Crowned by the enemy Alpha

CHAPTER 1 LYRIA ~LYRIA~• “By moon and blood, you are bound,” the elder declares. That’s it. I’m married to a stranger. The irony cuts deep. Once, I had worn my mother’s dress and flowers in my hair for the man I loved. Now I wear new clothes and stand before a man who bought me like livestock. But Kaelan isn’t treating me like livestock. He turns to face the crowd, his hand finding the small of my back. “I present Luna Lyria Draven,” he announces. “My wife.” The gasps are immediate. I hear the whispers start like wildfire. “His wife? Not just his…” “She’s from Moon Strike Pack. They said she was sold—” My spine straightens. I’ve heard worse. I’ve survived worse. Kaelan’s fingers press against my back, a silent command to stay strong. “Anyone who questions my choice questions me,” he says, his tone dropping to something dangerous. “Is there anyone here who wishes to do that?” The hall falls silent. I don’t crumble. I won’t give them the satisfaction. Instead, I lift my chin and meet their stares. I’m not the same broken girl who was dragged from territory to territory. That girl died the day Damon rejected me. This girl survived. “Luna,” one of the council members says stiffly, inclining his head. The others follow suit, though I can tell it pains them. Kaelan’s hand moves to my elbow. “Come,” he says quietly. “We’re done here.” He escorts me through corridors lined with portraits of stern former Alphas. The packhouse is massive, built from dark stone—nothing like the warm home I grew up in. “You did well back there,” Kaelan says as we reach a set of double doors. I glance at him, surprised. “Did I have a choice?” Something that might be amusement flickers in his handsome features. “There’s always a choice. You could have run.” “And then what? You would have dragged me back in chains?” He stops and turns to face me fully. “No,” he says simply. “I would have let you go.” I don’t believe him. “Why did you do this? Why marry me instead of just keeping me?” “Because you’re my Luna now. Not my captive. Not my slave.” He opens the doors, revealing a sitting room decorated in deep blues and silver. “This is your wing of the house. Your space.” My space. The words sound foreign. “I don’t understand,” I admit. Kaelan’s smile is sharp and cold, but no less attractive for it. “You don’t need to understand. You just need to play your part.” And there it is. The truth. This isn’t about me. This is about whatever game he’s playing with Damon. I’m just a piece on his chess board. But at least he’s treating me like a queen instead of a pawn. “What part is that?” I ask. “My wife. My Luna. The woman who stands beside me and shows this pack that I am not a man to be underestimated.” He steps back, putting distance between us. “Your things will be brought up shortly. Dinner is at seven. I’ll have someone escort you.” He pauses at the doorway. “Welcome to Draven Crest, Luna.” Then he’s gone, leaving me alone in my golden cage. I walk to the window and look out at rolling hills that stretch toward distant mountains. The ring on my finger catches the afternoon light. Mrs. Lyria Draven. Luna of the Draven Crest Pack. Wife to a man who bought me from my father. But he didn’t treat me like property today. He treated me like his equal, at least in public. I touch the glass, cool against my palm. Am I truly free now, or have I just traded one cage for another? A prettier cage, maybe. Only time will tell if Alpha Kaelan Draven is my salvation or my doom. But one thing is certain—I’m no longer the broken girl from Moon Strike Pack. Whatever comes next, I’ll face it standing tall. I am Luna now. And Lunas don’t break.