All Chapters of The Luna He Rejected, The Queen He Lost: Chapter 1 - Chapter 5

NadiaI'm Nadia, eighteen, the only daughter of the Royal Pack. The first female alpha born in three generations.My path was decided before I could walk. Years of private tutors, pack history lessons, strategy lessons. One day I would lead. One day I would marry someone chosen for the alliance, not for me. People didn't see me. They saw the title.My father loved me, but he was afraid for me too. A female alpha was rare, and rare things get hunted. So he kept me home. He kept my strength quiet. He told the pack I was ordinary, weak even. It was safer that way, he said.I hated it.Every morning I watched the school bus pass our gates from my window. Kids laughed on the sidewalk, shoved each other, and ran to catch up with friends. I used to imagine what that felt like being just another student, not a name people whispered about."You have everything," my cousin Wren told me once. "Land, title, protection. Why do you want school so badly?"I didn't have an answer she'd understand. Sh

NadiaI meant to keep my distance. I really did.But avoiding Kade turned out to be like avoiding rain in a storm no matter which way I turned, he was already there."You're late," Priya said Monday morning, sliding into the seat beside me before homeroom started. "I texted you three times.""Sorry. My dad kept me longer than usual." That part was true, at least. My father had spent breakfast reminding me of every reason to stay away from Kade Ashford, as if I needed reminding."Well, you missed the big news." Priya leaned in, eyes bright. "The Ashford pack is hosting the fall gathering this year. Whole school's invited. It's, like, the biggest thing all semester."My stomach dropped. "A gathering. At his house?""His territory, technically. Big bonfire, games, the works." She grinned. "You're coming, right? Everyone's going.""I don't know.""Nadia." She gave me a look. "You've been here a month and you've said yes to one lunch table. Come on. Live a little."I didn't answer right aw

NadiaKeeping my distance lasted exactly two days.On the third day, Kade was waiting by my locker before homeroom, arms crossed, looking like he'd been there a while."You've been avoiding me," he said."I've been busy.""For two straight days? Skipping lunch with Priya, taking the long way to class, switching your training slot so we wouldn't be paired again?" He raised an eyebrow. "That's not busy. That's avoiding."I closed my locker harder than necessary. "Maybe I needed space to think.""About what I said at the gathering?""About all of it."Something in his expression softened, the sharp edge easing out of it. "Okay. Then think out loud with me for five minutes. That's all I'm asking."I glanced down the hallway. Students moved past in loose clusters, none of them paying us any attention. Still, my heart beat faster than it should have. "Not here.""Then where?"We ended up on the bleachers behind the gym, empty at this hour, wind cutting across the empty field. Kade sat a car