After My Alpha Chose Her, I Took His Throne

The grand ballroom of the Silverfang estate glittered with crystal chandeliers and the polished smiles of the pack's elite. I stood at the entrance, my hand resting lightly on Eren's forearm, feeling the quiet strength beneath his tailored jacket. The whispers began the moment we appeared—a wave of shocked murmurs that rippled through the crowd like a stone disturbing still water.

'We're making an impression,' Eren observed quietly, his breath warm against my ear. 'Are you ready for this?'

I squeezed his arm, drawing strength from his steady presence. 'I've been ready since Lucca chose her over me.' The silver gown I wore—Luna Rivers' choice, not mine—catching the light as we descended the grand staircase, the fabric whispering against the marble steps.

Eyes followed our every move. The sight of an Omega, polished and poised, escorting the would-be Luna sent the carefully maintained hierarchy into visible disarray. I caught sight of Luna Rivers across the room, her expression a masterful blend of surprise and calculated assessment. Beside her, my mother Sylvie offered the slightest nod of approval.

'Lakelyn.' The voice cut through the music like a blade. Lucca stood before us, his silver-streaked hair gleaming under the chandeliers, his eyes dark with barely contained fury. 'What game are you playing?'

'No game, Alpha,' I replied, my voice steady despite the hammering of my heart. 'I'm simply attending the gala with a suitable companion.'

His gaze shifted to Eren, hardening to something dangerous. 'An Omega has no place here.'

'He has every place I allow him,' I countered, feeling Eren's body tense beside mine, ready for the confrontation we both knew was coming.

Lucca's eyes flashed gold, his Alpha aura surging outward in a suffocating wave meant to force Eren to his knees. The pressure was palpable, the air thickening with his dominance. Around us, lesser wolves bowed their heads instinctively, but Eren remained standing, his jaw clenched, his gaze locked with Lucca's.

Then, with a subtle shift of his body, he positioned himself slightly in front of me, shielding me from the worst of Lucca's oppressive power. The gesture was small, almost imperceptible to the watching crowd, but I felt it—the protective instinct, the quiet defiance.

'You forget yourself, Alpha,' Eren said, his voice low but unwavering. 'She's not yours. Not yet. And perhaps not ever.'

The tension between them crackled like lightning, but the music continued, the dancers flowing around our frozen tableau. Lucca's aura receded, but the threat in his eyes promised this confrontation was far from over.

Hours later, the political maneuvering and forced smiles had left me exhausted. I slipped away from the glittering ballroom, seeking refuge in the estate's sprawling gardens. The night air was cool against my flushed skin, the moon casting silver shadows across the manicured hedges.

I wandered deeper into the labyrinthine paths, the distant sounds of the gala fading behind me. The gardens were silent, peaceful—until a familiar scent caught my attention. Floral. Musk. Zara.

My heart froze in my chest as I followed the scent, my feet carrying me toward a secluded alcove shielded by ancient oak trees. There, bathed in moonlight, stood Lucca and Zara, their bodies entwined in the sacred intimacy of a mate-marking ritual.

Lucca's hands cradled Zara's face with a tenderness I'd never known from him, his lips brushing against her ear. 'My wolf has chosen you,' he murmured, words meant only for her, yet I heard every one. 'You are mine alone.'

Zara's eyes fluttered closed as Lucca's fangs grazed the delicate skin of her neck, preparing to leave his mark. The sight shattered something inside me—the last fragile hope that his betrayal was temporary, political, anything but the deliberate choice it clearly was.

I stood frozen in the shadows, a silent witness to the death of everything I'd believed in, as the moon watched over a betrayal that would change the course of my life forever.