The Lycan Princess's Second Chance

Aria's POV Three years. That's how long I've been hiding the truth from my alpha husband—I'm the lost daughter of the Lycan King, not the orphaned omega he believes me to be. The ballroom sparkled with golden lights as pack members filled every corner. I smoothed down my emerald dress, checking the feast tables one last time. Everything had to be perfect tonight. Damien was finally coming home after six months leading the northern campaign against the rogues. My husband. My mate. The man I gave up everything for. "Luna Aria, the scouts spotted them!" a young wolf announced, breathless with excitement. My heart raced. I hurried to the grand entrance, standing tall despite the butterflies in my stomach. Behind me, hundreds of pack members gathered, ready to welcome their Alpha home. The massive doors opened. Damien strode in, powerful and commanding in his dark armor. His steel-gray eyes swept the room, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe. He was still the most handsome man I'd ever seen. But something was wrong. He wasn't alone. A woman walked beside him, her hand possessively wrapped around his arm. She wore a blood-red dress that hugged her curves, and her blonde hair cascaded like silk. But it was her scent that made my wolf growl—she carried Damien's scent all over her. "Welcome home, Alpha Damien!" The crowd erupted in cheers. Damien raised his hand for silence. His deep voice filled the hall. "Thank you all for this welcome. I have important news to share." He pulled the woman closer. "This is Serena Blackstone, daughter of Alpha Blackstone from the Northern Alliance. She proved herself invaluable during the campaign." My fingers dug into my palms. The Northern Alliance was powerful, second only to the royal pack. I knew exactly who she was. "Serena saved my life during a rogue ambush," Damien continued, his hand moving to rest on her stomach. "And she's carrying my heir." The room exploded. Gasps, whispers, shocked exclamations. My world tilted sideways. "The pack doctor has confirmed it," he added, looking directly at me. "A strong pup. Due in six months." I couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. The omega servers dropped their trays. The warriors shifted uncomfortably. Everyone stared at me, waiting for my reaction. "Luna Aria never gave us an heir..." "Three years and nothing..." "Maybe this is for the best..." The whispers sliced through me like knives. I forced my face to remain neutral, even as my heart shattered into pieces. Serena smiled sweetly at me. "Luna Aria, I hope we can be friends. After all, we both want what's best for the pack." Friends. She wanted to be friends after stealing my mate. "Congratulations," I managed to say, my voice surprisingly steady. "If you'll excuse me, I need to check on the kitchens." I turned and walked away with my head high, even as tears burned behind my eyes. No one followed me. Not even Damien. I escaped to the empty corridor and pressed my back against the cold stone wall. My wolf howled in agony. The mate bond burned like acid in my chest—he'd been with her, touched her, marked her with his scent while I waited faithfully for months. The worst part? I couldn't even reveal who I really was. If my father found out what Damien had done to me, to his daughter, there would be war. Damien's pack would be destroyed. Even now, even after this betrayal, I couldn't bring myself to hurt him. "Luna?" A small voice interrupted my thoughts. Mia, my personal maid, stood there with concern written across her young face. "Are you alright?" "Have my things moved to the east wing," I said quietly. "The guest quarters." "But Luna, that's—" "Just do it, Mia." As I walked away, I heard footsteps approaching the ballroom. I paused, hidden in the shadows, as Damien's beta, Marcus, spoke urgently. "Alpha, are you sure about this? Luna Aria has been nothing but loyal." "She's barren, Marcus," Damien replied coldly. "Three years without an heir. The pack needs a future. Serena has proven she can give me that." "But the mate bond—" "Will remain. Aria is still Luna. She just needs to accept that things have changed." Accept it. Like I was some decoration he could push aside when something shinier came along. I fled before I could hear more. But as I reached my room—our room—I froze. Serena was already there, running her fingers along my belongings. "Oh!" She turned with fake surprise. "I was just admiring your taste. This room is beautiful. Damien said I could pick any room I wanted, and well..." She smiled. "This one feels perfect for the future mother of the Alpha's heir." She was taking my room too.