Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by the King

Morning light filtered through the curtains as I stared at the ceiling, one hand resting protectively over my belly. Six weeks. Our pup was just six weeks old, a tiny miracle growing inside me. For the first time in years, hope flickered within my chest.

*Maybe this will change everything,* Kaelia whispered.

I wished I could share her optimism. The memory of James's words still echoed in my mind: *A fake rejection ceremony. Just for show.* But the pulse in his cheek had betrayed him. I knew better than to trust his promises.

"We need to be careful," I murmured, rising from bed. "No one can know about the pup. Not yet."

The morning pack run would begin soon—a tradition as old as the pack itself. Every full moon, all wolves gathered to strengthen bonds through a communal hunt. As Luna, I was responsible for setting the directional markers that would guide our route.

I dressed quickly and slipped out to the forest edge. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and morning dew. I methodically placed the carved stone markers along our usual path, each one etched with our pack symbol—a crescent moon cradling a single star.

As I placed the final marker, a twig snapped behind me. I whirled around to find Rebecca standing there, one hand on her slightly curved belly, a saccharine smile on her face.

"Good morning, Luna," she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "Preparing for the run?"

"Rebecca," I acknowledged with a nod. "You should be resting. The run isn't safe for you in your condition."

She laughed, the sound like glass breaking. "How thoughtful. But I'll be fine watching from the clearing. James insists I be present for all pack activities."

Something in her tone made Kaelia bristle. *She's planning something.*

"Of course," I replied smoothly. "I should return to the pack house. The run begins soon."

I left her standing among the trees, her eyes boring into my back like daggers.

---

Chaos erupted an hour later. Wolves scattered in all directions, confused howls filling the air. The carefully marked path I'd created had somehow become a twisted maze, leading pack members into thorny thickets and dangerously steep ravines.

James found me at the center clearing, his massive black wolf form shimmering as he shifted back to human. Fury radiated from him in waves.

"What happened?" he demanded, eyes flashing amber. "Half the pack is lost or injured!"

"I don't understand," I said, genuine confusion in my voice. "I placed the markers exactly as always—"

"Then explain this!" He thrust a marker into my hands. The symbol was wrong—not our crescent moon, but a jagged line that would lead wolves astray.

My blood ran cold. "This isn't mine. Someone must have changed them after I left."

"A convenient excuse," came Rebecca's voice as she approached, leaning dramatically on a female pack member for support. "I saw her placing them this morning. She seemed... distracted."

More pack members gathered, their expressions ranging from confusion to outright suspicion. Elder Sterling pushed through the crowd, her weathered face grave.

"Luna Victoria," she said, her voice carrying the weight of her position. "This is a serious breach of duty. The pack run is sacred—a time of unity, not confusion."

"Elder Sterling, I swear to you, I placed the correct markers," I insisted, my heart pounding. "Someone must have changed them."

Rebecca let out a dramatic gasp. "Are you accusing me? While I carry the Alpha's pup?"

Murmurs rippled through the gathered wolves. James's jaw tightened, that telltale muscle pulsing in his cheek.

"Enough," Elder Sterling declared. "Luna Victoria, consider this a formal warning. Your duties to this pack must take precedence over any... personal matters that might be distracting you."

The implication was clear—they thought I was sabotaging the run out of jealousy. James wouldn't meet my eyes as he moved to Rebecca's side, placing a protective arm around her shoulders.

"I'll handle this," he told Sterling. "Victoria will face consequences for her negligence."

As the pack dispersed, Kaelia growled within me. *It was her. Rebecca changed the markers.*

"I know," I whispered, watching Rebecca lean into James, her hand protectively over her belly, her eyes meeting mine with unmistakable triumph. "And this is just the beginning."

My own hand drifted unconsciously to my stomach. If this was Rebecca's opening move, I dreaded what would come next. But now, I had more than myself to protect.

The game had begun, and the stakes were higher than anyone knew.