Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by the Crown

Owen Greystone’s povOn my twentieth birthday, learning that Ember was my mate hit me like a cruel prank. A wolf-less human mated to me, the future Alpha of the Moonshine Pack? The moon goddess had to be mocking me.“What the fu**k?”A weakling like her as my mate? Laughable. Nevertheless, I couldn't treat her any differently because my father insisted we treat her as a pack member, with equal rights, no less. Accepting her as a member of the pack was already my biggest compromise. Her as my Luna? Never. We’d shared a few kisses, but that was a mistake. I knew what an Alpha Luna was like. My mother was a formidable warrior who could battle beside my father at any given time, unlike Ember, who would always be a damsel in distress. I couldn't even comprehend what function she could play in a battle, a cheering squad?.I needed a strong Luna to support and grow the pack with me, not a fragile human I would have to shield. I would spare no time in shielding her. Even if she had been a hap

Lycan King’s pov I jolted upright in bed, chest heaving, sweat beading on my brow. The same dream had haunted me for eighteen years: my daughter’s face, her tiny hand slipping from mine. The accident that stole her left me powerless, a king reduced to tears, and I couldn't do anything but weep day after day. Perhaps, I have been a little pressured lately, because the dreams had intensified, dragging up memories I’d buried: the river’s rush, the forest’s, a distant wail of grief. I couldn’t shake them. I climbed out of bed, steeling myself. I needed a walk to the forest, the place where my daughter went missing, where her absence still felt raw. For years, I’d visited that cursed spot, chasing her warmth, clinging to a hope long faded. It was my ritual, my way to feel my baby's warmth as though she were there with me when the weight of ruling grew too heavy.Today felt different. My heart raced, a restless throb pulsing through me. Unease gripped me, unusual for a Lycan King. As I st

Ember Frost’s POVWhen I woke, the pain had subsided, but their words still echoed in my head, Princess. Home. Moon Goddess. I felt that sharp ache in my head again; wincing, I held my head. “Easy, Princess,” the tall, slender woman said, her voice soft but firm, the same soothing tone I’d heard in my fevered sleep. “The royal doctor warned against overthinking. It will slow your recovery.” She hovered near my bed, hazel eyes kind but piercing.“Don’t worry,” she added, “I’ve sent for your parents. They’ve been here, waiting while you were unconscious, but Lycan duties called them away. They’ll be back soon.” Her words tumbled out, warm but unhelpful, dodging the questions clawing at my mind. My head throbbed, a dull ache flaring with each thought. Parents? Lycans? Was Klaus a prince now? How long had I been out since I jumped off that cliff? Why did their words make no sense? “What are you talking about?” I asked, voice hoarse. “How long was I unconscious? What year is it?”The wom

Ember Celeste Frost's POV"What! Who was foolish enough to reject my daughter?" My father thundered, his voice booming through the room.My mother slid closer to me, wrapping me in a gentle hug. In her arms, I felt safe and warm, forgetting for a moment my predicament. "It's okay, child. You don't have to trouble yourself with those memories anymore. You're free now, and you're free to choose someone else you like," she whispered, her voice soothing my aching heart."I started to feel a little better from her comforting presence. Wiping away my tears with the back of my hand, I tried to act nonchalant and quickly changed the topic. “Could you guys stay with me today? I feel lonely when you're all out.”“We had some important things to take care of, but they’ve been sorted out now.However, you, my dear, need to learn how to manage these situations on your own moving forward," my father said, his tone both steady and gentle.I snuggled into my mother’s arms, completely at ease. Owen’s

Owen Greystone's povThe howls hadn’t stopped all night. Some were wolves in mourning, while others were the cries of Mrs. Frost’s endless wailing. I didn’t need to be in her house to hear her grief—it spilt through the pack like smoke, choking anyone who stayed too long.Ember’s death broke her in a way I couldn’t understand. “Just last night she was laughing in this very room, full of dreams for the ceremony… and now, before the day has even begun, she is only a memory. Tell me, how can a heart endure such a cruel turn?”“Selene, please… don’t torment yourself. What’s done cannot be undone. We have to keep moving forward.” Mr. Frost comforted her softly, his voice a gentle anchor amidst her grief.“A muffled cry escaped her throat. ‘I just can’t understand… Why would she leave us so suddenly, on a day meant for joy? Why today of all days—why without a single word?”“Mother!’ Klaus burst from the forest, dripping wet, his tangled hair sticking to his face.”Mrs. Frost gripped him fi