The rise of the rejected luna

g, I didn't come to obs

rder disputes and political alignments like pawns on a board. But every eye, no matter how focused, drifted b

the room wi

wait to b

p, confidence like armor. And this time

ce myself in his direct line of sight. I saw the

inued, but I did

.. was my bat

urmuring their goodbyes and shuffling papers, I r

e chair echoed t

ned over him-my hand brushing his shoulder like silk over st

speaks with po

You could feel the air tighten.

me away. Snarl. Order my

smi

ut the dangerous smile of a predator amused by a bold

ghtly, his lips brushi

ured, low and deep. "You don't

e wasn't

s a w

t-cloaked pro

didn't

first time since

afraid

rting to

ild-like a lightning strike ripping down my spine. It wasn

core like a blade dipped in fire: A

study

ting. M

et burning with an intrigue that scorched the air between us. He wasn't s

breath-I could feel his attention coiling tighter around me l

saw it. T

btle, crue

alle

sn't brushing me off like David h

epting my

, he told me everything

e wolf? Let's see how fa

me... I wanted

he game h

the Alpha was p

agai

ay, I wa

k house-his eyes followed. Not with curiosity... but with something far darker.

have ter

did

in my belly and dared me to step closer. His attention wasn't just unsettling-it was intox

n't sure I wa

t him-teetering on the edge of contr

will be filled with high-ranking wolves, dignitaries,

just show up-I'll

dy through relentless training. Elegant, yet bold. Revealing just enough to draw the eye,

t be the girl D

Alpha Demaon won't

hem j

gown clinging to every curve like armor. It didn't just hug my body-it screamed p

me filled with judgment, some with pity-but none of them mattered. I was

en I s

a De

lf bowed to him-dark, carved, regal. A throne. His expression was unreadable,

draped a possessive hand over my sister, like he still h

he didn't

ver here

s was on the man

ho ruled

a De

his was only

ds my seat-strategically placed right beside Alpha Demaon's. It was

self had anticipated my next move. I didn't hesitate. I sat

t need

t

to feel

tics I couldn't care less about. Because my game had already begun. Not wi

der him. My fingers barely brushed the inside of his thigh-not enoug

tiff

tly. Only

I fe

so d

ed the armrest tighter. That unreadable mas

o

pt my gaze forward, lips slight

this wasn't

as a w

a pr

ave nothing away, but the tension in his jaw told me one thing: he felt it. Still, he remained the migh

de me. Was that it? No reaction?

beg for attention

r voice slithered in

avid whispered, mockery dr

still owned a piece of me. As if he d

rough him like a blade. Then, I smiled-not sweet

ice low and dangerous, lac

dn't know. He

bout enjoying

beginning o

be standing above the ashes of ever

w another pathetic attempt at dominance, when

av

The room fell into

ke. Slowly, he turned to face the one man he f

ff the Alpha in waves, suffocating

ce, bowed low. His shoulders hunched. His head dropped in su

didn't even spa

adn't felt my touch, hadn't read my unspoken challenge. He returned to

I sa

of tension

is gaze that hadn'

have ig

t mean I didn'

was far

just

pack house, the silence around me thick and heavy. The cool air kissed

resence-before

on fire. A tension curled in the pit of my stomach. It was the unmistakable fe

a De

n around. I

lled confidence, my chin held high. Every step echoed with defia

re in the shadows. Watching me l

wasn't

anym

him

the storm bre

ecause if this was a game of power

pack house, the silence around me thick and heavy. The cool air kissed

resence-before

on fire. A tension curled in the pit of my stomach. It was the unmistakable fe

a De

n around. I

lled confidence, my chin held high. Every step echoed with defia

re in the shadows. Watching me l

wasn't

anym

him

the storm bre

ecause if this was a game of power

walk past the hall's

ac

y forehead. My head had collided hard

back, lift

fr

, his eyes-they weren't just looking at me. They were burning into me. Deep,

speak, but the wor

nce making the hallway shrink around us. Then, with

a game... you ought to know

t mocking. It

s a w

alle

rom

roared in

t just a g

was

stepped into th

ars. I couldn't say anything at first-because what do y

with hearts because he feared being wounded himself. But this m

I couldn't

I tilted my head, letting my eyes flas

d bold. "You got any rules, Alpha?" I asked, my voic

just pla

ng ancient and dangerous f

dn't spea

at silenc

nto a dance where ev

t planning

n't touch me. Not unless you

rough me, but I stood fir

llenged, voice s

ng. "You're far more dar

David stepped forward and

eered, glaring, you are going a

just jealous, Dav

fore he could say a word, the Alpha'

gh, D

, and silence fell over

the sting in his voice. "You can't be serious

id-slow, deliberate, and ice-cold. The kind of look th

ched, thick a

ts clenched at his sides, his ja

ced with venom, before turning on his heel

In an instant, he had me pinned again, his hand

she-wolf," he murmured, his voice dark

his lips, his eyes gleamin

har

suddenly, he

oat, my chest rising and falling as if

him-something I couldn't

out another word, leaving me standing there... alone w