The Alpha King's Rejected Queen

Chapter three

"You should've stayed gone."

The words echoed in my head as I stared at myself in the mirror.

The burgundy dress fit perfectly. It hugged my thin frame in ways that made me look like I actually had a shape. My dark hair was down, falling in soft waves over my shoulders. I had put on makeup...not much, but enough to hide the evidence of crying.

I looked different.

I looked... pretty.

"Wow," I whispered.

See? Luna said proudly. We're not invisible. We're just surrounded by blind people.

I almost smiled. Almost.

A knock on the door made me turn. "Come in."

Declan entered. He stopped when he saw me. His expression shifted through several emotions...surprise, confusion, and then something that looked like anger.

"What are you wearing?" he asked.

"A dress."

"That's not the dress your mother picked out."

"No. It's not."

His jaw clenched. "Rhea , tonight is important. You cannot just..." "I cannot just what? Look nice? Feel good about myself for once?"

"You look..." He trailed off.

"I look what?"

"Inappropriate."

The word stung. But I did not let it show.

"I think I look beautiful," I said calmly.

"That dress is too much. Too attention-seeking. Everyone will talk."

"Let them talk."

Declan stepped closer. He was wearing his black suit. The one that made him look powerful and important. He smelled like expensive cologne.

"Change," he said. "Now."

"No."

His eyes flashed. "That was not a request."

"And I am not your servant."

"You're my Luna. You represent me. And I will not have you embarrassing me in front of the other Alphas."

Something inside me cracked. All the hurt, all the anger, all the years of biting my tongue...they burst out.

"I've spent three years trying not to embarrass you," I said, my voice rising.

"Three years making myself smaller, quieter, more forgettable. Three years apologizing for existing. And you know what? I amdone." "Rhea ..."

"You want a divorce? Fine. I want one too. But until then, I'll wear whatever I want. I'll say whatever I want. And if you do not like it, you can stand somewhere else tonight."

Declan stared at me like he'd never seen me before. Maybe he hadn't. Maybe I had been invisible for so long that he forgot I was a real person.

"You're making a mistake," he said quietly.

"The only mistake I made was marrying you."

His face went cold. "You'll regret this."

"I already regret it. Every single day."

He turned and walked out, slamming the door so hard the wall shook.

I stood there, breathing hard, my hands trembling.

What had I just done?

You stood up for yourself, Luna said. Finally.

"He's going to make my life hell."

He already does. At least now you're fighting back.

She was right. Things couldn't get worse than they already were.

Could they?

I grabbed my small clutch and headed downstairs. The pack house was chaos.

People rushing everywhere, making last-minute preparations. The ball was being held at the town hall, but many of the important guests were gathering here first for a reception.

I made it halfway down the stairs before I saw her.

Isabel.

She was standing in the foyer, wearing a dress that looked like it cost more than a car. It was gold and glittering, cut low in the front, showing off her perfect figure. Her blonde hair was curled and pinned up. She looked like a princess.

She saw me and smiled. That fake, sweet smile that everyone else believed.

"Rhea ," she said brightly. "do not you look... interesting."

Several pack members were nearby. They all turned to look at me. I felt their eyes judging, comparing.

"Thank you," I said, keeping my voice even.

Isabel walked over, her heels clicking on the marble floor. She came close, too close, and lowered her voice so only I could hear.

"You think that dress will help?" she whispered. "You think Declan will suddenly want you?" "I do not care what Declan wants."

"Good. Because he wants me. He's always wanted me. You were just a placeholder. A political arrangement.

Nothing more."

My fingers tightened around my clutch. "If that's true, why do you need to convince everyone? Why work so hard to take my place?"

Isabel's smile faltered. "I am not..."

"Yes, you are. You're desperate for it. The title. The position. The power. That's all you've ever wanted." "How dare you..."

"You attacked yourself today. You cut your own arm to frame me. That's not the action of someone confident in her position.

That's the action of someone scared."

Isabel's face twisted with rage. The mask completely dropped. "You have no idea what I am capable of."

"I am starting to."

"You should have stayed gone," Isabel hissed. "When you were kidn*pped. When you disappeared for three years. Everyone was happier without you. Your parents were happier. The pack was happier. I was happier."

The words hit like physical blows. But I did not let her see me flinch.

"Then why did you work so hard to keep me here?" I asked. "If everyone was so happy without me, why convince my parents to keep me? Why push for my arranged marriage to Declan? You could have let me leave. But you did not."

Isabel's eyes widened slightly. She hadn't expected that.

"Because," I continued, "you needed me here. You needed someone to compare yourself to. Someone to make you look better. You needed a victim."

"You're insane."

"Am I? Or am I finally seeing clearly?"

Before Isabel could respond, someone called her name. She plastered the sweet smile back on her face and walked away, leaving me standing alone on the stairs.

I took a deep breath. My hands were still shaking, but I felt... lighter somehow. Like speaking the truth out loud had released something inside me.

You did good, Luna said.

"Thanks."

Now let's get through this ball. Then we're leaving. Tonight.

"Tonight?" I repeated in my mind.

Yes. Pack a bag during the ball. When everyone's distracted. We slip out. We disappear.

"They'll come after me."

Let them try.

I was not sure if I had the courage. But I was running out of options.

I continued down the stairs and made my way to the foyer. More guests were arriving. I smiled. I greeted people. I played my role as Luna one last time.

But inside, I was planning my escape.

The evening passed in a blur. The reception. The convoy to the town hall.

The grand entrance. The speeches.

Everyone played their parts perfectly.

Declan barely looked at me. My parents avoided me. Isabel stuck to Declan's side like glue, laughing at his jokes, touching his arm, acting like she belonged there.

Maybe she did.

Maybe I never belonged anywhere.

I was standing near the refreshment table, trying to look busy, when someone bumped into me. I stumbled, and a hand caught my elbow, steadying me.

"Careful," a deep voice said.

I looked up into silver eyes. The man was tall, powerfully built, with dark hair and sharp features. He radiated authority.

Power. Danger.

I had never seen him before.

"Thank you," I managed.

He studied me for a moment. Something flickered in his expression. Curiosity maybe.

"You're hurt," he said, nodding at my bandaged hand.

"It's nothing."

"It doesn't look like nothing."

"I am fine. Really."

He did not argue. But he did not let go of my arm either.

"You're the Luna of Ironpeak Pack," he said. It was not a question.

"Yes."

"Interesting."

"What is?"

"You do not stand with your Alpha."

I glanced across the room. Declan was talking to a group of other Alphas, Isabel right beside him. They looked like a couple.

"No," I said quietly. "I do not."

The man's grip on my arm gentled. "Would you like to step outside? You look like you could use some air."

I should have said no. I did not know this man. He could be dangerous.

But something about him felt... safe. "Yes," I heard myself say. "I would."

He led me through the crowd and out onto a balcony. The night air was cool and fresh. I could breathe again.

"Better?" he asked.

"Much. Thank you." "You're welcome."

We stood in silence for a moment. I looked out at the stars, trying to calm my racing thoughts.

"Can I ask you something?" the man said.

"Sure."

"Why are you still here?"

I turned to look at him. "What?"

"You're clearly unhappy. Anyone with eyes can see it. So why stay?"

"It's complicated."

"Is it? Or have you just convinced yourself it is?" I opened my mouth to argue. But no words came out.

Because he was right.

I had spent so long making excuses, justifying my situation, hoping things would get better. But they never would. Not as long as I stayed.

"I am leaving," I said. The words surprised me. "Tonight. After the ball."

The man's silver eyes studied me. "Running away?"

"No. Running toward something better."

He smiled slightly. "Good for you."

"You do not think I am being selfish?"

"Selfish? For choosing yourself? No. I think you're being smart."

Relief flooded through me. This stranger understood. He did not know me, did not know my situation, but he understood.

"Thank you," I said. "For saying that." "I am only speaking the truth."

We stood there a while longer. It was peaceful. For the first time in months, I felt like I could think clearly.

"I should go back in," I said eventually. "Before someone notices I amgone." "Of course."

As I turned to leave, his voice stopped me.

"One more thing."

"Yes?"

"Whatever you're running from...do not let it follow you. Make a clean break. Start fresh."

"I'll try."

He nodded. "Good luck, Luna."

I walked back inside, feeling lighter than I had in years.

I did not know who that man was. But his words had given me the final push I needed.

I was leaving tonight.

No matter what.

But as I stepped back into the ballroom, I saw something that made my blood run cold.

Declan was standing at the front of the room. Isabel was beside him. And they were holding hands.

"May I have everyone's attention!" Declan's voice boomed across the hall.

The music stopped. Everyone turned to look.

My heart started pounding.

"I have an important announcement to make," Declan continued. "About the leadership of Ironpeak Pack."

No. No, no, no.

This couldn't be happening. Not here. Not now. Not in front of everyone.

"It has come to my attention that our current Luna has been... unfit for her duties."

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

I couldn't move. Couldn't breathe.

"Therefore, effective immediately, Rhea Evenstar is removed from her position as Luna."

The world tilted.

"In her place, Isabel Reed will serve as temporary Luna until a permanent arrangement can be made."

Isabel smiled. Triumphant. Victorious.

Everyone was staring at me. Whispering. Judging.

My parents were in the crowd. They would not look at me.

Declan's eyes found mine across the room. There was no regret in them. No hesitation.

He'd made his choice.

And it was not me.