THE ALPHA'S CURSED BRIDE

The grand ballroom of Silver Moon Palace shimmered like a jewel under dozens of crystal chandeliers. Golden light spilled across the polished marble floors, catching on silk gowns and polished medals. Long tables groaned beneath platters of roasted venison, honeyed fruits, and flowing rivers of spiced wine. The orchestra played a lively waltz, and noblemen spun their partners across the floor, laughing without a care in the world.

Tonight belonged to Lady Elara’s eighteenth birthday. The entire Silver Moon Pack had turned out to honor her. Ministers, allied Alphas, wealthy merchants, and high-ranking families filled the hall. It was a rare honor for the party to be hosted inside the palace itself a sign of how close Elara was to the royal family, especially Prince Kai.

No one remembered that today was also Selene’s birthday.

Selene moved through the crowd like a ghost, balancing a heavy silver tray loaded with wine glasses. Her plain gray maid’s uniform made her nearly invisible, but her rich, dark skin still drew uncomfortable glances. She kept her head down, shoulders straight, and steps quick. Years of practice had taught her how to disappear even while working in plain sight.

Loud cheers rose from the center of the hall where her twin sister stood surrounded by admirers.

“Happy birthday, Elara!”

“You look radiant!”

“Another gift for our shining star!”

Selene’s fingers tightened around the tray until her knuckles ached. She had learned long ago not to let the pain show. From the moment they were born, the pack had declared Elara the blessing and Selene the curse. Elara’s fair, glowing skin was praised as a gift from the Moon Goddess. Selene’s deep, dark complexion was whispered about as a mark of misfortune — something to be hidden away.

Their noble parents had made their choice clear early on. While Elara received the finest dresses, private tutors, and endless affection, Selene was sent to work as a palace maid just to feed and clothe herself. Tonight, she had entered through the servants’ door with the other staff. No one had wished her a happy birthday. Not even her parents.

She paused a few feet away, watching as her mother fastened a sparkling diamond necklace around Elara’s neck.

“Only the best for our precious girl,” their mother announced loudly, beaming with pride.

Their father kissed Elara’s forehead. “You make us so proud, my darling.”

Selene stood frozen, tray in hand. A sharp ache bloomed in her chest, but she forced it down. Feeling only made everything worse.

As she turned to continue serving, Elara spun around suddenly and “accidentally” slammed into her. The tray tilted. Glasses crashed to the marble floor, red wine splashing everywhere like blood.

“Oh no!” Elara gasped, covering her mouth with fake shock. “Selene! You clumsy fool!”

Before Selene could even apologize, Elara’s friends closed in a circle of spoiled young she-wolves with sharp smiles.

“You ruined the night!” one of them hissed.

Another girl snatched a full bottle of wine from a nearby table and poured it slowly over Selene’s head. Cold liquid soaked her hair, streamed down her face, and stained her uniform dark red. Laughter exploded around them.

“Look at her,” someone sneered. “The cursed one looks even darker when she’s soaked.”

Selene stood dripping, humiliation burning through her like fire. She wanted to disappear. She wanted to scream. Instead, she whispered, “I’m sorry,” and bent to pick up the broken glass with trembling hands.

But the laughter only grew louder.

She turned to flee, cheeks burning, and collided straight into a hard chest. Strong hands caught her arms to steady her. Selene looked up, and her heart slammed against her ribs.

Prince Kai.

He was tall and devastatingly handsome in a black royal tunic trimmed with silver threads. His stormy gray eyes widened for a brief second, then narrowed with clear disgust as he recognized her. He released her immediately, stepping back as though she carried some terrible sickness.

Selene’s breath caught in her throat. She had admired him silently for years watching from afar as he trained in the courtyard or addressed the pack with natural command. He was everything she was not: strong, confident, and deeply loved. But his attention had always belonged to Elara.

Kai’s lip curled. Without a single word, he brushed past her and walked toward the center of the ballroom, where Elara waited with open arms and a bright, victorious smile.

Selene stood there for a moment longer, wine still dripping from her clothes. The rejection in his eyes hurt worse than the spilled wine or the mocking laughter. She turned quickly and fled the ballroom, ignoring the whispers that followed her like shadows.

She ran up the winding stone stairs until she reached the highest tower. The night air was cool and sharp up here. The music and laughter from the party below sounded far away, but she could still hear the faint echo of another toast to Elara.

Selene collapsed against the cold stone wall and slid down until she sat on the floor. She pulled her knees tightly to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. Fresh tears slipped down her cheeks, mixing with the sticky wine.

“Happy birthday to me,” she whispered bitterly into the darkness.

No one cared. Not her parents. Not the pack. Not Prince Kai. Not even the Moon Goddess, it seemed.

She stared out at the full moon hanging heavy in the sky. Her dark skin had marked her as unwanted from her very first breath. While Elara was celebrated like a princess, Selene was treated like a shameful secret. Even though they came from the same noble bloodline, she had to scrub floors and serve others just to survive.

“Why?” she asked the silent moon, her voice cracking. “Why make me like this if it only brings pain?”

The wind offered no answer.

Down below, the party grew even louder. Selene covered her ears, but the ache in her heart only sharpened. She didn’t know how much longer she could keep living in her sister’s shadow invisible, unwanted, and alone.