

Unchained Luna Queen
After years of relentless training, Gina Flanders wins the prestigious Healers' Competition, only to have her victory stolen by her twin sister Sasha. What neither knows is this competition secretly selects the Alpha King's future Luna Queen—a position Sasha eagerly claims. Branded a cheater and facing banishment under pack law as her 25th birthday approaches, Gina makes a desperate bargain: she'll take Sasha's place as the mate to the rumored monster Alpha King Leonard Muller, a wolf said to be hideous, bloodthirsty, and treat women as breeding machines. Betrayed by her family and abandoned by her Beta fiancé Timothy, who marks Sasha instead, Gina must navigate a court of secrets where nothing is as it seems. As the true chosen Luna, she'll discover the Alpha King's hidden truth and unleash powers that will either destroy her or make her unstoppable.Chapter 1 Chapter 1
As soon as I was done speaking, the entire living room went silent. My father, who was about to speak, froze in shock, his mouth agape. My mother trembled all over as her shrill scream cut through the air. "Gina Flanders, are you insane? Everyone knows Leonard is a murderous fiend! He's a philanderer! Being claimed by him is no different from a death sentence!" Dad raised a hand to stop her. In a soft voice, he said, "But… Timothy Newsom has already marked Sasha." This meant that if I refused this engagement again, I would surely anger Leonard Muller—the Alpha King. Mom stood stunned for a brief moment, then staggered backward. She looked at me with pity in her eyes but said nothing. The silence was far crueler than any curses she could throw at me. A chill spread through me. I was their daughter, too. Yet my sister, Sasha Flanders, had always received the love and adoration that I never once had. I let out a bitter laugh. "Fine. I'll become Leonard's mate. However, Sasha must admit in public that she stole my identity, took what was mine, and apologize.""Gina!" Dad shouted, his eyes blazing. "Don't you know how much her reputation means to her? Do you really want to destroy our family?" Mom held his hand, steadying him. She refused to glance at me. It was as if I were nothing but a burden to them. My chest burned wth anger and despair. I gripped the doorframe tightly, almost sinking my fingernails into the frame. "You can only pick one—me, or Sasha." They exchanged a look, then stared at me with resentment in their eyes. It was an answer I had expected—they had decided to sacrifice me instead. I lowered my head, turned quickly, and walked away before they could see my reddened eyes. It was the last shred of dignity that I had left. But just as I stepped out, I ran straight into Timothy, who came out of Sasha's room. His shirt was unbuttoned, and the collar was wide open. It exposed his skin, which was filled with fresh, red marks. There was also the cloyingly sweet scent on him that belonged to Sasha. I stumbled back, covering my nose immediately. But Timothy reached out and pulled me into his arms, explaining in a hurry. "Gina, it's not what you think. Sasha can't be forced to mate with that tyrannical Alpha King who treats she-wolves like a breeding machine. As long as I've marked her, he won't want her anymore! I'm only trying to help her!" My ears buzzed as my vision began to go black at the edges. "What about me?" I mumbled. My parents' words hadn't drawn a tear from me, but right now, they spilled over uncontrollably. "Timothy, what do you take me for?" Back in school, we'd sworn to each other that the day after our coming-of-age, we'd become mates. However, Sasha complained, "If you two get bonded, there won't be anyone to play with me." Because of her complaint, Timothy repeatedly delayed the bonding ceremony. And now, he had marked Sasha—shoving me straight into the abyss with his own hands. At this point, I could either marry a penniless, impotent Rogue… or marry the cruel and ugly Alpha King. Was there even a choice? Timothy tightened his grip, guilt flashing across his face. "I won't let you marry one of those Rogues! Listen to me—you can stay by my side as a servant. Servants are injected with birth suppressants. If you can't bear pups, then the Alpha King won't want you anymore!" His gaze was steady, and his tone turned gentle. "Gina, trust me. Even if you become a servant, I'll treat you the same as always. To me, you'll be no different from Sasha." I froze on the spot from the shock. A servant—that was the lowest, most degrading status imaginable. He wanted me to inject something that would not only strip away my ability to have pups, but also wreck my body beyond repair? I stopped struggling and stared into his face with lifeless eyes. My voice was flat as I said slowly, "Timothy Newsom, is this… really what you think of me?""You don't want to?" His brows furrowed, and his expression turned gloomy. He gripped my chin and said, "I promise to give you the same status as Sasha. What more do you want? Or is it that you no longer love me and don't want to stay with me?" I tried to curve my lips into a smile, but it crumbled halfway. "Then why don't you let Sasha be the servant? Why not give her the injection instead? It would work just the same." He countered without hesitation, "Sasha has always been frail. How could she endure that? Gina, she's your sister! Don't you have any compassion at all?" I could hear my own voice crack through my choked response. "But I… I'm your fiancee." Ever since my delicate little sister Sasha had been lost and then miraculously found, I had always been yielding to her. When she was sick, when she cried, or when she was unhappy—I had to yield. For countless times, I handed over love, honor, and titles I had won over to her. And now, even my fiance was going to her. Indignant, Timothy released me. "I would never hurt you. Think it over. I'll bring you the suppressant injection in a few days. It's the best choice you have." When he left, I slumped against the wall. After forcing myself downstairs, I saw the living room overflowing with gifts from the Alpha King's personal guards. They were piled up like a mountain. At the very center was a blazing bouquet of red roses. And in that moment, I felt the irony pierce my chest. Even the arrogant Alpha King had bothered to send roses to the fiancee he had never even met. Yet Timothy, the werewolf I had loved for years, was going to send me an injection that would strip me of my dignity. Perhaps… marrying Leonard wasn't the worst thing after all.
Chapter 2 Chapter 2
The next day, I went to the most luxurious gift shop in the city. I planned to return the courtesy and choose a present for Leonard. I knew that he, as the Alpha King, was already unimaginably wealthy. My small token of appreciation would mean nothing to him. But I figured that even an Alpha King wouldn't want to feel ignored by his own betrothed, would he? Crystal chandeliers glittered overhead, and the jewel counters gleamed with treasures worth a fortune. The staff eagerly displayed jeweled necklaces and rare timepieces, but my mind drifted elsewhere. I still couldn't tell if I had made the right choice. But then I reminded myself—at the very least, Leonard would protect his Luna Queen instead of chaining her down like a servant. Just as I reached toward a pocket watch, the shop's door creaked open. A sharp, mocking voice split the air. "Gina, what are you doing here?" Sasha strolled in as if she owned the place. She clung to Timothy's arm, her eyes gleaming with cruel delight. "You claim you don't want to be Timothy's servant, yet here you are, secretly preparing a birthday gift for him. What a two-faced act. Unlike me, who'd never go saying one thing and doing another behind others' backs like some scheming scoundrel." It was then that it hit me—Timothy's birthday was just a few days away. So they thought I was here to get him a gift to patch things up between us? Timothy's arrogant gaze swept over me. "So that's it. I thought you'd finally grown a spine, ready to marry another wolf. But here you are, crawling back to me, aren't you? Did you finally realize that I'm the only one you can go to? "But aren't you forgetting something? This shop's custom orders take at least two weeks from design to delivery. Don't you think it's a little too late to shop now?" I forced down the rising storm inside me and cut him off. "This gift is for my fiance. It has nothing to do with you." Timothy sighed, as if genuinely worried for me. "Stop lying to yourself, Gina. You're 25. Do you really want to end up with some impotent Rogue? Or are you still dreaming that marrying Leonard will give you a better life? If you keep acting tough in front of me like this, you'd lose even the chance to be my servant." Sasha's eyes gleamed as she chimed in sweetly at just the right moment. "Timothy, the healer's hut is right next door. I can't bear the thought of Gina marrying some filthy, stinking Rogue. Let's give her the servant injection now. One shot might not be enough. We might have to give her several." Before I could speak, Timothy coughed lightly, and the guards behind him stepped forward, seizing both my arms. "No!" I thrashed against them, terror flooding through me. Timothy ignored my struggles, stroking Sasha's hair affectionately. "Sasha is right. Someday, you'll thank her for this." Then, he turned and gave a nod to the guards. "Take her away." They dragged me like a criminal out of the shop. My heels screeched against the polished marble floor, the sharp sound echoing in the hush as the staff and customers stared, too afraid to intervene. The healer's hut reeked of disinfectant. Its dim lights cast shadows over the hulking medical machines humming in the corners. The healer at the counter looked up, and his expression instantly shifted to a fawning one. "Mr. Newsom! The birth suppressant injection for servants you wanted is ready." A muffled scream came from behind a closed treatment room door. Upon hearing that, I felt my stomach twist into a knot. Sasha sighed in feigned concern. "Gina, I don't want you to suffer. So, after discussing with Timothy, we picked the mildest formula for you." She lifted the syringe. It was as thick as a finger, filled with a swirling pink solution. The long silver needle glinted under the room's light. "Of course, a milder formula means that it'll take several injections instead. But don't you worry, I'll administer them myself. I'll be gentle. You won't feel a thing," she cooed. The needle came closer, inch by inch. I knew if I didn't act now, this drug would ruin my body forever. While summoning every ounce of strength in me, I struggled along with my wolf. Finally, I broke free from the guards' grip. When I lunged away, there was still some distance between me and Sasha. Despite that, she suddenly staggered back as if shoved, falling theatrically into Timothy's arms. The syringe clattered to the floor, and a droplet fell off the tip of the needle. Sasha gasped, clutching her hand as tears welled in her eyes. "I was only trying to help… but she attacked me! Timothy, what if the drug touched me? What if something happens to me?" she whimpered. "Who told you to release Gina?" Timothy roared, his face twisted with fury. He cradled Sasha protectively, murmuring reassurances, then barked an order to the guards. One of them—a hulking brute—strode over to me. A loud, resounding slap echoed in the room. The blow snapped my head sideways. My ears rang, and my vision blurred. Slowly, I lifted my gaze to Timothy, but the werewolf I once loved was gone. In his place stood a stranger—cold, merciless, a devil incarnate. "You crazy bitch!" he spat, his voice heavy with disappointment. "Sasha spoke up for your sake, and this is how you repay her?" The guard slammed me down, pinning me against the icy floor. My cheek hovered inches from the ground. The syringe lay before my eyes, the needle gleaming like a blade sharp enough to pierce my soul. Above me, Timothy's voice cut through the air, cold and commanding. "Apologize to Sasha. Right now!"
Chapter 3 Chapter 3
The dust on the floor choked me into a fit of coughing, but it later turned into laughter. Timothy's voice sharpened with sudden alarm, almost panicked as he asked, "What are you laughing at?" I was laughing at myself and my foolish belief that yielding could buy peace. Instead, all it had brought me was ruin. Sasha, with her clumsy victim act, had fooled everyone time and time again. As for me? No one cared if I was innocent or not. My eyes burned, but no tears fell. I clenched my jaw, lifted my head, and glared at Timothy. "I did nothing wrong. I won't apologize," I said defiantly. His gaze narrowed. His breath caught as he took in my stubbornness. For a fleeting second, there was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. But just then, Sasha pressed a hand to her stomach and whimpered, "Timothy, I don't feel well…" That flicker of pity in his eyes vanished instantly. He gathered her into his arms without hesitation and pulled a small bottle from his pocket. The sight of it sent a chill down my spine, and I felt my heart clench in pain. Inside that bottle were pills made from my blood. I remembered the sting of needles piercing my veins, the weakness so severe I couldn't sit up in bed, and the despair of near collapse from back then. It was because my blood was rich with pure energy. For the sake of "nourishing" Sasha's frail body, Timothy and my parents forced me to give them my blood as an ingredient for the pills repeatedly. One time, it got so bad that I had nearly gone into shock from blood loss. It was no different than trading my life for hers. But no one cared. They only said it was my fault she had once gone missing, and that giving her my blood was what I owed. Now, after swallowing those crimson pills, Sasha dared to lick her lips at me in provocation, then faint dramatically back into Timothy's embrace. As he looked at her "fragile" form, Timothy's eyes filled with anguish—for her. He turned to me, his face twisted with disgust. "Apologize. Don't make this uglier than it has to be. If Sasha forgives you, you and I can still be together." I shook my head. "No way." In two days, I would be marrying the Alpha King in Sasha's place. Just then, chaos erupted from a nearby ward. The door burst open, and a wild-eyed, berserk wolf lunged straight at us. Timothy yanked Sasha back, ordering the guards forward to shield them. I was shoved roughly aside. My legs, already weak from kneeling too long, were like jelly. I couldn't get up. The mad wolf sprang at me, jaws gaping to tear me apart. In my despair, I squeezed my eyes shut. But the pain never came. A sickening crack split the air, and the crazed wolf fell at my feet. Meanwhile, I was lifted into the arms of a stranger. He wore a mask that covered half his face, and in his eyes glowed a blood-red light that made me think of Leonard's bouquet of scarlet roses. In the silence, he carried me out of the healer's hut. On the crowded streets, he pressed my face against his chest, shielding me from the gawking eyes of strangers and protecting me from shame. He placed me on a bench. By the time I gathered myself enough to speak, he was gone, leaving only a small box of ointment resting on my lap. At the far end of the street, I saw Timothy cradling Sasha as he climbed into a car. He never once looked for me, leaving me behind without any hesitation. I no longer hoped for even a shred of his care. That evening, I returned home and burned the custom suit I had once prepared for him—his ceremonial mate's attire. I watched it turn to ash. … Two days later, I stood in a tailored gown delivered by the Alpha King's personal guards. It had moonstone glittering across its fabric. Cart after cart of priceless betrothal gifts filled our home. The sight of it left me dazed. My parents approached, stammering hesitantly as they asked me not to expose the truth of Sasha stealing my place. "She's your sister, after all. Can you not ruin her future over one mistake? For the sake of our family's harmony, please just let this go." I stared at them quietly, then answered softly, "No." Until now, I had still clung to some illusion of familial love. Throughout the entire preparation of my bonding ceremony, my parents had been absent. As I settled the tedious arrangements all on my own, I told myself that they might have been busy finding a way to save me. Alas, that wasn't the case. They were only here now to beg for Sasha's sake. "If you don't want her to admit that she impersonated my identity, would you rather I run away from this marriage instead? What do you think the Alpha King would do if I humiliated him like that? Would he spare our family?" Their faces twisted with fury. "You—" Before they could continue, noises erupted downstairs, cutting them off. I lifted the hem of my gown and went down. There, I saw Timothy in the center of the living room, with the syringe in his hand. He was still as arrogant as ever. "Gina Flanders…" he drawled. "After today, you're left with no choice but to go with some impotent Rogue. However, if you bow your head right here and apologize to Sasha, I might still be merciful and allow you to become my servant." My heart skipped a beat. Timothy still hadn't given up. He wanted me broken and stripped of every shred of dignity. His gaze fell on my gown, and his expression froze before twisting into a sneer. His voice rose as he said, "Wearing a wedding gown to play pretend now, I see. Everyone knows you belong to me. Who else would take you now? Is this your trick to make me jealous?" I straightened my back and met his eyes with an icy calm. "Timothy, this is my bonding ceremony. I don't recall inviting you." His expression darkened. "Don't test my limits, Gina. I'll spare you the humiliation of bowing in front of everyone. Just lower your head, apologize, and this ends here. Otherwise, I'll administer the injection right now and save you from your delusions." He snapped his fingers, and guards swarmed me. They tore at my gown, shoving and striking me. I curled in on myself, shielding my chest, swallowing the scream clawing up my throat. "Timothy Newsom… I told you… Today is my bonding ceremony! You will regret this!" I shouted. Agony burned through me. At last, my tears burst free, hot and unstoppable, sliding down my cheeks. Shame, rage, heartbreak—everything bled into that trail of tears. Then, I heard footsteps thundering from the doorway. A tall, striking man appeared, flanked by the Alpha King's personal guards. In an instant, the wolves holding me were kicked aside and pinned to the floor. He lifted me gently to my feet, his scarlet eyes blazing with lethal fury. "My Luna Queen, tell me—who dared to hurt you like this?"
