Ashley pov
It was like some sick joke - me on my knees, picking up strands of my own hair from the floor. My beautiful long hair, now chopped up like they were trimming hedges. Just another fun way for them to remind me I wasn't the Alpha's daughter anymore, just another war trophy.
"Well, well, look who's wallowing in self-pity again."
Charlotte's mocking voice made me clench my fists, but I didn't look up. Not because I was afraid - no, I refused to let her see the anger in my eyes. Dad always said a true Alpha never shows weakness to their enemies. Even as a slave, his lessons still ran through my blood.
"The Prince's coronation ceremony is today," Charlotte waved her tablet in my face, her lips curled in a smirk. "Everyone's preparing for the big day, and here you are, looking like something the cat dragged in."
I finally met her gaze, and for a split second, she flinched. She might control my life now, but she couldn't suppress the Alpha aura I was born with. Mom's last gift to me - grace under pressure, no matter what.
"You know what's funny?" Charlotte recovered quickly, her fake smile back in place. "There's a rumor going around. Apparently, our dear Prince still hasn't found his mate. All the eligible females in the Pack are going crazy over it." She gave me a pointed look. "Ironic, isn't it? The once-mighty Ashley Kingston, reduced to serving drinks at the Prince's party."
I turned away and started cleaning up the mess on the floor. Three years ago, a single attack took everything from me - my parents, my Pack, my identity. All I had left was this battered body and the pride I refused to let them break.
"Stop dawdling," Charlotte snapped. "Report to the kitchen. And remember your place - head down, back bent, mouth shut. If you mess up during the ceremony..." She trailed off as shouts erupted outside.
From the window, I watched Pack members rushing around with decorations. The sunlight caught the new ornaments, making them sparkle. Once upon a time, celebrations like this would have been thrown in my honor.
"What are you daydreaming about?" Charlotte's voice cracked like a whip. "Go change! As if your sorry state is worthy of the Prince's sight."
I walked to the corner closet silently. Inside hung a single oversized uniform - their idea of a joke, making me look presentable enough to serve while reminding me of my worthless status.
As I changed, I felt a strange flutter in my chest. Maybe it was Charlotte's comment about the mate, or maybe something else I couldn't quite explain. My wolf, Sam, who'd been dormant for so long, suddenly stirred restlessly.
"Quiet," I told her mentally. "Now's not the time."
But Sam ignored my warning, pacing anxiously in my mind like an animal sensing an approaching storm. I knew this feeling - she always sensed big changes before I did.
I took my position in the corner of the grand hall, balancing a tray of champagne. Charlotte's warnings echoed in my head: "Stay invisible." But my eyes couldn't help wandering around the familiar space.
Three years ago, I'd stood here as a guest. Now the decorations were even more extravagant - golden drapes cascading from the ceiling, crystal chandeliers throwing rainbow lights across the room. Pack elites floated around in designer clothes, reeking of power and privilege.
"The Prince looks especially handsome today," a maid whispered as she passed.
"I heard he's actively searching for his mate," another replied. "Maybe today's the lucky day."
I gripped the tray tighter. These gossips weren't new, but today they hit different. Sam was practically clawing at my insides, sensing something I couldn't. "Stop it," I warned her. "We're just trying to survive here."
Then the hall fell silent.
Heavy footsteps approached. I looked up to see Prince Kaiden walking in, his black suit perfectly tailored, the Pack's golden crest gleaming on his chest. His presence was overwhelming - everyone instinctively lowered their heads.
That's when everything changed.
Our eyes met as he passed, and the world stopped spinning. A powerful force surged through my blood as Sam howled with joy inside me. No... this couldn't be happening!
Kaiden froze too. His pupils dilated, shock and disbelief crossing his face. He felt it too - the unmistakable mate bond.
Then his expression turned to ice.
"I, Alpha Prince Kaiden," his voice rang through the silent hall, "reject you, Ashley Kingston, as my mate and future Luna."
Glass shattered. My tray had slipped from my hands, champagne spreading across the floor like my shattered dreams.
"A slave could never understand my world of rule," he continued, his voice hard with authority. "You have no place by my side. I never want to see you in my territory again. From this moment forward, I declare Ashley Kingston a rogue."
Rogue - a fate worse than death. No Pack protection, just a target for anyone to hunt.
