Rejected by My Pack, Crowned by the Empire Chapter 02

Rejected by My Pack, Crowned by the Empire Chapter 02

amon and Serena knelt side by side before the statue of the Moon Goddess, devoutly tossing their moonstones onto the stone floor at the same time.

The crowd erupted into shocked cheers the next second.

“It’s a sign! The Moon Goddess has blessed their union!”

My parents’ eyes glistened with raw excitement.

Damon bowed his head and pressed a soft kiss to Serena’s forehead.

Memories surged unbidden to my mind. Years ago, Damon had laced his fingers through mine, standing before a seaside shrine.

“When we seal our mate bond, I’m going to beg the Moon Goddess to let me live one day less than you. That way, I’ll never have to watch you leave this world behind.”

His eyes had glistened with tears back then, as if he truly planned to love me for all eternity.

The great hall fell abruptly silent. Every head swiveled toward me, and a collective gasp rippled through the onlookers. Everyone stiffened, scrambling to avert their gazes, too guilty to meet my eyes.

Damon’s face darkened instantly, and he instinctively pulled Serena behind him to shield her.

“Evelyn, if you’ve got any rage, aim it straight at me. I’m the one who had you locked away and pushed for this mating ceremony for Serena. Don’t take it out on her; she didn’t do anything wrong.”

My parents hurried over, grabbing one of my arms each, terrified I would lash out at Serena.

My father’s jaw tightened with a stern warning.

“This is a sacred, joyous ceremony. Do not cause a scene. Serena’s in poor health; she can’t handle any upset.”

My mother’s voice softened into a pleading whine.

“Evelyn, I’m begging you here. After everything we’ve done for you all these years, can you just do this one thing for me?”

My mouth felt glued shut, and I couldn’t work up the words to speak.

“So all those kind gestures you showed me were just preparation to make me back down in moments like this?”

I was their biological daughter, yet because I was reunited with the family at a later age, they had always kept a subtle distance from me.

Year after year, whenever they shopped for gifts, they always asked what Serena wanted first, then bought an identical item for me as an afterthought.

At family dinners, every dish on the table catered to Serena’s tastes, yet no one ever recalled my severe seafood allergy.

It was as if I was just some distant cousin crashing at our house, only owed the bare minimum of basic decency.

Zayne’s brow creased deeper in frustration.

“ Serena’s this sick, and you’re still hung up on all these petty little slights? Evelyn, do you have any idea how bitter you come off right now?”

“It’s no wonder nobody in the pack likes you.”

A sharp pain pierced my chest. I stared back at him, eyes stinging with unshed tears.

“You can only fool yourselves with that lie. Count how many illnesses Serena has claimed to suffer since I came home.”

“Want me to march her straight to the pack hospital right now and get a full exam to prove whether she’s actually sick?”

My mother’s face went rigid.

“This is all your fault! Ever since you came back and competed with Serena for everything, she would have grown so insecure and unassured.”

“Sometimes I wish we’d never brought you into the Mooncrest Pack at all.”

The last shred of support in my heart collapsed in an instant.

Had she forgotten it wasn’t me who’d begged and pleaded to barge into their perfect little family?

Ten years ago, my birth parents had tracked down my adoptive household. They had held me tightly in their arms, weeping brokenly.

“Evelyn, we searched fifteen long years to find you. Come home with us—we can’t bear to lose you again.”

I lifted my head to hold back my tears, gazing at them with unyielding stubbornness.

“If you’d just told me you already had another daughter you cared about more, if you’d been honest that you didn’t even want me, I never would have come home at all!”