Chapter 1

Leila’s pov

I felt it, it was right there in my chest, each beat felt unique with a force. I haven't felt this excited in a long while, but it was different today.

It was the full moon today, a day when a large festival was usually held at the NIGHTSHADE pack. All distinguished members gathered around the ancestral hall to celebrate our existence and the gift of the full moon, because for every wolf, the full moon was our greatest strength, and we are nothing without it.

But that was not just why I was excited, it was also my birthday today, my eighteenth, and the day I had waited for all my life when I finally got to feel the mate bond that I share with Alpha Ryder.

He was twenty-four years old and had gotten his wolf two years back, that was when he realized that we were mates, and since then, both of us have been together. Even in the midst of all the chaos going on in my life, Ryder had been my source of strength.

Ryder had explained to me everything regarding the mate bond, and at this point, I could hear the sound of my heart pounding rapidly. I could feel my stomach churning, and it kept twisting and knotting, so I pressed my palm against it.

This was all that I had wanted all my life, the anxiety was mixed with the tension, alongside the excitement that had consumed me to the point where it felt like I was going to choke.

The arena was filled with so much noise from the crowd, and then suddenly it came like a wave. I could feel it, my wolf finding her way towards me, alongside her came that strange feeling tugging inside of me, as if an invisible thread had been pulled between my ribs and that of Ryder.

Then came that clear picture, my eyes, my ears, the contrast of my life had all become vivid. No matter how much Ryder had explained this feeling to me, it did not prepare me for this moment.

I could not hear the noise that filled the arena; the only thing I wanted was to share this moment with Ryder. My heart was longing for him in ways that I never thought it could.

I dashed out towards the ancestral hall and, like a wolf searching for her prey, my eyes began to scan around in search of Ryder, but he was nowhere. I had checked everywhere he was supposed to be at this moment, but there was no trace of him anywhere.

The thought quickly crossed my mind as I realized that he could have returned to his chamber to get some rest, I swirl around, my heart is still racing in excitement, but just as i was about to head to his room, I heard a familiar sound emanating from one of tent where mates were making out on a full moon.

It was the sound of moaning from within and since I was still adjusting to my earring, it was too loud for me. But I recognize the voice, it was that of my sister Iris, but she was not the reason I came to a halt.

His scent filled my nose, that familiar scent that I would recognize even in the midst of stronger scents. It belongs to Ryder, the only man who takes away my breath, but why was his scent so strong and emanating from the tent where Iris was moaning out?

Even as I moved closer to the tent, my legs were trembling, like they were about to betray me. The sound of my heart racing grew with fear but something inside of me kept telling me this was all a misunderstanding and I had no reason to be afraid.

Ryder stopped talking about how much he loves and adores me, and the fact that he was ready to wait for me, even if it would take eternity to get my wolf. There is no way he would cheat on me, not with my sister.

My hand caught hold of the tent, I pulled it to a side, and before me were two people of the opposite sex entwined around each other and having the best moment of their lives. Just then, Iris locked eyes with mine and her lips curled up into a silly smirk while still moaning loudly.

I clutched onto my chest, almost collapsing to the ground, but held myself firmly.

It was at this moment that Ryder finally turned around, and as soon as he noticed my presence, he jerked away from her and quickly tugged his pants up.

“Leila! What are you doing here?” his lips were trembling while he asked, but he did not dare look me in the eyes.

As he rushed out of the tent and grabbed my arm, it had drawn the attention of everyone around as they all left what they were doing and were now staring at us.

There was a whisper going on in the crowd, their eyes glued to us, curious about the scene that was about to unfold before them.

“Leila, you are not supposed to be here, you should be with your friends celebrating under the full moon.”

His words pierced me like a knife, but I wasn't going to cry; he did not deserve to see my tears.

“I thought you were going to come up with some sort of excuse, perhaps tell me that it was my eyes deluding me, and I did not just witness you on top of my sister.” Even as I said the words, it felt like a lump in my chest.

“Yes, you just did!” Iris' voice suddenly came through as she stepped out from the tent fully dressed.

“You are so naive and stupid to think that the Alpha would make a nobody like you his Luna just because you are his mate.” This time, the smirk on her lips deepened as her eyes went back and forth at me.

“You are going to step away from this, you slut! While I talk to my man?”

“Your man?” she chuckled sarcastically, like I had just made the worst joke.

“You are not just naive, but dumb! Even after watching the way he wrapped his arms around me, you still think that he is your man. Alpha go ahead and tell her”

“Tell me what, what the hell is going on Ryder?” I was anxious that at this point, I couldn't breathe, and the eyes around us were not making it any easier.

“I am so sorry Leila, this is not how I wanted you to find out, but you can't become my Luna”

“What are you talking about, Ryder? You have always talked about how you couldn't wait for me to get my wolf, that way I can finally become your Luna?” his eyes trailed at me with nothing but disgust, like I was some sort of trash.

“Is that supposed to be a joke, you becoming the Luna” he let out a dry chuckle that didn't reach his throat before he continued again.

“The position of a luna is no joke, you are an orphan with no roots or heritage, and there is no way that the pack will let you become the luna,  am sorry but I would have to reject the mate bond”

His words crashed right to my soul, and as I stood with all my pains visible for everyone to see, my entire world came crashing before my feet.