Chapter Two

Sable

Look at her. It's actually pathetic."

Celeste giggled.

I kept my eyes glued to the floor. The cold floor felt like the only solid thing left in my world. I wished the ground would just crack open and swallow me whole. I could feel the stares of the purebred wolves burning into the side of my face.

"She finally got what she deserves," Celeste whispered loudly to her circle of friends. "Stupid bitch. Always parading herself around like she was any better just because she had the Alpha's protection. Let's see how long that lasts now."

"She really thought she was one of us," one of her friends sneered.

"Now we are going to teach her a lesson," Celeste promised, taking a sip from her glass.

Then the air in the hall shifted completely. The scent of pine and dark rain hit my senses, making my lungs expand. Rhett.

A terrifying, electrifying tether snapped taut, binding my soul directly to the towering man striding through the doors. The mate bond.

He closed the distance in long strides. His massive frame radiated heat as he stopped right in front of me.

"Are you dumb as well as stupid?" he hissed, his voice dropping so low only my sensitive ears could catch it.

I froze, my heart dropping to my stomach. "Rhett, we are..."

"Shut your mouth," he snapped, his eyes flashing with disgust. "I don't see you as Luna's potential. You are basically a human. A weak, pathetic human. You aren't fit to stand beside me. And besides, I love someone else."

"What are you saying?" I choked out.

He didn't answer. He shoved his shoulder hard into mine, knocking me off balance, and walked past me roughly.

I stumbled, catching myself on a nearby table as Rhett climbed the wooden dais at the front of the hall. He raised a hand. The entire pack fell dead silent.

"I officially have an announcement," his commanding Alpha voice boomed, bouncing off the rafters. "Tonight, the Moon Goddess has blessed us. I have found my fated mate, and your future, Luna."

My heart fluttered for a fraction of a second. Did he change his mind?

"Celeste Harrow," Rhett declared, extending his hand. "Come up here, my love."

The hall erupted in cheers.

Celeste smirked at me, a venomous, triumphant smile spreading across her lips before she glided up the steps to take his hand. Rhett pulled her in by the waist, kissing her deeply in front of everyone. My chest caved in. I couldn't breathe. The bond screamed in agony.

Before I could slip out the back doors to escape the humiliation, a brutal grip clamped around my wrist. Rhett materialized beside me, his fingers digging into my skin. He dragged me out of the hall, down a secluded corridor away from the celebrating pack.

"How could you do this to me?" I cried out, tears finally burning my eyes. "We are mates, Rhett! You just humiliated me in there!"

"My future comes first," he snarled, leaning in close until his breath fanned my face. "Did you really think I would let some stupid mate bond tie me to a weakling? I need a purebred Luna. I need power."

"You can't just ignore the bond!"

"Well, I just did," he growled, his hand moving to grip my jaw tight.

"Let me make this perfectly clear. If you ever breathe a word of this to anyone, if you ever mention we are mates, I will personally banish you from this territory. You will die as a rogue. Do you understand me?"

I whimpered, trying to pull away from his crushing grip. "Rhett, please..."

"Shut up!" he roared, his eyes flashing gold. His dominant aura forced me to my knees.

"I, Alpha Rhett of the Blood Moon Pack, violently reject you as my fated mate."

The words ripped through my chest like a physical blade. I screamed in agony as our soul bond shattered. But Rhett wasn't finished.

He grabbed my hair, yanking my bleeding face up to meet his cold eyes.

"And starting tomorrow," he whispered darkly, "I hand you over to Celeste.”