The moon hung high over Lunaris, the sprawling city nestled in the heart of the Silverwood Forest. Streets lined with cobblestones shimmered under the pale glow, and towering structures carved from ancient stone bore the marks of centuries of werewolf tradition. Tonight, the Crescent Moon Pack had gathered in the grand hall, a majestic building crowned with silver spires that seemed to pierce the heavens.
I stood outside the arched oak doors, my pulse racing. This was the night every werewolf dreamed of—the Moonlit Gathering, where the fates revealed mates chosen by the goddess. My heart ached with a fragile hope that tonight would finally be my chance to escape the shadows of insignificance.
"Aria, are you just going to stand there?" Mira's voice sliced through my thoughts. She was the Beta's daughter, her auburn hair gleaming like molten copper under the moonlight. Her smirk was as sharp as the claws she loved to flaunt. "Shouldn't you be inside, waiting for your rejection?"
I bit the inside of my cheek, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a response. Instead, I pushed open the heavy doors, stepping into the grand hall.
The room was alive with energy, the scent of pine and wildflowers mingling with the collective anticipation of the pack. Wolves of every rank stood gathered, their eyes reflecting the light of the great silver chandelier above. At the center of it all stood Alpha Kade, his presence impossible to ignore.
My breath hitched as our eyes met. His tall frame, chiseled features, and commanding aura made him the epitome of power. My wolf stirred within me, her excitement bubbling to the surface. Mate.
But the hope blooming in my chest withered the moment his expression turned cold.
"Aria," Kade's deep voice rang out, silencing the room. Every pair of eyes turned toward me, and I felt their weight like stones pressing against my chest.
"I, Alpha Kade of the Crescent Moon Pack, reject you as my mate."
The words struck like a physical blow, my breath catching as the pack erupted into murmurs. My knees trembled, but I forced myself to stay upright, even as my vision blurred with unshed tears.
"Kade," I whispered, stepping forward. "Why?"
His gray eyes locked onto mine, unyielding. "You're weak," he said bluntly. "A Luna needs strength, grace, and control—qualities you lack."
The murmurs grew louder, and I could feel their stares like daggers against my skin. My wolf whimpered, the bond fraying before it could even take root.
"Kade, you don't understand—"
"Enough," he cut me off, his tone sharp as steel. "This is final."
The hall seemed to close in around me, the air heavy with judgment. I couldn't stay there another second. Turning on my heel, I fled, the sound of their whispers chasing me like a ghost.
The cool night air hit me as I stumbled into the forest. The Silverwood trees towered above, their ancient roots twisting into the earth. The faint glow of Lunaris's lanterns faded behind me, swallowed by the dense foliage. My chest heaved as I collapsed against a tree, the bark digging into my back.
Lunaris had been my home for as long as I could remember, but in this moment, it felt like a prison—a place where I'd always be the girl no one wanted. I had tried to find my place among the pack, but no matter how hard I worked, I was always overlooked, always considered less. "Why wasn't I enough?" I whispered, my voice breaking.
My wolf howled within me, her sorrow a mirror of my own. The rejection burned like fire in my veins, a pain that no words could describe. I pressed my palms against the ground, the damp earth grounding me as I fought to keep from breaking apart completely.
The snapping of twigs pulled me from my thoughts.
"Running away already?" Mira stepped out from the shadows, her smirk gleaming in the moonlight. "Didn't I tell you this would happen? Weaklings like you don't belong in Lunaris, let alone by an Alpha's side."
I pushed myself to my feet, my knees still trembling. "Leave me alone, Mira."
Her laugh was sharp and mocking. "You're even more pathetic than I thought. Face it, Aria. The pack doesn't want you. Kade doesn't want you. Maybe it's time you disappeared for good."
Anger flared in my chest, burning away the remnants of my sorrow. "I may be weak now," I said, my voice steady despite the tears pooling in my eyes, "but I won't always be."
Mira's smirk faltered for a fraction of a second before she turned and sauntered back toward the packhouse.
The forest fell silent once more, the only sound the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze. I sank to my knees, staring up at the crescent moon that hung in the sky.
"I will be stronger," I whispered. "I'll prove them all wrong."
As the night deepened, a strange sense of calm settled over me. The rejection, the humiliation, Mira's taunts—they would not define me. Somewhere out there, beyond the borders of Lunaris, was a world where I could carve my own path.
The distant howl of a wolf echoed through the trees, a mournful sound that sent shivers down my spine. I rose to my feet, my resolve solidifying with every step I took deeper into the forest.
I didn't know where I was going, but I knew I couldn't stay. The moonlight bathed me in its glow, and for the first time, I felt its silent promise—a reminder that even in darkness, there is always a chance to rise.