The screams from the courtyard finally stopped after what felt like an eternity.
I didn't look back once.
Aiden tugged at my hand. "Mommy, why was the bad lady crying?"
Aurora covered her little ears. "It was so loud…"
I crouched down and kissed both of their foreheads. "Because bad people have to learn that hurting others has a price. But it's over now. Let's go eat ice cream with Daddy, okay?"
Two pairs of golden eyes lit up instantly. "Yay! Ice cream!"
Regulus was waiting at the entrance of the courtyard, silver hair slightly messy from the wind, expression unreadable. When he saw us coming, he opened his arms without a word. The twins ran straight into them.
I walked slower.
He looked at me over their heads, voice low. "You enjoyed that."
"I did," I admitted, not bothering to lie. "But I'm not done."
Something dark and approving flashed in his golden eyes. "Good."
That afternoon, the entire supernatural world exploded.
Someone had recorded everything—from Ethan and Isabella being dragged in, to the fifty lashes, to me standing on the palace steps in a blood-spattered white gown, twins on either side, Regulus's mating mark blazing on my neck like a brand of ownership.
Within two hours, the video had over 300 million views across every dark-web werewolf forum, TikTok, and even human social media (heavily censored, of course).
Headlines screamed:
THE REJECTED HUMAN-BLOODED GIRL IS NOW QUEEN OF ALL LYCANS
CRIMSON MOON ALPHA AND LUNA PUBLICLY WHIPPED BY THE KING HIMSELF
THE LYcan KING'S SECRET TWINS REVEALED—AND THEY'RE ADORABLE
My old pack chat blew up so hard the server crashed twice.
I sat on the palace balcony, legs swinging, scrolling through the comments with a bowl of strawberry ice cream.
[User: MoonGoddess88]
OMFG she went from trash to Queen in three years?? I'm crying, this is the revenge we all deserve
[User: AlphaSimp4Life]
Did y'all see the way the King looked at her?? I'm deceased
[User: CrimsonMoonTraitor]
I used to be in their pack… Ethan and Isabella told everyone Evelyn ran away with a human and abandoned the pack. LIARS.
Regulus came up behind me, fresh from a shower, only a towel around his waist. Water droplets slid down his abs and disappeared under the towel line. He leaned over the railing, reading the screen.
"Happy?" he asked, voice husky.
"Getting there."
He took the phone from my hand, tossed it onto the lounge chair, and pulled me against his chest.
"The coronation is tomorrow night," he murmured against my mark. "Full moon. Every Alpha on the planet has been summoned. No one dares refuse."
I tilted my head back to look at him. "And?"
"And I will crown you in front of them all." His fingers traced the triple bite. "Then I will kneel and renew our bond on live global broadcast. So the entire world sees that the Lycan King bows to no one—except his Queen."
My heart actually stuttered.
He noticed, of course. "Still want revenge, little wolf?"
I swallowed. "Yes. But maybe… a different kind now."
He smiled, slow and dangerous. "I can work with that."
The next twenty-four hours were chaos.
Tailors from Paris, jewelers from Switzerland, makeup artists who usually served human royalty—all flown in on private jets. The coronation gown was silver moon-thread embroidered with real diamonds. The crown was ancient, forged from the first Lycan King's melted armor, holding a single tear-shaped moonstone the size of an egg.
I stood in front of the mirror the next evening, barely recognizing myself.
Regulus entered without knocking, dressed in full royal regalia—black military coat with silver wolf epaulets, medals across his chest, the royal sword at his hip. He stopped dead when he saw me.
For once, the arrogant Lycan King looked speechless.
I raised an eyebrow. "Well?"
He crossed the room in three strides, dropped to one knee right there on the marble floor, and pressed his forehead to my hand.
"My Queen," he said, voice rough with emotion. "I don't deserve you."
I tangled my fingers in his hair. "You're right. You don't. But you're stuck with me anyway."
The ceremony was held in the ancient lunar amphitheater—built two thousand years ago under an open sky so the moon could witness every vow.
Every seat was filled. Thousands of Alphas, Lunas, and nobles from every continent. Cameras floated like fireflies, broadcasting to billions.
I walked the long aisle alone—no one gave me away. I didn't need anyone to give me to him. I was taking what was mine.
The twins walked in front of me, Aiden carrying the crown on a velvet pillow, Aurora scattering white moon-petals. They wore miniature royal outfits and looked like tiny gods.
When I reached the dais, Regulus was already waiting, eyes glowing under the full moon.
The high priest began the ancient words.
"Do you, Evelyn of the Sinclair bloodline, accept the crown and the responsibility of Queen to all Lycans?"
I lifted my chin. "I do."
"Do you, Regulus, King of Kings, accept this woman as your eternal mate, your equal, your Queen in all things?"
His voice rang like thunder. "I do. In this life and every life after."
The priest turned to the crowd. "And do the packs of the world accept Evelyn Regulus as their Queen?"
A roar of approval shook the stones.
Then came the part no one expected.
Regulus took the crown from Aiden's pillow himself.
And instead of placing it on my head while standing—he knelt.
The entire amphitheater gasped.
The Lycan King—undefeated in battle, feared by gods—knelt before me on live broadcast.
He held the crown up with both hands.
"Evelyn," he said, loud enough for every microphone to catch, "three years ago I was an idiot who let you walk away. I will spend the rest of eternity making it up to you. Please—forgive me. Rule with me. Love me again."
Tears burned my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.
I took the crown from his hands and placed it on my own head.
Then I reached down, grabbed his collar, and yanked him up into a kiss that left the entire world stunned silent.
When we broke apart, I whispered against his lips, "You're still on probation, Your Majesty."
He laughed—actually laughed—in front of billions.
The moon above us turned silver-bright in approval.
Later that night, after the banquet, after the fireworks, after the twins fell asleep stuffed with cake, Regulus carried me to our bedroom.
He laid me on the bed like I was made of glass.
"Still want revenge?" he asked, crawling over me.
I wrapped my legs around his waist and pulled him down.
"Yes," I breathed. "But tonight, I'll take it in a different way."
He groaned as I bit his mating mark in return—the first time a Queen had ever marked her King.
The moon watched through the open balcony as we claimed each other all over again, silver hair tangled on silk sheets, two broken souls finally made whole.
Outside, the world celebrated their new Queen.
Inside, I celebrated the sweetest revenge of all—making the most powerful man on earth beg for my love.
And getting it.