The Alpha’s Rejected Luna: Crown of Thorns Chapter 12

The Alpha’s Rejected Luna: Crown of Thorns Chapter 12

Victor from the alliance council leaned in with a cocky grin. “Kael, I put my money where my mouth is I believe you’ll

fetch her back. If you lose the bet, well, I’ll be carving up your territories.”

I laughed, loud and wide. “You boys are cute. I offer far too much credit if any of you think I’ll lose. My pack, my rules.

My mate will be back on a leash.”

Richard chimed in. “The pundits are loving it. They’re calling her dangerous, unstable, unfit. We’ve seeded quotes

suggesting she was delusional. It’ll turn pack opinion.”

I smiled like a wolf whose fortune was a warm thing in his jaws. “Perfect. Approval is everything. They’ll beg to hand

her over.”

Joey’s phone buzzed. He read the note and looked up. “Alpha, we have hunters checking borders and crossings But

there’s chatter that she might be with Shadow Wolf. A name only. Could be nothing.”

I slammed my hand on the table. “Shadow Wolf? Don’t distract me with rumors. Find her. I want wolves on the ground tonight. I want eyes in every den, every safe house, every neutral zone. No one escapes Kael Thornwood.”

By noon the networks were alive with the hit piece. Pack broadcasters recited the talking points like scripture. “Former Luna Unstable,” one headline howled. “Did she abduct her own pup?” a pundit sneered. Wolves on the channels called her dangerous. The Alphas I did business with called her feral. I sat back and drank, savoring the show, feeling the high that comes from pulling levers and watching the world tilt.

Then that night…

I went to bed with my chest burning, too angry to even close my eyes, but at some point the dark swallowed me and I

saw it.

The pack house was mine but it was empty, bright moonlight pouring in where it shouldn’t. And there she was. Sera.

Laughing like nothing had ever broken her, holding Lily’s hand. My pup. My territory. My life.

And then I saw him. Some wolf, blurred, faceless at first, walking beside them like he belonged there. My throat tore

when I tried to howl but no sound came, just static like a broken speaker. I tried to run but the ground dragged me

down.

Then I heard him, clear as day. He held Sera’s face with both hands and said, “She is mine now.”

“No! She is my mate!” I screamed, but my voice cracked, my words were mud.

He smiled, and when he lifted his hand there was a bonding mark on it. “No. She is my mate.”

I woke choking, sweat pouring down my face, chest hammering like I’d been sprinting through fire. Shame tasted like

bile I turned my head and Ravenna was asleep, breathing soft, beautiful. I couldn’t stay I left before dawn

The bar was nearly empty. My usual spot waited, lights dim, whiskey sharp enough to burn me back alive I drank

hard, glass after glass, like I could drown that dream before it carved any deeper.

And I hated myself, because what the hell was this ache? I told myself it was pride. It was rage. But deep down i

knew. Something inside me missed her. Not her face, not her touch, but the way she once bent the world around me

like I was king. I used to feel untouchable. Now I felt stripped bare, and that was worse than her leaving.

Then my phone buzzed. Asher’s name. My boy. I grabbed it.

“Daddy,” he was crying, his voice so small it cut me, “come home, please. Mommy’s taking me away. She says I’ll

never see you again.”

My stomach dropped. “What? What are you saying, son? Where’s Mommy? What bags? What flight?”

“She’s packing, Daddy. She said she’s hurting because you don’t look at her anymore, you only care about Sera. She

said we’re leaving. She said don’t tell you, but I had to. I don’t wanna go, Daddy. I don’t wanna lose you.”

My heart cracked open. My hands shook around the phone. “Asher, listen to me. Tell Mommy I’m coming home now.

Tell her your Daddy is already on his way.”

“Please hurry, Daddy,” he sobbed, “please.”

“I’m coming, son. I swear to you, I’m coming.”

I threw money on the bar and ran.

Ravenna’s POV

I stroked his hair, feeding him the line that made his chest puff up like he’d swallowed the sun. “Congratulations on

your perfect act, Asher. Your daddy will come back soon. He’s weak for you.”

“As long as I keep our family together, Mum,” he said, chest out like a soldier who just won a toy fight.

I laughed softly. “Did you practice your howl? Remember, I paid those wolves well to make sure Lily’s confidence was

crushed. That’s how you get the spotlight, love.”

His eyes went huge and bright. “Yes, Mum. Now Lily can’t even shift. I’ll be the only Alpha prodigy.”

I cupped his cheek, giving him the exact stage directions he needed. “I’m so proud. When Daddy comes, you must cry

a little, but not too much. Make him think you need protection. We want him wrapped around our finger”

He snuggled in like the greedy little thing he is. “I love you, Mum. I want Lily gone forever.”

bile I turned my head and Ravenna was asleep, breathing soft, beautiful I couldn’t stay I left before dawn

The bar was nearly empty. My usual spot waited, lights dim, whiskey sharp enough to burn me back alive I drank hard, glass after glass, like I could drown that dream before it carved any deeper

And I hated myself, because what the hell was this ache? I told myself it was pride. It was rage But deep down I knew Something inside me missed her. Not her face, not her touch, but the way she once bent the world around me like I was king. I used to feel untouchable. Now I felt stripped bare, and that was worse than her leaving

Then my phone buzzed. Asher’s name. My boy. I grabbed it.

“Daddy,” he was crying, his voice so small it cut me, “come home, please. Mornmy’s taking me away. She says I’ll

never see you again.”

My stomach dropped. “What? What are you saying, son? Where’s Mommy? What bags? What flight?”

“She’s packing, Daddy. She said she’s hurting because you don’t look at her anymore, you only care about Sera She said we’re leaving. She said don’t tell you, but I had to. I don’t wanna go, Daddy. I don’t wanna lose you.”

My heart cracked open. My hands shook around the phone. “Asher, listen to me. Tell Mommy I’m coming home now.

Tell her your Daddy is already on his way.”

“Please hurry, Daddy,” he sobbed, “please.”

“I’m coming, son. I swear to you, I’m coming.”

I threw money on the bar and ran.

Ravenna’s POV

I stroked his hair, feeding him the line that made his chest puff up like he’d swallowed the sun. “Congratulations on your perfect act, Asher. Your daddy will come back soon. He’s weak for you.”

“As long as I keep our family together, Mum,” he said, chest out like a soldier who just won a toy fight

I laughed softly. “Did you practice your howl? Remember, I paid those wolves well to make sure Lily’s confidence was

crushed. That’s how you get the spotlight, love.”

His eyes went huge and bright. “Yes, Mum. Now Lily can’t even shift. I’ll be the only Alpha prodigy”

I cupped his cheek, giving him the exact stage directions he needed. “I’m so proud. When Daddy comes, you must cry

a little, but not too much. Make him think you need protection. We want him wrapped around our finger.

He snuggled in like the greedy little thing he is. “I love you, Mum. I want Lily gone forever.”

I held him and let the feeling of victory simmer warm and slow. This is what I built. This is what I wanted A small

monster who would do whatever it took to keep me safe in his world. Perfect.

When Kael barreled in, breath ragged from driving like a madman, Asher was actually crying and tugging at my sleeve. “Please, don’t make me go, Mum.”