Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by the King

The door to the private suite was slightly ajar, and as a group of wolves passed by, I thought I caught a glimpse of my father, Yusuf. Pretending I wanted to play hide and seek with Sylas, I waited for him to close his eyes, then quietly slipped away.

Following the group, I made my way back to the suite where Luna Joanna and the others were gathered. I hid in a corner, watching my father and a few young warriors line up in the center of the room. The agent, with a face full of fawning smiles, was addressing the high-ranking wolves seated on the sofas. "Luna Joanna, Gamma Duncan, esteemed members of the pack, I heard you’re launching a major new production. These are my newly signed talents—they’ve got the looks and the physique. If they get a role, they’re bound to become stars."

He especially highlighted my father: "Especially this one—does he look familiar? Yusuf Ross, who shot to fame five years ago with his debut film 'The Alps.' Unfortunately, he stepped away for a few years, but now he's making a comeback. The talent is still there, give him a chance!"

"Yusuf Ross?" Gamma Duncan pondered for a moment, then slapped his thigh in realization. "Ah, I remember. Back then, he was quite the sensation, trending everywhere in the pack networks, called 'the eternal heartthrob' and 'boy wonder.' But time waits for no one, and now the boy’s turned middle-aged."

The men burst into laughter.

"Come on, that’s not fair," the agent responded awkwardly but still smiled ingratiatingly. "He was just 20 then, and now he’s only 25, the perfect age for a warrior."

"The perfect age? With 18- and 19-year-olds popping up all the time, who cares about those past their prime?" Gamma Duncan turned to Luna Joanna with a flattering smile, "I think Sylas from your agency would be great for the second lead. What do you think?"

Luna Joanna didn’t answer. She just lifted her head and stared coolly at my father. Under such an intense gaze, my father’s face turned beet red, unsure of where to put his hands and feet.

The agent, sensing an opportunity, doubled down on his sales pitch: "Luna Joanna, why not have him stick around tonight, keep you company? Yusuf here is nothing if not obedient and reliable…"

"Enough."

I couldn’t hold back any longer. Jumping out from my hiding spot, I pointed a finger at the agent, "You’re a jerk!" I then pointed to Gamma Duncan and the rest of the wolves on the sofa, "Jerks! You’re all jerks! You can’t push my father around!"

My outburst stunned the room, and everyone looked as if their eyes might pop out. They glanced back and forth between me, my father, and Luna Joanna, taking a while to piece together the connection.

Seeing me, my father’s eyes widened, fury overcoming his fear of Luna Joanna, as he shouted, "Carolina, did you seriously bring our pup to a club?!"