THE ALPHA'S FORSAKEN LUNA

The Confrontation

His office smelled like him. Cedar and leather and something darker, something that made my wolf whine with longing.

I ignored her. "You look different," he said. He was standing behind his desk, as if the wood could protect him from me. "Stronger."

"Three months in rogue territory changes a person."

"Rogue territory?" His jaw tightened. "You have been living with rogues?"

"I have been surviving. Something you never taught me to do." He flinched. Good. I wanted him to flinch.

"Why are you here, Elara?" He moved around the desk, approaching me slowly. "Why come back?"

"Because I want what is mine."

"Your place in the pack? That can be arranged."

"I do not want my place in the pack." I stepped closer to him. Close enough to see the gold flecks in his dark eyes. Close enough to feel the heat radiating off his body. "I want the pack itself." He went still. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that you have led Shadowfang into weakness. Your wolves do not respect you. They fear you. There is a difference." I circled him slowly, like a predator sizing up prey. "The Moon Goddess gave you a second chance at a mate. A second chance at a Luna. And you threw it away because you were too proud to accept an Omega's daughter."

"You rejected me because you thought I was beneath you." I stopped in front of him, meeting his eyes. "But look at me now, Alpha. Am I still beneath you?" He stared at me. His wolf rose to the surface, golden eyes blazing. "You have no idea what you are doing."

"I know exactly what I am doing." I reached up and touched his face. He flinched but did not pull away. "I am giving you one chance. One chance to make this right. Publicly. You will announce that the rejection was a mistake. You will welcome me back as your Luna. And we will rebuild this pack together."

"Or what?"

"Or I will challenge you for the Alpha position."

He laughed. A short, sharp sound. "You cannot challenge me. You are an Omega. A woman. A rejected mate. The pack would never accept it."

"The pack will accept whatever I force them to accept." I stepped back. "You have three days to decide. After that, I will call for a public challenge. And we will see who walks away Alpha." I turned and walked toward the door.

"Elara." His voice stopped me. "Why are you doing this?" I looked back at him. "Because you threw me away like garbage. And I want you to know what it feels like to be unwanted." I walked out and did not look back.