Ava stood in the clearing, her heart pounding against her ribs. The chilly night air bit at her skin, but it wasn't the cold that made her shiver—it was the weight of the words that had just left his lips.
"I, Kael Donovan, Alpha of the Black Moon Pack, reject you, Ava Sinclair, as my mate."
The words slammed into her like a crushing wave, stealing the breath from her lungs. She stumbled back slightly, her hands curling into fists at her sides as she tried to process what he had just said.
No. This isn't happening.
She lifted her gaze to his, desperate to see any sign of hesitation, of regret. But Kael's piercing blue eyes were void of emotion. He looked at her as if she were nothing—less than nothing.
"You… you can't mean that," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Kael remained unmoved. He crossed his arms over his broad chest, his stance firm. "It's for the best. You're weak, Ava. I need someone stronger."
The words cut deeper than any physical wound ever could. Weak. That's what he thought of her? After everything they had been through, after the years she had spent by his side, hoping, waiting for the bond to form?
She clenched her jaw, fighting back the sting of tears. "I don't care if you think I'm weak," she snapped, her voice gaining strength. "We were supposed to be a team!"
Kael let out a slow, bored sigh, as if she were nothing more than an inconvenience. "You'll find someone else. Just move on."
Move on? Move on from the one person the Moon Goddess had chosen for her? The one man she had loved since the moment she knew what love was?
Her throat tightened. Her hands trembled at her sides.
Kael had made his choice.
He turned on his heel and walked away, his broad frame vanishing into the thick shadows of the forest.
Ava stood there, frozen in place, watching him disappear. She should have called out, should have begged him to reconsider. But she didn't.
She couldn't.
And then, the tears came.
A strangled sob tore from her throat as she crumpled to her knees, pressing a hand against her chest, as if that could stop the unbearable ache growing inside her. The night around her seemed to stretch endlessly, swallowing her whole.
Why? Why me?
The rejection wasn't just emotional—it was physical. The mate bond, a sacred connection given by the Moon Goddess herself, was ripping apart inside her. It felt like fire and ice battling in her veins, scorching her from the inside out.
Time lost all meaning. The world blurred into darkness.
And then, amidst the heartbreak, something changed.
The pain didn't fade, but something new ignited inside her. A flicker of something hot and sharp.
She wiped her tears, forcing herself to her feet. Her legs trembled, her body weak, but she refused to let it consume her.
I will not let Kael Donovan break me.
Ava took a deep breath, her hands balling into fists. I'll get through this. I have to.
Just as she turned to leave, a sharp, searing pain shot through her wrist.
She gasped, clutching her arm as a burning sensation spread through her veins. She glanced down, eyes widening in shock.
A crescent-shaped mark glowed on her skin, shimmering faintly in the moonlight. It pulsed, sending a strange warmth through her body.
Her heart pounded.
What is this?
The glow flickered, then slowly faded, leaving behind a dull ache. But the mark remained. It was different from any pack mark she had ever seen.
Suddenly, the forest fell silent.
The wind stilled. The rustling leaves ceased. The night creatures stopped their songs.
Ava's breath hitched.
Something was wrong.
And then, a voice—low and smooth—echoed from the darkness.
"You weren't meant to be marked."
Ava spun around, her heart hammering. "Who's there?" she demanded, though her voice shook.
A figure stepped out of the shadows. He moved with an unnatural grace, his presence both eerie and commanding. His dark eyes gleamed under the moonlight, filled with something unreadable.
His lips curled into a slow smirk. "I've been waiting for this moment."
Ava took a step back, her instincts screaming at her to run. "Who are you?"
The stranger tilted his head, his gaze flicking to her wrist. "Only someone who knows what's coming. And trust me, Ava… you have no idea what you've become."
She swallowed hard, trying to keep her voice steady. "I don't need your help."
His chuckle was dark, almost amused. "Oh, but you will." His eyes glinted as he nodded toward the mark on her skin. "That isn't just a decoration, little wolf. It's a warning."
A shiver ran down her spine.
A warning for what?
Ava's pulse thundered. "Who are you?" she asked again.
The man stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. He leaned in just slightly, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"Lucien."
The name sent a strange ripple through her body, a chill settling in her bones.
He smirked, watching her reaction. "Remember that name, Ava. You'll need it soon."
And then, before she could say another word, he was gone.
Vanished into the night like a shadow.
The sounds of the forest slowly returned—the wind whispered through the trees, the crickets resumed their song, but the unease in her chest remained.
Ava stared at her wrist, heart racing.
What have I become?
She turned her gaze to the path Kael had taken. Anger burned inside her, but something else lingered—something she didn't yet understand.
Kael had rejected her.
Lucien had found her.
And now, nothing would ever be the same.
But she wasn't broken.
She was changing.