Chapter One
The full moon hung heavy and luminous over Hollow Falls, casting an ethereal glow that brushed against the trees and danced over the silent crowd gathered beneath it. Tonight was the Blood Moon Mating Ceremony, a sacred event for the pack where mates were unveiled, fates intertwined. Evelyn Thorne known as "Evie" in the pack, stood behind everyone else, her heart pounding beneath her ribcage. Her fingers curled and uncurled nervously, trying to suppress the growing anticipation that twisted her stomach into knots.
Around her, the pack members murmured in low voices, their eyes flitting between each other, wondering who would be paired with whom. Evie caught a few stares, some curious, others dismissive, a reflection of her place within the pack. She knew her chances of being chosen were slim, given her lineage—her blood wasn't as pure, her status not as revered. But still, she couldn't quench the flicker of hope that had kept her waiting through every lonely night, hoping for her mate. She had no one to call a friend, she was hoping to find someone to call her mate and perhaps complete her. She was not asking for much; just for some company, a means to escape this loneliness gnawing at her and escape the taunting of her pack members.
Lucian Blackwell, the future alpha, strode into the clearing, his presence commanding immediate attention. The crowd hushed, every gaze drawn to him as though he were the moon itself. His eyes were sharp and unyielding, scanning the crowd with a mixture of authority and indifference. Evie's pulse quickened as he moved closer, her breath catching. Could it be him? She could feel herself almost bowing to the aura around Lucien; that's how powerful he is or so she thought.
The elder's voice rang out, "Tonight, the Blood Moon blesses us with the truth of our destined mates. May we honor the bonds revealed."
Lucian's gaze settled on her for a split second. Evie's heart stopped. She felt it, a pull, subtle yet unmistakable, like a string tying her fate to his. But as his eyes narrowed, a flicker of something dark twisted his expression, and he tore his gaze away, a harsh edge settling into his jaw.
The crowd waited, tense and breathless, as the elder began the ritual chants, summoning the spirits of their ancestors to guide them. Each word echoed in the night air, amplifying the weight of the moment. Lucian stood near the front, his stance rigid, his expression unreadable. Evie watched him, her heart a drumbeat she couldn't control. She felt drawn to him in ways she couldn't explain, a deep instinctual pull that rooted her in place.
As the final words of the chant left the elder's lips, silence blanketed the clearing. It was a moment of revelation, the one that would decide her fate. Evie clenched her hands at her sides, bracing herself as Lucian turned, his gaze slicing through the crowd until it rested on her.
He was his? She thought apprehensively. All around them, the other youngsters are pulled to their mates. They were sounds of joy and those of dissatisfaction. But they all still stood by their mates, giving the mate bond a chance. The Moon goddess never lies.
Lucien, however, took a step forward, and then another, his piercing gray eyes fixed on her as if searching for something. Her heart surged with hope, daring to believe that he might feel the same pull, the same undeniable connection. But as he came closer, his expression hardened.
"No," he muttered, loud enough for those nearby to hear, but still meant for her alone. There's no way. This, this is a mistake."
"What are you doing?" She whispered for his ears alone. The moon goddess never lies. Her head kept spinning as she realised the gravity of what Lucien was about to do.
Lucian turned, his voice rising as if to drown out the whispers that surrounded them. "No!" he barked, his voice slicing through the night air. "There's no way on earth that pathetic, ugly slave of a mutt is my mate!" The words fell like stones, heavy and unforgiving, each one a blow that sent Evie's heart shattering into pieces.
Her face burned, the humiliation sinking in as the crowd gasped, their stares turning from curiosity to pity, disdain, and, for some, even delight. She swallowed, fighting the prickling behind her eyes, her fingers curling into fists. She wanted to scream, to lash out, to tear herself away from the judgment pressing in from all sides, but her feet felt glued to the spot.
Lucian's words echoed in her mind, sharp and relentless, tearing away every last shred of hope she'd held onto. The one moment she'd dreamed of for so long, the one chance she thought might change her life, had turned into a nightmare she could hardly bear to face.
Behind him, Seraphina Grimshaw, the pack's most revered female, smirked, her gaze cutting through the space between them. Lucian walked past her, his indifference mirroring the twisted satisfaction in Seraphina's eyes. It was clear she'd gotten exactly what she wanted.
Evie's legs felt like they would give out beneath her, but somehow she managed to stay upright, her pride clinging on by the thinnest of threads. She fought back the tears that threatened to spill, refusing to let them see her break. Not here, not now. But as Lucian's rejection settled over her, a cold clarity washed through her—a realization that she was alone, truly and utterly alone.
"I, Lucien Blackwell, the future Alpha of the Hollow Falls, hereby reject you," there was a look of disdain imetched into his face as he kept staring at her, refusing to call out her name, "as my mate."
Evie felt the ground shift underneath her as she felt a strike of pain across her heart, but she refused to show it .
The elder stepped forward, casting a disapproving glance at Lucian, but the damage was done. The crowd whispered, their words twisting into cruel, mocking shapes that sliced through the fragile remnants of Evie's dignity. She turned, pushing her way through the crowd, her heart pounding as the sting of betrayal fueled her escape.
With each step, the murmurs grew fainter, but the wound Lucian's words had carved into her heart remained. She stumbled to the edge of the clearing, gripping a tree for support, gasping for air as though the rejection had physically knocked the breath from her lungs.
But before she could gather herself, a familiar voice sneered behind. "Running away so soon, Evie?" Seraphina's voice was low, mocking, laced with a cruel satisfaction that set Evie's blood boiling.
Evie turned, her gaze locking onto Seraphina's with a defiance she hadn't felt before. Seraphina's smirk widened, her eyes gleaming with a twisted pleasure as she took a step closer, her every movement dripping with confidence and disdain. "Did you really think he'd want you?" she taunted, her voice smooth and poisonous. "You?, The pack mutt? Pathetic."
Evie clenched her fists, the shame and pain swirling into something darker, something hotter. She could feel it bubbling under her skin, a pulse of anger that pushed back against the humiliation. But she kept her mouth shut, her jaw set, refusing to give Seraphina the satisfaction of seeing her break.
Seraphina laughed, the sound sharp and taunting. "Face it, Evie. You're nothing. Less than nothing. And now, you're alone." She leaned in closer, her voice a cold whisper. "You're banished. No one here will protect you. No one here wants you." With those words, Seraphina turned and walked away, her laughter echoing into the night, leaving
Evie standing alone.