Rejected by the Beta, Craved by the Alpha

WILLOWA groan escaped me as I stirred awake. Tingles spread through my limbs as I turned and tossed. My eyes were heavy, and if it were up to me, I wouldn’t bother opening them again. What was the use? The last thing I wanted was to set my eyes on Asher after what he did to me. How could he? How could he reject me moments before his party where he was supposed to announce we were mates? I should have known he had a reason for asking me to keep our relationship a secret until it was time for the announcement at the party. He fooled me. Memories spilled over me. I pressed my eyes tighter as I tried to recall the events of last night. After Asher had walked out on me, what happened? I took a few bottles of alcohol, and then what? “No.” I gasped out loud and jolted upright, peeling my eyes open. Maybe if I hadn’t, I would have had more time to think things through. The moment I opened my eyes, a bolt of pain shot through my head. I stifled a groan as I cradled my head in my hands. I’d

CARTERFuck. Fuck. Fuck. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. Heck, I didn’t even see this blowing up in my face at all. How could he? How could Dad set such a condition for me? Thinking about Willow's proposal was one thing. Going after her with a proposal of mine was another. A part of me hoped Dad was joking. He loved jokes. He told them most of the time, and it would have his guests howling with laughter. But when I stopped by his office today to give him his usual cup of morning coffee, he brought up the ultimatum for my coronation. I had to think of something fast, but my head was blank. The coronation was days away, and I didn’t know where to begin. I had to think of something, and fast, too. Knowing Dad, there was no way he would sit back. I could bet on the old man’s life that he already had a backup plan. A backup plan I was sure I would hate. The only solution was to get myself a Luna before that day. But I was stumped and at a loss of ideas. I had no girlfriend, ei

Willow. I clutched tightly to my purse, almost like my very life depended on it. In a way, I guess you could actually put it like that, because in the last couple of days I was so I was losing my grip on reality and maybe holding on to my purse would give me the satisfaction that I still had something under control, even though it was just a facade. “Willow?” Someone's voice by my side was all it took to pull me out of my thoughts. A quick glance at my side showed the owner of the voice to be none other than Carter. “Are you okay?”“Yeah.” I was lying through my teeth, but he didn't need to know that. “I'm fine.” That was all Carter needed to know that the conversation was over, and thankfully he didn't push it any further. When he'd come to pick me up this morning, he was all smiles and I couldn't help but feel infuriated. How could he show up at my place just like that, almost like he'd forgotten about the events of that night.The night we fucked. For hours on end, I coul

Willow Wait, what?I stared at Carter with wide eyes, but no matter how long or hard I stared, it didn't matter, because he didn't even acknowledge it. I felt Carter's skin thrum with more rage than I'd seen from a normal person. Growing up, I always knew Carter had a bit of temper, but this, this was extraordinary. Why the hell did he have to blurt that out? Did he not know this was Asher's coronation ceremony? So what the hell did he do that for?If I had thought I was the one who was shocked by Carter's interruption, then it was safe to say I was delusional. I was still on my seat, but that didn't mean I couldn't feel the stares of literally everyone gathered on me. I was here with Carter, so by default we were going to have to share in the spotlight, even if that was the last thing I wanted. I wanted nothing more than for the ground to open up and swallow me a whole . I already felt like a fish out of water, and now this? Even Carter's shenanigans had caught the attention of

Willow Each step I took in the hallway echoed around me, the click click of my heels bouncing off the halls. It was dark, with barely any source of light at all. Occasionally, I came across some light bulbs, flickering on and off. A whole lot of them were broken or spoiled, but somehow still worked. An eerie feeling hung in the air and I shivered at how cold it was, still I didn't stop walking. Not when I'd come this far. It was a miracle how the guards had actually allowed me through here. Ordinarily, no one could visit the dungeons unless you were royalty or you had a written permit from any member of the royal family. Right now, I had none and somehow I was still granted access. All I had to do when I arrived at the gates was mention Carter. Apparently, a handful of them had spotted Carter and I together at the event earlier today. That, and the fact that since it was late, they were probably exhausted from the day's work. No one would notice a small slip up that happened in the d