The Lycan King's Secret Triplets

Chapter 1 — The Rejection The moment Alpha Jaxon Blackthorne stepped onto the ceremonial platform, Evangeline Mooncrest knew something was wrong. She had spent five years learning every expression on his face. She knew how he smiled when he was happy. She knew how his jaw tightened when he was angry. She knew the way his eyes softened whenever he looked at her. But today, he wouldn't look at her at all. Evangeline stood among hundreds of Silverfang wolves, clutching a leather folder against her chest. Inside were the results of the research she had spent months conducting. The Crimson Vein disease had already killed seventeen members of the pack. She had barely slept while searching for a cure. She had searched her family's ancient medical journals, tested herbs, studied blood samples, and worked through countless nights. And today, she had finally found something. A possible treatment. She had planned to give the research to Jaxon after his crowning. She had even imagined his reaction. You did it, Evangeline. You saved my people. Instead, when she looked toward the platform, Jaxon was standing beside another woman. Evangeline froze. The woman was beautiful. Long golden hair. Pale blue eyes. A delicate face that made her look almost harmless. Most importantly, she was holding Jaxon's hand. Evangeline's heart sank. "Who is that?" she whispered. Her best friend, Mira, swallowed nervously. "I don't know. She arrived this morning." Evangeline stared at their joined hands. "Why is she beside him?" Before Mira could answer, the ceremonial drums began. Boom. Boom. Boom. The entire hall became silent. Elder Aldric, the oldest member of the High Wolf Council, stepped forward. "Today, the Silverfang Pack welcomes its new Alpha." Cheers erupted. "Long live Alpha Jaxon!" Evangeline forced herself to smile. This was supposed to be their day. Two years earlier, beneath the full moon, Jaxon had promised her that when he became Alpha, she would become his Luna. I will put the crown on your head myself, he had whispered. She had believed him. She had loved him. And now he was standing beside another woman. Elder Aldric raised his ceremonial staff. "Before the crown is placed upon Alpha Jaxon's head, there is an important announcement." Evangeline's smile disappeared. Jaxon finally looked at her. Their eyes met. For one second, she saw guilt in his expression. Then it vanished. He turned toward the woman beside him. "This is Seraphina Vale." The woman stepped forward. A murmur spread through the crowd. Jaxon took her hand. "She is my fated mate." The world seemed to stop. Evangeline couldn't breathe. Mira grabbed her arm. "Evangeline..." "No." The word barely escaped her lips. Jaxon couldn't have said that. Not after everything. She stepped forward. "Jaxon." His eyes met hers. She waited for him to explain. He didn't. "Can we talk?" she asked. "Not now." Her heart clenched. "Then when?" Jaxon sighed. "Evangeline, don't make this difficult." She stared at him. "Difficult?" She raised the folder. "I spent months working on the Crimson Vein disease. I found a possible treatment." A few people gasped. Jaxon barely glanced at the papers. "I'm dealing with something more important right now." Evangeline looked at Seraphina. Then back at him. "More important?" Seraphina lowered her eyes. "I never wanted to hurt her." Evangeline almost laughed. "You don't even know me." Seraphina looked at Jaxon helplessly. Jaxon stepped between them. "Evangeline, enough." Her fingers tightened around the folder. "Tell me I'm wrong." He remained silent. "Tell me you aren't choosing her." Silence. "Tell me." Jaxon looked at the council. Then he looked directly at Evangeline. "I am choosing Seraphina." The words destroyed the last piece of hope inside her. Mira stepped forward. "Jaxon, you promised Evangeline—" "Enough," Jaxon snapped. His Alpha aura spread across the hall. Several wolves immediately lowered their heads. But Evangeline remained standing. She wouldn't bow. Not today. Jaxon turned toward the council. "Evangeline and I are no longer together." Her eyes widened. "No longer together?" He nodded. "Our relationship has ended." Evangeline shook her head slowly. "You could have told me privately." Jaxon said nothing. "You could have shown me enough respect to tell me before standing here with her." His expression hardened. "Things change." "People change," Evangeline whispered. She looked at him. "I guess you did." Elder Aldric raised his staff. "Alpha Jaxon, is this your final decision?" Jaxon looked at Seraphina. She smiled. Then he faced Evangeline. "Yes." Evangeline's chest tightened. She already knew what was coming. Still, hearing the words made her entire body go cold. "Evangeline Mooncrest," Jaxon said, his voice echoing through the hall, "I reject you as my mate." A sharp pain tore through her. She stumbled. Mira caught her before she fell. Someone gasped. Evangeline pressed her hand against her chest. The bond was breaking. Five years. Five years of memories. Five years of promises. Five years of loving him. Gone. Jaxon continued. "I choose Seraphina Vale as my fated mate." The crowd erupted into whispers. Evangeline looked at him through blurred eyes. She wanted him to regret it. She wanted him to run toward her. She wanted him to say that it was a mistake. He did none of those things. Instead, he placed his hand around Seraphina's waist. That was when something inside Evangeline went completely numb. She wiped her tears. Then she straightened. "Congratulations." Jaxon frowned. She lifted her chin. "You made your choice." "Evangeline—" "No." She held up her hand. "I won't beg a man to love me." For the first time, something resembling regret appeared in his eyes. But it was too late. Elder Aldric spoke again. "There is another matter." Evangeline looked toward him. "The Mooncrest family journals." Her stomach tightened. "What about them?" "The council has decided that they belong to the Silverfang Pack." Evangeline's expression changed. "No." Those journals were her family's legacy. Her parents had spent their lives protecting them. They contained centuries of medical research. "You have no right." Jaxon finally spoke. "The journals could help us cure Crimson Vein." "You want my research after rejecting me?" "They belong to the pack." "No," Evangeline said firmly. "They belong to my family." Jaxon's face became cold. "Then you're leaving me no choice." He turned toward the guards. "Escort Evangeline from the territory." Mira stared at him in disbelief. "You can't be serious." Jaxon ignored her. "Evangeline has until sunset to leave." The hall fell silent. Evangeline stared at the man she had once planned to marry. He had rejected her. Stolen her work. And now he was banishing her. She slowly closed the folder. "Fine." Jaxon looked surprised. She walked toward the exit. "Evangeline." She stopped. For a moment, she thought he might call her back. Instead, he said, "Leave the journals." She looked over her shoulder. A faint smile touched her lips. "Keep your pack." Her eyes hardened. "But you'll never get my family's secrets." Then she walked away. --- By sunset, Evangeline stood outside the Silverfang territory with one suitcase. Everything she owned had been reduced to a few clothes and the medical research she had managed to hide. Mira had tried to follow her. The guards wouldn't allow it. So Evangeline walked alone. She reached the road leading toward Johannesburg. Her body suddenly felt strangely weak. She stopped beside an old tree. For several seconds, she simply breathed. Then nausea hit her. She covered her mouth. "What is happening to me?" She had felt sick for weeks. She had blamed it on exhaustion. But now, as she looked down at her trembling hands, an unfamiliar thought entered her mind. A thought that frightened her. She pulled out her phone and searched for the nearest human hospital. Johannesburg. She would go there. She needed answers. Because if Jaxon wanted her gone, she would disappear. And if the pack believed Evangeline Mooncrest was finished... They were about to learn how wrong they were. She picked up her suitcase and continued walking into the darkness. Behind her, the Silverfang territory disappeared from sight. And inside her body, three tiny heartbeats continued beating. Unheard. Undiscovered. Waiting. Jaxon had rejected his mate. He had no idea he had just abandoned the mother of his future heirs.