After My Alpha Chose Her, the Lycan King Claimed Me

I wait until the dining hall empties before following Christian to his office. My wolf is snarling inside me, a sound of pure betrayal that I can barely contain. Every step feels mechanical, my body moving on autopilot while my mind replays the image of the moonstone necklace—my necklace—around Faye's neck.

The corridor to Christian's office seems longer than usual, the walls closing in with each step. When I reach the heavy oak door, I don't knock. I push it open hard enough to make it slam against the wall.

Christian looks up from his desk, annoyance flashing across his face. 'Hazel, we talked about this. Faye needs—'

'Why did you give her my mating gift?' The words burst out of me, raw and jagged. 'That moonstone was meant for me. For our ceremony. You promised me—'

'I never promised you anything specific.' Christian's voice takes on that patronizing tone I've heard him use with pack members he considers beneath him. 'The moonstone is a healing stone. Faye needs healing more than you do. She's traumatized, wolfless, alone in the world. Can you even imagine what that's like?'

I stare at him, speechless. Eight years. Eight years of devotion, and he's gaslighting me like I'm some heartless monster. 'Christian, I designed our home for us. I waited eight years for you to—'

'You designed some rooms,' he interrupts, waving his hand dismissively. 'And you waited because you wanted to. No one forced you. Faye has nowhere else to go. She has no one else. You're strong, Hazel. You can handle this.'

The door opens behind me, and Faye appears, her eyes wide with manufactured fear. 'Christian? What's happening? I heard shouting...'

She presses herself against the doorframe, her breathing suddenly rapid and shallow. Her hands flutter to her chest, and she makes a choked sound. 'I—I can't—I can't breathe. The aggression—it's triggering me. I can't—'

Christian is out of his chair in an instant, rushing to her side. 'It's okay, Faye. You're safe. Hazel won't hurt you.'

'I haven't said a word to her!' I protest, but Christian's already wrapping his arms around Faye, who's trembling dramatically in his embrace.

'She's so angry,' Faye whispers, her voice breaking. 'I can feel her aggression. It's like when they cast me out. The hatred, the rejection...'

Christian's eyes flash with fury as he looks at me over Faye's head. 'Enough, Hazel.' His voice drops into that Alpha tone that makes my wolf cower. 'Submit.'

The command hits me like a physical blow. My knees buckle instantly, my body responding to the Alpha command before my mind can resist. I collapse to the floor, my wolf howling in confusion and pain as she's forced to submit to a command that should never have been used on me this way.

'I'm sorry,' Christian murmurs to Faye, stroking her hair while I kneel helpless on the floor. 'You're safe now. I won't let anyone hurt you.'

I look up at them from my knees—Christian holding Faye like she's made of spun glass, Faye's eyes meeting mine over his shoulder. There's something in those eyes that doesn't match her fragile act. Something cold and calculating.

In that moment, kneeling on the floor of the office where I'd once been respected as the future Luna, I make my decision.

The next morning, I stand in front of the council room mirror, fastening the high collar of my formal pack attire. The elders will be there, finalizing the ceremony preparations. Christian will expect me to be there, playing the obedient mate one last time.

But I'm done playing.

I push open the heavy doors and stride into the room. Christian sits at the head of the long table, surrounded by the pack elders who look up in surprise at my entrance. They were expecting a discussion of flower arrangements and guest lists, not the cold determination in my eyes.

'Hazel,' Christian begins, his tone carefully neutral. 'We were just finalizing—'

'I'm not here for the ceremony,' I cut him off, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. 'I'm here to invoke the Rite of Rejection.'

The room goes completely silent. Even the elders, who've seen everything in their long lives, look shocked.

'I, Hazel Perry,' I continue, each word clear and deliberate, 'reject the chosen bond with Christian Hayes of the Shadowpine Pack. You are not my Alpha, and you are not my mate.'

I pull the promise ring from my finger—the simple silver band I'd worn for eight years—and place it on the polished wood of the table. The soft clink it makes is the only sound in the stunned silence.

Without waiting for Christian's response, without giving him the satisfaction of seeing me break, I turn and walk out of the room. My back is straight, my steps are steady, and with each one, I leave eight years of empty promises behind me.