The Queen s Pawns

Aria's POV

I'm staring at my reflection when Miranda walks in without knocking.

She never knocks anymore.

"You're actually going?" Her voice drips with disbelief. "Aria, he's not going to choose you."

My hands grip the sink. The girl staring back looks small, silver hair dyed black, violet eyes too large, wearing a borrowed dress because I own nothing suitable for a mating ceremony. Especially not my own.

"He's my mate, Miranda. The bond..."

"The bond." She laughs, and I remember when that laugh meant friendship. Before she sat at the Alpha's table. Before she stopped sneaking me food. "You think a bond matters more than pack survival?"

I meet her eyes in the mirror. "It used to matter to you."

Something flickers across her face, guilt, maybe. Then her expression hardens.

"I grew up. You should too." She moves closer, expensive perfume filling the space between us. The kind Lunas wear. "Save yourself the humiliation."

"I have to go. If I don't, everyone will say I was too cowardly."

The bathroom door swings open. Beta Marcus fills the doorway, his smile making ice slide down my spine.

There you are, wolfless." His eyes rake over me with open disgust. "The Alpha requests your presence in the ceremonial hall. Immediately."

Now." The command in his voice makes my omega instincts scream at me to submit, to obey. I hate that part of myself. The part that cowers.

‎But I lift my chin anyway. If I'm going to be rejected, and I'm not stupid enough to deny that anymore, I'll face it standing tall.

The walk through the pack house feels like a funeral march. Whispers follow me:

"finally doing it..." "wolfless omega as Luna, can you imagine..."

Five years. Five years since the mate bond snapped into place, tying my soul to Kade's. Five years of watching him pull away until that rope frayed to almost nothing.

The ceremonial hall doors loom ahead. Marcus grabs my arm, grip bruising.

"Accept the rejection quickly. Don't embarrass yourself more than you already have."

He shoves me through the doors into a hall packed with every pack member. Hundreds of eyes lock onto me, some pitying, most satisfied.

At the front, Kade stands waiting.

My breath catches. He's beautiful...all golden perfection and controlled power. His amber eyes find mine, and for one fragile second, I think I see regret.

Then Miranda steps out wearing white. A Luna's ceremonial gown. She moves beside Kade, and he doesn't stop her.

This was planned. I'm the only one who didn't get the script.

"Aria Moonstone. Approach."

My legs move on instinct. When I stop three feet from him, I force myself to meet his eyes.

"You know why you're here."His face could be carved from stone, but his hands are clenched into fists, knuckles white.

"Yes."

"The Crescent Moon Pack requires a Luna who can strengthen our position. Who can provide alliances, support, and power." Each word lands like a blow. "You cannot provide these things."

"I could try..."

"You're not what I need." He cuts me off, and his tone is final. "You're not what this pack needs. My father's debts are crushing us. We need strength."

"The bond doesn't care about debts. The Moon Goddess chose us."

"It means she made a mistake." Miranda's voice cuts in. "Kade needs a real Luna. Someone who can actually shift."