Rejected by my mate,claimed by the crown prince

Episode three.Claimed

If my brother is too blind to see her worth…” the deep voice echoed across the clearing. "Then she will be mine. I claim her as my mate."

Silence crashes over the clearing.

The whispers die instantly.

Every pair of eyes follows the Crown Prince as he steps forward and walks toward Lyra.

Kael recovers first.

His face darkens with fury, his golden-brown hair catching the moonlight as he clenches his fists at his sides.

"What are you doing?" he snarled, stepping forward aggressively, his voice echoing with disbelief and rage.

Rowan doesn't even spare him a glance.

He keeps walking with purposeful, unhurried steps until he stops directly in front of Lyra. His tall, imposing frame cast a shadow over her, but it wasn’t threatening. It felt… protective. The air around him carried the faint scent of pine and steel, a warrior’s presence that made the entire clearing hold its breath.

Then, in a voice so calm it sent chills through the crowd, he says,

"Taking what you threw away."

Gasps echo through the gathering. The sound rippled outward, growing louder as nobles, warriors, and common wolves alike processed what they had just witnessed. Kael's jaw tightened so hard Lyra could see the muscle jumping in his cheek. Clarissa Vossley’s triumphant smile faltered for the first time that night, her blue eyes narrowing with sudden fury.

Andrea intervenes.

She steps forward gracefully, her elegant auburn hair perfectly pinned, her sharp green eyes fixed on her eldest son with calculated composure. Her voice is sharp but controlled, laced with a warning that only those closest to her could truly hear.

"Rowan, enough. You are acting irrationally. Do not let emotion cloud your judgment. You are the Crown Prince. Do not embarrass this family any further."

Only then does Rowan turn to face his mother.

His expression remains unreadable, his piercing silver eyes steady and cold as winter steel.

"The embarrassment began the moment my brother rejected his mate before the entire kingdom."

Silence fell again. No one dares speak.

Even the nobles who had been whispering lower their heads in discomfort at the words of the crown prince, the weight of Rowan’s words hanging heavy in the moonlit air. It was a public rebuke, delivered with quiet authority, and it struck harder than any shout could have.

Andrea's composure falters for the first time that night. Her perfectly painted lips press into a thin line, but she says nothing more. The Queen Dowager, known for her elegance and never losing control, was momentarily silenced by her own son.

The High Priestess, sensing the dangerous tension threatening to boil over, steps forward once more. Her silver staff gleams under the moonlight as she raises her voice to address the stunned gathering.

"Once a mate bond is publicly rejected, it is severed by the Goddess herself. Prince Rowan is within his rights to court or claim Lyra Burwood… if she accepts."

All eyes turned back to Lyra.

She stood frozen in the center of the storm, her mind spinning so fast she could barely breathe.

Ten minutes ago, she had believed the Moon Goddess had finally answered her prayers. She had felt the bond snap into place with Kael, the man she had loved quietly for years. She had been over the moon when hope had bloomed so brightly in her chest that she had taken a step toward him, ready to begin the life she had always dreamed of, walks through the forest, shared meals with her family, a future filled with love and belonging.

Then it had all shattered.

Kael’s cold rejection still echoed in her ears. The humiliation of his words, the way he had turned to Clarissa and kissed her hand in front of everyone, the way he had announced her as his chosen Luna, humiliating her.

It all crashed over Lyra like a wave of ice. Her knees felt weak. Her chest ached with a pain so deep she wondered if it would ever fade. The whispers still stung “pathetic,” “weak,” “unworthy” each one cutting deeper than the last.

And now this.

The most feared man in the kingdom. Rowan Draven, the ruthless Lycan Crown Prince whose name was whispered with terror, was standing before her, offering her protection. His silver eyes were locked on hers with an intensity that made her wolf stir in a way she didn’t understand. He was tall, imposing, and radiating power. Yet I'm this moment, he wasn’t looking at her with pity or disgust. He was looking at her like she mattered. Like she was worth claiming in front of the entire kingdom.

Lyra’s throat tightened. She didn’t know what to say. Her mind was a whirlwind of confusion, grief, fear, and something else she couldn’t name. Safety? Hope? Terror? Her hands trembled at her sides as she tried to find her voice.

Rowan turned fully toward her. His voice, when he spoke, was surprisingly gentle, though it still carried the weight of his authority.

"Lyra Burwood… will you allow me to stand beside you?"

The question hung in the air between them. Lyra’s lips parted, but no words came out. Her heart was pounding so loudly she was sure the entire clearing could hear it. Part of her wanted to run. Part of her wanted to hide behind her family and disappear into the night. But another part, a small, fragile part felt the strength in Rowan’s presence. He wasn’t looking at her with the same disgust Kael had shown. He was offering her a choice. A chance.

Before she could find her voice, King Vyctor finally stood from his throne.

Everyone fell silent.

The King’s imposing figure commanded the clearing as he raised his hand, his sharp silver eyes, similar to Rowan’s sweeping over the stunned crowd with authoritative weight.

He cleared his throat, "This matter will be settled before the entire kingdom," he declared, his voice deep and resonant.

The King's gaze swept across the gathering before settling on Rowan.

“Do you understand what you are asking of me, Rowan?”

“I do.”

Vyctor held his son's gaze for a long moment before turning to Lyra.

Every eye in the kingdom followed him.

“”Then his deep voice echoed through the sacred ground. “Lyra Burwood.”

Her breath caught.

"Do you accept Prince Rowan's claim?”