Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by the King

I had just fallen asleep when a burst of giggles broke through the quiet, waking me up. Trying to suppress my irritation, I opened the door to find Azaria Scott clinging to Alpha Giovanni Edwards’ arm, her smile as radiant as ever. Upon seeing me, Azaria beamed, "Morning, Luna Emryn! I’ll be staying over for a while, so bear with me!"

I glanced at Alpha Giovanni, silently asking for an explanation.

He grinned, his towering frame casting a shadow over me. "Azaria’s territory lease ended, and the neighboring pack won’t renew. She’ll be with us until she finds a new pack to settle in."

His tone carried the unmistakable weight of his Alpha authority, leaving no room for negotiation.

I kept my face neutral as I replied, "What if I’m not okay with this?"

Alpha Giovanni looked at me with confusion, his broad shoulders tensing slightly. "Why not? We have an extra room, and I know you’re not fond of Azaria, but she’s like family to me. What’s the harm in her staying here?"

Tears welled up in Azaria’s eyes and fell with a blink. Her voice was soft and pleading, "I know you’re upset about last night, Luna Emryn, but it wasn’t on purpose. Please don’t let it affect your bond with Alpha Giovanni."

She turned to him with a sad expression. "Alpha Giovanni, I know Luna Emryn doesn’t like me. Don’t fight with her because of me, and don’t let me be the reason for any problems between you two. I can leave if that’s better."

She turned as if to go, but Alpha Giovanni caught her wrist, pulling her close. He kissed her forehead, a mix of protectiveness and affection.

Azaria leaned against his chest, her tears framing a smile directed at me. "You’ve given your heart to me, and you don’t have a pack of your own. How could I leave you without a home?"

"Azaria, my pack will always welcome you, and not even Luna Emryn can change that."

Alpha Giovanni then turned to me, his gaze icy, his smile sharp. "Emryn, I also have a say in this pack. I decide who stays."

"If you don’t agree, you can take a room to yourself. Azaria and I will have the other."

With that, he led Azaria into the master bedroom. Soon after, my belongings were tossed out carelessly. My makeup lay shattered, its bright colors staining my clothes. Among them was my pristine mating dress, once a symbol of happiness, now ruined. Much like my mate bond.

Alpha Giovanni looked at me with disdain, chuckling softly before closing the door without hesitating. Indecent noises soon emerged from my room, on my bed. They couldn’t even wait.

I knelt, picking up the broken glass that cut into my hands. Blood dripped onto the already sullied mating dress. Unbothered, I retrieved scissors from the drawer and shredded the dress into pieces.

I went downstairs briefly to dispose of the trash. Maybe because I hadn’t eaten breakfast, dizziness overtook me, and as I climbed back upstairs, my vision darkened. My head hit the stairs, blood soon covering my face.

It was a low blood sugar episode, and I couldn’t even call for help as I slipped into unconsciousness.

When I came to, I mustered some strength, wiping blood from my eyes. With effort, I picked up my phone, opened my eyes, and dialed that all-too-familiar number. The call was quickly answered.

"Alpha Giovanni, I’ve hurt my head on the stairs. Can you help me get to the pack healer?"

I panted, my plea hanging in the air. Silence, then Azaria’s chilling voice.

"Oh! Luna Emryn, you’ve fallen, but Alpha Giovanni is in the shower. He’s quite energetic, isn’t he? Could you never satisfy him? He just can’t get enough of me. Since you can make calls, maybe you should get to the healer yourself!"

With that, she hung up, leaving me alone with the sound of the disconnected line. A bitter smile formed as my last bit of strength faded away.

Then everything went dark.