The annual pack gathering was a sacred ritual. Wolves from families throughout the territory would come together, young unmated wolves hoping to find their potential life partners. For Aria, it had always been a source of profound discomfort.
"You will submit to the pack's traditions," her mother had warned her that morning, adjusting Aria's ceremonial wolf-skin cloak. "A Luna must know her place."
Aria's jaw had tightened. "I am more than just a potential mate, mother. I have skills, dreams, a mind of my own."
The gathering was a cacophony of scents, sounds, and unspoken tensions. Dominic, as the alpha, had the first and final choice in selecting a mate. Traditionally, the strongest females would be considered, those who could bear strong offspring and support the pack's continued survival.
When Dominic's gaze swept across the assembled wolves, it passed over Aria with barely a moment's consideration. The rejection was public, brutal in its simplicity. She was deemed unworthy, not because of any physical weakness, but because her spirit did not conform to the pack's rigid expectations.
"The pack requires unity," Dominic's voice rang out, deep and commanding. "Mates are chosen to strengthen our bloodlines, to ensure our survival. Those who cannot align with our core principles will be left behind."
His words were a knife, cutting through Aria's already fragile sense of belonging.