Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by the King

I heard the door to my recovery room swing open, followed by the familiar cadence of Brandon's footsteps. My heart rate spiked, but I kept my face carefully neutral, maintaining the facade of the confused, vulnerable victim they believed me to be.

"Natalie," Brandon's voice carried that artificial concern I once mistook for love. "I've brought someone important to see you."

I opened my eyes slowly, blinking as though the light hurt them. Brandon stood at the foot of my bed, his golden hair perfectly styled despite the supposed stress of my attack. Behind him loomed a tall figure I'd never seen before—broad-shouldered with raven-black hair and piercing silver eyes that seemed to cut through pretense.

This must be Adrian Sterling.

"Who..." I whispered, my voice deliberately frail. "Who is he?"

Brandon's smile didn't reach his eyes. "This is Adrian Sterling, Natalie. He's your mate—your true mate. You were attacked before we could explain everything."

I watched Adrian's jaw clench slightly at Brandon's words. Interesting. Whatever game they were playing, Sterling wasn't entirely willing.

"My... mate?" I let confusion wash over my features, glancing between them. "But I thought..."

"The doctors said you might have memory issues," Brandon interjected smoothly, reaching for my hand with practiced tenderness. I forced myself not to flinch. "You and I were together, yes, but it was temporary. We discovered Adrian is your true mate a few weeks ago."

The lie slid from his lips so effortlessly it almost impressed me. Almost.

I turned my gaze to Adrian, who stood rigid and silent. His expression was carefully blank, but something in those silver eyes—a cold fury, perhaps—told me he had his own reasons for this charade.

*"He's hiding something,"* Lyra growled within me.

*"Good,"* I replied silently. *"We can use that."*

I made my decision in an instant. With a small, trembling gasp, I reached out toward Adrian. "I... I feel it," I whispered, injecting wonder into my voice. "Something pulling me to you."

A flash of surprise crossed Adrian's face before he masked it. Brandon's expression darkened momentarily—he hadn't expected me to embrace this deception so readily.

Adrian approached the bed cautiously, his movements controlled and predatory. When he took my outstretched hand, a strange current seemed to pass between us—something unexpected that made Lyra stir curiously within me.

"Yes," he said, his deep voice revealing nothing. "We're mates."

I clung to his hand, pulling him closer until I could whisper in his ear, my body shielding my words from Brandon's view. "Thank you for coming," I breathed, my voice a perfect mixture of gratitude and fragility while my eyes remained cold and calculating.

Brandon cleared his throat. "I'll leave you two to get reacquainted. The healer says Natalie needs rest."

The moment the door closed behind him, I dropped Adrian's hand like it burned. The fragile, confused mask I'd worn slipped away, replaced by the cold fury that had been building inside me since I'd overheard their conversation.

"So," I said, my voice now steady and hard as steel. "You're my 'true mate,' are you?"

Adrian took a step back, his silver eyes narrowing as he reassessed me. "You don't have amnesia."

"No." I met his gaze unflinchingly. "I know exactly what game Brandon is playing. The question is, what's your role in it?"

A flicker of contempt crossed his features. "That's none of your concern."

"It became my concern when he decided to 'pass me off' to you." I pushed myself up straighter despite the pain lancing through my body. "I know your game. Help me destroy them, or leave me to it."

Something shifted in Adrian's expression—surprise, perhaps, or reluctant respect. He studied me for a long moment, his gaze calculating.

"What exactly do you propose?" he finally asked.

"An alliance," I replied. "They think they're using us. Let's show them how wrong they are."

A week later, I stood in the great hall of the Silvermoon Pack house, leaning heavily into Adrian's side. The formal gathering to welcome me back after my recovery buzzed with curious whispers and sidelong glances. I played my part perfectly—the devoted mate, still weak from her injuries but radiantly happy to have found her true partner.

"Madison!" I called out, spotting my so-called best friend across the room. "My best friend!"

I felt Adrian's arm tighten around my waist as Madison approached, her smile as fake as my own.

"Natalie, honey," she cooed, embracing me carefully. "You look so much better."

"All thanks to Adrian," I simpered, gazing up at him adoringly. "He's been so wonderful."

From the corner of my eye, I caught Brandon watching us, his expression darkening when I shrunk back slightly as he approached. A flash of hurt crossed his features—the first crack in his perfect control.

The murmurs around us grew louder. Everyone had expected me to be devastated, confused by this sudden change. Instead, I was embracing it completely, leaving Brandon looking like the outsider.

As I nestled closer to Adrian, feeling the solid warmth of him against my side, I caught his eye. For just a moment, something passed between us—an understanding, a shared purpose.

This was only the beginning.