In my last life, after Lucian inherited the throne, he did something that set the entire Kingdom of Vislan talking.
He named Celeste Arden his one and only Luna Queen, then installed me in the south wing of the royal castle as his “alliance consort,” a title he claimed was equal to hers.
Pack law didn’t recognize two Luna Queens, but Lucian insisted. He swore he would be completely fair to both of us.
He divided his time between us with mathematical precision. The gifts sent to the south and north wings had to be identical.
When Celeste went four years without a child, he used a legal loophole to force me through four consecutive pregnancies, then transferred custody of two of our children to her.
Later, when my brother, Elliot, won a major victory on the border and was promoted to Royal Border Commander, Lucian, worried Celeste might feel slighted, quickly arranged an equivalent honor for her brother.
That brand of “fairness” lasted for ten years.
Until a neighboring kingdom sent a shipment of golden honey peaches. The royal staff, without so much as a word to me, delivered the entire batch to the north wing, where Celeste lived.
My attendant, Maya, was so furious she chased after them and managed to snatch back only two.
I took a bite and tasted nothing.
Her eyes were red. “Elliot had a military transport plane detour specifically to bring these back for you. Why does she get all of them?”
I just shook my head, a wave of exhaustion washing over me.
When I woke again, I was back at the royal mating banquet.
Prince Lucian walked right past me and handed the blue crystal badge of formal betrothal to Celeste. Then, he held out a hand-carved pendant to me.
Thinking of the children torn from my arms, of those two golden honey peaches, I took a step back.
“Thank you, Your Highness. But I already have someone I want to spend my life with. We’ll be engaged soon.”
He Stole My Children I Refused His Crown Chapter 12 He and my father were facing the same charge: treason. Maya’s face went white. “Alpha Marcus and Elliot have always defended the kingdom’s borders. How could they betray the royal family?” I pressed a hand over hers. My fingertips were ice-cold, but
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He Stole My Children I Refused His Crown Chapter 11 “She became pregnant before the betrothal was settled. She deceived the royal family and she deceived both our packs. A woman like that is not qualified to be my alliance consort.” He spoke of Celeste as if he weren’t the man who had met
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He Stole My Children I Refused His Crown Chapter 10 With two princesses, the royal guard, and dozens of phones live-streaming from the corridor, if he kept denying it, he would only confirm everyone’s suspicions: that he, the heir, had fabricated rumors to cover up his own affair. In my last life, he had
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He Stole My Children I Refused His Crown Chapter 09 Lucian’s fists clenched, his anger barely contained. “Willa, humiliating another woman in front of all these people only makes you look vicious. There is nothing inappropriate between Celeste and me.” “Isn’t there?” I walked over to Celeste and seized her wrist.
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He Stole My Children I Refused His Crown Chapter 08 Only then did I step forward. “I came here because someone publicly spread false rumors that I was meeting a lover in secret. I needed to prove, in front of two members of the royal family and all these cameras, that I never entered
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He Stole My Children I Refused His Crown Chapter 07 He straightened his shirt, his usual air of superiority settling back over him. “I mistook her for someone else.” “As for you, Willa—the rumors about you are disgusting. Why aren’t you at the Ironvale residence? Why come to a theater?” “Or were
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He Stole My Children I Refused His Crown Chapter 06 That night, I put on a red dress, a wide-brimmed hat, and a mask. I made sure the people tailing me saw me circle two blocks before slipping through the back door of the Crown Theater. Once word got out, young pack members, noble
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He Stole My Children I Refused His Crown Chapter 05 Maya stormed into my room with pastries from my favorite coffee shop and snatched the pruning shears from my hand. “They’re saying you couldn’t handle the shock and that you’re going to hurt yourself!” I understood their play before she finished her breathless
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He Stole My Children I Refused His Crown Chapter 04 From the sidelines, Maya recounted everything that had happened at the banquet. When she finished, she asked, “Willa already told everyone she’s getting engaged. Where are we supposed to find a fiancé now?” Her words jolted me back to the present, and I
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He Stole My Children I Refused His Crown Chapter 03 A chill late-autumn wind poured through the open terrace doors. Queen Helena’s old illness suddenly flared, and the royal Healer whisked her away to the medical wing. The betrothal announcement was canceled, and the banquet dissolved into a storm of whispers. Maya supported
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