Rejected by My Alpha, Claimed by His Rival

The entire pack was watching.

Lyra stood at the center of the ceremonial ground, her hands trembling as she clutched the edge of her white dress. Tonight was supposed to be the happiest night of her life—the night she would finally be claimed by her mate.

Alpha Kael.

Her heart pounded as his scent filled the air, strong and commanding. He stood before her, tall, powerful, everything an Alpha should be.

Everything she had dreamed of.

“Kael…” her voice came out soft, almost fragile.

He didn’t respond.

Instead, his cold eyes scanned her from head to toe—judging, distant… disappointed.

A murmur spread through the crowd.

Lyra’s chest tightened.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

“Do you accept this bond?” the elder asked, his voice echoing across the silent field.

Lyra looked up at Kael, her eyes filled with hope.

“Say yes…” she whispered.

Kael’s jaw clenched.

Then, in a voice that shattered her entire world—

“I reject you.”

Silence.

Complete. Crushing. Silence.

Lyra blinked, as if she hadn’t heard him correctly.

“What…?” her voice broke.

“I, Alpha Kael, reject you as my mate.”

Gasps erupted from the crowd.

“No… no, you can’t…” tears streamed down her face as panic set in. “Kael, please… we’re fated—”

“You?” he cut her off with a cold laugh. “An omega? Weak. Useless. You would only disgrace me.”

Each word hit like a knife.

“I deserve a Luna worthy of my strength. Not someone like you.”

The bond between them snapped.

Lyra gasped, clutching her chest as unbearable pain tore through her.

And just like that—

Everything was gone.

Her mate.

Her future.

Her dignity.

The crowd whispered, some pitying, others mocking.

Lyra dropped to her knees, broken, humiliated, struggling to breathe.

Then suddenly—

A powerful, dangerous aura swept across the grounds.

The whispers stopped instantly.

Even Kael stiffened.

Heavy footsteps echoed.

Someone else had arrived.

Lyra lifted her tear-blurred eyes—

And her breath caught.

A man stepped forward, taller than Kael, his presence suffocating, his gaze dark and unreadable.

Alpha Darius.

Kael’s greatest enemy.

“What are you doing here?” Kael growled.

Darius ignored him.

His eyes were locked on Lyra.

Slowly… deliberately… he walked toward her.

Lyra’s heart pounded.

Fear.

Confusion.

Something else she couldn’t explain.

Darius stopped in front of her, then crouched slightly, bringing himself to her level.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then, in a low, commanding voice—

“Get up.”

Lyra hesitated.

“I said… get up.”

Something in his tone made her obey.

Her legs trembled as she stood.

Darius studied her for a long moment.

Then—

He turned to the crowd.

“I claim her.”

The world froze again.

Kael’s eyes burned with fury. “You can’t—”

“I just did,” Darius interrupted calmly.

Then he looked back at Lyra.

“From this moment on… you belong to me.”

Darius didn’t answer.

He didn’t even look at him.

His focus remained on Lyra.

Like she was the only thing that existed.

Step by step—

He approached her.