The Alpha’s Borrowed Luna
Chapter 171
I walked with Frost to the party, Kaius having left earlier to greet the arriving guests. My ankle still ached despite Frost’s expert care, but I refused to let it show in my stride. Tonight was about projecting strength, not vulnerability.
The grand hall was transformed, glittering with hundreds of candles and adorned with the Ravenhollow crest. Pack members from across the territory mingled, creating a buzz of conversation punctuated by occasional laughter.
I spotted Kaius immediately, his commanding presence drawing the eye even amid the crowded room. He stood conversing with a group of visiting Alphas, his posture relaxed yet regal. As I approached, I expected him to acknowledge me, to introduce me as his Queen.
Instead, he merely glanced in my direction before returning his attention to his guests.
The slight was so unexpected, so at odds with his behavior earlier, that I almost stumbled. Frost’s hand at my elbow steadied me.
“Are you alright?” he asked quietly.
“Fine,” I replied automatically, though I was anything but.
I made my way to Kaius’s side, smiling politely at the assembled Alphas. “Kaius, are you alright?” I asked when there was a break in the conversation.
He nodded, his expression neutral, but made no move to include me in the discussion. After several uncomfortable minutes, the group dispersed, leaving us briefly alone.
“Kaius, would you like to dance with me?” I asked, gesturing to the center of the hall where couples had begun to move to the music.
“No, not really.”
The casual rejection hit like a physical blow. “What?”
“I just don’t feel in the mood right now, but you are free to go mingle,” he said, already looking past me to another approaching guest.
“I don’t want to go mingle; I wanted to dance with you.” Frustration colored my voice. “What is wrong with you? Why do you always have to be so freaking bipolar? Today you love me and tomorrow you can’t even spare a dance even after I asked.
Something flickered in his eyes–regret, perhaps, or annoyance at my outburst. “You know what? Come on, let’s go dance, he relented, extending his hand.
But the gesture came too late, his reluctance too evident. “Kaius…” I began, ready to tell him I no longer wanted to dance if he had to force himself.
Before I could finish, he took my hand, pulling me toward the dance floor with more force than necessary. His grip was tight, almost painful.
“Let go of me,” I said, trying to pull away.
You wanted a dance, didn’t you?” His voice had taken on a mocking edge I’d never heard directed at me before.
“Let me go,” I repeated, louder this time, causing nearby dancers to glance our way.
He released me so suddenly 1 almost lost my balance, my injured ankle protesting the sudden movement. “What the hell is your
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Chapter 171
problem?‘ I demanded, beyond caring who might overhear.
“Did I annoy you, princess?” he asked, his lips curving in a cold smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
‘Don’t call me that.”
“Queen perhaps?‘ The title sounded like an insult in his mouth.
Something had broken between us, some essential trust shattered beyond repair. “I’m done,” I said, turning away from him. ‘Enjoy your stupid party.”
“Oh, you are not going anywhere, not before I make the announcement, he said, catching my arm again.
“Make me, I challenged, jerking away from his grip.
For a moment, I thought he might actually drag me back. Then his posture shifted, and he gestured to a nearby servant. The music ceased abruptly, and a hush fell over the gathering as Kaius stepped onto the raised dais at the end of the hall.
*Esteemed guests, thank you for joining us tonight,” he began, his voice carrying effortlessly through the hall. There had been so many rumors out there about the Queen’s position, and today I intend on clearing that out.”
I froze, a sense of dread washing over me as all eyes in the room turned to where I stood, alone and suddenly vulnerable.
I am here to inform you that the rumors are true,” Kaius continued, his voice devoid of emotion. “My mate died of an illness several years ago. Elowen Thorne Valerianis not my true mate.”
The words hung in the air like poison. I stood frozen as the crowd’s shocked gasps and whispers rose around me, unable to believe what I’d just heard. I stared at Kaius, searching his face for some sign–any sign–that this was part of a plan, a ruse meant for our
enemies.
But his amber eyes remained cold and distant as he continued speaking.
“The woman standing before you was not chosen by the moon goddess but by me. I had chosen her because I thought she complemented me, but I was wrong,” he said, his voice carrying effortlessly across the now–silent room. “She is nothing like a queen should be, and I had made a mistake. A mistake I would correct tonight.”
Every word was a dagger, each one finding its mark with devastating precision. My legs trembled beneath me, but I forced myself to remain standing, to meet the curious and pitying stares of the assembled wolves.
“From today, Elowen Thorne Valerian ceases to be my Luna and Queen.”
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