I shivered.
The air was thick with anticipation as the pack
gathered around the ceremonial fire. The crackling flames illuminated the faces of wolves
young and old, their eyes full of hope and expectation. Every wolf, from the strongest to the weakest, had awaited the most important event of the year, which was the mating ceremony.
I stole in the shadows my heart pounding so bad. I could already feel their eyes on the pack's
eyes. I knew what they thought. The omega. The weakling. The one who had no chance of
being chosen. The thought that maybe, just maybe, I could find someone—anyone—who might see me for something more than my
rank, my frailty, was nothing but a distant fantasy. A cruel joke.
"Stay out of the way, weakling," Lyla's voice pierced the air, dripping with scorn. I shrunk back into myself and swallowed the lump in my throat. My stomach churned
The park circled, waiting for the moment to come, but my heart wasn't in it. No one would choose me. The thought of it filled me with dread.
Aiden, the Alpha, stood at the front. His commanding presence drew the attention of everyone in the clearing. His amber eyes glinted in the firelight, his broad shoulders set with the confidence only a true leader possessed. He exuded power and, for years, had dreamed of standing by his side.
I watched as he surveyed the crowd. His gaze met mine briefly, and for a second, my heart skipped a beat. Was this the moment?
Then, as if nothing had changed, he continued scanning the gathering, never once looking
back. My hope shattered before it could fully bloom.
"First pairing!" Alpha Aiden's voice rang out, filled with authority. My heart fluttered painfully. But then—then I saw her. Lyla. Of course. She was everything I wasn't. Strong. Beautiful.Perfect.
Aiden's eyes landed on her, and a smirk tugged at his lips. "Lyla," he said, his voice full of admiration, "come here."
The crowd cheered as Lyla strutted forward, her hips swaying with confident grace. She took Aiden's hand, her smile radiant as the pack erupted in applause. I stood frozen, my body trembling. I wasn't surprised. I knew this would
happen.
But then—then came the moment I had dreaded. Aiden turned to the crowd and raised his voice, calling my name.
"Emerald," he said, his tone flat and indifferent.
My pulse surged as I stepped forward, my feet heavy with the weight of my self-doubt. I
wasn't supposed to be here. This wasn't for me. But I had no choice but to step into the
light, my eyes downcast, my heart in my throat.
Aiden's gaze flickered over me and in that moment, I felt like I was being stripped bare. His eyes narrowed, and he slept curling in disdain.
"You?" His voice rang with disbelief. "I didn't know the mate I've been waiting for was so...disappointing."
His words were so heavy and it hit me like a physical blow. My stomach twisted, and I froze in place, unable to move or speak.
Aiden stepped forward, inspecting me like I was some kind of joke. "You look so thin and malnourished," he sneered, his eyes scanning my frail form. "l don't even know if you're fit to
be my mate"
I could feel the blood rushing to my face, burning with shame. I wanted to shrink into nothingness. His words cut deep, deeper than anything l had ever experienced.
The crowd shifted uneasily, the whispers starting to buzz around us. But I couldn't move. I couldn't escape the judgment in Aiden's eyes. I was nothing to him. Not even a thought.
Aiden's voice rang out, colder than ever. "I, ALPHA AIDEN, HEREBY REJECT YOU, EMERALD, AS MY MATE."
The words slumped into me like a Force I couldn't avoid. My breath cut in my throat and for a moment, I couldn't understand what had just happened. Rejected. He had just rejected me.
The crowd went silent for a second then exploded into laughter and mocking applause.
Lyla stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with triumph. She placed a hand on Aiden's shoulder, her smile sharp, as if relishing in the power she now held over me.
Aiden's arm draped casually around her waist.
"You're nothing." Lyla sneered, her voice thick with disdain. "This was never your place. I told you, didn't I? Weak, pathetic Emerald."
The ground felt like it was clashing with Bennett's me, but I couldn't move, and neither could I breathe. The voices, the mocking, it was all too much. My body trembled, as my heart shattered, piece by piece. Every word they said dug deeper into my soul, carving out every last shred of hope I had.
I turned away, my legs barely able to hold me up, and l ran. I didn't care that they were still
laughing. I didn't care that they were still mocking me. I couldn't stay.
I ran as fast as I could. Every step felt like I was being pulled deeper into an abyss of despair.
My heart drowned painfully in my chest and the sound of my footsteps pounded against the ground as I ran, pouring out my thoughts—his rejection, their cruelty. The cold wind whipped my face, stinging my skin but nothing hurt more than the pain inside me, the emptiness that threatened to swallow me whole
Tears blinded my vision and my throat burned with the subs I couldn't hold back. I want through the clearing, through the trees anything to get away from their cruelty.
I ran until l couldn't breathe anymore, not caring about the sharp twigs that scratched at my skin and the pain that made my knees sore ...I just ran until my legs gave out beneath me. I collapsed onto the forest floor, the tears flowing freely now. I was nothing. I was invisible. I was weak.
And then, just when I thought I couldn't cry anymore, I heard it.
Loud pop music.