THE ALPHA KING’S FORBIDDEN BRIDE

“Lydia Everhart, I reject you as my mate.” That hit harder than any slap. For a second, I forgot how to breathe. I stayed right there on my knees, just looking up at Ethan Vale, wondering if this was even the same person I thought I knew. Blood dripped from my mouth onto the flawless stone, and nobody made a move. Hundreds of wolves watched from every side of the ceremonial field. I felt their eyes on me waiting for me to fall apart. “Ethan…” My voice barely made it out. He looked away. That hurt worse than everything else. I tried to stand but my legs were so shaky I almost crashed right back down. “You can’t mean that.” Ethan’s jaw clenched. “Lydia, I” “No.” I shook my head, fighting the tears. “You were supposed to announce our engagement tonight.” Some people in the crowd actually laughed. I wanted the ground to swallow me. My face burned with humiliation. Ethan finally met my gaze. His eyes held no warmth just guilt. And something uglier. Shame. “Things have changed.” I was almost afraid to ask. “What changed?” He didn’t answer. I glanced at the faces around us. His mother stood behind him in her gorgeous silver gown arms crossed, looking thrilled, like she’d won something. My stomach twisted. “Is this because of them?” Ethan’s mom stepped forward. “This is because of you.” I flinched. “Mrs. Vale” “You should’ve been grateful we let you stay in this pack.” Murmurs rippled through the crowd. I swallowed hard. “I haven’t done anything wrong.” She laughed, sharp and cold. “Nothing wrong?” Her voice shot up. “Since you arrived, chaos followed.” My hands curled into fists. “That’s not true.” “Isn’t it?” She pointed at me. “Our former Alpha died. The crops failed. Three children got sick. And last month we were attacked at the eastern border.” I stared at her, disbelief mixing with anger. “How is any of that my fault?” Someone shouted, “She is cursed!” Then another, “She’s always been cursed!” My heart dropped. I'd heard those words my whole life. But tonight—they cut deeper. Ethan stood there while everyone called me a monster. I turned to him. “You don’t believe them, right?” He said nothing. My chest tightened. “Ethan.” Silence. “You know me.” His eyes flickered and finally, so quietly I barely caught it, “I know.” A flicker of hope. But then he looked away again. “But it doesn’t matter anymore.” My world collapsed. “What does that mean?” He drew a slow breath. “I can’t be with you.” “Yes, you can.” I moved closer, desperate. “You can, Ethan. You promised me.” His expression turned cold. “I was wrong.” “No!” I shook, the tears spilling over. “You’re scared.” His gaze snapped to mine. “I’m not scared.” “Yes, you are. You’re scared of what they’ll say.” He stiffened. “You don’t understand,” he said. “Then explain it to me!” My voice cracked. “Tell me what I did wrong!” The silence was painful. Ethan looked at me for a long time. Then he said it, the sentence I’d never shake: “I choose my future.” I just stared, stunned. “And I’m not going to destroy it for you.” Something inside me broke. The crowd buzzed with whispers. Then, out of nowhere, a horn blasted from the gates. Everyone turned. A guard rushed across, kneeling before us. “Alpha King Damien Blackwood has arrived.” The whispers died. Even Ethan stiffened. Everyone knew the rumors about Damien Blackwood. He was the most powerful Alpha in the north. People said he’d destroyed three packs in a single night—and he never forgave betrayal. I’d never seen him—until now. The gates swung open. Black-clad warriors stepped in first. And then he appeared. Damien Blackwood. He was taller than any man I’d ever met. Broad, dark-haired, sharp-faced. His coat was black, silver stitched at the collar. But it wasn’t just how he looked. It was the way the air changed—the silence, the tension, the way nobody dared breathe. He didn’t shout. He didn’t threaten. Still, everyone knew he was dangerous. His eyes swept the crowd. Then locked onto mine. For a moment, everything else faded. The crowd, Ethan, the whispers. His golden eyes met mine… and I couldn’t look away. He glanced down at the blood on my lip. His expression shifted—not pity, something darker, something I couldn’t name. I looked away first. I couldn’t take being watched anymore. Not by him. Not by anyone. I turned and ran. “Lydia!” Ethan shouted, but I didn’t stop. I bolted through the gates, across the fields, and disappeared into the forest. Branches scraped my skin as I crashed through the darkness, not caring where I ended up—just wanting to be gone. I ran until my legs quit—collapsing beside an old tree, biting on my hand to muffle my cries. “He chose his future,” I breathed. “He chose his future.” I laughed, bitter. What future? I’d spent years believing Ethan was my future. The one person who made me feel like I belonged. Turns out, I was wrong. A twig snapped somewhere close. Every muscle froze. I turned, scanning the shadows. Nothing. Just iced darkness, trees. “Who’s there?” My voice sounded small. No answer. I got up shakily. Then there was another noise. Closer. I started walking. Then came footsteps—quick, heavy. My lungs seized. Someone was following me. I ran. The steps gained on me. “Help!” I screamed. No one answered. I pushed harder, but a root snagged my foot. I crashed down hard. Before I could scramble up, something hit me—pain exploded in my shoulder. I shrieked as claws ripped my dress and skin. I rolled onto my back, flailing. A dark figure loomed over me, eyes burning red. A rogue. Ice flooded my body. “Please…” I crawled backward. The rogue snarled. I grabbed for a broken branch. “Stay away.” My voice quivered. The rogue lunged. I swung the branch—he snapped it like a twig. Forced it from my hand. I squeezed my eyes shut. This was it. Then, a voice sliced through the night. “Get away from her.” The rogue hesitated. I looked up. Someone stood between us, tall, unmoving, terrifying. Moonlight caught his face—dark hair, black coat, gold eyes. Damien Blackwood. I hadn’t expected him to follow. I wasn’t even sure he had. The rogue growled, crouched to attack. Damien barely moved—but suddenly, everything blurred. He slammed the rogue into a tree. He stood between me and the beast, shoulders tense, eyes blazing gold. The rogue staggered up. Damien took one step forward. “Run.” The rogue hesitated, then bolted into the forest. The silence felt thick. I was still sprawled on the ground. Damien turned slowly toward me, taking in my shredded dress, my bleeding shoulder, and the blood on my cheeks. His jaw tensed. He crouched down. I scooted back, instinctively. “Don’t,” he said, his voice low. I swallowed. “Don’t what?” “Move.” “Why?” “You’re hurt.” “I’ll live.” His eyes narrowed. “You almost didn’t.” I looked away. “I can handle myself.” He glanced at the broken branch tossed a few feet away. “Obviously.” I frowned. “You making fun of me?” “No.” He slipped off his coat. “I don’t need it,” I said, shaking my head. He ignored me, wrapped it around my shoulders. Warmth from his body lingered in the fabric. I looked at him then really looked. He was close. Too close. His scent wrapped around me. Something inside me responded a weird, fluttering heat in my chest. Damien seemed to notice. His eyes dropped to my collarbone, freezing in place on a small mark. I touched it, confused. “What?” He didn’t answer. “Alpha?” His eyes met mine, stunned. “Where’d you get that mark?” I frowned. “I was born with it.” His expression darkened. “That’s not possible.” “What isn’t?” He reached towards me, stopped before touching. My heart sped up for no good reason. I pulled the coat tighter. “Why are you looking at me like that?” He didn’t answer, but scanned my face, then the blood on my shoulder. His voice dropped so low it almost scared me. “Who hurt you?” I stared at him. That question almost broke me. Because nobody had asked me that all night. They’d asked what I’d done. If I was cursed. But not who hurt me. My lips trembled. “I…” Damien leaned closer. His golden eyes locked onto mine. “Tell me.” And for the first time that night, I felt like someone actually wanted to hear the truth.