All Chapters of Crowning the Alpha I Hate.: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Selene's POVThe walk to the ceremony ground from Damien's house should be at least a fifteen minute walk if I take the main road.But I take the forest path to pick some wild fruits and oranges to give Damien after the ceremony. I pick enough to last both of us right after the ceremony and at night when we sit by the bonfire, celebrating and keeping the moon company on its longest night of the year.Securing them in my backpack, I head towards the road connecting the forest to the ceremony ground. I barely take a few steps when I feel it. The dread and excitement I can never explain, the butterflies of fear swirling in my stomach, the yearning and ache for Devlin Draxmore.Maybe due to years of constant bullying and humiliation from the Alpha-to-be and heir of the Draxmore Dynasty, I always know when he's within a two to three mile radius.The irony is, he knows too.I pause to listen, to be sure I do not walk into him. If I want a chance to be spared whatever his twisted mind deems

Selene's POV"So why did you force Mr. Blackthorn to swear one with you?""I didn't." I say quickly, my voice sharper than I intend."Sure, you don't want to think that answer over?"What? My chest tightens."I did not." I insist.The silence that follows feels heavy. Mr. Adercrest watches me. From the corner of my eye I see Devlin lean back in his chair, his lips curled in amusement. He is watching me too, hoping for cracks. He has never seen me crack, since he started bullying me, and he won't see one, not now. Not ever."Then why can't I bond with him?" Cecilia's voice slices the silence, fierce and demanding. I notice her for the first time, behind the council members. She looks ready to demand my blood."Because the moon won't let me." She spits, answering her own question. And I almost laugh.Of course the moon won't let them mate. It's the winter solstice, and only true-born mates can mate, and they risk punishment if the committee finds out. There's a reason why the mating com

Devlin's PovSelene, on the verge of brokenness, isn’t a sight for sore eyes. There is beauty in it. There's something darkly satisfying about the way her hair falls over her face, strands sticking to her cheeks like an attempt at comfort she doesn’t deserve.Her head hangs a little low, her defiance toned down. I know the moment she senses me. Her shoulder tenses, her head lifts ever so slightly, and she looks in my direction. Her eyes take a moment to register me and then, like a switch flipping, the defiance roars back full force.I chuckle, letting the sound roll through the room. Excitement buzzes in every of my muscle. My little kitten will never break for me.I move away from the door, deeper into the room. I don’t bother scanning it; every instrument of torture, every rope, every whip, and every painful contraption has been mapped and memorized long ago. Some I favor. Some I use only for fun. But tonight isn’t about the tools, so I ignore them. Tonight's about my little kitten

Selene's POVI’m tired.I just want it all over.Whatever they can do to break the moon oath I didn't make, they should do.I just want to go home, soak myself in one of Alyssa’s medicines that smells like rotten fish but soothes the skin, let the world fade, and pretend tonight didn’t happen.My back hurts. My whole body hurts. I feel cold and mortified standing in just my underwear. Although the mortification seems to be the least of my worries.Witch symbols are the top of my priority right now.Growing up in a hybrid house with witches, I learned early that the more complex and intricate a witch symbol is, the farther you should stay from the ritual scene. And if it’s a multiple-symbol ritual, it’s best to run.Multiple symbols are safe fails. They mean the ritual can go wrong, and will most likely go wrong.I hear Alyssa’s mum in my head "Go to your room, Selene. And don’t come out until either me or Alyssa comes to get you." I see Alyssa smiling at me, eager to learn the new sp

Selene's PovHuman.The single word echoes in my head and I can’t believe it.The door groans as they swing open. The sound taunts me, like I am another one of those who can’t accept reality.I am a werewolf, I almost say to it, but I feel Lyra’s hand pressing against the small of my back, urging me in behind the old man.The chamber beyond is a bit darker than I expected. I’m not sure what I expected, but I’m using the hall back in the pack house as a measuring stick.The chamber is round, its walls look like they are carved from ancient stones and etched with symbols that glow faintly blue and pulse alive.A witch’s handiwork.Seven figures sit above me in a crescent, high-backed chairs carved to look like thrones, because of course they would sit on thrones. Humans always like to pretend they are bigger than they are.The silence presses on my shoulders. My wrist still stings from the blood test outside, the cloth Lyra gave me pressing against my skin. The guard called me human, hi