Rejected Mate's Revenge

The pack house was eerily quiet when I returned that evening. I'd spent the day in the forest, letting Selene's presence settle within me, learning to control the power that had lain dormant for so long. My absence at the mating ceremony had created exactly the chaos I'd anticipated.

"Elena!" Derek's voice carried through the hallway as I stepped through the front door. "Where have you been? Everyone's been worried sick."

I summoned a weak smile, leaning against the doorframe with calculated fragility. "I wasn't feeling well," I murmured, letting my voice tremble just enough. "I needed some time alone."

His eyes narrowed with suspicion, but the concern won out. "You missed your own mating ceremony."

"I know." I looked down, letting him see my supposed shame. "I'll speak with Cason."

"He's in the dining hall with..." Derek hesitated, and I knew who else was there.

"Brittany," I finished for him. "Of course."

Selene growled within me, but I soothed her. *Patience,* I thought. *Our time is coming.*

The dining hall was tense when I entered. Cason sat at the head of the table, Brittany at his right hand—my place. The moonstone chalices sat between them, filled with wine that should have been ours to share.

"Elena." Cason's voice was tight with anger barely contained. "You have some explaining to do."

"I'm sorry," I said, taking a seat at the far end of the table. "I wasn't well."

Brittany's smile was all sympathy, but her eyes gleamed with triumph. "We saved you some dinner," she said, gesturing to a covered plate. "I made sure it was prepared specially for you."

The way she emphasized "specially" should have warned me, but I was still underestimating her cruelty.

Cason watched me with narrowed eyes as Brittany brought the plate to me. "Eat," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for refusal.

I lifted the fork to my lips, and the first bite tasted normal enough. It was only as I swallowed that the burning began.

Wolfsbane.

The poison spread through my system like wildfire, and I knew immediately what had happened. Brittany had laced my food with it—she knew about my sensitivity, had seen me react to small amounts before.

"Elena?" Cason's voice seemed distant as the room began to spin.

I clutched my throat, feeling the burn spread down to my chest. "Wolfsbane," I gasped, meeting Brittany's eyes across the table.

Her face registered mock horror. "Oh! I had no idea!" she cried, turning to Cason. "It must have been an accident!"

I collapsed to the floor as the poison overwhelmed my system. Through the haze of pain, I heard Cason's voice:

"Brittany, are you alright? This must be so distressing for you."

Not "Elena, are you okay?" Not "Get the healer!" But concern for Brittany's feelings.

Selene howled within me, her rage matching my agony as darkness closed in.

---

I woke to the sterile smell of the pack hospital. My body felt leaden, my throat raw from vomiting. The wolfsbane had been purged from my system, but the damage was done.

"She'll recover," I heard the healer telling someone outside my room. "But it was close. Another hour and even I couldn't have saved her."

I closed my eyes again, gathering my strength. The betrayal had nearly killed me—literally. But it had also cleared my mind of any lingering doubts.

*Selene,* I called internally. *We need to contact them.*

*Yes,* she agreed, her presence surging within me. *It's time.*

I focused my thoughts outward, reaching for the connection I'd never used before but had always known existed. The Sterling Royal Pack mind-link was encoded in my blood, a frequency only royal wolves could access.

*"Father,"* I projected, my mental voice stronger than my physical one. *"Elena Sterling calls."*

The response was immediate, a chorus of shocked voices flooding my consciousness.

*Elena? Is it truly you?*

*The lost princess calls!*

*Where have you been, daughter?*

And then, overriding them all, a commanding presence that could only belong to one wolf.

*"Elena."* My father's voice filled my mind, powerful and familiar despite our years apart. *"What has happened?"*

*"I've been betrayed,"* I told him, letting him feel the pain of the wolfsbane still echoing through my system. *"My mate has chosen another, and she tried to kill me tonight."*

A growl reverberated through the link, shaking even my weakened body. *"Tell me what you need."*

*"Terminate all alliances with the Crescent Moon Pack,"* I commanded, feeling Selene's power merge with mine. *"Withdraw all royal protection. Immediately."*

*"Consider it done,"* my father replied without hesitation. *"And Elena? The royal council awaits your return."*

I smiled bitterly as the link faded. Cason had no idea what was coming. No idea at all.

Outside my hospital room window, clouds gathered on the horizon—a storm was brewing, and its name was Sterling.