The Alpha’s Rejected Luna, The Enemy’s Crowned Queen

(Lyra’s POV) ​They say time heals everything; well, that’s just a stupid lie the patriarchy put in place to deceive us. Time doesn’t heal s**t, especially when you’ve spent every single day being reminded of what you lost. Seventeen years after my parents died, and the pack still blamed me for it. Instead of being treated like family, I automatically became the Blackwoods' personal servant. “Lyra! Come down here.” My aunt’s sharp voice echoed from downstairs, snapping me out of my thoughts. ​The smell of food and wine filled the air as I walked towards the dining room. Tonight, the house was louder than usual. Warriors and elders filled the mansion, their annoying laughter echoing through the walls while servants rushed around trying not to make mistakes. I tightened my grip around the tray in my hands. ​“I’m coming,” I answered, trying to mask the irritation in my voice. The hallway was bright and warm, decorated with gold lamps and expensive paintings that once belonged to my parents. I passed them every day, but I still felt like a stranger in my own home. It wasn’t my home anymore; the Blackwoods made sure I never forgot that. ​The moment I entered the dining room, my cousins barely even looked at me. Andrew sat comfortably beside his mate, Jessica, while Andre laughed with a few warriors at the table, and Aurora was basically throwing herself at future alpha Dylan. ​ Dylan Ashford was every girl's dream mate. He was tall, strong, handsome, and powerful. He had these icy blue eyes that could silence a room. I tried not to look at him for too long; girls like me were not supposed to look at men like him. ​ My aunt and uncle stood near the fireplace, talking to the elders like they owned everything in the room. Well, technically, they did; ever since my parents died, she inherited everything: their house, their power, their respect. Me. ​ “Finally, I thought we were going to die of thirst." She and the other elders laughed. I lowered my head. “I’m sorry it won't happen again.” ​ “It better not," Jessica added with her stupid fake smile. “I almost choked waiting." ​ “Maybe that’s what she wants.” Andre laughed ​ “Maybe she wants to kill your pup in your stomach.” The entire table burst into laughter, well, except Dylan. “I would never do that,” I said softly. “And who said you could speak, b***h? "Andrew looked at me for the first time that night. His eyes were cold. I just stood there, forcing myself not to react even though humiliation burned through me like fire. That was exactly what they wanted, a reaction. Something they could laugh at for the rest of the night. Aurora placed a dramatic hand over her stomach and leaned closer to Dylan. “Oh, please,” she giggled softly. “Lyra wouldn’t dare.” “I’m sorry. "I could feel Dylan's eyes looking at me, and that always made my heart flutter. I hated that just a single glance from him could make my heart skip, but when I looked up, his attention was already back on Aurora. Of course it was. Aurora belonged in rooms like this. She was beautiful, confident, and not clumsy like me. Her blonde hair fell perfectly over her shoulders, and her dress showed just enough skin to make every warrior in the room look twice. I, on the other hand, wore an oversized hand me down hoodie, and my hair was always in a messy bun. Who would even think of looking at me like that? Sometimes I wondered what it would feel like to walk into a room and not want to disappear. “Lyra,” my aunt snapped. I quickly looked at her. "Yes, Aunt Irene?” “After serving dinner, clean the guest rooms upstairs. The mating ceremony is tomorrow, and I won’t have elders sleeping in dusty rooms because of your stupidity.” The mating ceremony. My stomach twisted at the words. Every wolf waited for that ceremony. It was the night the Moon Goddess revealed fated mates. The night lives changed forever. For most people, it was exciting; for me, it was terrifying because what if I had no mate? Or worse, what if he rejects me in front of everybody? I had survived many things, but I didn’t know if I could survive being rejected by the one person meant to love and protect me. “Aren’t you too old to still be unmated? ” Jessica asked, pretending to think. “How old are you now? Twenty? Twenty three?” “I kind of pity whoever gets this one as their mate," Andrew added. “Shut up, Andrew," Aurora added. “What if her mate has seen her but is too ashamed to accept her?" I focused on pouring wine into the next glass, but my hand shook. A small drop fell on Dylan’s grey trousers. “Are you crazy? " Aurora shouted. “It's fine; it's barely even noticeable," Dylan said, trying to clean the stain. My aunt’s face changed immediately. “Lyra.” The room went quiet. My face went pale. “I’m so sorry,” I rushed out, grabbing a napkin. “I’ll clean it.” She walked toward me slowly, her heels clicking against the floor. I kept my head down as I wiped the stain. “I said I’m sorry.” Before I could move, she grabbed my wrist tightly. Her nails dug into my skin. “You should be grateful we kept you alive after everything you caused.” No matter how many times they said it, those words always hurt. “Everything you caused," like I asked the rogues to attack, like I asked the fire to burn, as if I asked my parents to die saving me. “I didn’t cause it,” I muttered under my breath. The room fell silent; my aunt’s grip tightened so much I started bleeding. “What did you just say? ”I instantly regretted speaking. “I…” My voice broke. “Nothing.” Her eyes narrowed. “That’s what I thought.” She released my wrist, pushing my hand away as if touching me disgusted her. “Finish serving and get out of my sight.” I nodded quickly and picked up the tray again. My wrist burned, but I ignored it. Dylan was still looking at me as if he wanted to say something. By the time the party was finally over, the house had gone quiet again. I sat on the floor beside my bed with my knees pulled tightly against my chest while hunger twisted painfully inside my stomach. I tried to ignore it, but honestly, I just felt worse. Moonlight slipped softly through the window. I used to love nights like this. My dad would lift me onto his shoulders so I could “see the whole world better.” “Higher, Lyra? ” he’d ask, and I'd laugh every time. Then the memory hit too fast. Smoke everywhere. Blood on the floor. My father held the door back while rogues forced their way into the house. “Run, Lyra! ” I remember my mom's screams, and I still remember her hands shoving me through the broken wall while the roof started collapsing around us. I still remember what people said that day; I still remember the looks in my father's eyes... I never saw them again after that night. I stayed beside the window, staring out at the dark forest while the packhouse slowly grew quieter downstairs. I looked down at my hand, still feeling the strange warmth from Dylan’s touch, but I quickly brushed that thought off. Maybe tomorrow I’d finally shift. Maybe then people would stop looking at me like something was wrong with me. I leaned my head back against the wall and closed my eyes while the room grew quiet around me. “Is there even a point anymore? ” My fingers brushed against the rusted blade lying beside my bed. Maybe they were right. Maybe I shouldn’t have survived that night. Maybe things would have been easier if I’d died with my parents. The pack loved my parents; they just hated what they died for. Tomorrow is the memorial and my birthday. Worst combination ever. I leaned my head against the wall and closed my eyes for a second; maybe tomorrow would finally change something; maybe people would stop looking at me like some broken mistake the Moon Goddess forgot to finish making. I pushed myself off the floor slowly and started moving towards my bed, then I felt my chest tighten like something was violently biting my heart. I grabbed the wall before I lost my balance. Pain shot through my body so fast my legs almost stopped working. “What the hell? The room suddenly felt too hot and small. I felt something crawling under my skin; a deep growl echoed faintly inside my head. “Lyra!!” My heart slammed painfully against my ribs while the strange feeling spread through my chest faster and faster; the mark that had been on my arms that kept appearing and disappearing for years started glowing. “Finally, it’s happening.” ​