Reborn: I Married the Alpha King

"A stranger? Selene, is that how you see me now?"

Hearing my words, a low growl rumbled in Damian's chest, his wolf rising to the surface, inexplicably agitated.

I answered calmly, "My pack allegiance is my own choice. Regardless of the life I'm living now, I find it fulfilling, and I certainly don't think I'm 'letting myself go.' You should save your pity for a rogue who actually needs it."

He clenched his fist around the crest, his jawline as sharp as a blade.

Aria sensed the shift in his mood. She walked to Damian's side and, seeing the silver crest in his hand, her eyes flashed with understanding.

Though flames of jealousy were burning in her eyes, she maintained the graceful composure befitting a future Luna.

"Selene, you won't accept our kindness? Then let me offer you some more practical help."

"I know a few decent Beta warriors. I could arrange a mating for you. His bloodline might be common, but he'd be enough to give you a place to stay, so you wouldn't have to be all alone and at risk of being torn apart by rogues in the wilderness."

"How about it? That has to be better than being helpless and alone, right?"

I elegantly cut a piece of roasted meat on my plate, pointedly ignoring her "kindness."

"Thank you, but I have my own standards for a mate, and I don't need anyone meddling in my affairs."

The surrounding wolves began to point and whisper: "Selene, don't be so ungrateful! Aria is our future Luna. It's an honor that she's even willing to help you!"

"Exactly, she's already been rejected by an Alpha, what's with the attitude? You're only acting this way because you're jealous of Damian and Aria! Who are you trying to fool with that holier-than-thou act?"

Aria shushed them with a false show of sympathy. "Everyone, please don't say that! Perhaps Selene has truly grown accustomed to being alone!"

She turned back to me. "Selene, this is a gesture of goodwill, a bit of face we're giving you for old times' sake. Don't let your ridiculous pride make you miss this chance."

I truly couldn't comprehend this need to force charity on someone.

If we were really talking about standards for a mate, all the Alphas in this room combined couldn't compare to the one truly destined for me.

"I really don't need it, thank you."

Aria's smile remained gentle, but the mockery in her eyes was practically overflowing.

Damian's knuckles turned white as he tightened his fist. Finally, he couldn't hold back his anger.

"Selene, you really have fallen. You won't even accept our help. You deserve to be cast out by your pack. Then go ahead, be a homeless nobody for the rest of your life!"

As soon as he finished speaking, several brutish Alphas from the border packs sidled over.

One of them, an Alpha reeking of stale sweat and unwashed fur, reached out to touch me.

"Poor little thing, don't be sad. So that Alpha doesn't want you. I do. You smell so… lonely."

"Just one night with me, and I promise I'll show you what a real Alpha feels like!"

His filthy gaze roamed over my body, lust clear on his face.

The surrounding pack let out a collective laugh. No one moved to intervene.

I frowned. This summit was even more barbaric than I'd expected. If I wasn't waiting for someone important, I would have already flipped this table.

Just as I was about to teach these insolent fools a lesson, Damian, who was standing right beside me, suddenly moved.

He seized the leering Alpha by the neck, his golden wolf eyes chilling to the bone.

An Alpha's presence, so powerful it was suffocating, instantly crushed the entire hall into silence.

"Get lost."

The Alpha, terrified by Damian's presence, his knees buckled and he stumbled away.

Aria rushed over and grabbed Damian's arm.

"Damian, what are you doing?"

His eyes remained cold, his oppressive aura not receding in the slightest. "Maintaining order. This is a summit, not your personal hunting ground."

With that, he flung the Alpha away. The man scrambled off without daring to look back.

I couldn't help but glance at Damian. I never thought that inside a body so blinded by ambition and desire, there still remained a flicker of a mate's protective instinct.

Aria looked as if she could have ground her molars to dust, but she quickly composed herself, changing the subject with a bright smile.

"I heard that the supreme Alpha King and the mysterious Luna Queen are in the royal suite upstairs. If we're lucky, we might even catch a glimpse of them later!"

At her words, the entire hall buzzed with excitement.

The Alpha King, the young and powerful supreme ruler, was said to possess an ancient royal bloodline. Though he was only thirty, rumor had it he already had a pure-blooded heir.

As for the legendary Luna Queen, she had never once appeared in public.

"Does that mean we might get to see the Luna Queen? I heard she's a world-class jewelry designer, and that even royals have to be on a waiting list for her work. Oh my gods, I have to get a picture!"

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

Just then, a squad of elite guards bearing the royal crest escorted a pup into the banquet hall. The entire venue fell silent.

The power of the royal bloodline rolling off him in waves brought every wolf in the room to a state of instinctive reverence.

"That presence... that's definitely the Alpha King's little prince! His bloodline is truly noble!"

The same Alpha who had just harassed me, though scared witless by Damian, still had the gall to taunt me.

"Selene, if it weren't for Aria, an outcast Omega like you would never lay eyes on our noble prince in your entire life! If I were you, I'd get on my knees and thank her right now! Maybe if you make her happy, she'll actually gift you that Beta mate!"

I ignored the fool, my gaze calmly fixed on the young prince.

All the other wolves swarmed forward, fawning over the boy and trying to make a good impression.

Even the high-and-mighty Aria shed all her arrogance, approaching the prince with her most sycophantic tone.

"Your Highness, is there anything you need? I would be honored to assist you."

As she spoke, she began to reach out a hand to touch the prince's cheek.

But what happened next stunned every wolf in the room.

The little pup, flanked by his royal guard, completely ignored the fawning crowd and walked straight through them—directly to me.

His young face broke into the purest smile as he threw himself into my arms without hesitation. "Mommy, you're finally done with work!"