After My Alpha Rejected Me, I Became Lycan Queen

The Great Hall buzzed with activity as wolves from the neighboring Moonridge Pack mingled with our own. I kept to the shadows, serving drinks and avoiding eye contact. My hands still ached from Harrison's rejection, but the physical pain paled compared to the hollow ache in my chest.

"Layla!" Poppy's voice cut through the noise as she waved me over to a quiet corner. Her bright smile was the only light in my dark world.

"Don't you look pretty tonight," she said, straightening the simple dress I'd managed to repair with careful stitches. "I told you that blue brings out your eyes."

I managed a small smile. "Thank you for covering my shift. I know it's—"

"Stop." She pressed her finger to my lips. "We're friends. Real friends."

The warmth of her gesture made my eyes sting with unshed tears. In a pack where I was nothing but a joke, Poppy had always stood by me.

"Did you hear about Jocelyn's new title?" she whispered, her expression darkening. "She's calling herself the 'Acting Luna' now."

The words hit like a physical blow. I'd heard the whispers but hadn't wanted to believe them.

"Let's get you some water," Poppy said, noticing my pale face. She disappeared into the crowd, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I didn't notice Jocelyn approach until her shadow fell across me.

"Look at you," she sneered, her perfect features twisted with disgust. "Still lurking around like a ghost. Harrison's little secret."

I lowered my eyes, determined not to give her the satisfaction of seeing me break.

"Nothing to say?" She laughed, the sound like breaking glass. "No matter. Everyone knows your place now."

When I looked up, she was gone—but the damage was done. My hands trembled as I continued serving, trying to ignore the weight of stares.

Poppy returned with two glasses of water, her eyes bright with indignation. "She was talking to you, wasn't she? What did she say this time?"

"Nothing important," I murmured.

"She's nothing but a fraud," Poppy hissed, accepting a glass from a passing server. "And that Moonstone around her neck—it's a disgrace. It hasn't glowed once."

I gasped, grabbing her arm. "Poppy, don't. She'll hear you."

"I don't care if she does!" Poppy's voice rose. "Someone needs to—"

She stopped mid-sentence, her eyes widening in shock. The glass slipped from her fingers, shattering on the stone floor.

"Layla," she whispered, her voice strained. "Something's wrong."

Before I could respond, her body began to contort. Bones cracked and reformed as fur erupted across her skin.

"Poppy!" I screamed, reaching for her as she collapsed.

She thrashed wildly, her partially shifted form writhing on the floor. Guests scattered, tables overturned, and chaos erupted throughout the hall.

"What's happening?" I cried, trying to hold her still.

"She's shifting uncontrollably!" Someone shouted. "Get the Alpha!"

Jocelyn's voice cut through the panic: "The Omegas are revolting! They're attacking the guests!"

"No!" I protested. "She would never—"

A familiar scent hit me then—bitter and sharp. Wolfsbane. I'd smelled it in the kitchens before, but this was concentrated, deadly.

"Someone poisoned her drink," I realized aloud, horror washing over me.

Jocelyn's eyes met mine across the room, a small smile playing at her lips.

Heavy footsteps thundered toward us as Harrison burst into the hall, his face a mask of fury.

"What is the meaning of this?" he roared.

"Alpha," Jocelyn cried, rushing to his side. "The Omega attacked me when I confronted her about disrespecting you!"

"That's not true!" I shouted, still trying to hold Poppy down as she thrashed.

Harrison's eyes darkened as he approached us. Without asking for an explanation, he towered over me.

"KNEEL," he commanded, his Alpha Voice crashing into me like a physical force.

My knees buckled instantly. The command was impossible to resist—it crushed me to the floorboards beside Poppy's writhing form. I felt something crack in my chest as I hit the ground hard.

"Alpha, please," I gasped, pain radiating through my ribs. "She's been poisoned—"

"SILENCE!" His voice cut through my plea.

I bit my lip until I tasted blood, fighting to stay conscious as Poppy's claws accidentally raked across my arm.

"Apologize," Harrison ordered, his voice cold. "Apologize to our guests for this disruption and for your incompetence."

Tears burned my eyes as I looked up at the circle of faces—visiting Alphas, their Betas, and my own pack members—all watching my humiliation.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, the words ash in my mouth.

"Louder," Harrison demanded. "So everyone can hear your shame."

"I'm sorry," I repeated, my voice breaking as Poppy whimpered beside me.

Harrison's eyes narrowed. "You've proven yourself unworthy of pack resources. Until further notice, you'll receive only starvation rations."

The room spun around me as his words sank in. Starvation rations—barely enough to keep a wolf alive, let alone healthy.

"As for your friend," he continued, looking down at Poppy with disgust, "she'll be confined until she learns control."

As he turned away, Jocelyn's hand slipped into his, her triumphant smile burning into my memory as darkness crept at the edges of my vision.