The Rejected Queen Werewolf

"Darius? Are you here?"

Sasha inhaled deeply, the intoxicating scent of Darius's pheromones filling the air around her. It was a scent so alluring, so addictive, that she hadn't realized until now how it could drive her nearly insane with desire.

For a werewolf with a mate, the smell of their partner's pheromones was enough to make them feel lightheaded, overwhelmed by need. Sasha was still adjusting to this-she had only met her mate a week ago, and every time she caught a whiff of Darius's scent, her body responded as if it were beyond her control.

"Darius?"

Her voice echoed through the empty hallway as she followed the growing intensity of his scent.

When Sasha finally reached his door, she paused, her heart skipping a beat at the soft, unmistakable sigh of a woman's voice from inside. Her brow furrowed in confusion. Her hand hesitated on the doorknob, but it was unlocked. Slowly, she pushed the door open.

"Darius? I've been looking for you...."

The words died in her throat.

Sasha froze. Her breath caught in her chest as her gaze locked onto the sight before her. Darius-her mate-was entangled with another woman, their bodies intertwined in a bedsheet with a naked body. Sasha's heart plummeted, the world around her tilting on its axis as if the ground had been ripped out from under her. It felt like a boulder had fallen straight onto her chest, crushing her until she could barely breathe.

"Rachel?" Sasha's voice trembled with disbelief as she recognized the woman beside Darius. Her best friend. "You ...."

"Don't you have any manners?!" Darius snapped, startled by her presence, his voice sharp as he yanked the blanket over himself. "Knock if you want to come into my room, you idiot!"

Sasha barely heard him. Her eyes remained fixed on Rachel, her pulse pounding painfully in her ears.

"What are you doing here with my mate, Rach?!" Sasha's voice shook, tears welling in her eyes, her heart splintering.

Rachel rolled her eyes, unbothered, her expression cold and indifferent. "Oh, come on. You seriously don't get it?"

Sasha's chest tightened, the betrayal cutting deeper with each passing second.

"I thought you were my friend! How could you do this to me?!" she cried, her voice breaking under the weight of her pain.

Tears spilled down her cheeks as she clutched her chest, the agony too much to bear. Darius, her mate, and Rachel, her closest friend, had betrayed her in the cruelest way possible.

"Betrayal? Who's the betrayer here, really? Did Darius ever love you, Sasha? Let me guess the answer." Rachel sauntered toward Sasha, her lips curving into a cruel, mocking smile. "No one wants a weak girl like you, dear."

Rachel's voice dripped with malice as she closed the distance between them. "Sasha, think about it. An Alpha-to-be can't possibly be stuck with a mate who can't even shift into her wolf form, right? The Moon Goddess must've made a mistake pairing Darius with someone as weak as you."

Sasha's body tensed, rage flooding her veins. Without thinking, her hand shot out, grabbing a fistful of Rachel's hair and yanking it with all the strength she could muster.

"Argh!" Rachel screamed, stumbling back, her face contorting in pain.

Before Sasha could react further, Darius's strong hands pried hers from Rachel's hair and shoved her roughly to the floor.

"Get out of my room, you bitch! What I do with anyone is none of your business!" Darius raised his voice.

Sasha stared up at him, heartbroken and stunned. The sting in her chest was unbearable, like a thousand knives slicing her soul.

"But... I'm your mate, Darius. Why are you doing this to me?" Her voice trembled, her heart cracking with every word she managed to speak through her sobs.

"Mate?" Darius spat the word as if it disgusted him. "I don't want a weak mate like you! Get out! I'm sick of looking at your pathetic face!"

The harshness of his words struck her like a physical blow. Tears blurred her vision as Sasha's breath hitched, her chest tightening painfully. Slowly, she pushed herself off the ground, trembling, and stumbled out of his room, the sound of his cruel dismissal still echoing in her mind.

What is this? Why does it hurt so much?

Sasha gripped the walls as she made her way down the hallway, her legs barely supporting her weight. Her knees wobbled beneath her, and with each step, the ache in her chest deepened.

"Sasha? What's wrong? Are you feeling sick?" Mr. Anderson, Darius's father, approached her with a concerned expression.

Sasha quickly shook her head, forcing herself to steady her voice. "I-I'm fine, Mr. Anderson. Just... not feeling too well."

"Are you sure?" His brow furrowed with doubt.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Sasha gave him a tight, forced smile, hoping he wouldn't see through it.

"Alright then. But why are you leaving so soon? You said you wanted to meet Darius in his room," Mr. Anderson asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

"Y-Yeah, I did... but it looked like he was sleeping, and I didn't want to disturb him," she lied again, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I see. Well, I'll let him know you were looking for him."

Sasha mustered a small smile. "Thank you, Mr. Anderson. I'll be heading home now."

As she turned to leave, Mr. Anderson's voice stopped her. "Ah, don't forget about the event tomorrow night! I want to celebrate your relationship with my son!"

Sasha's chest tightened, but she simply nodded in response, unable to trust her voice. Then, with a heavy heart, she walked away, her footsteps echoing in the silence.

Meanwhile, back in Darius's room, he clicked his tongue in frustration as he sat on the edge of the bed.

"What's wrong? Still thinking about it?" Rachel cooed, clinging to his arm. "Don't tell me you have feelings for Sasha!"

"Feelings? For her? Impossible!" Darius let out a sharp laugh. "I could never like a girl as ugly as her!"

Rachel's lips curved into a wicked smile. "Oh, really? Then why don't you just get rid of her?" Her voice dropped to a whisper, the suggestion dripping with danger as she leaned in close to his ear.

Darius's brow lifted. "Get rid of her?"

"Yes." Rachel whispered, her voice like poison. "I have a plan."

Sasha curled up on the floor of her room, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as if trying to hold her heart together. The image of Darius and Rachel, locked in a deceitful embrace, burned behind her eyes, the betrayal suffocating her.

"Lyra... can you hear me?" Sasha whispered, her voice trembling as she called out to the wolf that lived within her.

"I hear you, Sasha," came Lyra's soft reply, but the wolf's voice was faint, distant.

Sasha squeezed her eyes shut, desperately trying to shift.

'I need you, Lyra. I need to be stronger. I need to fight back.'

Her fingers dug into the floor, and her body shook with the effort to force the transformation.

"Come out, Lyra! Please, come out!" Sasha's plea was barely a breath, her voice breaking under the weight of her desperation. Cold sweat slid down the back of her neck, her body trembling uncontrollably.

"You know I can't, Sasha," Lyra's voice murmured, soft as a sigh.

"No! You can!" Sasha choked on her words, her hands clutching at her sides. "Come on, Lyra, just... please!"

"I'm sorry."

"No, no... no! Don't do this to me!" Her voice cracked into sobs. "Please, Lyra, come out. I need you. I-"

But no matter how hard Sasha willed it, no matter how much she screamed inside, Lyra remained hidden, unreachable.

Tears spilled down Sasha's face, silent at first, then in wrenching sobs that shook her fragile frame. She felt like a failure. A werewolf who couldn't even shift into her wolf form-what could be worse?

"I don't want to be weak. I don't want them to look down on me..."

"Mom... Dad..."

Their faces blurred in her mind, lost to the years since their passing. She was alone now, and that thought hollowed her out from the inside.

The distant howls of wolves pierced the night air, slipping through the cracked window like a haunting reminder of what she was supposed to be. The sound mingled with Sasha's quiet sobs until, exhausted, she finally sank into a restless, dreamless sleep.

The next night, Sasha couldn't avoid attending the party at Darius' house. Despite everything, Mr. Anderson had personally invited her, and it was impossible to refuse. The event tonight wasn't just any gathering-it was a celebration of her and Darius' relationship.

Her heart still ached, the wounds of Darius' betrayal were fresh in her chest, and her body felt weaker than usual. Yet, Sasha forced herself to go. She had no choice. Wearing the ivory-white dress her mother had left behind, she tried to hold herself together, even if it felt like she was unravelling inside.

As she entered the house, her eyes scanned the crowd. The party was already in full swing, with werewolves scattered throughout the large room, mingling and laughing. But Rachel was nowhere to be found. Sasha hadn't seen her since the day before.

Where was she? Not that Sasha particularly wanted to see Rachel, especially after what she had done.

"Sasha! My dear, you look stunning tonight," Mr. Anderson's booming voice broke through her thoughts.

Sasha forced a smile in return. "Thank you, Mr. Anderson."

"Darius! Come over here, your lovely fiancée has arrived!" Mr. Anderson called out.

Sasha stiffened as Darius approached, having been engrossed in conversation with his friends. She kept her gaze down, the cruel words he had thrown at her the night before still echoing in her mind.

"Stay with Sasha for a bit, I'm about to make the announcement about your engagement," Mr. Anderson said, before turning to leave.

"Sure, Dad," Darius replied obediently.

As soon as Mr. Anderson walked away, the air between Sasha and Darius turned thick with awkward silence. Sasha swallowed, fidgeting with the hem of her dress.

"You... you don't have to stay with me if you don't want to," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Sasha, I-" Darius hesitated. His usual confidence faltered. "I need to talk to you. Just the two of us. Is that okay?"

Surprised, Sasha nodded, her heart racing as Darius gently led her outside to the garden, away from the noise and the crowd. The front yard was quiet, bathed in soft moonlight.

'Was he going to reject me here? Was this where it ended?'

"You look beautiful in that dress," Darius said softly, his eyes lingering on her.

Sasha froze. What?

That was the last thing she expected to hear from him.

"I... I want to apologize for last night. I shouldn't have treated you like that. I'm so sorry, Sasha. I know I hurt you."

"It's... it's okay," she managed to say, though her voice trembled. "Really, I'm okay."

The tightness in Sasha''s chest began to ease as Darius' apology sank in. The sincerity in his voice felt real, and for the first time in days, a weight lifted from her heart.

"Really? You'll forgive me?"

Sasha nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. His regret seemed genuine, and for a brief moment, warmth blossomed in her chest.

Maybe things could get better.

"Of course I forgive you," she replied softly.

"I'm glad to hear that." He stood up quickly, excitement lacing his movements. "Let me get you a drink. Wait here, I'll be right back."

Moments later, Darius returned, holding two glasses of wine. He handed one to her, his smile still warm and reassuring.

"This is for you," he said, his voice tender.

Sasha accepted the glass with a quiet thank you, taking a sip as she settled beside him in the gazebo, surrounded by the fragrant blooms of the garden. Above them, the crescent moon hung softly in the night sky, casting a silver glow over the scene.

For a while, they sat in silence, the atmosphere peaceful yet heavy with unspoken words.

"I didn't see Rachel tonight," Sasha finally said, her voice hesitant.

"Why are you looking for her?" His tone was sharper than before. "She's already done enough to ruin us, Sasha. Just let her go."

But Sasha couldn't let go. Rachel had been her best friend since childhood, and despite everything, a part of her still cared.

"You know, I don't care that you can't shift with your wolf. I'll protect you, Sasha. You don't need to worry."

Sasha opened her mouth to reply, but suddenly, her vision blurred. The garden around her swayed, the soft glow of the moon becoming distorted. Her head spun violently.

What's happening?

"Sasha? Did you hear me?" Darius' voice seemed to come from far away, distant and distorted.

Panic surged within her as her body grew weak, her limbs heavy. Darkness crept in from the edges of her vision, swallowing the world around her until there was nothing but black.

And then, she fainted.

"Ugh!"

Sasha's eyes fluttered open, her vision blurry as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. The first thing she saw was the ceiling of an unfamiliar room.

'Wait... what's going on? Why am I here?'

She pushed herself up, her head throbbing with confusion. The last thing she remembered was attending a party at Mr. Anderson's house. Darius had come to her, apologized, and then... nothing. Her memory was blank after that.

"Where am I?" she whispered, glancing around the room, which looked foreign and unsettlingly unfamiliar.

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the window blinds, casting soft, fractured shadows across the floor.

'How long have I been out?'

As she turned her head, her heart stopped. There, lying beside her, was a man-unclothed and fast asleep. Panic surged through her veins, and she leapt out of the bed, her pulse racing.

"Ah! You! Who are you?!" she screamed, her voice startling the man awake.

He groaned, rubbing his eyes, and then glanced at her with a sleepy, confused expression. "Huh? Did you forget what happened last night?"

Sasha's mind whirled, trying to process his words. "Last night? What are you talking about?"

The man smirked, his voice dripping with insinuation. "Oh, come on. Did you forget our hot night, baby?"

Hot night?

Sasha's stomach twisted, the words making her skin crawl. She glanced down at herself, realizing with horror that her clothes were gone, her hair disheveled.

'No... did I really...?'

She couldn't believe it. This could't be real. She didn't even know who this man was.

"No, there's been some mistake. I-I don't even know you!" she stammered, frantically gathering her clothes from the floor. "You must have the wrong person!"

As she fumbled to get dressed, her heart pounded with a mix of fear and confusion.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

A sudden knock echoed through the room, jolting Sasha out of her daze. Without thinking, she rushed to open the door, her heart pounding. She froze when she saw Darius and Mr. Anderson standing there, their faces etched with confusion and concern.

"Darius? Mr. Anderson?" she stammered, her voice barely steady.

"Sasha, where have you been?" Darius' voice was tight with frustration. "I've been looking for you all night. And... why are you in this room?" His eyes narrowed suspiciously.

b n

"I-I'm sorry, Darius," Sasha began, her words faltering. "I don't know what happened. One moment I was talking to you at the party, and then... I just blacked out."

"Wait, there's someone inside," Mr. Anderson said sharply, stepping past her into the room.

Sasha's stomach twisted with panic as she followed him, her gaze darting to the stranger still lounging on the bed. "Mr. Anderson, please, it's not what it looks like. I didn't-"

"Sasha," Mr. Anderson's voice was stern, his Alpha authority suffocating the room. "Can you explain this?"

"Sasha, who is this?" Darius' face contorted with disbelief, his voice rising. "Did you... sleep with him last night?"

"N-No! I didn't... I swear I didn't," Sasha's voice was barely above a whisper, her eyes wide and pleading as she looked at Darius and Mr. Anderson. Tears welled up, blurring her vision.

Suddenly, Darius doubled over, clutching his chest, his face twisted in pain.

"It hurts... it hurts," he gasped, his breathing ragged. "Why are you doing this to me?"

The commotion quickly drew the attention of other werewolves, who gathered at the doorway, peering in with curious and judgmental eyes.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Anderson." The stranger's voice broke the tense silence, his head bowed in shame. "I won't run away. I take full responsibility. I... had the audacity to have relations with Sasha, Darius' mate. I'm prepared to accept whatever punishment you decide."

Mr. Anderson massaged the bridge of his nose, clearly frustrated. "Oh my..."

"Why, Sasha?! I loved you! What was I lacking that you had to betray me like this?" Darius screamed, clutching his aching chest as he struggled to breathe.

"I didn't do anything, Darius," Sasha cried, her voice shaking. "Please, you have to believe me."

"Believe you?!" Darius' voice was scornful, bitter. "You left me last night saying you'd be back early. And yet, here you are!"

"N-No, I don't know why I'm here, Darius," Sasha stuttered, tears spilling down her cheeks.

"Enough!" Darius snapped, his voice cold and final. "I'm tired of your excuses! From this moment on, I, Darius Anderson, Alpha Candidate of The Spectral Pack, reject Sasha Woods as my mate!" His declaration sent a shockwave through the room, leaving everyone stunned.

"No!"

Sasha's scream tore through the air as excruciating pain shot through her body, a pain so fierce it felt like her chest was being crushed under a boulder. She collapsed to the floor, clutching her chest, gasping for breath.

"Darius, wait!" Mr. Anderson's voice was faint, barely reaching Sasha's ears as she writhed in agony. "We need to talk to her first-find out what happened."

"No, Dad!" Darius barked, his eyes blazing with fury. "I've had enough. It tears at my chest to see this betrayal. And you know what the punishment is for an Alpha's mate who commits infidelity, don't you?"

Sasha crawled to his feet, her hands trembling as she reached out to him. "Please... please believe me."

Darius recoiled, roughly swatting her hand away. "Get out of my sight! I don't want to see your face in this Pack ever again."

In her twenty years, Sasha had never felt such raw, searing humiliation. She barely registered the hands grabbing her, dragging her away. She was thrown out, insults and curses hurled at her from all sides. Her tears fell freely, blurring everything around her as she staggered towards the forest.

Before she disappeared into the trees, she turned back one last time, catching sight of Mr. Anderson. His face was filled with disappointment, his eyes cold.

And then she saw it-a flash of Darius standing with Rachel, a sly grin twisting across his lips.

A chill ran through Sasha, freezing her in place. Wait a minute... was this all a trap?

The realization hit her like a punch to the gut.

'Did they plan this? Did they want me gone all along?'