Rejected Luna, Vampire Queen

chapter 8

"Where have you been!" Ava screamed the moment she burst through the door. Her face was flushed, her chest heaving as if she’d run miles. "I’ve searched every corner for hours! I even drove back to the pack house thinking you’d left. I thought you were dead or kidnapped!"

I stared at my scuffed shoes, the ache in my back a sharp reminder of Logan’s grip. "I got held up by those guys," I muttered. The words felt heavy. I couldn't bring myself to tell her I’d been shoved into a dark closet like an unwanted toy.

Ava tapped her foot, her eyes wide and frantic. "What is your deal with them? Why do they hate you so much?"

"Old friends." My voice was a hollow shell. It was easier than explaining that my "old friends" were an ex-mate and a cousin who wanted me erased from existence.

Ava gripped her hair, her knuckles white. "Amanda, we are three hours late! Do you understand? The Alpha is going to be furious. He’s probably shaking with rage. The ceremony to present you to the elders started a long time ago. You are the bride! Thousands of people are sitting in that hall waiting for a girl who never showed up."

A cold shiver raced down my spine. "How bad is it? On a scale of one to ten?"

"It’s a disaster," Ava snapped, not bothering to sugarcoat it. "The Alpha’s reputation is on the line."

I felt a spark of heat in my chest. "I’ll make them pay for this." Miracle and Logan were winning, and the thought made my blood boil. "Can we still make it? If we hurry, can we get in before the doors close?"

"We have to try." Ava grabbed my bags and practically threw me toward the car. The tires shrieked against the pavement as we tore back toward pack territory.

The moment we arrived, Ava was a whirlwind. She pulled the diamond dress over my head, zipping it with a sharp jerk, and brushed my hair so hard tears pricked my eyes. Before we left the dressing room, she grabbed my shoulders, her hands trembling.

"Listen to me," she whispered, her voice tight. "You’re new. Not many people know your face yet. Try to be invisible."

"Invisible? At my own presentation?"

Ava’s hands flew as she spoke, a sign of her fraying nerves. "The pack is disappointed. They’ve been sitting in a hot hall for hours. They’re angry. They think the new bride is mocking them by being late. They think you’re disrespectful."

"And Damon?" My heart thudded like a trapped bird.

"Tell him we got held up. Make an excuse," Ava urged, pushing me toward the hallway. "When you enter, don't look at anyone. Go straight to him. If he isn't there, keep your head down. Hide in a corner. Do not speak to a single soul."

"Ava, why are you acting like this? Why do I have to hide?"

"I’ll explain later, I promise! Just go! Before it’s too late!"

I took a shaky breath and shoved the heavy wooden doors open. The room was massive, the air thick with the scent of roasted meat, wine, and the heavy musk of hundreds of werewolves. The roar of the crowd was deafening—laughter and shouting echoed off the high ceilings.

Thank God. No one looked up. They were too busy feasting to notice the girl at the door. I let out a long breath, my pulse slowing just a fraction. I slipped toward a small table near the wall, snagging two drinks from a passing waiter and swallowing them fast to steady my hands.

I scanned the room, searching for those cold, dark eyes. I looked at the high balcony and the empty obsidian throne at the front. Damon was nowhere to be seen. A part of me was relieved; I wasn't ready to face his rage.

I was standing there, trying to blend into the shadows, when a girl approached me. She was strikingly pretty, with sharp, cat-like eyes and blonde hair that shimmered under the chandeliers.

"Hi! I’m Mary." She flashed a bright smile and reached for my hand.

I remembered Ava’s warning. I looked away, gripping my glass tighter. "Sorry... I can't talk right now."

"Oh, I won't bite!" Mary laughed, a high, tinkling sound. "I just wanted to help. Your dress... the zipper is torn. You’re showing everything."

My stomach dropped. "Are you serious?" I reached back, my fingers meeting cold air and jagged metal. The zipper was shredded—Logan must have broken it when he slammed me against the wall. I clamped my hands over the gap, my face burning.

"Here, let me help," Mary said kindly, stepping behind me. I felt her fingers fumbling with the fabric, but then she did something chilling.

She leaned in, her nose brushing my ear. Then she moved to my neck, taking a long, deep breath. She wasn't fixing my dress. She was sniffing me.

"What are you doing?" I tried to pull away, fear spiking in my chest.

Suddenly, Mary stepped back. The kindness vanished from her face, replaced by a jagged, wicked grin. She grabbed a silver glass from a nearby table and struck it hard with a spoon.

"SILENCE!" she shrieked. "CAN I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION?"

The music died. The laughter evaporated. Hundreds of heads turned toward us, their eyes glowing in the dim light.

"Stop it! What are you doing?" I begged, my voice cracking.

Mary didn't stop. She pointed a trembling finger right at my face, her eyes wild with triumph.

"THIS GIRL!" Mary shouted so the entire hall could hear. "SHE IS NOT ONE OF US! SHE IS A SPY SENT TO KILL OUR ALPHA!"

A collective gasp ripped through the room. Chairs scraped against the floor as werewolves stood up, their eyes bleeding into yellow. A low, guttural growl began to rise from the crowd as they started to close in.

"Look at her!" Mary screamed, her voice reaching a fever pitch. "She doesn't even smell like a wolf! She smells like the undead! She is a human spy!"