The Rejected Heiress

Chapter 1...Estelle My heart raced so loudly I could hear it over the music echoing through the grand hall. The candles flickered, filling the room with golden light, and the scent of roses clung to the air. This was the happiest day of my life. My wedding day. My birthday. The day I would stand beside Elias, my mate, and begin our future together as Alpha and Luna of the Crescent Moon Pack.I had dreamed of this moment for years, but standing at the altar in my white gown, hands trembling inside his, something felt… off. His eyes didn’t shine the way they used to when he looked at me. Instead of warmth, I saw something unreadable in his gaze, and it made my heart churn. “Do you, Elias, take Estelle as your mate, your Luna, to stand by her through the years to come?” the elder asked, his voice ceremonial.The entire pack leaned in, and I heard the sound of breaths held. My stomach tightened with nerves, but I smiled at Elias, waiting for the words I had longed to hear.He opene

Chapter 3 ...Estelle The world returned to me in fragments; dull voices, the crackle of fire, the sharp sting in my side where the blade had cut me. My eyelids fluttered open, and the first thing I saw was stone. A rough ceiling above me, darkened by soot.I shifted, wincing as pain flared through my body. I wasn’t lying on the forest floor anymore. I was in some kind of room…no, a den. The smell of pine, smoke, and something stronger, muskier, filled the air.“She’s awake,” a voice muttered.My eyes darted to the side. Two men stood at the door, broad-shouldered, their stances rigid. Warriors. Their eyes glowed faintly under the torchlight, and neither looked remotely friendly.Fear coiled in my chest. Where was I?“Where… where am I?” My voice was hoarse, trembling.One of the warriors smirked. “You’re in Bloodfang territory, little wolf.”My stomach dropped. Bloodfang? The rival pack. The pack my father hated above all others.Before I could respond, the door creaked open, a

Chapter 5 ...Estelle The firelight flickered against the walls of Zen’s war tent, shadows twisting like restless spirits. My body still ached from the assassin’s blades, but it was the strange marks on my skin that refused to leave my mind. Faint, glowing lines, curling like silver fire, had flared to life when I bled.I rubbed at my forearm, but the marks were gone now, as if they’d never existed.“What are you hiding from me, Estelle?” Zen’s voice was low, but it carried a dangerous weight. He leaned against the table with his arm crossed, and his grey eyes once again watching me like a wolf stalking prey.“I don’t know what you mean,” I whispered, though the lie caught in my throat.His lips curved in something between a smirk and a snarl. “Don’t play me for a fool. I saw it. My warriors saw it. That light wasn’t normal. Blood doesn’t glow.”I flinched. My father’s words came back to me, ‘You’re too weak, Estelle. You’ll never be more than a shadow beside Anette without a wol

Chapter 7...Estelle’s POV“Alpha Zen has requested you have dinner with him in his chambers.”“I’m sorry, what?” I asked the maid, quite flustered.She blinked once in annoyance. “You heard me.”I watched as she walked away. I was irritated by her attitude, but honestly, could I even blame her? I was an intruder in their land and was already having a private dinner with the alpha.Sighing, I walked towards the closet that had clothes that had been provided for me by Alpha Zen. I wished I had a friend or at least someone who was nice to me.I’d have been able to ask for advice on what to wear.I didn’t want to wear something too simple because, well— I was meeting with the alpha. At the same time, I did not want it to be seen as if I was trying too much.In the end, I settled for a floral blue evening dress.Alpha Zen was late. And by late, I didn’t mean fifteen minutes late.He was about an hour late and when he eventually strode into the room, he didn’t even acknowledge my presen

Chapter 9...Estelle’s POVI had spun out of the dining area, bumping right into Byron in the hallway. He gave me a look with slight disgust on his features. I paused, blinking back tears. I wiped them hastily when I heard the word “assassin,” and the Beta did have some conspiracies about me.I didn't stay to listen further because I felt Zen would agree with him. My being here meant that I would never be welcomed. The maids didn't even respect me, and Zen, who was supposed to teach me, who was supposed to help me get my revenge, didn't even trust me enough.All his promises had been false, and now he was listening to people feeding him whatever information they had about me. What was the point of anything?At first, I had gone back to my room, lying down and staring at the ceiling, counting the tiles on it. But even as I lay there, I knew it was only a matter of time before I would be called and probably beheaded, humiliated, and stripped of dignity. I’d rather kill myself than fa