MATED TO THE STRONGEST ALPHA
Chapter Ten

*Selene's POV

As my hand trembled, a man entered my room, accompanied by the woman who started shedding tears upon sighting me. Our eyes met, and my heart skipped a beat. Is she my mother? And was the man beside her truly the Lycan King? "She is our child. The DNA test confirmed that she is the lost princess," the Lycan King said to the woman, causing her to cry out with overwhelming emotion. I longed to walk towards her, but the doctor advised me previously to rest and refrain from exertion, so I had to stay put in bed.

Seeking permission, my mother approached me, and when she stood before me, tears cascaded down my cheeks like a river. She embraced me tightly, and I closed my eyes, feeling an overwhelming rush of joy. In that moment, I sensed her love, sorrow, and happiness-an amalgamation of emotions from her long wait to reunite with her lost child. As someone who had never met my biological parents before, the happiness of being with them now filled my heart with joy. The subsequent events were a blur, but now we were all together, happy, and engaged in conversation about life. My mother sat on the edge of the bed, hugging me as if I were still a little girl. Though I couldn't deny the comfort of her embrace, I felt even more happiness in this newfound connection.

"You are beautiful," my mom said, sweeping away the hair that obscured my face.

"She looks just like you," the Lycan King remarked.

"Thank you. I didn't know how to react, but this was undoubtedly the happiest moment of my life. When I learned of my adoption, I thought my biological parents didn't love me and had abandoned me like garbage," I confided to them. This was no lie; thoughts of being discarded like trash haunted me, even more, the moment Riker rejected me as his Luna.

He never loved me. All he wanted was to use me for his plans.

The worst part is that I wasn't even worthy of what he wanted. Yet, how could I have considered myself worthy of such honor when I believed my biological parents didn't love me? My adoptive parent never divulged the details of how he found me, always emphasizing that our past didn't matter; he loved me as his own, and I truly felt that love, even from my sister, Lilith.

"No, we would never do that. I am sorry you ever felt abandoned. You will never feel that way again, I promise," my mother reassured, hugging me tightly.

My gaze shifted to my father, his face etched with concern. He seemed unhappy but said nothing, keeping his thoughts to himself. It wasn't my place to inquire about the King's worries.

"It is my fault for not keeping an eye on you and allowing you to leave the palace," he finally confessed.

In response, I signaled to him to come closer, and I reached out my hand to touch him. His eyes shifted from my hand to my face, and I offered him the sweetest smile I could muster. "It wasn't your fault, father. I hold no grudge against you whatsoever." It was challenging for me to address him as such, as I had been about to utter "King," but I decided not to and referred to him as Father.

"I agree with our daughter. We shouldn't let the past haunt us every day. Let us leave those dark memories behind and create new ones," my mother chimed in.

I didn't want to dwell on the past either. I desired to make new, positive memories with my newfound family. The past was part of our lives, but it need not chain us to sorrow. I yearned for freedom and happiness, which my parents could undoubtedly provide.

"Mother is right. We should not allow the past to dictate our present. Let us create new memories together, filled with love," I declared.

My words brought broad smiles to their lips. After everything we had been through, we were finally embracing our new life together. We would complete our family through love and understanding. This day had arrived beyond my wildest imagining.

I vowed to become a better version of myself for them, never repeating the same mistakes. From now on, I would strive to forget my love for Riker. He deserved happiness, even if it meant being without me. Should we meet again in the future, I would ensure my feelings for him were no longer as intense.

As my mom, the Lycan King, and I discussed our lives, the King revealed plans for a party to introduce me to his friends. I had never experienced such an event before and felt slightly apprehensive about meeting new people. However, I reminded myself to change my mindset and embrace my new life as a princess. It was a challenge, but I was determined to succeed.

"We will hold a party to celebrate your arrival," my mother shared, and I looked at her expectantly.

"Will that be necessary?" I said shyly.

"Definitely!" Great joy has befallen us; it is only necessary to have a party to commemorate this joy.

I smiled and nodded in agreement.

"I would also like you to begin training to be able to fully protect yourself when push comes to shove and also to fully master your werewolf form and be able to hold it for a longer duration of time. My friend's son, Axel, will be your trainer." My father added.

"You'll meet Axel soon. He's a nice and handsome young man," my mother teased. I chuckled at her comment, though I felt uncertain about the idea of getting close to someone again. Riker's rejection still lingered in my heart, and I didn't want to repeat past mistakes.

Regardless, I resolved to face this challenge as Selene. I was no longer the same person I once was-I was ready to be the best version of myself.

*