They Don't Want Me? It's the Other Way Around

Dad had always hoped that one of the three pledged Alphas would bond with me, but he never forced their hand.

If any of them ever expressed a desire to walk away, he'd immediately arrange a travel letter and a hefty sum to send them off to Southaria or whichever pack they wished to live in.

But in the end, none of them could truly let go of the power, prestige, and protection that came with the Northaria throne.

Kayden, the most rebellious of the three, scoffed. "How noble of you to act like we had a choice. We were raised like loyal wolves under Northaria's roof. What right did we ever have to say no?"

"If you're set on choosing me, I won't stop you," Quin said. He cast me a glance heavy with remorse. "But don't punish the others because of it."

That made both Kayden and Mason fall silent.

Quin acted like a man walking to the gallows, and the sight of it crushed something in my chest.

Before I could speak, footsteps approached from behind, and Silvia appeared. The moment she saw me, her eyes widened with fear, and she immediately darted behind Quin like a frightened pup.

He wrapped an arm around her protectively as his expression turned guarded. "She didn't do anything wrong. Don't take this out on her."

Just like that, the three Alphas—my would-be protectors—stood between me and Silvia, guarding her.

Five years ago, when Silvia first arrived in Northaria, she gave me a small porcelain pendant shaped like a feather. As a welcome gesture, I'd gifted her a moonstone armlet in return.

But when I opened the jewelry box, Quin ripped it from my hands like I was stealing it. "That pendant was her grandmother's!" he snapped. "Do you seriously have to take even that from her?"

I turned to Silvia, dumbfounded, silently waiting for her to speak up and tell the truth, saying that it was a gift she'd given me willingly.

But instead, she dropped to her knees with her eyes full of tears. "She didn't take it away from me. I gave it to Her Highness willingly.

"She's always treated me kindly… she even gave me the moonstone armlet. Please… I was never forced..."

She bowed until her forehead touched the floor. That pitiful act was all it took to stir their sympathy.

It reminded them of when they had first been brought to Northaria, and how powerless they had felt back then.

Then, they turned on me. "You may be Northaria's heir, but that doesn't give you the right to take someone else's bequest!"

"That pendant might not be worth much, but it's all she has left of her family. A moonstone armlet doesn't even come close. Give it back to Silvia now!"

"You've always been like this. Selfish and thoughtless."

My expression fell, but I bit my tongue, hoping it was all a misunderstanding—hoping I could explain it all, eventually.

I handed the pendant back to Silvia, but she fumbled. Whether by accident or not, it slipped from her fingers and shattered on the floor.

Tears spilled down her cheeks as she cried out. "You just couldn't stand to give it back, could you? You'd rather destroy it than return it to me."

"Apologize to Silvia. Right now. Or else, don't blame me when I reject the mate bond." Quin said coldly. He had never tolerated the strong bullying the weak.

I had already confessed my feelings to him. I told him I wanted to be his mate, his Luna. But now he was using that love against me and forcing me to kneel for someone else.

I was young and loved him too much, so I lowered my head and said the words he wanted to hear. I took the blame.

And that apology… haunted me for five long years.

Ever since, whenever Silvia saw me, she'd either burst into tears or fall to her knees, like I was some cruel monster out to ruin her life.

But I'd never done a thing to her.

I looked at Quin coldly. "If you're so worried I'll hurt her, maybe you should just keep her glued to your side."

It was sarcasm, but he didn't take it that way.

Quin frowned. "Is that a threat? What are you planning to do to her now?"

Kayden slammed his hand down on the table and snapped, "So we let her stay in the Moonlight Sanctuary, and suddenly you're looking for excuses to go after her?"

Mason's glare was sharp. "You already own everything, while Silvia hasn't even celebrated her birthday before. And now you're being petty about one small sanctuary?"