Rejected by My Alpha, Claimed by His King

The night I found my mate was the night he broke me. I just didn't know it yet. “Stop moving.” Vanessa’s fingers tightened around my shoulders as she stared at my reflection in the mirror. “I’m not moving.” “You’re practically vibrating.” “I’m nervous.” “You’re terrified.” I looked at her through the mirror. “Thank you. That’s very helpful.” She laughed softly. Vanessa Hart had been my best friend since we were children. She was beautiful in the effortless way that made people turn their heads when she entered a room—long blonde hair, bright green eyes, perfect cheekbones. Tonight, she looked especially stunning in a dark emerald dress. I looked down at mine. Silver. Simple. Probably too simple for the Blood Moon Ceremony. But it had belonged to my mother. That made it perfect. I ran my fingers over the fabric near my waist. Tonight was supposed to change everything. Every unmated wolf over twenty-one would gather beneath the Blood Moon. The ceremony was an old Blackwood Pack tradition, dating back generations. Most wolves didn't need a ceremony to recognize their mates. The bond simply happened. A scent. A touch. A look. Then the wolf inside you knew. Mine had remained strangely silent for the past year. Until tonight. I could feel her pacing beneath my skin. Restless. Waiting. Something is coming, Lyra whispered inside my mind. My wolf rarely spoke so clearly. I swallowed. “What?” Vanessa tilted her head. “Nothing.” “You were doing that thing again.” “What thing?” “Looking like you're having a private conversation with the universe.” I smiled despite myself. “Maybe I am.” She picked up a silver necklace from my dresser. “Turn around.” I obeyed. She fastened it around my neck. The pendant was shaped like a crescent moon. Another thing that had belonged to my mother. My fingers closed around it. I barely remembered her. She had died when I was six, and my father had followed seven years later. Since then, Blackwood Pack had been the closest thing I had to a family. Not everyone treated me like family, of course. Being an orphan in one of the strongest packs in North America didn't exactly make you important. I had no title. No powerful bloodline that I knew of. No influential relatives. I worked in the pack's medical center and lived in a small cottage near the eastern woods. And I was perfectly fine with that. At least, that was what I always told myself. Vanessa met my eyes in the mirror. “You look beautiful, Elena.” “Beautiful enough for my mate?” “If he has functioning eyes.” I laughed. Then she became unusually quiet. Something flickered across her expression. So quickly I almost missed it. “Vanessa?” She looked away. “What?” “Are you okay?” “Of course.” “You seem strange.” She forced a smile. “I'm just excited for you.” I studied her for another second. Then bells rang in the distance. Once. Twice. Three times. My stomach dropped. Vanessa exhaled. “It’s time.” Moonlight covered the Blackwood estate in silver.