Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by the King

The phone's screen cast a harsh glow in the dimly lit room of the Silver Moon Pack's Luna suite. My fingers trembled as I scrolled through Azaria's social media post. In her circle, countless pack members seemed eager to fan the flames. Ninety-nine comments. Everyone knew that Giovanni and I had completed our marking ceremony today. Tonight was supposed to be our mating night. The official announcement photos were still plastered all over the pack's social media channels. But now, those pictures felt utterly absurd.

I wiped away my tears and deleted the notification. Even Madilynn Hudson, one of the pack's most notorious gossips, had commented "congrats" on Azaria’s post. Just then, a video call from Alpha Giovanni came through. His chiseled features were clear, with the telltale marks of hickeys dotting his neck—proof of a wild night.

Seeing me, he rubbed his temples, his Alpha aura palpable even through the screen. “Luna Emryn,” he began, his voice carrying that deep, commanding tone that once made my knees weak. “Today’s situation was unavoidable. As Alpha, I couldn’t just leave a rogue werewolf on her own. I’ll make it up to you for missing tonight,” he said nonchalantly, as if it were nothing important. In the past, I might have broken down and made a scene, but now I just nodded. It truly didn’t matter anymore.

Right then, Azaria appeared perfectly in view on the screen. She looked at me with an innocent expression, her neckline daringly low. The Alpha only had to glance down to see everything. “Luna Emryn,” she said with a sweetness that made my skin crawl, “don’t get the wrong idea. Alpha Giovanni and I are just helping each other out. Letting him be with me first is like practice, so he’ll be better with you.”

Giovanni looked at her indulgently, his Alpha dominance softening as he chuckled. “Don’t be ridiculous! Don’t make such bets anymore! I’m here this time, but what about next time?” Azaria said nothing, just cheekily stuck out her tongue at him. The Alpha shook his head in helpless amusement.

I watched calmly. It was always like this. His scoldings were more like indulgence, always just talk without follow-through. He’d say he wouldn’t help her again, yet time after time, he’d rush to her aid. Azaria's first kiss, her first night—handed over to the Alpha on a whim of wagers.

I looked up as Azaria accidentally fell into Giovanni’s arms again. Her neckline scandalously exposed, like a match striking gasoline. Then came the sound of a phone dropping, the Alpha likely thinking he had ended our call. Soft noises followed by Azaria’s sweet moans and Giovanni’s heavy breathing came through. The phone delivered their sounds clearly to my ears.

I realized with absolute clarity—on our mating night, my mate was with another she-wolf. A sharp pain spread through my chest, the mate bond twisting like a knife. I thought I had become numb to it, but still my eyes stung with unshed tears.