All Chapters of He Chose His Brother's Widow, I Chose My Alpha Crown: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

I had expected the guard's reaction.I closed my eyes and tried to reach out to Rowan through our mate bond.Rowan, I'm at the gates of your estate.But all I felt was a cold, empty void.He had blocked our connection.Fine. If he wanted to do this the hard way, so be it.I knelt on the ground in front of the Blackstone gates, holding Lily, and let out a heart-wrenching cry."Rowan! You heartless, faithless bastard!" My voice echoed across the wide plaza. "Five years ago, you swore to the Moon Goddess that you would love me forever! Now that you're an Alpha, you're pretending I don't exist?""I starved for you in that village for three years! Now that you've made it, are you just going to leave me and your daughter to freeze out here?"My wails grew louder, quickly drawing a crowd of pack members."What's going on?""She says she's the Alpha's mate?""No way. Look at her, she looks like a rogue..."The onlookers whispered among themselves, many of them eyeing my tattered clothes with s

I pulled Lily into a tight hug, stroking her back to soothe her."It's okay, baby, Mommy's here," I whispered, my voice still trembling, but I tried to sound strong for her.Her sobs slowly subsided, but her little hands kept a tight grip on my shirt.I looked up at Rowan, a bitter, mocking smile on my lips."Go back? Go back and starve?"Rowan's expression changed from anger to shock. "What are you talking about? Starve?"He took a step closer, his voice filled with disbelief. "What about the truckload of supplies I had sent to you every month? The money, the food—it was enough to provide for you both. I had Belle oversee the deliveries herself!"Hearing that, I almost laughed out loud."Supplies? I'm telling you, Rowan, in three years, I haven't received a single thing!""That's impossible!" he snapped, turning to Isabelle. "Belle, what is she talking about? Didn't you send the supplies as I asked?"Isabelle flinched, then quickly put on a wounded expression, her eyes filling with te

I stared at him coldly, my eyes dripping with scorn. "What's the matter? Disappointed I'm not as weak as you thought?""You've been lying to me!" Rowan suddenly roared, lunging forward and grabbing my arm. "Why did you lie to me? If you had just told me the truth, none of this would have..."I shoved his hand away in disgust. "Lying? Rowan, you have the nerve to call me a liar?""If I hadn't thrown everything away for a worthless loser like you, would I be in this mess?"I turned to my uncle, my eyes welling with tears as I spoke, my voice trembling."Uncle, five years ago, I was the one who saved Rowan when his wolf was broken. I used all of my healing power to mend it for him.""And I fell in love with him," I said with a bitter smile. "I thought he was my destined mate, the one the Moon Goddess chose for me. To be with him, I went against my father's wishes, gave up my birthright, and cut all ties with my family. That's why my father had to claim I was missing.""But Uncle," I turne

After returning to the Silvermoon Pack, Lucas visited Lily and me often.One afternoon, while I was playing with Lily in the garden, Lucas approached with a kind smile on his face."Odette, I'd like to talk to you about something," he said gently, sitting down beside me."What is it, Uncle?"Lucas paused for a moment before speaking. "You're a free woman now, and I was hoping to arrange a new mate for you. Several of the Northern Alphas are excellent wolves—powerful, men of good character...""Uncle," I interrupted him, shaking my head softly. "I've learned a bitter lesson about what a mate can be. For the rest of my life, I only want to be with Lily and my father. I have no desire for another."I looked at Lily chasing butterflies among the flowers, my eyes filled with warmth. "She is all I need.""But child, you're still so young. You can't let one mistake...""Uncle, this is my choice," I said firmly. "I will never again entrust my happiness to any man."My uncle sighed but didn't p