After My Alpha Betrayed Me, I Became Lycan Queen

The invitation to the Lycan Ball arrived on a scroll of pure gold, the royal emblem of the Lycan Kingdom embossed at the top. I traced the intricate design with my fingertip, still unable to believe how much my life had changed in just a few months.

"Are you ready?" Damian's voice came from the doorway of my chambers.

I turned to find him leaning against the frame, his powerful presence filling the room. "As ready as I'll ever be to face the entire werewolf aristocracy."

He crossed the room in three long strides, stopping before me. "You'll outshine them all."

The dress he'd selected arrived moments later—a creation of liquid gold and midnight black that seemed to capture the essence of our alliance. As I emerged from the dressing room, Damian's eyes darkened with something primal and possessive.

"Perfect," he murmured, extending his arm. "A Queen at last."

The Lycan Ball was held in the ancient Grand Hall, where crystal chandeliers cast prismatic light across marble floors that had witnessed centuries of werewolf history. As we entered, the crowd fell silent, all eyes turning to us.

"May I present Daisy Allen," Damian announced, his voice carrying to every corner of the room. "My ally and the future of our kind."

The introduction was deliberate—not as my mate, but as something equally powerful. A statement.

As the orchestra began to play, Damian led me to the center of the floor. "The first dance belongs to us," he said, pulling me close.

His hand settled at the small of my back, warm and commanding. As we moved together, something electric sparked between us. His eyes flashed gold, his wolf rising close to the surface.

"Everyone can smell it," he whispered against my ear. "Our scent is merging."

I inhaled deeply, catching the intoxicating blend of pine and winter that was uniquely Damian, now intertwined with my own floral notes. The Mate Scent—undeniable and powerful.

From the corner of my eye, I spotted movement at the entrance. Austin stood frozen in the doorway, his face contorted with rage as he took in the scene before him.

"Let me handle this," Damian murmured, following my gaze.

He didn't even need to move. Just the projection of his aura—a crushing wave of power—sent Austin staggering backward. The Alpha of Silver Claw, reduced to nothing more than a trespasser at the threshold of true power.

---

"Are you certain?" Jolene's voice trembled as she clutched the pregnancy test in her hand. "It could be wrong."

The pack doctor—one of my carefully placed spies—shook her head. "The bloodwork confirms it. You're experiencing a false pregnancy, Gamma Gonzalez. It's not uncommon in wolves who desperately want to conceive but cannot."

I watched through the hidden camera I'd planted in the medical wing, my heart cold as I observed Jolene's face crumple.

"But I have symptoms," she insisted. "Morning sickness, cravings—"

"Hysterical pregnancy," the doctor explained gently. "Your wolf is so desperate for a bond that doesn't exist that she's creating physical manifestations."

Jolene's eyes hardened suddenly. "I need you to lie for me."

---

Two days later, Austin stood before the Council of Alphas, his chest puffed with pride.

"I've called this emergency meeting to announce joyous news," he declared. "The Silver Claw Pack will soon welcome a new heir. My mate, Jolene, carries our future."

The announcement sent shockwaves through the assembly. An heir would secure Austin's position despite his recent failures.

I sat in the shadows at the back of the room, Damian beside me. His hand found mine under the table.

"Your move," he whispered.

---

The medical file landed on Austin's desk with a soft thud—sent directly to his private email with no message attached. Inside were detailed records proving Jolene's deception.

I watched from the garden below as Austin stormed through the pack house, the papers clutched in his fist. He found Jolene in their bedroom, still basking in the glow of her announcement to the Council.

"You lied to me!" he roared, throwing the file at her feet. "There is no heir!"

Jolene's face drained of color. "Austin, please—I just needed you to mark me. I needed to feel the bond."

"There is no bond!" His voice cracked with fury. "There never was!"

The illusion of their love shattered completely as Austin turned his back on her. "This changes everything."

He stormed out, leaving Jolene collapsed on the floor, her screams echoing through the empty halls of what was once my home.

I slipped away into the night, a cold smile playing at my lips. The truth had finally caught up with them both.