. Always Rowan. Future Alpha of the Blackthorne pack. The male that every single female in the territory secretly wanted to mate with. The very same male that everyone assumed would one day become mine. “You bought food.” Elias suddenly snorted as he reached into the basket of fresh bakes that I had bought with me. Damon grabbed a pastry and gobbled it quickly. “Save some for Rowan.” I giggled, glancing up to see if Rowan had noticed. He hadn’t. He was still too busy in his conversation with the Beta. “Hmm, these taste good, bro.” Kael went to reach for another one, but I slapped his hand away. “You have to share.” I reminded him. Kael rolled his eyes. “And, I am your favourite.” “In your dreams,” I scoffed. Then Rowan walked towards us. I swallowed slightly as his gaze landed on me briefly. “Father wants us all at dinner tonight. No exceptions.” Elias and Kael groaned in unison. “That means another elder meeting,” Damon said. “Pack business.” Rowan corrected him firmly. Damon smirked. “That means yes.” Kael laughed under his breath. I looked at Rowan with curiosity. “Do you know what it is about?” His eyes met mine properly this time. “No.” He seemed short. Rowan used to smile at me a lot; he used to seek me out first. I convinced myself that he was probably tired, he had taken on a lot more responsibility lately, after all. “Luna Lyra, look at me.” One of the younger wolves suddenly let out an excited yell. “Watch this.” Before I could answer or correct him, the boy had shifted and immediately ran face-first into a snowbank. The entire training field erupted into laughter. Even Rowan’s mouth twitched slightly, and that tiny reaction made my chest warm. “Again,” Beta Isaac barked towards the young wolves. Their groans echoed across the field as they all returned to their training. I picked up the empty basket when Kael suddenly spoke. “Lyra, you know your ceremony is coming up soon.” Silence followed. The mating ceremony. My eighteenth. The moment that the Moon Goddess would finally reveal whether all or one of the Blackthorne brothers was my fated mate. I noticed Rowan look away, like he was refusing to acknowledge me. I forced myself to shrug casually. “I know.” Damon smirked. “You know it will be me, unless the Moon Goddess blesses Rowan with common sense and saves him from being stuck with you forever.” I narrowed my eyes. “Oh, Damon. You’re so funny that I forgot to laugh.” Damon laughed again while Rowan remained silent. I wished that he would say something to me. Anything. “I'd better get back inside for a shower,” Elias said, sniffing his armpits like it was normal to do that. Kael and Damon followed, leaving me alone with Rowan. “Rowan, is everything okay?” I reached for his arm, but he stepped back. “Of course, why would it not be? I just have a lot on my mind right now, Lyra." I could hear what he was saying, but I was more aware of the way that he was edging further away from me. "Rowan, are you sure?"I frowned, not wanting to leave it that way. But as I stood there in the snow, staring after him, a strange ache settled in my chest. Rowan had never pulled away from me before. Not once. And for the first time in ten years, I wondered if everyone else had been wrong. Maybe I was not the future Luna at all. Maybe I was only the girl they had all been pretending to love.