Rejected By My Alphas; Revenge Of The Forgotten Mate

Kachi’s POV

On this day, I lost the closest people in my life: my four stepbrothers, and the girl I once trusted more than anyone, my best friend Selene.

I didn’t know that the night would end this way. I didn’t know that I would walk into the ballroom as one person and walk out as someone completely different. But that is exactly what happened on my birthday and high school graduation night, the night that was supposed to mark a new beginning for me.

The ballroom was bright and loud, filled with music and people who seemed excited about the celebration.

The decorations were beautiful, and everyone looked happy, but all I could feel was a strange pressure in my chest. I tried to ignore it and forced myself to breathe slowly as I stood near the entrance, watching the crowd and looking around for my brothers.

I had been adopted and raised by Alpha Alaric and Luna Evelyn of the Red Moon Pack after being abandoned as a baby. They never treated me like an outsider; they gave me warmth, comfort, and a place to belong. They had four incredibly hot sons, Cassian, Rowan, Soren, and Theo, and although we didn’t start off well because they bullied me so much when we were younger, something changed over the years.

They began to protect me, include me, and watch over me in ways that slowly made me fall for them in the worst but deepest way possible.

I knew it was wrong. I knew they saw me as their little sister and nothing more. But my heart didn’t know how to stop wanting them. I kept it buried and convinced myself that it was better that way.

Still, tonight I wanted to be honest.

It was my birthday. My graduation. I wanted to tell them how I felt, even if they rejected me. At least I wouldn’t carry the truth alone anymore.

I held a small gift box in my hand. It was a simple bracelet I had saved up to buy. I planned to give it to them after telling them everything. I believed that maybe, just maybe, something good could happen tonight.

But before I even took ten steps into the room, the entire crowd suddenly turned toward the staircase.

The music lowered. Everyone started whispering.

When I looked up, I saw the four of them standing together: my brothers, straight, composed, handsome, and confident in their suits. They looked like future Alphas already.

And then I saw Selene slowly walking up the stairs to join them.

For a moment, I was confused. She looked beautiful in a silver dress, smiling softly as she glanced at each of them. Something about the way she stood with them made my stomach become tight.

Cassian was the one who spoke first. He pushed his glasses up with a calm, serious expression and raised his voice so everyone could hear him. “Thank you all for being here tonight. We have an exciting announcement to make.”

I took a small step forward without thinking. I was sure the announcement had something to do with the pack. Maybe training. Maybe something about their Alpha succession. Definitely something that had nothing to do with me.

But then Rowan reached for Selene’s hand and gently pulled her closer to them. And I stopped breathing.

Cassian continued, “Tonight, we want to share that Selene has officially become our partner. The four of us will build our future with her.”

The room erupted into cheers, claps, and excited voices.

But everything inside me went completely silent.

I stared up at them, unable to move, unable to speak, unable to even understand what I was seeing and what was going on. My hands were shaking so badly that I almost dropped the gift box.

Selene met my eyes for a second. Her smile faltered, as if she knew exactly how I felt at that moment.

Because she did.

She knew I liked them. She knew every feeling I had ever buried. She knew how badly my heart pulled toward them. I had told her everything, trusting her completely, believing she would support me.

And yet she stood there now, holding my place, standing where I dreamed of standing.

My throat tightened painfully. “Selene… why didn’t you tell me?” My voice came out weak, almost too soft to hear.

She didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she looked at the boys, as if waiting for permission.

Rowan stepped forward instead of her. He looked proud, relaxed, and happy in a way I had never seen before. “Kachi, this is something we’ve been planning for a while. It’s the right direction for the pack.”

Soren crossed his arms and gave me a careful look. “You understand, don’t you? Selene is strong. Her wolf is advanced. She’s the best choice for us.”

Theo gave me a small, uncomfortable smile, but he didn’t say anything. He kept shifting his weight like he wanted to look anywhere but at me.

Cassian finally addressed me directly. “Kachi, you’re important to us. But you’re still… not awakened. Your wolf hasn’t come out, and it puts you at a disadvantage. Selene complements us better.”

I felt sick.

Selene finally stepped forward slightly. “I didn’t want to hurt you, Kachi. I was going to tell you after the ceremony.”

“After?” My voice sounded like it was breaking in half. “You were going to tell me after?”

Rowan shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal. “You would have been fine. You always are.”

My fingers slipped, and the bracelet box fell to the floor with a small thud. Nobody even looked at it.

“Am I really that easy to ignore?” I whispered.

Cassian sighed. “Don’t make this emotional. It’s for the future of the pack.”

“And what about my future?” I asked, my eyes burning.

None of them answered.

The silence was louder than any rejection I had ever imagined.

I stepped backward slowly. “I need to leave.”

Nobody followed me. Nobody called my name. Nobody even moved toward me.

I turned around and headed for the door, forcing myself not to cry in front of them.

But I made the mistake of looking back one more time.

And what I saw destroyed everything inside me.

Selene wrapped her arms around all four of them, and they leaned down to kiss her, one after the other, without hesitation, without shame, without even glancing in my direction.

I didn’t wait for anything after that. I walked outside, went behind one of the pillars, and sank to the floor as quiet tears slipped down my cheeks. My chest hurt so badly that breathing became difficult.

The celebration continued behind me. I could hear laughter and music, but none of it felt real anymore.

That night, I realized there was no place for me here. Not with them. Not in this pack. Not in this future they were building.

***

The next morning, before the sun had fully risen, I opened my laptop, applied to Aureum Academy of the Supernatural in the far south, and got accepted within an hour. I packed all my clothes into a single suitcase and dragged it downstairs.

Evelyn found me first. She looked confused and upset. “Kachi, sweetheart, why are you packed? What’s happening?”

I couldn’t look her in the eyes. “Mom, I can’t stay here anymore. I need a fresh start.”

Alaric walked up behind her. His eyebrows were drawn together, and he spoke gently. “Did something happen last night?”

My eyes filled with tears again. “Yes. But even if it hadn’t happened, I think it’s better for me to grow somewhere far away.”

Evelyn touched my cheek softly. “We love you, Kachi. You are our daughter, no matter what.”

That made the pain rise again, but I forced myself to smile weakly. “I know. Thank you.”

The hardest part was that none of my brothers came.

None of them asked why I was leaving. None of them even tried to stop me.

I walked out of the pack house with one suitcase and a broken heart and nobody came after me.

Kachi’s POV— 5yrs later

I slam my fist into Hattie’s jaw and the entire training arena goes dead silent.

The six-foot-four, two-hundred-pound senior combat instructor stumbles back three steps with blood dripping from her split lip. Her eyes are wide, shocked, like she just got hit by a truck instead of a twenty-two-year-old girl who’s supposed to be “the weak northern runaway.”

I’m breathing hard, sweat sliding down my spine, but my wolf is singing inside me, finally free, finally loud, finally proud.

Six months after I ran south, she woke up.

It wasn't some cute little wolf. It's huge with Midnight-black fur, silver eyes, bigger than most males. The first shift had ripped my dorm bed apart and scared my roommate so bad she transferred schools. I’ve been hiding how strong she is ever since.

Until today.

The referee blows the whistle. “Winner—Kachi Voss!”

The crowd of students loses their minds. Phones are out. Someone’s screaming my name like I’m a rockstar.

Hattie wipes her mouth, staring at me like she’s seeing a ghost. “You… you’re supposed to be un-awakened,” she mutters.

I smirk, tasting blood where she got one good hit in. “Surprise.”

Later, in the combat staff office, Hattie drops an ice pack on the desk and slides it over to me.

“Sit.”

I sit.

She leans back, arms crossed. “That was the cleanest defeat I’ve had in twelve years. And you’re a student at that.” She pauses. “Stay and teach Kachi. I want you on my advanced team next semester. Full scholarship, private dorm and everything else you need”

I blink. “I’m from Red Moon Pack. North.”

“I know exactly where you’re from, Voss.” She grins sharp. “South doesn’t care. Power speaks. And girl, you just outdid most of our males.”

I laugh, short and shocked, and say the word I never thought I’d say again about any pack-affiliated place.

“Yes, I accept.”

And that was how I accepted the offer and have stayed here for almost five years

I became the youngest combat instructor in Aureum Academy history. Students beg to train with me. My wolf gets stronger every moon. I dye the tips of my hair silver to match her eyes. I get a tiny black star tattooed behind my ear [Well…Cassian used to call me Little Star]. I tell myself it’s just pretty, not a memory.

They never called all these while. Not even once.

Rowan, Theo, Soren, Cassian, all of them nothing.

Even Selene nothing too.

Not even an “are you alive?” text.

I keep in touch with Mom and Ivy, my sweet gamma friend who never betrayed me. Mom sends care packages and cries on video calls. Dad’s health got worse every year with various heart problems, the kind that doesn’t heal in wolves his age. I sent money anonymously through Ivy so they wouldn’t know it was me.

Today I’m in the training yard, wrapping my wrists after morning class, when my phone rings. I pick it up.

It's from Mom. I smile without thinking. “Hey, Mom—”

“Kachi.” Her voice cracks on my name.

The world tilts at her broken voice

“Mom? What’s wrong?”

She’s crying so hard she can barely speak. “Your dad… Alaric… he’s gone, baby. This morning. Peaceful in his sleep, but… he’s gone.”

The wrap slips from my fingers and hits the floor.

I hear myself make this awful sound, like something just died inside me too.

“There’s… there’s more,” she whispers, trying to pull herself together. “Tomorrow is the coronation. Your brothers will take over the pack at dawn. Please, Kachi. Please come home. I know it’s been years. I know you’re hurt. But I need you here. I can’t do this alone.”

My mouth is dry. “They didn’t even tell you to call me, did they?”

Silence.

Then she replied, “No. They don’t know I’m asking.”

Of course they don’t.

I close my eyes and see Dad teaching me how to ride a bike, his huge hands steadying the seat. I see him carrying me on his shoulders at pack festivals. I see him kissing my scraped knees and telling me I was the strongest little girl he’d ever known.

I open my eyes.

“I’ll be there,” I say.

Mom sobs in relief. “Thank you, baby. Thank you.”

I hang up, my hands shaking.

The training yard is empty now. Sun beats down on the sand. I look south, the ocean is glittering, warm and safe then I look north.

Five years ago I ran away with one suitcase and a shattered heart.

Now, I'm going back with a wolf that could tear the Obsidian Ridge Pack House apart brick by brick if I let her.

And four stepbrothers who have no idea what’s coming.

I text Hattie: Hi, I've got family emergency. Taking emergency leave. Will be back in two weeks.

She replies instantly:

Take all the time you need, dear. The door’s always open.

Within the next few hours, I booked the earliest flight to the North..

Kachi’s POV

I hang up the phone and stare at the blank screen. My chest feels tight, like someone punched me right in the heart.

Tears start falling down my face before I even realize it. I wipe them away, but more come. Dad is gone. Alaric. The man who raised me, who loved me like I was his own blood even though they picked me up..

I didn't get to see his last moments. I wasn't there to hold his hand or say goodbye. The thought twists inside me, making me sob quietly in the empty training yard.

I think about my stepbrothers—Rowan, Theo, Soren, Cassian. They must be hurting too. Alaric was their real dad, the alpha they looked up to.

They grew up with him every day, learning how to lead the pack. I know grief hits hard in a wolf family.

Part of me wonders if they're falling apart right now. But another part remembers how they treated me five years ago. The rejection, the silence. Still, I have to go back. I have to face it all. For Mom. For Dad's memory. I can't hide in the south forever.

I stand up, grab my dropped wrist wrap, and head to my dorm. My hands still shake as I pack a bag. Clothes, toiletries, a few weapons just in case—old habits from training.

I call Noah, my boyfriend from the academy. We've been together for two years now. He's a strong wolf shifter, and he teaches beginner combat classes. I told Mom about him during our video calls. She always asks if he's treating me right.

"Noah," I say when he picks up. "I need you."

"What's wrong?" His voice is alert, concerned.

"Dad died. I'm going north. Flight leaves in a few hours."

He doesn't hesitate. "I'm coming with you. No arguments."

I nod even though he can't see. "Okay. Meet me at the airport."

We hang up. I feel a little less alone knowing he's coming. Noah knows my story—the runaway, the hurt. He's never pushed me to go back, but now it's time.

***

The flight is long and quiet. Noah holds my hand the whole way. I stare out the window at the clouds, thinking about Dad's laugh and the stories he usually tells me. By the time we land in the north, it's early morning. The air is cold and biting, nothing like the warm south.

We rent a car and drive to the Obsidian Ridge Pack border. I've already texted my friend Ivy who was the gamma's daughter and she texted me back that she'd meet us there.

Pack rules definitely—outsiders need escorts.

In a few minutes, I see her car waiting at the checkpoint. Ivy steps out, her gamma wolf energy calm and steady. She's still the same, short brown hair and her kind eyes. We hug tight, like no time has passed.

"Dikachi," she says my full name, pulling back. "You look strong and different."

"You too," I reply. "Thanks for coming."

She glances at Noah, who's standing behind me with our bags. "This him?"

I nod. "Noah, Ivy. Ivy, Noah." I introduce to eachother..

They shake hands. Ivy smiles. "Heard about you. Good to meet the guy who makes her happy all these while."

Noah grins. "All I can do."

We get in her car. I sit upfront with Ivy, Noah in the back. The drive into pack territory starts. Trees line the road, thick and dark. The familiar scent of pine and earth hits me. My wolf stirs inside, alert, pacing.

"How's Mom?" I ask. "Is she okay?"

Ivy grips the wheel. "Luna Evelyn's holding up, but she's weak. Been in bed since it happened. Crying a lot. The funeral prep is tomorrow after the coronation."

"And my brothers?" I say, my voice steady but my heart speeding up. "Rowan, Theo, Soren, Cassian? All of them"

She pauses. "They haven't slept since yesterday. Running the pack stuff, handling everything. Strong, like always."

Their names make me nervous. Memories flood in—the good ones from childhood, the bad ones from that night five years ago. Ivy notices and changes the subject. "So, academy life? I hear you're a big deal now. Youngest instructor?"

I force a smile. "Yeah. Teaching combat. My wolf finally woke up strong."

She nods. "Proud of you."

We drive in silence after that. The pack house comes into view, big stone building, flags at half-mast for Dad. As we pull up, several scents hit me hard. Earthy, musky, powerful. Several different ones mix in the air. My wolf gets restless, whining inside my head. Pacing faster. I don't understand why. It's like she's sensing something big.

I shake it off. "Let's go see Mom."

Ivy parks steadily. We grab our bags and head inside. The house is quiet, too quiet for a pack in mourning. A few wolves nod at me, their eyes curious. I ignore them and go straight to Mom's room. She's lying in bed, pale, eyes red from crying.

When she sees me, she sits up."Kachi," she whispers.

I rush over and hug her. She holds me tight, sobbing into my shoulder. I feel tears prick my eyes again. "Mom. I'm here."

She pulls back, touching my face. "You came. Thank you. We've missed you. Your brothers... they really missed you."

I stiffen. "Did they? I doubt that. They never called. Not once in five years."

She sighs. "They're proud, stubborn. But I know they did. The pack needs you now."

I don't argue. Not today. "This is Noah," I say, waving him over. "I told you about him."

Mom looks at him, smiles weakly. "The one from the south? Come here."

Noah steps forward, takes her hand gently. "Sorry for your loss, Luna Evelyn. Kachi speaks highly of you."

Mom nods. "Take care of her. She's special."

"I will," he says.

We talk for a bit. Mom tells me about Dad's last days—peaceful, no pain. He talked about me often, she says he wondered if I was okay. It hurts to hear. I hold her hand, listening. Noah stands by the door, giving us space.

Then, I hear footsteps in the hall. Heavy, multiple. My wolf goes wild inside, howling. Scents flood the room, the best four I've ever smelled since I walked in her. Pine and storm, leather and fire, ocean and earth, smoke and wood. They wrap around me, making my skin tingle.

My heart pounds because I recognise those scents.

It was unmistakable and familiar.

I look up as the door opens. There they are. Rowan, the oldest, tall with dark hair and alpha presence. Theo standing next was lean and sharp-eyed. Soren, broad-shouldered and intense. Cassian, the youngest, with that scar on his jaw from an old fight.

Our eyes lock. Something snaps inside me, pulling me from deep inside. It hits like a wave. My wolf screams it.

They growl in unison, low and possessive. "Mine."

Kachi's POV

The word echoes through the room, a strike to my chest.

‘Mine.’ What the actual fuck?

My wolf surges forward instantly, filling my head with heat and urgency. She wants to answer them. She wants to move closer, to claim, to accept it but I force her down with everything I have.

I have spent years learning control, and I refuse to lose it now, not in front of them, not after everything.

Rowan is the first to break the stillness.

He walks toward me slowly. His eyes stay locked on mine, intense, filled with something that makes my stomach twist.

He lifts his hand to touch me but I step back immediately.

“Don’t,” I say, my voice sharp and steady even though my chest feels like it’s caving in.

Rowan stops, his hand dropping to his side. His jaw tightens, and I see frustration flicker across his face. “Kachi, please—”

Before he can finish, everything behind me explodes into chaos.

Theo and Cassian move at the same time, fast and aggressive towards Noah.

Noah grunts in surprise before Theo shoves him hard in the chest. Cassian adds force without hesitation and Noah stumbles back, losing his balance as he hits the floor with a hard sound that makes my heart jump.

“Noah!” I shout, spinning around.

Something snaps inside me.

Anger floods my body uncontrollably. I rush toward them without thinking, stepping between Noah and my stepbrothers.

“What is wrong with you?” I yell. “Don’t you ever touch him again.”

Theo stands over Noah, his shoulders tense, his eyes glowing faintly with his wolf pushing close to the surface. Cassian’s presence is just as heavy, filling the room with pressure that makes it hard to breathe.

“Stay away from her,” Theo growls, his voice low and threatening.

Cassian doesn’t look at Noah at all. His gaze stays fixed on me. “You don’t belong near her.”

Noah pushes himself up, anger flashing across his face despite the pain. “She’s my girlfriend,” he snaps back. “You don’t get to decide who she stands with.”

Rowan turns sharply toward him, and whatever calm he had left disappears.

He steps closer, his voice dropping into something dark and possessive. “You will stay away from Kachi,” he says slowly, clearly. “From now on.”

The force behind his words hits me too, not just Noah. My wolf reacts instantly, howling in my head, trying to answer him, trying to move toward him. I clamp down harder, my nails digging into my palms.

I step forward, placing myself fully between them.

“Stop it,” I say, my voice shaking with anger now. “All of you. Right now.”

Soren still hasn’t moved from his place near the wall. He’s watching everything like this is a scene playing out exactly how he expected it to.

His arms are crossed, his expression unreadable, which somehow makes me angrier than if he were shouting.

I turn toward him. “Do you find this entertaining?” I ask sharply.

His eyes flick to mine. “No,” he answers calmly. “I think this was always going to happen.”

I stare at him in disbelief. “You all don’t get to decide what happens to my life anymore” I say, looking at them one after the other.

The air in the room feels thick, crowded with too many emotions, and too much history. My heart is racing, and my thoughts are spiraling faster than I can control.

This doesn’t make sense. None of it does.

Five years ago comes crashing back into my mind without mercy. The ballroom lights. The cheers. Selene standing between them. Their words cutting me down piece by piece. The way they dismissed me like I was nothing important.

And now they stand here claiming me?

“You’re my stepbrothers,” I say, my voice breaking despite my effort to stay calm. “You stood in front of the entire pack and chose Selene. You made that choice. You don’t get to act like this is some kind of mistake now.”

Rowan’s expression tightens, pain flickering across his face. “We didn’t know,” he says quietly.

I let out a bitter laugh. “You didn’t know? Then why did you know enough not to care about me all these while?”

Theo looks away, his jaw clenched.

Cassian’s fists tighten at his sides.

Soren’s eyes darken.

“That night,” Rowan continues carefully, “we believed the bond was with Selene. She was awakened. Strong. She fit everything we thought we needed. We assumed—”

“You assumed I wasn’t enough,” I interrupt.

Silence falls heavily between us. Before anyone can say another word, the door opens.

“Kachi.”

My mother’s voice cuts through the tension like a command.

Luna Evelyn stands in the doorway, looking exhausted but strong. Her eyes scan the room in seconds, taking in Noah on the floor, my rigid posture, my brothers’ barely restrained wolves.

Her scent shifts instantly, sharp and authoritative.

“That’s enough,” she says firmly.

Everyone freezes. She looks at me first, concern filling her eyes. “Sweetheart, come here.”

I swallow hard. “I want to see Dad,” I say quietly. “I want to go to his grave. Alone.”

She nods without hesitation. “Of course.”

Then she turns to my brothers, her gaze hardening. “None of you will follow her.”

They hesitate for a fraction of a second.

Her voice drops, leaving no room for argument. “That was not a request.”

I don’t wait any longer. I turn and walk out before the tears can fall, before my control shatters completely.

The walk to the cemetery feels endless.

The pack lands are silent, flags hanging low in mourning. The familiar scents of earth press in around me, stirring memories I have tried to bury. Each step makes my chest ache more.

When I reach Dad’s grave, my knees give out.

I drop down in front of the stone, my hands shaking as I touch his name carved into it.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I should have come back.”

Tears spill freely now, soaking into the ground beneath me. “I did everything you wanted me to do. I became strong. I survived. I built a life.”

My voice cracks. “But I wasn’t here when you needed me.”

“Kachi.”

My entire body freezes at that voice..

I know that voice. I would recognize it anywhere, no matter how many years pass.

Slowly, I stand and turn. Selene stands a few steps behind me.

She looks older, more confident, but she hasn’t changed nearly as much as I have. Her eyes are the same, smart as always..

Nick stands beside her. Nick, the beta. My stepbrothers’ best friend. The one who used to treat me like the perfect younger sister when my Stepbrothers used to bully me..

My stomach twists painfully.“What are you doing here?” I ask flatly.

Selene offers a careful smile. “Paying our respects.”

I don’t respond.

Nick clears his throat. “We didn’t know you’d be here. We can leave.”

“No,” Selene says quietly. “It’s fine.”

She looks at me again. “I’m sorry about Alaric.”

“Don’t pretend around me, Selene,” I reply coldly.

Her smile fades. “I know you hate me.”

“Hate takes effort,” I say. “I don’t feel anything for you.”

It’s not entirely true, but I won’t give her the satisfaction of knowing that.

She glances at Nick, then back at me. “A lot has changed.”

“I noticed,” I say. “I guess you’re not with my brothers anymore.”

Her lips press together then she lifts her chin. “Nick and I are marked.”

Nick stiffens slightly, but he doesn’t deny it.

I look at the faint mark on his neck and nod once. “Congratulations.”

Selene studies me. “You don’t seem surprised.”

“I stopped being surprised by betrayal years ago.”

Nick steps forward. “Kachi, it wasn’t—”

“I don’t care,” I interrupt. “Who you’re with has nothing to do with me Selene”

Selene’s eyes narrow. “Then why did you react like that with earlier with your brothers, I saw that you kmow?”

I step closer, my voice low. “Stay out of my head.”

She holds my gaze. “You can deny it all you want. That bond is real.”

“Maybe,” I say coldly. “But so is the damage you helped cause.” I warned and continued “I didn't come back here for a mere bond and I won't be staying for long, it's easy, I can reject whomever I want to Selene and—” I paused and looked past her towards Nick” Perhaps I could claim Nick right here instead”

Kachi’s POV

I stood frozen after my last words, my chest rising and falling too fast as the silence stretched between Selene and me. I had not really meant what I said about Nick, but I needed her to understand that she no longer had control over my reactions, my feelings, or my life.

I was no longer the girl who stood quietly in corners while others made choices over her head.

Selene looked shaken, but she covered it quickly. She turned toward the grave and knelt down, placing the flowers carefully in front of the stone. Her movements were deliberate like she was giving herself time to think before speaking again.

“I never meant for things to turn out the way they did,” she said quietly. “None of us did.”

I let out a sharp laugh, unable to stop myself. “That’s funny,” I replied. “Because it looked very intentional from where I was standing. My brothers stood in front of the entire pack and declared you as their partner. That wasn’t confusion. That was a choice you all agreed to.”

She rose to her feet and turned toward me again. “You’re right. It was a choice,” she admitted. “But it was made with the wrong information.”

That made my anger flare even hotter. “Wrong information?” I snapped. “So what was I then? A mistake? Something you all played with until you found what you wanted?”

Nick shifted uncomfortably beside her, clearly wanting to speak, but Selene raised a hand to stop him.

“I didn’t know,” she said firmly. “I was told the bond awakened in me. I believed it because I wanted to believe it. Because I loved them.”

Her honesty surprised me, and it made my chest ache in a way I didn’t expect.

“And what about me?” I demanded. “Did you ever stop to think about me? We shared everything, Selene. A room. Secrets. Dreams. You knew how I felt about them then didn't you?”

Her face softened, and for the first time since she appeared, she looked genuinely remorseful. “I know,” she said. “And that’s something I will always regret.”

Before I could respond, she stepped forward suddenly and wrapped her arms around me. I stiffened in shock, my hands hanging uselessly at my sides.

“What are you doing?” I asked sharply.

She pulled back just enough to look at me, a small, sad smile on her face. “Saying goodbye to the past,” she said. “And reminding you of the truth.”

“What truth?” I asked.

“That you were never replaced,” Selene said calmly. “You were always meant to be their future Luna. That never changed, not even for a second. Whatever happened back then doesn’t erase what was always bound to happen”

I pulled away from her then, my emotions too tangled to untangle right there by my father’s grave. “I don’t trust easily anymore,” I told her. “And I won’t forgive easily either.”

“I don’t expect you to,” she replied. “But I needed you to know that I never wanted your place. I never took it.”

Nick finally spoke, his voice low and careful. “We should go.”

Selene nodded and took a step back. “Take care of yourself, Kachi,” she said. “Whatever you choose, choose it for you.”

I watched them walk away, my thoughts racing long after they disappeared from sight. Nothing felt clearer than before. If anything, it seemed like everyone here was keeping secrets they don't want me to know.

By the time I returned home, exhaustion clung to me like a weight I couldn’t shake off. The house felt quieter without my father’s presence, the walls still holding echoes of his voice and laughter.

I found Luna Evelyn in her chambers, resting on the bed. She looked tired, but when she saw me, her eyes softened.

“You shouldn’t be moving around so much,” I said gently as I sat beside her.

She smiled faintly and reached for my hand. “I needed to see you,” she said. “So much has happened, and I haven’t had the chance to talk to you properly.”

I squeezed her hand. “I’m here.”

She studied my face closely, like she was memorizing every detail. “I never imagined this,” she said slowly. “I never imagined that you would be the partner of my sons.”

I frowned slightly. “They’re my brothers,” I replied. “Nothing about this makes sense to me.”

She nodded, understanding clear in her eyes. “I know. And I know you’re hurting. There are things you don’t know yet, things that should have been explained a long time ago.”

“Then why weren’t they?” I asked quietly.

She looked away for a moment. “Because your father believed waiting would protect you. And because the boys believed they were doing what was best for the pack.”

I let out a slow breath. “And now?”

“Now,” she said, turning back to me, “your father is gone, and the truth can no longer be avoided.”

She squeezed my hand gently. “They will take over as Alphas soon. The pack needs stability, and they need someone who understands both strength and compassion.”

I stiffened. “You want my help.”

“Yes,” she admitted. “I do. But only if you choose it.”

I stayed quiet for a long moment. Helping them felt like reopening wounds I wasn’t sure had healed properly. But I also knew the pack mattered to me, even if I tried to deny it.

“I’ll help with the succession,” I finally said. “I’ll make sure everything goes smoothly. But after that, I will leave and go back to the south, I want my own life. Away from all of this Mom”

She nodded immediately. “That’s fair. And I promise, no one will stop you.”

After she rested again, I left her chambers, my mind already set on what I needed to do next. If I was going to help with the ceremony, I needed to speak to them directly.

Walking toward the council hall felt like walking into a storm I couldn’t avoid. Every step made my nerves tighten. Being alone with the four of them was not something I was ready for, but I refused to let fear control me.

When I entered the room, all four of them were already there.

Rowan stood near the table, his posture tense. Theo leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Cassian sat on the edge of a chair, jaw tight. Soren stood slightly apart from the rest, his eyes sharp and observant.

The moment they saw me, their expression changed to surprise..

“Kachi,” Rowan said, his voice low.

“I’m here to talk about the succession ceremony,” I said, keeping my tone calm. “Nothing else.”

Theo pushed himself off the wall. “You shouldn’t be standing alone in a room with us,” he said. “Not after—”

“After what?” I cut in. “After you claimed something you had no right to claim?”

Silence followed my words as they tumble out of my lips..

Cassian stood up slowly. “We didn’t mean to hurt you,” he said. “None of us did.”

“But you did,” I replied.

Rowan took a step closer, his voice strained. “There are things you don’t know about that night,” he said. “Things that explain why everything happened the way it did.”

My heart skipped, anger and curiosity colliding.

The room felt too small, the tension pressing in from all sides.

My wolf stirred restlessly, reacting to their closeness, their scents, their voices. I forced her down again, refusing to give in.

“I’ll help with the ceremony,” I said firmly. “I’ll stand beside you in front of the pack. I’ll do what needs to be done. But don’t mistake that for forgiveness.”

Rowan nodded slowly. “We’ll take whatever you’re willing to give.”

I turned toward the door, needing air, space, anything that wasn’t them.

As my hand touched the handle, Rowan’s voice stopped me.

“Kachi,” he said. “We cannot afford to tell you the truth because it was our father's last wish from us before he died.”