CLAIMED BY THE ROGUE ALPHA

2

ELOWEN

I woke up with a jolt, gasping for breath. My heart raced as I sat up and looked around, trying to make sense of my surroundings. The familiar walls of my bedroom greeted me, and for a moment, I wondered if everything I had just experienced was a nightmare. But the vividness of the betrayal, the pain in my heart, told me it had been real.

My eyes caught the calendar on the nightstand, and I felt a jolt of confusion. It read two years ago. I blinked and rubbed my eyes, but the date remained the same. The Moon Goddess’s words echoed in my mind “I will send you back in time, two years, with all your memories intact.”

Before I could process everything, Draven stepped out of the bathroom, towel-drying his hair. He looked at me with a casual smile, completely unaware of the storm raging inside me.

“Good morning, my love,” he said, his voice warm and affectionate. “You should hurry up. We have a meeting with the Alpha King today. We don’t want to be late.”

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stay calm. I couldn’t let him know that I remembered everything, that I knew his plans, that I had gone back in time. “Of course,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’ll be ready in a minute.”

Draven nodded and walked out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. I had been given a second chance; the Moon Goddess had heard my cries for help, and I would need to use this opportunity wisely.

I jumped out of bed and rushed to the mirror, needing to see for myself. My reflection stared back at me, younger and unmarred by the trauma of betrayal and death. My fingers brushed against the smooth, unlined skin of my face. I placed my hand over where I had been stabbed and released a shaky breath. It was real.

I was alive.

The bedroom door creaked open, and Draven stepped in, fully dressed in his formal attire, ready for the meeting with the Alpha King. He paused, noticing me standing there, wide-eyed and disoriented.

“Elowen, are you alright?” he asked, concern etching his features. “The meeting with the Alpha King won’t wait. We need to leave soon,” he said, checking the time on his wristwatch.

My mind raced. I remembered how this day had played out the first time, the meeting, the lies, the hidden agendas. Draven had been so convincing back then, his deceit so well-hidden. I had been stupid enough to organize the pack meeting in my house. I had wanted them to see Draven in a good light, and I had ended up speaking so well of him in front of the other Alphas.

But now, with all my memories intact, I saw him in a different light. The warmth in his voice felt like a cruel joke, a façade masking his true intentions.

I forced a smile, hoping it didn’t look as strained as it felt. “Yes, I’m fine. Just… a strange dream, that’s all. I’ll be ready in a moment.”

Draven gave me a curious look but didn’t press further. “You should wear the gown I bought for you last week,” he said, walking to the wardrobe. He pulled out the gown, a garish pink thing with too many frills, and handed it to me. “You’ll look beautiful in it. Pink has always been your favourite colour,” he added with a smile.

He planted a kiss on my forehead, and I fought the urge to recoil. The touch of his lips, once comforting, now filled me with disgust. But I endured it, keeping my expression neutral.

“Thank you,” I managed to say, smiling at him and taking the gown from him.

Satisfied, Draven left the room, probably to check on the final preparations for the meeting. From what I remembered, the Alphas and Alpha King had arrived earlier than we planned.

As soon as he was gone, I looked at the gown in my hands and felt a wave of revulsion. How foolish I had been, back then, to wear such hideous clothing just to please him. The gown was not only hideous, it made me look and feel ridiculous..

Pink wasn’t even my favourite colour. I had only accepted it because Draven would always buy me things in pink. But not anymore. I wouldn’t sacrifice my dignity for his approval this time around.

I put the gown aside and opened the wardrobe again, searching for something that reflected who I truly was. It took a while as I ran through all the ridiculous gowns and clothes Draven had bought for me over the months.

I soon found a simple, elegant red dress that I had used to love but had stopped wearing because Draven didn’t like it. Today, I would wear it and even pair it with heels to match.

Today, I would be true to myself.

After putting on the red dress, I decided to do something I hadn’t done since I married Draven, apply makeup. I found my old makeup bag, hidden away and forgotten. A swipe of lipstick, a touch of mascara, and a bit of blush. Looking at myself in the mirror, I felt like I was seeing the old version of me, the me that had been genuinely happy.

A smile found its way to my lips.

I headed downstairs afterward, ready to face whatever came next. As I descended the stairs, I found Draven waiting in the foyer, looking impatient. The moment he saw me, his eyes widened in shock. He took in the elegant dress I had chosen, his mouth opening and closing as he struggled to find words.

“What are you wearing?” he said, trying to keep his voice calm but failing to hide his irritation. “Everyone has arrived.”

I steeled myself, determined not to back down like I used to. “Don’t you like it? I think it suits the occasion just fine.”

His eyes narrowed, and he stepped closer, lowering his voice. “I mean, I like it, but this is a meeting, Elowen. This… this is inappropriate.”

He tried to soften his tone, probably thinking he could still sway me as he always does. “You know I only want what’s best for you. The pink gown looked so lovely on you. Don’t you want to make a good first impression?”

His sweet words, once enough to sway me, now only annoyed me. How had I ever fallen for this?

I forced a smile, hoping it didn’t show how upset I was. I stood firm, ready to argue, but before I could, a voice interrupted us.

“I disagree, Beta Draven. The gown suits the occasion.”

We both turned to see Alpha Kael standing at the doorway. His presence commanded attention, his eyes locking onto mine with a stoic, unreadable expression. He had never been one to smile, and when he did, it was impossible to tell whether he was pleased or plotting something dangerous.

Kael was the Rogue Alpha, a rival pack that had been a thorn in our side for years infamous for the m******e of elders at a meeting years ago that had led to his banishment. Yet, he had clawed his way back to power, recruiting rogues, forging his own packs, and earning a reputation so formidable that some even sought banishment just to join him. His reach was vast, his influence undeniable.

I had never liked him and had always considered him a threat. His presence made my skin crawl but today, there was something different in his eyes. A strange warmth flickered there as he stared at me, one that unsettled me more than it reassured.