They Exiled Me Now I’m Their Queen

Alpha Riven was my fated mate. I had forged his failing pack into a powerhouse. Our victory was supposed to be a new beginning. Instead, at the celebration feast, he rejected me for another she-wolf—one carrying his pup."Tonight, we celebrate the glory of the Blackmoon Pack!"The bonfire roared. Riven stood on a high platform, raising his silver goblet.His handsome face glowed in the firelight, his deep eyes sweeping over every pack member."Tomorrow, we leave this barren, snowy wasteland and move to the rich lands at the heart of the Alliance!"A thunderous cheer erupted.Pack members raised their goblets, a primal energy crackled through the camp.I stood in the shadows, watching my creation. The Alpha I had built from nothing.Five years. I’d taken a pathetic pack of a dozen wolves and forged them into a force worthy of the Alliance’s heartlands. I had made this happen. But my father’s warnings about the treachery of power always echoed in my mind. With every alliance I forged,

I turned to leave the sickening celebration."Stop!" Mark's voice shouted from behind me.I didn't turn around."I said, stop!" He strode forward to block my path. "You think you can just walk away?""Move," I said coldly."Move?" Mark snarled. "You know too much. You really think we're just going to let you walk away?"Several large wolves closed in, surrounding me."What are you doing?""Make a blood oath!" Mark pulled a silver dagger from his belt. "Swear you'll never reveal any of the Blackmoon Pack's strategies or secrets!"The silver blade gleamed."In your dreams," I said, taking a step back."Then don't blame us for being rough!" Mark lunged at me.I dodged, but another wolf grabbed my arm."Let her go!"Everyone froze.Not because someone was defending me. But because the person who spoke was Riven.He strode over, his eyes burning with fury.But the fury wasn't for Mark. It was for me."What are you all doing?" Jenna followed him. "Just get rid of her already.""Wait," Jenna

The next morning, the door to the prison cart creaked open."Out!" Mark yanked on my silver chain. "The Alpha is being merciful. You can pack your things and get lost. He's sparing you from exile."I was dragged to the front of the familiar tent.For five years, this had been my home with Riven.I pushed open the flap and looked inside.The fur rugs—I had stitched them by hand.The wooden desk, piled high with strategic analyses I had written.The map on the wall, every mark drawn by my own hand.And the ever-blooming snow lotus on the bedside table. Our token of love.I walked to the center of the tent and summoned a ceremonial flame.A blue fire danced in my palm."You want a clean break?" I whispered to the ghosts of our past. "Fine. We'll make it a clean burn."I tossed the flame onto the pyre of our past.The desk caught fire. The map curled into ash. The snow lotus glowed one last time before it was consumed."What are you doing?!"The tent flap was thrown open and Riven stormed

"Fellow members of the Alliance," Riven turned to the crowd, his voice thick with practiced pain. "Do you see this woman?"All eyes turned to me."This woman," he began, "she was my fated mate. I loved her more than life. And she tore my heart from my chest."Sympathetic murmurs rippled through the crowd."The poor Alpha!""To be betrayed by your own fated mate... what a curse.""That she-wolf has darkness in her eyes."Riven continued his performance. "The Blackmoon Pack is only here today, not because of my strength, but because of her!""What do you mean?" an Alpha asked."She sold her honor, piece by piece, to buy our success! She traded her body for alliances!"The plaza exploded with angry chatter."So that's how!""No wonder the Blackmoon Pack rose so fast!""A filthy bargain!""A woman like that should be declared a rogue!"A few younger wolves started a live feed of the "trial" on the wolf network."Look! It's that infamous she-wolf!""That's her! The one who sold her body!"T

My words shattered the last of Riven's pride.He collapsed, and the golden insignia of Alliance membership on his chest began to smolder, burning into his skin.In his desperation, he grabbed for one last, pathetic hope."The bond, Renata! The bond is still there!" he pleaded, crawling toward me. "The Goddess fated us! We can still complete the marking! You can still be my Luna!""Get off me," I kicked his hand away, my eyes filled with disgust.Jenna's face, once smug, was now a contorted mask of terror. "He's the father of my child!" she shrieked, lunging not at me, but at Riven, clawing at his arm. "Riven, tell them! Tell them about our pup! The pup of an Alpha! It's supposed to be a prince, not the son of a traitor! You promised me! You promised I would be a true Luna!"Then, her eyes snapped back to me, filled with a wild, desperate hatred. "You bitch! This is all your fault! You couldn't just disappear! You stole my glory! My baby's future! I'm carrying his heir, not you! I am