Crowned by the enemy Alpha

Bring her to my territory

CHAPTER 8

~DAMON~•

The meeting hall feels like it’s closing in on me as Elder Tobias drones on about pack security for what feels like the hundredth time.

“The bond is weak, Alpha,” he says, his voice carrying across the stone chamber. “We can all feel it. You and Luna Selene….there’s no strength there.”

I grit my teeth. “The bond takes time to develop fully.”

“It’s been three months,” another elder interjects.“Three months, and the pack can barely sense any connection between you. That kind of weakness affects our territory, our standing with other packs.”

“I said it takes time….”

“You know what didn’t take time?” Elder Tobias cuts me off, his aged face hard with disapproval. “The bond you rejected. The one with Lyria.”

Her name hits me like a punch to the gut.

“We’re not discussing this,” I say, my Alpha command bleeding into my voice.

“We should be discussing it,” Rowan insists. “Because while you’re sitting here with a weak bond, your rejected mate is thriving as Luna of Draven Crest Pack. Do you have any idea what that says about us? About you?”

“Lyria was weak,” I snap. “She couldn’t…”

“Weak?” Tobias barks out a laugh. “Is that what you’re telling yourself? Because the reports we’re getting say otherwise. She’s transformed Kaelan’s pack operations, streamlined their trade routes, and earned the respect of warriors who’ve never respected anyone.”

“She’s training with their fighters,” Rowan adds. “Leading council meetings. Making decisions that strengthen their territory daily. That woman, the one you publicly humiliated and rejected…is becoming exactly what this pack needed.”

The words cut deeper than they should.

“If you hadn’t rejected her,” Tobias continues, his voice heavy with disappointment, “Lyria would have been the best thing to happen to this pack. But you threw her away for…” He doesn’t finish, but his eyes flick toward the door, toward where Selene’s chambers lie in another wing of the packhouse.

“Enough!” My fist slams against the table, and the sound echoes through the hall. “This meeting is over. All of you, get out.”

“Alpha, we’re only trying to…”

“OUT!”

They file out slowly, their disapproval was clearly evident. When the last one leaves, only my Beta remains, standing by the door with that careful expression he wears when he knows I’m about to explode.

“Don’t,” I warn him.

“I didn’t say anything, Alpha.”

I push away from the table, stalking toward my chambers. He follows, as I knew he would. Once we’re inside with the door closed, I round on him.

“Tell me about Lyria.”

Cole doesn’t even pretend to misunderstand my question he just went straight to the point. “The elders weren’t exaggerating. She’s… different now. Stronger. The intelligence was always there, but now she’s using it. Kaelan’s pack respects her. Some say they’re starting to love her.”

The words twist something ugly in my chest.

“How is that possible?” I move to the window, staring out at the territory that should feel like home but increasingly feels like a prison. “She could barely speak in front of the council. She tripped over her own feet. She was….”

“Everything you told her she was,” Cole finishes quietly. “Weak. Pathetic. Not worthy of being Luna.”

I spin to face him. “Watch yourself.”

“I’m just repeating your words, Alpha. The ones you said in front of the entire pack at what was supposed to be her mating ceremony.”

Guilt, hot and sharp lances through me but I shove it down.

“She’s with Kaelan,” I say, and the name tastes like poison. “Of all the wolves in all the territories, she ends up with him.”

“He bought her from a slave market, from what I understand. After her father sold her.”

“Her father… what?”

“You didn’t know?” Cole raises an eyebrow. “After you rejected her, her family turned on her. Her father sold her to slavers. Kaelan bought her and made her his Luna.”

The information hits me like a physical blow. Her father sold her? Because I because of what I did to her?

No. No, that’s not my fault, yhat’s not on me.

“Kaelan is using her,” I say, my voice hardening. “This is just another move in his game. He’s always hated me, and now he has…” I can’t finish the sentence.

“Send guards to Draven Crest,” I order abruptly.

Cole goes still. “Alpha?”

“You heard me. Send guards. Tell them to deliver a message to Kaelan Draven personally.” I move to my desk, my hands gripping the edge hard enough that my knuckles turn white. “Tell him that Lyria belongs to me. That he needs to release her immediately.”

“Alpha, I don’t think…”

“I don’t care what you think!” I whirl on him. “She was mine first. Mine. And now my sworn enemy has her? The same bastard who’s been trying to undermine me for years? No. Absolutely not.”

“Bring her to my territory by all means!”