Elias's brow relaxed for the first time , though he deliberately maintained a serious tone . " Nash , she's not right for you . " Nash kept pressing for reasons . At first , Elias refused to say . But in the end , he let the truth slip . " Nash , she's the junior I once told you about ." Hearing that , Nash didn't ask anything more . He just smiled faintly and said , " Then I wish you luck . " That evening , when Calista got off work , Elias was already waiting at the hospital entrance . Then , they headed to Moonveil Auditorium together . Once their tickets were scanned , Elias led her straight to the front row - the best seats in the house . When the hall filled , the lights dropped to darkness . A single spotlight cut through , landing on a young woman walking toward the grand piano . The pure white gown traced the curve of her figure ; a veil softened her face , but the poise and grace left little doubt she was strikingly beautiful . Flashbulbs went off across the stage , and Calista's eyes stayed locked on that figure the entire time . As the woman moved toward the piano with steady , measured steps , Calista's view gradually sharpened - it was Vespera Thorne . Vespera was truly stunning - elegant , talented , and admired by countless men for her beauty . But beauty like that was never meant for public picking . This rose had already been claimed - and the one who claimed her was Alpha Maximus Gray . When the performance began , Vespera played three pieces in a row ... Each piece carried a different emotion . Calista hated Vespera , but she couldn't deny the woman's talent . Before she knew it , she found herself drawn into the music , swept up in the stories woven through each note . When the last chord faded , applause erupted through the Moonveil Auditorium , accompanied by murmurs of praise for Vesperá . From the second row , Maisie shot to her feet , cupping her hands around her mouth . " Miss Vespera , you were amazing - so dazzling ! " Calista's head whipped around sharply , but Maisie's figure was blocked by layers of the crowd . She couldn't make out anything . She frowned . " Did I hear that wrong ? * Calista sniffed the air , but the concert hall was thick with overlapping scents - she couldn't pick up anything . At that moment , Maximus Gray sat quietly in his seat , his gaze fixed intently on the stage . His eyes held a tenderness as if nothing and no one else existed in his world . As Maisie dropped back into her seat , she instinctively glanced toward the VIP section where she and her dad usually sat - one look , and she froze . 11:29 Rejected by the Alpha , I Became the Pack's Queen 77.4 % Chapter 25 Worried she might be seeing things , she leaned closer to Maximus and tugged on his sleeve , pointing in Calista and Elias's direction . " Daddy , look over there . Is that Mommy ? " Maximus steadied Maisie , who'd nearly slipped , and followed where she was pointing - in the dim lighting , he spotted Calista and Elias sitting in the VIP seats , the exact spot Maximus always reserved when he brought Maisie to Vespera's concerts . * So Elias was the one who bought those tickets , " Maximus thought to himself . Just then , Elias leaned in close to Calista's ear , saying something under the cover of the audience's applause . A faint smile curved at the corner of her lips . Maximus sat not far away , seeing everything crystal clear - Calista had never smiled at him like that . Usually , she was just trying hard to please him . This was the first time Maximus had seen Calista smile at someone else like that . Without warning , his wolf began to rage and stir restlessly , even wanting to lunge at her . Maximus fought hard to suppress it . The possessiveness a wolf felt for its fated mate was truly troublesome . Even though he didn't want to admit it , Calista was still his marked mate . He narrowed his eyes , beginning to suspect there might be something hidden between Elias and Calista that he didn't know about . But he didn't dwell on it further . Instead , he looked away and glanced down at Maisie , who was tilting her little head up , waiting for his answer . He said softly , " Yeah , that's your mom . " After getting confirmation , Maisie grew anxious . " But Mommy is Daddy's mate , isn't she ? Why is she sitting so close to another man ? " she pressed , her voice tight with worry . " Look at the way they're talking - it's like they're about to kiss . " Maximus said nothing . His gaze drifted back to Calista - and to the two figures leaning closer and closer together . ) (0 ) 900