REJECTED BY MY ALPHA, CLAIMED BY THE LYCAN KING

The Moon Temple glittered beneath the silver light of the full moon. White roses decorated every pillar. Hundreds of candles illuminated the ancient hall, casting golden reflections across the polished marble floor. Members of the Silver Moon Pack filled every seat, their excited whispers echoing through the chamber. Tonight was supposed to be the happiest night of my life. Tonight, I was finally becoming Luna. I stood outside the temple doors, my hands trembling slightly as I adjusted the silver gown flowing around my feet. The dress had taken months to make. Tiny crystals shimmered across the fabric like scattered stars. "You look beautiful." I turned to find my younger sister, Selene, smiling at me. Her blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her blue eyes sparkled beneath the moonlight. "Thank you," I said softly. She stepped forward and hugged me. "I'm so happy for you." Something about her voice felt strange. Forced. Almost guilty. But before I could think about it, the temple doors swung open. The crowd erupted into applause. My heart raced. This was it. After seven years of loving Alpha Kieran, after seven years of waiting for our bond ceremony, my dream was finally coming true. Or so I thought. The moment I entered the temple, every eye turned toward me. I smiled nervously. At the end of the aisle stood Alpha Kieran. Tall. Powerful. Handsome. The future Alpha King of the Northern Territories. My mate. The man who owned my heart. But something was wrong. His expression was cold. No smile. No excitement. No love. A strange uneasiness settled in my stomach. My wolf stirred restlessly. Something isn't right. I pushed the feeling away. Maybe he was nervous. This ceremony was important for both of us. As I approached the altar, the High Priest raised his hands. "We gather beneath the sacred moon to witness the union of Alpha Kieran Storm and his fated mate, Aria Blackwood." Cheers erupted throughout the temple. I glanced at Kieran. His face remained emotionless. Then suddenly— A second figure stepped onto the altar. Selene. My sister. Confusion flashed through me. Why was she standing beside Kieran? Before I could ask, Kieran reached for her hand. The entire world stopped. My breath caught. No. No. No. This couldn't be happening. The crowd fell silent. A terrible silence. The kind that comes before disaster. "Kieran?" My voice trembled. He wouldn't meet my eyes. Fear gripped my heart. "Kieran, what's going on?" Still silence. Then Selene lowered her gaze dramatically. "I'm sorry, Aria." The blood drained from my face. Suddenly, everything made sense. The coldness. The distance. The late-night meetings. The whispers that stopped whenever I entered a room. My stomach twisted violently. "What did you do?" I whispered. Tears filled Selene's eyes. Fake tears. I knew my sister too well. She wasn't sorry. Not even a little. Kieran finally looked at me. And what I saw shattered my heart. There was no regret in his eyes. Only determination. "The ceremony has changed." The words hit like a slap. "What?" "The pack needs a different Luna." For several seconds, I couldn't breathe. My chest tightened painfully. "What are you talking about?" Kieran's jaw clenched. "The Moon Goddess made a mistake." Gasps echoed through the temple. I stared at him. Certain I had misheard. "The Moon Goddess... made a mistake?" "Yes." His voice remained cold. Emotionless. Cruel. "Selene is the Luna this pack needs." The room spun. Seven years. Seven years of loyalty. Seven years of sacrifice. Seven years of loving him. And he was throwing me away like I meant nothing. I laughed. A broken laugh. The kind that comes when pain becomes too much to bear. "You're joking." Nobody laughed. Reality crashed into me. This wasn't a joke. This was betrayal. Public. Deliberate. Humiliating. My gaze moved around the temple. The elders avoided my eyes. Several warriors looked uncomfortable. Others simply watched. They knew. They all knew. Everyone knew except me. Humiliation burned through my veins. "You planned this." Selene remained silent. Kieran didn't deny it. My heart shattered. "How long?" I asked. Neither of them answered. "How long have you been together?" The silence was answer enough. I felt sick. The man I loved. My own sister. Behind my back. For Moon Goddess knows how long. "You betrayed me." Selene reached toward me. "Aria, please—" "Don't touch me." My voice echoed through the temple. The crowd flinched. For the first time, anger replaced my heartbreak. Pure rage. The kind born from betrayal. "You took everything from me." Tears slid down my cheeks. I didn't bother wiping them away. Let them see. Let them see exactly what they had done. Kieran stepped forward. "This is what's best for the pack." I stared at him in disbelief. "The pack?" His eyes narrowed. "Yes." I shook my head. "No." The word came out stronger than expected. "No, this isn't about the pack." I pointed toward Selene. "This is about her." Neither of them denied it. The truth stood between us. Ugly. Painful. Unavoidable. I lifted my chin. If my world was ending, I would face it with dignity. "Look at me." Kieran hesitated. "Aria—" "Look at me and say it." The temple became silent. Every single person waited. Watched. Judged. Finally, Kieran met my eyes. I searched desperately for love. For regret. For anything. I found nothing. The realization hurt more than the betrayal itself. The man I loved no longer existed. Maybe he never had. "I reject you, Aria Blackwood." The mate bond shattered. Agony exploded through my body. A scream tore from my throat. I collapsed onto the marble floor. Pain consumed every part of me. It felt as though my soul was being ripped apart. The crowd blurred. Voices faded. Darkness swallowed everything. Then— A voice echoed through the void. Deep. Powerful. Ancient. A voice unlike anything I had ever heard. "Little wolf..." My heart stopped. Silver eyes appeared within the darkness. Watching me. Waiting for me. Possessing a power that made even Alpha Kieran seem insignificant. "I've searched for you for centuries." The darkness trembled. The silver eyes glowed brighter. And then the voice spoke once more. "No one will ever hurt you again, my Queen." My Queen. The words echoed through my soul. And for the first time that night— I wasn't afraid. End of Chapter 1