Queen’s Strike back

Chapter two

The Rejection

Angela's POV

The wedding march echoed through the hall. Every step I took felt surreal.

In my last life, I had walked this exact path with excitement in my heart,I had been nervous.

I remembered staring at Killian as if he were the center of my universe back then, I had believed I was walking toward my happily ever after but now I knew better.

I was walking toward the man who would destroy my life. The enormous court was overflowing with guests.

Pack elders,nobles,warriors,merchants.

Every important figure in the Shadow Fang Pack had gathered to witness the wedding of their Alpha.

The moment I appeared, conversations died instantly. A smile stretched across Killian's handsome face.

His golden eyes locked onto mine,he looked proud,victorious. As if he had already won and my stomach twisted.

I remembered those same eyes looking at me with disgust while I was dragged toward the dungeon.

I remembered him refusing to listen to my pleas,refusing to investigate,refusing to believe me.

A small part of me still couldn't understand how the man I loved had become my executioner.

The priest stood before the ceremonial altar. Everything looked exactly as it had in my first life,every detail and every face.

Even Morticia sat among the guests wearing a perfectly innocent smile. The sight of her nearly made my wolf growl.

The snake,the liar,the woman responsible for years of suffering.

If not for the fact that I needed to be careful, I would have exposed her right now but revenge required patience.

The priest cleared his throat.

"Today we gather under the blessing of the Moon Goddess to witness the union between Alpha Killian Jenson and Angela Milan."

Applause filled the room but I remained expressionless. Killian reached for my hand and I calmly stepped away.

A small frown appeared on his face and the priest continued.

"Do you, Alpha Killian Jenson, accept Angela Milan as your mate and Luna?"

"I do." His answer came instantly,without hesitation and without doubt.

The irony almost made me laugh and the crowd applauded again. The priest turned toward me,his smile widened.

"Angela Milan, do you accept Alpha Killian Jenson as your mate and husband?" The entire hall watched me,waiting,assuming they already knew my answer.

I slowly looked at Killian. Five years of memories flashed through my mind.

The betrayal,the humiliation. Adrian calling another woman mother. The cold dungeon and my death. I smiled then spoke one word.

"No." The hall exploded,gasps echoed everywhere,several guests stood from their seats.

Someone dropped a glass,others began whispering frantically and Killian froze.

The smile vanished from his face. "What?" His voice was low.

The priest blinked,clearly believing he had misheard. "My Lady..."

"I said no." The whispers became louder,the court erupted into complete chaos. Killian stared at me,shock slowly transforming into anger.

"What game are you playing?" he demanded.

"No game."His jaw tightened. "Then explain yourself." I met his gaze calmly.

For the first time in both lives, I wasn't afraid of him. "I don't want to marry you."

The words struck him harder than any weapon. His pride couldn't process them.

This was the same Angela who had spent years loving him,the same woman who once would have done anything for him.

The same woman he believed would never leave. "Why?" he snapped and the court became silent again.

The entire court listened,even the servants had stopped moving. I could practically feel everyone's curiosity.

Why would Angela Milan reject the Alpha? Why would she throw away the position of Luna?

Killian took another step toward me. "Tell me why." I almost laughed. Should I tell him? Should I explain how he would eventually destroy me?

How he would choose Morticia over me? How he would condemn me to die? No.

That knowledge belonged to me alone,at least for now. "Because I changed my mind."His face darkened.

"You changed your mind?"

"Yes."

"On our wedding day?"

"Yes."The veins in his neck became visible,the crowd continued whispering and the humiliation was becoming impossible to ignore.

This wasn't happening in private,this was happening before the entire pack.

Killian looked embarrassed and it gladdened my heart. A tiny fraction of what I had endured. One of the elders rose from his seat.

"Angela, think carefully."Another quickly added,

"Rejecting the Alpha will damage the pack's reputation." I smiled politely.

"Then perhaps the Alpha should find another bride." The room gasped again and Killian's eyes widened.

"You cannot be serious."

"Oh, I'm very serious." His wolf pushed against the surface. I could sense his anger,his disbelief,his wounded pride.

For years he had taken my love for granted now he was discovering what life felt like without it.

Suddenly the massive doors at the back of the court opened.

A powerful scent filled the room. Authority,strength and danger all mixed together.

The whispers immediately died and every head turned. My pulse quickened because I already knew who it was.

Miguel Raul.

The Alpha King of the Crimson Blood Empire,the most feared ruler in the werewolf world.

He entered surrounded by several warriors,his dark hair was neatly styled.

A black military coat rested across his broad shoulders. The scar along his jaw only made him look more intimidating.

Even the nobles appeared nervous and Killian's face darkened further. "What are you doing here?"

Miguel ignored him completely. Instead, his crimson eyes settled on me.

The court watched in stunned silence as he approached until he stood directly before me.

For a moment neither of us spoke then Miguel extended his hand. The gesture sent another wave of whispers through the crowd.

His deep voice echoed through the court.

"Angela Milan."

Every eye remained fixed on us.

"If you do not wish to become Luna of Shadow Fang..." He paused.

Then delivered the sentence that would shake the kingdom.

"Become Queen of the Crimson Blood Empire instead." The room exploded,even louder than before.

Several nobles nearly fell from their chairs.

Killian looked as though someone had punched him. The priest simply stood there, speechless.

Miguel never looked away from me,his hand remained extended.

In my first life, nobody had offered me salvation,nobody had stood beside me,nobody had chosen me.

But this time was different,slowly, I reached out.

My fingers settled into his palm and a collective gasp swept through the hall.

Then I turned toward the crowd,toward Killian,toward Morticia and toward everyone who believed my future belonged to Shadow Fang.

And then I smiled. "I accept." The world seemed to stop,Killian's face drained of color.

Morticia's smile vanished,the court erupted into absolute trouble and shock.