THE REJECTED BREEDER: NOW THE QUEEN.

We belong together.

Alessia

Elara was right before me, leading the way, her strides bold and confident while I lagged behind, my tired and worn-out body already at its limit. As we wound our way through the familiar yet unfamiliar Silverwall pack corridors, an air of melancholy engulfed me, and I felt suffocated.

How could a place and people change so much? It felt like yesterday, when Elara and I ran through the same corridors, our young selves filled with life and joy, and back then, the same place felt like home and now, six years later, the same place and people evoked the worst emotions in me and given an option, I would rather choose death than be anywhere near anyone of them?

The once-sweet memories that we once shared were gone, replaced with dark and scary images, haunting me even in my sleep.

As I took those steps, one thing was for sure, though. I had had enough. I had endured enough, and I was not about to take their torment any further. Since they had plotted and schemed their way into taking the pack, they could keep it. I valued my peace and life more than those ungrateful and thoughtless wolves.

Besides, since everything had worked out for them after years of scheming, who was to say that they weren't going to permanently eliminate me to cement their positions? For the six years, I had seen enough to know how ruthless Ron and Cora were, I would have been a fool to think that I was safe within the confines of that place that once felt like home to me.

'You are right, Alessia.' My wolf's voice rang at the back of my mind, totally agreeing with me.

"Alessia?" I was so deep in thought that I forgot about my surroundings, and by the time I snapped back to reality, we were a few metres away from the Alpha's office.

A look of displeasure crossed my features as I stared at a familiar face. It was Lucian, and he wore a worried look as he looked at me.

" Love?" Elara's high-pitched voice called out, and I couldn't control the frown that settled on my lips. Where was the need to shout? We were all werewolves, and we could literally hear each other's heartbeats even from countless meters away. As expected of a low-ranked wolf who was trying to act like the real phoenix, she clearly thought that everybody was as lame and weak as her.

" You are already up? Missed me already?" She asked in a sing-song voice, coyly wrapping her arms around his shoulders, and I looked away. I refused to look at the disgusting scene. Their sight was already disgusting enough to begin with.

" My father was asking for my cousin, so I came to get her. You know? He was worried that she would get lost. It has been a while since she came out here." she offered, wearing a kind smile, her acts passing as noble and thoughtful, but who was she trying to fool? Only a fool couldn't understand the underlying meaning behind her words. She couldn't let go of any chance to remind me of my slave status, could she?

But she was right. It was years since I last set my feet in my once-upon father's office, a place that, back then, I could enter and leave at will. Ever since Ron became the Alpha, his first rule to me was to never set foot near the Alpha's office. Six years later, I could still remember how tense his shoulders were as he gave out that warning. And now that I was thinking about it, something about it all seemed off and suspicious. But was the current me in a position to find out? That's why I needed to leave, to prepare for my revenge, no matter how long it took.

" That's so thoughtful of you, my love. You are too kind." With the same tender look that he once used to give me, he gazed at her, whispering warmly and to that, she smiled shyly, looking all innocent and harmless.

" Now, if you excuse me, I have something to say to Alessia. I will be right back." He whispered as he kissed her forehead, delicately and tenderly so that it reminded me of how he used to kiss me and the familiar tingles that his warm lips used to leave on my skin. Surprisingly, my heart didn't twitch from a familiar pang of pain or jealousy. Instead, I was merely repulsed by the action, and the thought that I once felt special while in his arms left my gut with a desperate urge to retch.

" But.....Lucian..." The panic and the fear in her eyes were obvious as she imagined leaving her husband with me. What she didn't know was, I wanted to be anywhere but near that scammer.

" Don't you trust me? " There was a hint of disapproval in his voice as he asked, and reluctantly so, Elara created a distance between them, leaving me behind with that monster.

"Alessia. Tomorrow will be my swearing-in ceremony. I will become the Alpha of this pack." He started the excitement in his voice unhinging. How could I not understand how important it was for him to become the Alpha? It had been his biggest wish and dream for as long as I could remember, and honestly, I had wanted him to be the Alpha, only that I had wanted to be his Luna.

Sure, he was about to become the Alpha, his dreams were coming to be even without me by his side. Even without me being his Luna. And he was here, rubbing it all over my face, his betrayal boldly highlighted.

" Got it, Alpha Lucian. Now, can I leave? " No matter how much I tried to act emotionless and Unbothered, the sarcasm in my voice was thick, laced with hatred and accusation as I asked.

" You ..you have changed. Shouldn't you be happy for me? You.." A weak laughter squeezed past my lungs, low, hollow, and humourless, catching him off guard.

" Your words are laughable, you know? After the betrayal, after you lied to me for my whole life. After everything you did to me, the wolf's bane, the torture... Do you still expect me to clap for you? Shouldn't you be afraid that I might accidentally kill you, taking you down with me? " I asked, a mocking smile playing on my lips, and I saw his shoulders tensing up. I bet he didn't know that I was aware of the fact that he was the masked man who had tortured the living desire out of me for all those years, and the irony of it was that all along, I had been deriving my motivation to live from my tormentor. He had posed as loving and caring without the mask and ruthless behind the mask. The perfect example of a two-faced b**tad.

" I had my reasons, Alessia. I had my difficulties but I don't expect you to understand." He explained in a self-righteous tone, and I was stunned silly.

" You should be happy for me. You promised to love me for the rest of your life. You should be happy that my dream is coming to be. I did this for you." He whispered, as if afraid that someone could hear him.

" I loved you but not anymore, Lucian. I hate you. I hate the day that I met you." I shouted, slapping his outstretched hand.

" You are being unreasonable. " He frowned, the displeasure on his face palpable.

" When will you wake up? Can't you see? I did that for you? for us? Don't you understand?" There was urgency in his voice as he asked.

" I gave you time to cool off. Why are you still mad? You used to be sensible before. When did you become this unreasonable? can't you see?"He asked, his eyes pleading...

" The times have changed. The current you could never take me to where I wanted. Your current status couldn't make me the Alpha. You are now weak, without a wolf. You can barely shift. How can you.." He paused, giving me a once over, the meaning behind his look obvious. Looking at him and listening to his words, my body went numb from the humiliation.

" How can you fight for the pack against your uncle while you look like this?" He asked, shaking his head as if in disbelief.

" Yes, I can't. Because all of you made sure that I wouldn't. You weakened me and killed my wolf. And you? You supported them because you wanted to marry Elara so badly." I snapped, barely keeping my emotions in check.

" I might be married to Elara, but you are the woman that I love. " He confessed, wearing a sincere smile.

" I promised to protect you before, and I will do it. You don't have to be married to me. I will keep you by my side. Elara is just my Luna." He whispered, wearing a stiff smile, and for a moment, I lost my voice.

" You belong to me, Alessia. We belong together. When I become the Alpha, you will be my other woman. You will only serve me." Mistaking my silence for compliance, he added, his voice bolder.

" F*ck you, Lucian. " I slapped his face, wiping the stupid smile from his lips. A pained growl left my lips, as my wolf was whimpering in pain from the betrayal, from our mate's betrayal.

Yes, we had rejected each other, but the connection was still there, although feeble.

Caressing the space where I had just slapped him, Lucian wore a look of disbelief. He couldn't believe that I had just slapped him. I couldn't believe it either. Looking at the boy that I had once loved, now a grown-up wolf, all handsome and muscled-up, I couldn't believe that they were the same person. He was like a stranger with a familiar face.

" I will make you regret this betrayal, Lucian. " I spat, bumping into him as I headed for the Alpha's office.

**********

" There is an opening for our pack for the position of the Crown Alpha Prince's breeder. " Ron, the current Alpha informed, not even bothering to look at me.

" I chose you for that position. You can become the next Alpha King's breeder, or.." He paused, his eyes briefly settling on me, a mischievous grin playing on his lips.

" Or you can go rogue. There is no position for you in this pack. You are eighteen now." He added.

" What will you choose?" To that, all eyes were on me.