Rejected, And Became A Heiress

Chapter 0002

ALaric.

"It should have been Cara!"

After propose, my wolf's voice was cold and firm in my head.

"I told you, Grey,"

I sighed, speaking with my wolf internally, "This is my choice, not yours."

"And it was also your choice to have sex with Cara just last month! She was good enough for you then!" Grey insisted.

"You know good and well the mate bond is hard to resist. But having sex with her doesn't mean I love her. And it certainly doesn't mean she's fit to be the pack's true Luna," We'd been over this so many times since I had decided to propose to Lilia that it was grating my nerves.

He growled at me, clearly upset. But he would just have to get over it.

"Alpha King! Congratulations! And such a fine and beautiful she-wolf to be the pack's Luna!"

The pack elders were patting me on the back, beside themselves with pride that I had selected a noble-born from a neighboring pack to join Pack DarkWood's Alpha family. "Thank you for such kind words. I'm sure my brother, the Alpha King of Pack BloodyMoon, will be excited to hear that we intend to try for pups right away,"

Lilia's voice was demure and sweet as she stroked her belly lovingly.

"What excellent news! An heir right away!" The elders were overjoyed.

They'd been plaguing me with questions about when I'd produce an heir. Every pack meeting for three years had ended with a reminder from the elders that time was ticking to settle down, marry, and establish the new Alpha family. It was for the stability of the pack, they had insisted.

I used to think that it'd be Cara at my side. Smart, strong, incredibly sexy... Cara is everything I wanted in a Luna.

I never cared that she was low-born, she was an incredible worker and always put the pack above herself. Or so I thought.

I'll never forget the day that changed it all. The day I learned what she REALLY cares about.

I remember Cara's plea to my father the day before I took over as Alpha King.

*

"But that's not enough,"

my father's office door was wide open, and as

done, Cara. You'll take the Agent Luna position temporarily for the

money! Please, just need more

*

to bear any more of her

up the pack's financial records and saw the frequent, large transfers into Cara's bank account, anger coursed through my

had said in her own words that even those substantial

upbringing being raised as a pack adoptee, but where was her

then and there that I would never propose to Cara. Fate Mates

be a gold digger. And every time pay day comes, she's all too happy to

I haven't been a perfect angel. Sometimes when I'm around Cara her scent envelopes me, and my instincts, my

exactly as I'd expect for a Fate

wolf, Grey,

even my Fate Mate,

protect the pack above all else. Especially from those who would pretend to care about me, and the pack, only to sell us out when it suits

what I need, what the pack needs, no matter what my wolf wants. Lilia understands what it's like to run a pack, having grown up in an

and noble. She's sweet and caring. And she's got that unmistakable dark red hair... Darker

would stave off any awkwardness between the two she-wolves. Obviously, it wouldn't be the most comfortable interaction, but Lilia offered to handle it anyway. What other

found Cara, crying alone. The sight of her tears did something odd to me

the bank cards at me and ran off. I've never seen her like

to have made her so

Mate!" My wolf's voice was insistent in my

minute... maybe Grey wasn't the only one

this was all about? Did

actually love

Cara.

I passed several rooms of waitstaff cleaning up. I couldn't help but overhear some of their conversations as I tried to navigate the maze

for YEARS now. I just assumed he'd propose to Cara and

great job, too. She's got to be the best Beta the pack's ever had. But... it's got to be because

the elders want a