From Rejected Rogue to Queen

The money at my feet fluttered in the breeze, a physical manifestation of their contempt. I left it there in the mud, refusing to give Ashley the satisfaction of seeing me scramble for her handouts. Ryan's laughter echoed behind me as I walked away, head held high despite the muddy water seeping through my simple grey dress.

I approached the grand entrance of the Silver Moon Pack house, my heart pounding with each step. The ornate double doors loomed ahead, flanked by two burly guards whose expressions hardened as I drew near. Their muscular frames tensed, blocking my path before I could even reach for the handle.

"Begone, servant," the taller one snarled, his lip curling in disgust. "The kitchen entrance is around back."

"I'm not a servant," I said quietly, reaching into my small purse for the invitation. "I'm here for the alliance ceremony."

The guards exchanged amused glances. The second one, a red-haired wolf with a jagged scar across his cheek, barked out a laugh.

"Right. And I'm the Moon Goddess herself," he mocked. "No one dressed like *that* belongs at an alliance ceremony."

From the portico above, I heard Ryan's distinctive chuckle. Looking up, I saw him leaning against the stone railing with Ashley pressed against his side. They were watching the scene unfold with undisguised pleasure, whispering to each other between bursts of laughter.

"Don't let her in," Ashley called down, her voice carrying across the courtyard. "She'll embarrass everyone with those rags she's wearing."

Ryan nodded in agreement, his eyes cold as they met mine. "Pack security, remember? We can't have rogues wandering into official functions."

Inside my mind, Lyra roared in distress, clawing at my consciousness. *'Let me out!'* she demanded. *'I'll show them who they're dealing with!'*

*'Not yet,'* I soothed, though my own anger burned white-hot. *'Alexander will be here soon. This is their moment to reveal their true nature.'*

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. The mating mark on my neck tingled beneath my collar, a reminder of who I truly was now. Not a rejected mate or a rogue, but a queen—Alexander's queen.

"I have an invitation," I said firmly, holding out the embossed card with the royal seal partially visible. "I'm expected at this ceremony."

The guard snatched it from my hand, examining it with suspicion. "This must be forged," he declared after a moment. "No way someone like you got a legitimate invitation to the Alpha's alliance ceremony."

He tore the invitation in half, letting the pieces flutter to the ground. My stomach clenched at the deliberate disrespect, not just to me but to the royal seal of the Lycan King—my mate.

"Please," I said, my voice steady despite the fury building inside me. "You're making a mistake."

"The only mistake was letting you get this far," the guard growled. "Now leave before we have to escort you out."

More pack members had gathered now, drawn by the commotion. Some whispered behind their hands, others openly stared. I recognized faces from my past—wolves who had once greeted me with respect when I was Ryan's mate, now looking at me with a mixture of pity and contempt.

I closed my eyes briefly, trying to establish a mind-link with Alexander. *'Alexander,'* I called silently, reaching for that familiar, comforting presence. *'I need you.'*

Ashley's shrill voice cut through my concentration. "She's plotting something!" she shrieked, pointing at my folded hands and closed eyes. "Look at her! She's probably trying to curse us or something!"

The crowd's murmurs grew louder, more hostile. I opened my eyes to find myself surrounded by suspicious, angry faces. Ashley had descended the steps, now standing at the edge of the gathering crowd, her accusatory finger still pointed at me.

"I've heard rogues develop all sorts of dark magic when they're cast out," she continued, her voice pitched to carry. "They say rejection drives them mad."

Lyra's growl reverberated through my mind, matching the pounding of my heart. I'd expected cruelty, but this orchestrated humiliation went beyond even my worst expectations. And somewhere in that hostile crowd, I sensed another presence approaching—one that made my blood run cold with anticipation of what was to come.