Rejected by my mate, Claimed by Alpha Ryder のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 41 - チャプター 50

ANNUAL FESTIVAL~ Ryder ~The grand hall of the festival grounds blazed with light.Thousands of lanterns hung from above, glowing like captured stars. Crystal chandeliers spread warm golden light across the room, reflecting off polished floors and shining silver decorations. Long rows of seats filled the hall, arranged in perfect order, each one reserved for guests from different packs.Music drifted through the air—soft drums, low flutes, steady and calm.It should have felt like a celebration.It didn’t.Every pack had arrived.Their banners hung high across the walls—Moon, Star, Sun, Rain, Cloud packs and each one bright, proud, and impossible to ignore. Their colors clashed and blended at the same time, a reminder that this gathering was not just tradition.It was power.It was politics.And tonight, I stood on that stage alone.I remained at the entrance, my posture straight, my expression calm. My Alpha mask was firmly

Chapter 43 Thirty minutes had passed.The grand hall felt like it was closing in on me. Lanterns swayed gently overhead, casting pools of golden light across rows of seated Alphas and Lunas. The air was heavy with the scent of meat, fresh wine, and too many perfumes. Music played softly in the background, but it did nothing to cover the growing whispers.Every pack was here, the Moon, Star, Sun, Rain, Cloud and all eyes inevitably drifting to the empty seat beside me.I kept my face calm. Shoulders straight and my hands twisted flat on the table. Inside, my wolf clawed at my chest, desperate and furious. No word from the search teams. No trace of Doris but only silence, and the unbearable certainty that someone had orchestrated this perfectly.Drake moved closer, his voice low, almost a whisper.“We need to start the event now,” he said.He was right. I couldn’t keep delaying this—not when there was still no news.I gave a sl

The microphone felt cool and steady in my hand.My heart was racing, loud enough to echo in my ears, but my steps did not falter as I walked to the center of the stage. For the first time in a long time… I felt seen.Hundreds of eyes followed me.Alphas leaned forward in their seats. Elders stared, their expressions frozen in surprise. The entire hall grew quiet, except for the soft whisper of voices spreading like wind through dry leaves.I lifted the microphone slowly.“Welcome, everyone, to the annual festival.”My voice came out clear.Steady.It wasn’t loud, but it carried across the hall with quiet confidence. The words felt unfamiliar after years of silence but at the same time, they felt like they had always belonged to me.For a brief moment, no one reacted.Then the realization hit.Faces changed.Eyes widened.Mouths parted in shock.The same people who had once laughed at me… now looked at me like I w

A sharp sound echoed through the hall as one of the elders stepped forward, staff striking lightly against the floor.“Attention,” his voice carried, calm but firm. “The Luna’s Circle Fight will commence in five minutes. All participating Lunas should proceed to prepare.”A wave of movement followed instantly.The chairs shifted. Voices rose. The energy in the hall changed from celebration to something sharper—focused, expectant.“Lunas, please head to the preparation chambers and get ready.”My heartbeat picked up again.Five minutes.Ryder turned to me, his eyes steady, searching mine.“Are you ready?” he asked quietly.There was no doubt in his voice but only concern and something softer.Trust.I nodded.“Yes,” I said. “I’m ready.”And I meant it.Every part of me felt it—the fear, the strength, the fire. I had come too far to step back now.“I’ll go change,” I added softly.Before I could move, arms wrapped around

The referee stepped forward, his presence cutting through the buzz of the crowd. Everything went quiet almost instantly, all eyes snapping to him. He held a sheet of paper in one hand, cleared his throat, and spoke in a voice that carried authority without effort.“Before we begin,” he said, “let me explain the rules of this year’s Luna’s Circle Battle.”The crowd leaned in. I could feel the tension tighten like a rope around my chest. He unfolded the paper and held it out, letting the weight of the announcement settle in.“Last year, the title of Luna of the Year was won by Luna Nova of Star Pack. By tradition, she will face the winner of this year’s matches in the final round.”A murmur swept through the spectators. I felt my pulse spike. Nova. The undefeated, admired, feared Luna of Star Pack. The thought alone made my chest tighten.The referee’s eyes scanned the crowd before returning to the paper. “This year, the battles will be divided into