Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by the King

I was the Alpha’s chosen mate, but he was devoted only to his Luna.

The Luna, Veda Rice, spent her days lost in love with Alpha Raiden Larson, paying no mind to the pack’s internal affairs. With the responsibility of managing the pack falling by the wayside, the task fell to me. I became the de facto Beta, overseeing the pack’s daily operations.

Years later, when Raiden ascended as the Lycan King, the pack elders pushed for me to become the Queen. I rose from a chosen mate to the Luna, while the once-untouchable Veda was demoted to the position she once looked down upon—a chosen mate.

I joined the pack at 14, just as Raiden and Veda’s bond was sealed. Their love story was the stuff of legends, celebrated by the entire pack. And I? I was the unwelcome shadow in their perfect tale.

Veda had no interest in the pack’s mundane affairs. She spent her days lost in Raiden’s company, playing music and sharing quiet moments. The responsibility of managing the pack fell to me, and Raiden, reluctantly, handed me the reins.

For three years, I served as the pack’s Beta, managing everything flawlessly. The pack members respected me, and I earned their trust. But this only fueled Veda’s resentment.

Whenever she found the time, she’d summon me to her chambers, her tone sharp as she reminded me of my place. “Remember your role, Ava,” she’d say, her voice laced with thinly veiled disdain. “You’re here to serve, not to aspire.”

I had grown accustomed to her behavior, and over the years, I learned to navigate her moods with ease. Veda was beautiful but fiercely jealous, and she had little tolerance for the other chosen mates in the pack.

Raiden, though deeply bonded to Veda, was still the Alpha. To maintain balance within the pack and appease the elders, he took on additional chosen mates. Year after year, new faces joined the pack, each vying for a sliver of Raiden’s attention.

Raiden, bound by duty, divided his time among them, though his heart remained with Veda. This infuriated her, and she’d often take her frustration out on the chosen mates who had spent the night with him.

It wasn’t my concern, until one day, when Veda’s relentless torment drove one of the chosen mates to the edge. The woman, Shay Sanders, was pushed too far and attempted to drown herself in the river.

She was rescued, but the incident sent shockwaves through the pack. Shay’s servant, desperate for help, came to me in the dead of night, tears streaming down her face.

As the Beta, it was my duty to maintain order. I couldn’t let the pack descend into chaos, so I called for a healer to tend to Shay. This act of defiance, however minor, earned me the enmity of Veda’s closest confidante, Raya Aguilar.

Raya had always held a grudge against me, and this was the final straw. Veda, ever protective of her inner circle, summoned me the next day.

The pack’s members watched as I knelt in the courtyard, the sun beating down on me. Veda’s message was clear: she was the Luna, and I was nothing more than a servant.

Hours passed, and my knees grew numb. Just as I was on the verge of collapse, Raya approached, a bucket of ice-cold water in her hands. She poured it over me, her eyes glinting with satisfaction.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” she said, her voice dripping with mock concern. “I didn’t see you there, Ava.”

I said nothing, my teeth chattering as the cold seeped into my bones. A servant came forward, her tone indifferent. “The Luna is resting now. You may leave.”

My own servant, Cecelia, rushed to my side, her face a mask of anger. “Ava, this is too much,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

I shook my head. “Cecelia, be careful. The Luna’s word is law.”

The incident with Shay didn’t go unnoticed. Raiden called me to his office, his expression stern as he questioned me about what had happened. The next day, Shay received gifts from Raiden, a small token of apology. But Raiden, bound by his bond with Veda, couldn’t confront her directly. The matter was swept under the rug.

In the days that followed, Veda continued to find ways to humiliate me. She’d summon me to her chambers, forcing me to stand for hours or serve her meals. I endured it all, knowing that resistance would only make things worse.

One day, as I was peeling nuts for Veda, Raiden returned from a patrol. He paused when he saw me, his brow furrowing.

“Ava,” he said, his voice softening. “You’ve grown so much since you joined the pack.”

I quickly hid my red, swollen hands, bowing my head. “Alpha.”

Veda emerged from the room, her eyes narrowing as she took in the scene. “Raiden,” she said, her voice sharp. “I thought you were taking me out today. Or have you already forgotten?”

Raiden’s jaw tightened. “I was just speaking to Ava. Don’t make this into something it’s not.”

Veda’s laugh was bitter. “Don’t make it into something? You’re the one who’s always surrounded by your chosen mates. Tell me, Raiden, is this how you love me?”

I excused myself quickly, not wanting to be caught in the crossfire. As I left, I heard the sound of a glass shattering, followed by Veda’s furious voice.

“You promised me, Raiden! You promised me it would only be us!”

“Veda, stop this. You know I have no choice.”

Raya rushed past me, her eyes flashing with anger as she shot me a glare.

I walked away, the weight of the pack’s politics heavy on my shoulders.