Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by the King

The Great Hall of the Silvermoon Pack hummed with anticipation as every wolf gathered for the full-pack council. I stood beside James at the front, my face a careful mask of serenity despite the knot twisting in my stomach. Five years as Luna had taught me to hide my feelings behind a pleasant smile and perfect posture—shoulders back, chin high, hands clasped demurely before me. The perfect Luna. The perfect façade.

I could feel the weight of the pack's eyes on us. James stood tall and commanding, every inch the powerful Alpha, while I remained in his shadow as always. My wolf, Kaelia, stirred restlessly within me.

*Something's wrong, Victoria. The air feels... heavy.*

I agreed. The council had been called suddenly, with no explanation. James hadn't spoken more than ten words to me all day.

Elder Sterling stepped forward, her weathered face solemn as she called the meeting to order. "Alpha James has an announcement for the pack."

James's hand found mine, his grip uncomfortably tight. To anyone watching, it might have appeared affectionate. I knew better. It was a warning.

"My pack," James began, his deep voice resonating through the hall. "Today marks a blessed day for the Silvermoon Pack."

The double doors at the back of the hall swung open. Rebecca glided in, her copper hair gleaming in the light streaming through the high windows. Her hand rested protectively over her belly, and my heart stuttered painfully.

*No. Please, no.*

"Rebecca carries my pup," James announced, his voice swelling with pride. "The future of our pack grows within her."

The hall fell silent. Not a breath, not a whisper. Just the thundering of my own heartbeat in my ears as Kaelia whimpered in pain.

*How could he? How COULD he?*

I felt the pack's eyes shift to me, their Luna, standing frozen beside the Alpha who had just publicly declared another woman carried his child. Some faces showed shock, others confusion. A few—Rebecca's closest friends—wore barely concealed smirks.

"This is a joyous occasion," James continued, squeezing my hand so hard I thought the bones might crack. "Rebecca has been dear to me since childhood, and while the Moon Goddess saw fit to pair me with our beloved Luna Victoria, she has blessed us with this miracle."

I forced my lips into a smile so brittle I feared my face would shatter. "Indeed," I managed, my voice surprisingly steady. "What wonderful news."

The rest of the meeting passed in a blur. I nodded at appropriate moments, thanked pack members who approached with awkward congratulations, and stood by James's side as he beamed at Rebecca across the room. My wolf had gone silent—a silence more worrying than her earlier whimpers.

---

The moon hung heavy in the night sky when a sharp knock came at my chamber door. James didn't wait for my response before entering, his tall frame filling the doorway.

"We need to talk," he said, closing the door behind him.

I sat at my vanity, methodically brushing my hair. One hundred strokes every night, a ritual from my mother that brought me comfort. "About your pup," I said flatly, meeting his eyes in the mirror.

He paced the room, energy radiating from him in waves. "Rebecca is... emotional. The pregnancy makes her insecure."

"I imagine it would," I replied, continuing my brushing. Stroke ninety-three. Ninety-four.

"She's demanding reassurance of her position." He stopped pacing and faced me directly. "She wants a rejection ceremony."

The brush stilled in my hand. A rejection ceremony would sever our mate bond permanently. It would strip me of my Luna status, my pack standing, everything I'd worked for these past five years.

"I've come up with a solution," James continued, his jaw twitching slightly. "A fake rejection ceremony. Just for show, to give Rebecca peace of mind. Nothing will actually change between us."

I studied his face in the mirror. The muscle in his cheek pulsed—the tell I'd learned meant he was lying. In five years of marriage, I'd become fluent in James's deceptions.

"I see," I said quietly, resuming my brushing. Ninety-eight. Ninety-nine. One hundred. I set the brush down with deliberate care. "When?"

"Three days from now. The pack will be told it's symbolic only." He approached, placing his hands on my shoulders. "You understand, don't you, Victoria? This is for pack harmony."

I met his gaze in the mirror and smiled. "Of course, Alpha. Pack harmony is my primary concern."

He squeezed my shoulders once before leaving. As the door closed behind him, Kaelia finally spoke.

*He's planning a real rejection. We need to prepare.*

"Yes," I whispered, my fingers finding the silver ring my mother once wore. "We do."

---

Three nights later, I slipped beyond pack borders under cover of darkness. The human settlement nearby was small, just a cluster of buildings with a single clinic. The healer—a middle-aged woman with kind eyes—didn't ask questions when I entered.

"I need to know if I'm carrying a pup," I said simply.

She nodded and led me to an examination room. The process was quick, clinical, and when she smiled at me, my heart nearly stopped.

"Congratulations," she said. "You're pregnant. About six weeks along."

Kaelia howled with joy within me, the first happiness I'd felt from her in days. *A pup! Our pup!*

I thanked the healer, paid her generously for her discretion, and hurried back toward pack lands. Dawn was approaching, and I needed to return before my absence was noticed.

As I crossed back over the border, I placed a protective hand over my belly. This changed everything. James might reject me, but I would not let him reject our child.

*We'll protect our pup,* Kaelia vowed fiercely. *No matter what.*

"No matter what," I echoed, a new resolve hardening within me as I slipped silently back into the pack house, carrying my precious secret.