The pack was filled with energy and life as the pack members gathered to witness the sacred mating ceremony which has always taken place long before the pack was created. The people laughed and moved around ,the air filled with anticipation of what was to come. The mating ceremony is an important celebration where people come together to witness the beautiful merging of two souls paired together by the moon goddess.
This day seemed to be a joyous day for everyone except Isla, the orphaned omega. For Isla,this night was just a cruel show put on to remind her that people like her have no place for happiness in the pack.
She sat at the far end of the crowd, hiding away from the stage, her tiny body making it almost impossible for her to be seen among the sea of well bodied werewolves. She has lived with them since she was a baby and knew almost all of them but they paid no heed to her as she was just another Omega. Growing up as a child,she could always sense the look of disdain she got from other members of the pack even from the other Omega's. She knew she didn't belong with them and she didn't bother trying to be friends with them.
She watched through her thick hair as the alpha stood on the raised platform, the crowd falling in a pin drop silence. Her heart tightened in her chest as she took in the sight of him. She thought that she'd be able to suppress this feeling but her body had a mind of its own as it ached to reach out to him. Her wolf howled at her to get closer to their mate but she couldn't – he had warned her. She knew that the pack would frown upon the alpha's decision to take an omega as the Luna of the pack.
She could feel the mate bond and she knew that he felt it too. The pull was so strong that it spread through her veins like wildfire. She found out that she was mated to Damon on her eighteenth birthday which was three months ago. She had always dreamt of meeting her mate but never imagined it to be this way.
Damon didn't seem to acknowledge her presence other than that cold look he always had in his eyes anytime he glanced in her direction. He treated her like he wished she was some kind of joke in his life. No. He prayed that she was just a cruel fate from the moon goddess.
From the corner of her eyes she could see other omegas happily chatting with each other and enjoying the ceremony because today they didn't have to do much work. The distant howl of some wolves reached her ears indicating that they had found their mate.
Everyone murmured in anticipation as they wondered who their new Luna would be. Isla knew that Damon wouldn't claim her openly as his mate but a tiny wishful part of her hoped he would. Her wolf howled in anger at the thought that another woman would get close to her mate.
Her breath hitched in her throat as she watched Damon, the moonlight illuminating his olive skin. His waist swayed with such grace as his body was covered from the waist down with a traditional cloth. His face revealed nothing and his eyes glowed with ferocity as he stared at the flood of people.
Isla felt a hard lump in her throat, pulling her hair over her face to hide herself while still staring at him. It didn't work because she could feel his heated gaze from where he stood making her head spin. She looked away when she could no longer look at him. She tried to remind herself why she was here,she was here to see him mate with another woman.
Marcus– Damon's father came forward pulling her out of her thoughts.
"I'm glad that you all are here to witness this amazing ceremony where we welcome new bonds to the pack" He said in a deep voice as his eyes swept over the pack members who murmured incoherent words amongst themselves. "I'm also glad that you all are here to witness Your alpha Damon bond with his chosen mate"
The crowd cheered in joy while Islas stomach twisted with dread. She wanted to leave but it would seem suspicious for an Omega to leave during such an important ceremony. Selena, you're so cruel for bonding me to an alpha knowing that I'm an Omega. She cursed at the moon goddess.
"Please welcome Lyla, the first daughter of Alpha Keir of the Northerlands pack"
Isla turned her gaze to the beautiful woman beside Damon. She hadn't noticed her before because she was focused on Damon. Lyla stood tall and proud beside Damon, a radiant smile resting on her perfect face. Isla tried to hate her but she couldn't, she was a perfect match for an alpha.
Damon took Lyla's hand before leading her to the center of the stage where the pack healer stood close to a fire. The crowd let out a shout of joy as they watched their alpha bonding with their Luna. For a brief moment, Damon stared at Isla but there was no hint of warmth in his eyes.
Isla looked away as her body trembled. A sharp pain spread through her heart as Damon's soul bonded with Lyla. He chose her over his mate. She knew that he needed to reject her and that she needed to accept the rejection.
Tears rolled down her eyes as she watched until her body shook from the uncontrollably sobs. Her knees shook and she quietly snuck out from the crowd before anyone would notice her crying and think she's crazy. Once she was far from the ceremony,she ran as fast as her feet could carry her desperate to soothe the burning ache in her chest. Her feet almost gave out as her body felt like dry concrete.
Damon's voice echoed inside her head through the mindlink as she ran but she didn't stop for a second.
"Isla."
His voice still sent shivers through her spine because even though the mate bond was snapped,it was still there.
"Stop!, You don't—"
His words trailed off as Isla cut off the mindlink from her end. She didn't know what he was trying to do after choosing his Luna.
She could hear the distant cheers of the pack as she ran to her safe place, somewhere she always came to when she's too overwhelmed. She could feel Damon trying to reach her through the mindlink. The mate bond pulled at her heart mocking her, reminding her about the cruel reality. She wished she was just a mateless girl.
Her breath came out in short pants and she slowed down trying to catch her breath. Running in her human form always took a toll on her body. She leaned on the nearest tree to support her body. Her body shook with soft sobs until they turned into loud wails.
She sat there in the cold forest crying her heart out as she waited for rejection so that she could finally be free.