Reborn as the Alpha King's Queen, Goodbye Ex

I loved Alpha James for ten years.

But at his twenty-eighth birthday gala, I watched him announce that he had found his Fated Mate, Sophia.

He mocked my devotion. Me, his adopted sister.

Sophia staged a fall down the stairs. In retaliation, James whipped me with a silver-laced whip and locked my heavily wounded body in the basement.

He looked at me with pure disgust. "You are so malicious. Who could ever love someone like you?"

In the end, I died a miserable death in that cold, dark basement.

Reborn into a new life, I stood before my mother and said with absolute resolve, "I will marry the Alpha King."

Alpha King Alexander Blackwood, the madman rumored to have killed his three previous fiances.

Emily Carter POV

At the twenty-eighth birthday gala of Alpha James of the Moonhowl Pack, he gave me a massive "surprise."

In front of all the guests, he led Sophia Langley onto the stage and took the microphone.

"To mark this special day, I have an announcement. I have found my Fated Mate. She is Sophia of the Ironclaw Pack. Furthermore, starting tomorrow, Sophia will take full control of the Moonhowl Pack's core project, the development of the Silver-Purge Salve."

Instantly, the entire banquet hall fell dead silent.

Every single gaze stabbed into me like a knife.

Emily Carter.

My parents were brave werewolf warriors who died protecting the Elder Alpha and Elder Luna.

After their sacrifice, the Elder Alpha adopted me. I became James's sister in name.

I was ten that year.

Since then, everyone in the pack knew that James had a loyal shadow.

Eventually, I fell in love with James.

Because I had never awakened my own wolf, I threw myself into studying herbal medicine to prove I was worthy of him.

The "Silver-Purge Salve" project was my life's work. I had spent three long years, pulled countless all-nighters, and poured my blood, sweat, and tears into inventing it for the Moonhowl Pack.

Now, with one casual sentence, he handed my hard-won creation to his Fated Mate on a silver platter.

Everyone held their breath. They were waiting for me to lose my mind. They expected me to charge the stage like a madwoman, rip Sophia's hair out, and make a complete fool of myself.

After all, everyone knew how crazily I loved James.

Since I declared my love for him at twelve, I had spent ten years keeping every other woman away from him.

Any woman who tried to crawl into his bed was ruthlessly thrown out.

But this time, I didn't react.

I simply put down my wine glass, took a pre-prepared file and a velvet gift box from my bag, and walked up to the stage in my high heels.

I pushed the documents and the box toward them.

"Congratulations. Happy birthday. This file contains all the core data and formulas for the Silver-Purge Salve project, Luna Sophia."

The velvet box popped open, revealing a priceless vintage Patek Philippe watch. I had saved up for five years to buy it at an auction.

The moment I said "Luna Sophia," James's hand froze mid-air.

He lifted his gaze, his dark, piercing eyes locking onto me, trying to drill a hole through my face.

After analyzing me for half a minute, his brows furrowed, and he let out a cold sneer.

"Emily, what kind of game are you playing now?"

His tone was dripping with mockery and suspicion.

I stared at the face I had adored for a decade.

He had sharp, defined brows and eyes like stars. His jawline was cold and chiseled. I used to love this face so much that I would have gladly died for him.

But now, my heart was a pool of dead water.

"I'm not playing games."

I lowered my eyes.

"I genuinely wish you both the best. Since you've found your Fated Mate, I'll pack my things and move out of the Packhouse tomorrow. I'll make room for you guys."

James's eyebrows knitted together tightly.

He stared at me, trying to detect even a shred of pretense on my face. There was nothing.

An inexplicable wave of irritation washed over him. Just as he was about to speak, Sophia gently tugged at his sleeve.

"James, is Emily mad at me? If she doesn't want me to have it, I can just reject the project."

Her voice was soft, fragile, and utterly pathetic.

James immediately grabbed her hand and glared at me coldly.

"She's the one who wants to get lost. Nobody is stopping her. Emily, remember what you just said. Get the hell out tomorrow. And don't come back without my permission!"

"Fine."

Without hesitation, I turned, walked off the stage, and left the hall.

Nobody knew that I had already died once.

In my past life, at this very birthday gala, I had lost my mind. I screamed, threw a tantrum, and slapped Sophia in front of everyone.

To punish me and please her, James locked me in the basement for an entire month.

Later, relying on his mother's affection for me, I nagged, begged, and even drugged James to get into his bed, forcing him to marry me.

But a forced marriage was nothing but hell.

After the wedding, he treated me like an enemy. He humiliated and crushed me at every turn.

He even brought Sophia into our bedroom to make love right in front of me, watching cold-heartedly as I cried in agony.

Eventually, Sophia had me secretly murdered. After my death, my soul met Selene.

The Moon Goddess of werewolf faith.

She told me that I wasn't wolf-less.

I was the chosen one, the destined Luna Queen.

But my Fated Mate was poisoned. His agony was transmitted to me, keeping my wolf in a constant state of near-death weakness.

Having a second chance at life, I finally understood. Unrequited love is just a curse.

My obsession had destroyed the Moonhowl Pack and myself.

But my destiny lay elsewhere.

In my past life, because the Alpha King had never found his Luna Queen, the wolves of the kingdom were filled with anxiety and aggression.

Even though the Alpha King used his immense power to suppress the chaos, he couldn't stop the wars instigated by ambitious rebels.

Of course, another reason was that the Alpha King was poisoned.

He was forced to miss almost every major pack celebration, which kept him from noticing the dark undercurrents rising among the packs.

But this time, things would be different. I would stop it all from happening.

Returning to the Packhouse, I walked straight to my adoptive mother's room.

Seeing her face so alive and healthy, tears spilled from my eyes.

She rushed forward and hugged me tight.

"Emily, what's wrong? Did James bully you again? I heard about him giving your patent to Sophia. I'll go rip him a new one tomorrow!"

I shook my head, staring deeply into her eyes.

"Mom, I heard the Council is demanding you send a bride to the Alpha King for an alliance."

I lifted my chin, my gaze absolute.

"I want to marry Alpha King Alexander Blackwood."

Emily Carter POV

"You want to marry Alpha King Alexander Blackwood?"

My mother's face went pale with horror. She gripped my shoulders, her voice shaking violently.

"Emily, have you lost your mind? Do you have any idea what kind of man he is? Ever since that battle years ago, he goes completely feral every single night. The Council is desperate to find a compatible mate to suppress the poison in his blood. But the previous three fiances sent by other packs, they all vanished into thin air the moment they entered his castle. If you go there, will you even survive?"

I didn't try to pull away. I just squeezed her hands back. My voice was soft but steady.

"Rumors aren't always true. Besides, in everyone else's eyes, aren't I just a crazy woman who would do anything to steal her brother? A madman and a madwoman. We're a perfect match."

"But..."

Tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I've always loved you like my own daughter. How can I push you into a burning hell?"

"You know the state of the Moonhowl Pack better than I do, Mom. James has been embezzling a massive chunk of pack funds just to buy Sophia luxury items. Didn't the Council say that if we send a bride, the Alpha King will provide a massive financial bailout for our pack?"

I calmly laid out the facts, watching her face crumble as I pushed harder.

"And once I'm married, James can finally be with Sophia without constantly worrying about me. The Moonhowl Pack is saved, and James gets his freedom. Everyone wins."

My mother stared at me for a long, painful moment before burying her face in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably.

"My sweet girl... I am so sorry..."

I gently patted her back, feeling nothing but a profound sense of relief.

"Please keep this a secret from James for now. I don't want him thinking I'm doing this to guilt-trip him. In two weeks, I will leave directly with the Alpha King's men."

Two weeks.

What a coincidence. That was the exact day James planned to formally propose to Sophia.

In my last life, I ruined his proposal. In this life, I would use my marriage to buy him the future he wanted.

After comforting my mother, I went back to my room.

The moment I pushed the door open, the room suffocated me with reminders of James.

The walls were plastered with candid photos I had taken of him.

The closet was stuffed with clothes he had casually bought for me. Even the lighter sitting on my desk was a cheap thing he had tossed aside, which I had cherished like a sacred relic.

Looking at these things I once valued more than my life, I felt a wave of nausea.

I grabbed several large black trash bags and began to purge.

Photos? Ripped to shreds.

Clothes? Cut into rags.

Gifts? Smashed to pieces.

Bit by bit, I swept ten years of pathetic, unrequited delusion into the trash.

It took me three grueling hours. I was dripping with sweat, and my fingers were bleeding from sharp plastic edges, but looking at the empty room, my chest felt lighter than ever.

I took a shower and had just lain down to sleep when my bedroom door was violently kicked open.

A loud crash echoed through the room.

I bolted upright, startled.

James stood at the doorway, radiating pure fury. He was gripping a tablet in his hand, his eyes dark enough to kill.

He marched over to my bed and slammed the tablet hard against my chest.

"Emily Carter, look at you! You pretend to be all sweet and compliant on the outside, voluntarily handing over your research, while stabbing us in the back with this disgusting stunt!"

I gasped from the impact, wincing as I picked up the tablet.

On the screen was the top trending topic on the pack's internal forum.

"Sophia Langley of the Ironclaw Pack, Bully and Abuser Exposed."

"Sophia Langley's Criminal Past!"

"Sophia the Homewrecker!"

The leak was highly detailed, complete with photos and documents. It listed Sophia's punishment records for bullying pack members back in the Ironclaw Pack, and even featured intimate photos of her with several different male wolves.

To an ordinary werewolf, these actions might not seem like a death sentence.

But Sophia was about to become the Luna of the Moonhowl Pack.

A Luna was expected to possess impeccable morals and a nurturing grace to balance the rough, hot-tempered Alphas. She was the anchor of the pack's stability.

Unsurprisingly, the comment section was flooded with members questioning her fitness to lead.

I glanced at it briefly before tossing the tablet back onto the bed.

"I didn't do this."

"If it wasn't you, then who?!"

James suddenly lunged, wrapping his hand tightly around my throat. He pinned me against the headboard, the veins on his hand bulging.

"Who else but a psycho like you would keep digging up dirt on Sophia? Do you honestly think that ruining her reputation will make me accept you? In your dreams!"

My breath was cut off, but I didn't claw at his hand. I just stared back at him coldly.

"James Whitfield, calm down! I said, it wasn't me."

"You dare lie to me!"

He gritted his teeth, his grip tightening.

"For years, you've been hostile to every single woman who got close to me. Private threats, public defamation. You did it all! Emily, you are so disgusting and wicked!"

Just then, hurried footsteps echoed outside.

Sophia rushed into the room, tears streaming down her face, and threw her arms around James's arm.

"James, stop! Please! Emily didn't mean to... she just cares about you too much. It doesn't matter if my reputation is ruined, as long as you two don't fight because of me..."

She gasped for air, looking as if she might faint.

James immediately let go of me, pulling her protectively into his chest. When he looked back at me, his eyes were cold as ice.

"Emily Carter, make a public statement right now. Admit that you fabricated all of this, and apologize to Sophia publicly!"

Emily Carter POV

"Why should I?"

I clutched my bruised neck, coughing hoarsely as I looked up to meet James's gaze.

"I will never apologize for something I didn't do."

James's face darkened instantly. He let go of Sophia and took a menacing step toward me, his voice dangerously low.

"Emily, have I been too soft on you? Sophia is my Fated Mate and the future Luna. If this scandal isn't cleared up, the pack will reject her! If you don't issue a statement, she's ruined!"

"If she's ruined, how is that my problem?"

I let out a cold laugh.

"She knows exactly what kind of trash she did in her past. James Whitfield, you're protecting her so blindly. Aren't you afraid you're holding a piece of garbage?"

Slap.

A violent slap struck my face.

My head snapped to the side, my ears ringing as the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.

The room fell into a suffocating silence.

Sophia gasped, covering her mouth in mock horror.

"James, why did you hit her..."

James's hand hung in the air, trembling slightly.

He hadn't expected to hit me that hard. A flash of regret crossed his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by cold indifference.

"That's the price for your filthy mouth."

He said coldly.

"Emily, I'll give you one last chance. Are you going to clear her name or not?"

I slowly turned my head back, wiped the blood from my lip with my thumb, and laughed.

I laughed so hard tears almost came out.

This was the man I had loved for ten years.

For a woman filled with lies, he played judge and jury without knowing the truth, and even raised his hand against me.

"Alpha James, didn't you say I did this because I love you?"

Barefoot, I stepped off the bed and walked over to the corner, kicking open the massive black trash bags.

Shredded clothes, torn photographs, and smashed gifts spilled across the floor.

James's pupils contracted instantly.

He stared at a torn photo on the ground. It was a picture from his eighteenth birthday, a photo I had practically begged and annoyed him to take with me.

He had hated it, but I had framed it and kept it by my bedside like a treasure.

Now, his face in the photo was cut to pieces.

"Do you see this?"

I pointed at the mess on the ground.

"I don't love you anymore. Your things disgust me. So believe me, I don't have the time or energy to waste on your little precious princess."

James's face drained of color.

"You..."

He opened his mouth, but his throat was too tight to produce words.

Seeing this, a flash of jealousy and malice shot through Sophia's eyes.

She quickly grabbed James's sleeve, whispering gently,

"James, since Emily said it wasn't her, let's just leave it. We'll find another way. Don't force her."

James took a deep breath and gave me one last frigid look.

"It better not be you. Otherwise, I will make you pay."

With that, he pulled Sophia and walked out.

I stared at their retreating figures and muttered,

"Get lost."

James paused for a fraction of a second, his back stiffening, but he didn't turn around. He stormed off.

I collapsed onto the floor amidst the wreckage and closed my eyes.

It was over. Truly over.

The next morning, I carried my suitcase downstairs, ready to leave the Packhouse.

I wanted to find a quiet place to stay before the Alpha King's men arrived, away from their drama.

As I reached the living room, James and Sophia were heading out to manage the public relations crisis.

Seeing my suitcase, James frowned.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"Back to my parents' old house," I said flatly. "Didn't you tell me to get the hell out yesterday?"

James choked on his words, his expression souring.

Before he could speak, the front doors were violently thrown open.

A disheveled woman with bloodshot eyes burst in, clutching a gleaming silver dagger. She lunged at Sophia like a maniac.

"Sophia Langley! You bitch! You framed me for seducing the Alpha and got me kicked out of my pack! My mother died protecting me from rogues because of you! Today, I'm taking your life!"

It happened too fast. Nobody had time to react.

The dagger sliced through the air, heading straight for Sophia's chest.

Emily Carter POV

"Sophia!"

James reacted with lightning speed.

He wrapped his arm around Sophia's waist, pulling her into his chest and spinning away from the lethal blade.

But he forgot that I was standing right behind him.

Not only did his spin expose me directly to the danger, but he also shoved me hard. The force sent me crashing right into the path of the frantic woman's dagger.

The sound of metal tearing through flesh echoed sharply in the quiet living room.

An agonizing pain erupted just below my left shoulder blade. The cold silver blade sank deep into my back, and hot blood immediately spurted out.

The burning sensation of silver began to eat away at my wound.

I let out a strangled groan, my knees buckling as I collapsed onto the floor.

"Emily!"

My mother screamed, rushing down the stairs.

I clutched my wound, but blood kept oozing through my fingers.

My vision began to blur, but before darkness claimed me, I saw James's face clearly.

He was holding a trembling Sophia, staring at me lying in a pool of blood. His eyes were wide with shock and a fleeting moment of pure panic.

His lips moved, seemingly calling my name.

But I couldn't hear him anymore.

When I woke up, I was in the Packhouse clinic.

The sharp smell of antiseptic made me wince.

The moment I opened my eyes, I saw my mother sitting by the bed, her eyes swollen.

"Emily, you're finally awake! You scared me to death..."

She squeezed my hand, tears spilling over again.

I forced a weak smile.

"Mom, I'm fine."

"Fine?! The blade was an inch away from your heart! And it was silver!"

My mother snapped, turning her head to glare at James, who was standing by the window.

"James Whitfield, are you blind?! It's one thing to protect that trash, but why did you throw Emily in front of the knife? She is your sister!"

James stood in the shadows, his face incredibly dark.

He stared at me, his jaw clenched tightly, his voice hoarse.

"It wasn't intentional. It was an emergency, and I didn't see her behind me."

"Didn't see her? You're an Alpha, and you can't even protect your own family?"

My mother was shaking with rage.

"Let me tell you, Emily is about to..."

"Mom!"

I used every ounce of my remaining strength to cut her off.

My mother froze, seeing the pleading look in my eyes, and reluctantly swallowed the rest of her words.

James's sharp instincts picked up on the tension. His brow furrowed.

"She's about to what?"

"Nothing," I said coldly, looking straight at him. "My mother means I'm leaving the Packhouse soon anyway, so I won't be an eyesore. My wound is fine, so please don't trouble yourself, Alpha James."

James's face hardened instantly.

He walked to the bedside, looking down at me with his usual arrogant contempt.

"Emily, you don't need to play the victim in front of me. Don't think that taking a knife for Sophia will make me soft on you. This trick is pathetic."

I stared at him, feeling absolutely nothing.

"James, do you have a persecution complex?"

I said quietly.

"I took this hit to pay you back for the ten years you acted as my brother. From now on, we are even. The door is right there. Get out. I need to rest."

He glared at me, trying to find a crack in my armor, but ultimately just sneered.

"Good. Keep it that way."

He turned and stormed out of the clinic.

I spent a week under the healer's care. The moment my wound closed up, I demanded to be discharged.

The day the Alpha King's escort was coming was drawing near, and I didn't want any complications.

On the day of my release, it wasn't my mother who came to pick me up, but James's Beta, David Mercer.

The car didn't head back to the Packhouse. Instead, it pulled up outside an exclusive private VIP lounge.

"Miss Emily, Alpha James is waiting for you inside," David said respectfully.

I frowned but got out of the car.

When I pushed the VIP room door open, the dim lights revealed a room filled with the heavy scent of alcohol and smoke.

James sat in the center, with Sophia clinging weakly to his chest.

Opposite them sat a bulky, greasy-looking man with a disgusting leer on his face.

It was Marcus Reed, a notorious scumbag in the city.

He was a lone wolf who ran underground businesses, interested in nothing but money and women.

The moment I entered, Marcus's eyes lit up, his gaze roaming shamelessly over my body.

"Ah, so this is Emily? A real beauty."

My stomach churned. I looked coldly at James.

"What is the meaning of this?"

James flicked his cigarette ash, his tone incredibly casual.

"Because of the forum scandal, some Council members are trying to impeach Sophia. She needs a win to prove herself. Mr. Reed here is willing to sign a major contract with us. Didn't you say you don't owe me anything anymore? Have a few drinks with Mr. Reed tonight, help Sophia secure this contract, and then your debt to the Moonhowl Pack will be fully paid."

I stared at him in utter disbelief.

To pave the way for Sophia, to squeeze every last drop of value out of me, he was willing to throw me to a notorious predator?

"James, you make me sick."

I turned to leave.

"Stop right there!"

James's voice was like ice.

"Emily, if you dare walk out that door today, I will freeze all your accounts and kick you out of the Moonhowl Pack. You are an orphan. Without us, you are nothing but a stray dog."

Emily Carter POV

My feet froze in place.

It wasn't because I was afraid of being kicked out of the Moonhowl Pack.

It was because if I had a total fallout with James right now, the alliance with the Alpha King might fall through.

I had to endure this for just two more weeks.

Taking a deep breath, I turned around and sat down at the very edge of the sofa.

Seeing my submission, a cold smirk of triumph flashed in James's eyes.

"Mr. Reed, I leave Emily in your hands. Enjoy your chat."

James stood up, wrapping his arm around Sophia's waist as they walked out.

At the door, Sophia looked back at me, her lips curling into a wicked, triumphant grin.

The heavy door shut, blocking out all outside noise.

Marcus immediately slid closer, his suffocating mix of cheap cologne and alcohol making me gag.

"Emily, don't be so cold. Alpha James practically gave you to me. Stick with me, and I promise you a good life."

He poured a glass of wine and held it in front of my face.

"Come on, have a drink. Let's get friendly."

I pushed his hand away coldly.

"I don't drink. Mr. Reed, just because James is crazy doesn't mean you have to be."

Marcus's face darkened, but then he let out a filthy chuckle.

"I like feisty girls. Today, you're drinking this wine whether you want to or not!"

He suddenly lunged, grabbing my jaw with brute force and forcing the wine down my throat.

I fought back wildly, spilling most of it over my clothes, but a small gulp still went down.

Marcus let go, grinning wickedly.

"There we go. There's a little 'extra ingredient' in that glass. You'll find out how good I am in a minute."

My heart sank.

The drug hit me incredibly fast.

Within minutes, my body started burning up, my limbs felt like lead, and my vision blurred.

Grinning like a maniac, Marcus began to unbuckle his belt, lunging at me.

"Get off me!"

I bit down hard on my tongue, the sharp pain bringing a brief moment of clarity.

As Marcus came at me, I grabbed a heavy crystal ashtray from the coffee table and slammed it into his temple with all my remaining strength.

"Ah!"

Marcus screamed, clutching his bleeding head as he collapsed onto the couch.

I seized the opportunity to stumble out of the room, running for my life.

The drug was getting stronger. My steps were uneven, and I almost fell several times.

The wound on my left shoulder tore open from the frantic movement, blood soaking through my bandage, but I couldn't care less about the pain.

I didn't even know how I managed to escape the venue, hail a cab, and make it back to the Packhouse.

But when I pushed the front doors open, what welcomed me wasn't my mother's concern, but an interrogation.

The living room was brightly lit.

James sat in the middle of the sofa, his face livid.

Sophia stood beside him, looking smug.

And Marcus Reed's parents were pointing at me, screaming at the top of their lungs.

"Alpha James, we came to negotiate a partnership out of respect for you! And this little bitch dared to assault my son! You must give us justice today, or we will take this to the Council and put her on trial!"

I collapsed onto the floor, panting heavily, my body burning like fire.

"He drugged me." I rasped.

"Drugged?!" Marcus's mother shrieked. "My son can have any woman he wants! Why would he drug you? It's obvious you tried to seduce him, and when it failed, you violently attacked him!"

Sophia chimed in at the perfect moment.

"Exactly, Emily. Mr. Reed is so wealthy, why would he do such a thing? You must have lost your temper again. Just apologize to them."

I lifted my head, staring directly at James.

"James, do you believe me?"

James looked at me, a complex flash of emotion crossing his eyes.

But in the end, his voice was cold and detached.

"Emily, you've disappointed me. I gave you a chance to serve the Moonhowl Pack, and you repaid us by almost turning the Reed family into our enemies."

He stood up, looking down at me as if I were a piece of irredeemable garbage.

"Since you refuse to behave, don't blame me for being ruthless. I will have to punish you according to pack law!"

Pack law.

The punishment of the Moonhowl Pack was a whip lined with silver thorns.

I stared at him in utter horror, my heart completely dying in that very second.

"James, I still have a fresh stab wound..." my voice was hoarse.

"You brought that on yourself!" James snapped coldly. "Kneel!"

Two werewolf warriors stepped forward, forcing me down onto my knees.

James took the silver-thorned whip. Without a single trace of hesitation, he brought it down hard across my back.

Flesh tore.

I bit my lip so hard it bled, refusing to let out a single scream.

With every strike, a spray of blood flew, accompanied by the agonizing burn of silver.

By the tenth strike, my back was a bloody mess. Combined with the reopened stab wound on my shoulder, blood completely stained the carpet.

I lay on the floor like a dying dog, finding it painful even to breathe.

"Throw her in the basement," James tossed the bloody whip aside, his voice devoid of any warmth. "No food or water without my permission. Let her reflect on what she did!"

The heavy basement door slammed shut.

Complete darkness swallowed me.

Curled up in the cold, damp corner, feeling my life slowly slipping away, my soul felt a strange sense of liberation.

James Whitfield, in this life, I have finally paid you back, with interest.

There were only three days left until the Alpha King's arrival.