Chapter 1: The Beginning

I can't breathe.

 It hurts. Everything hurts. My chest feels like it's about to explode.  So this is what the real pain of rejection feels like.

  I couldn't believe he actually did this. His words still echoing in my ears 

  "I, Sebastian Cole, future Alpha of the Black Moon pack reject you, Alyssa Ross, as my mate, before the Moon Goddess as my witness."

  The bond between us snapped, and I dropped to my knees. Blood trickled from my nose as a sickening wave of nausea rolled through me.

  Somewhere deep down, I had always known this day would come. Sebastian would never choose me.

  But I never imagined he would reject me like this.

  So cruelly, in front of everyone.

  I wished everything could go back to how it was before the Moon Goddess declared us mates.

  Three Months Earlier....

  "Alyssa Ross! You wake up right this instant!"

  My mother's voice drifted into my dream.

  Wait... What was she doing in my dream?

  "Alyssa! Wake up now or you're going to be late!"

  Late?

  Before I could process what she meant, cold water splashed across my face, jolting me immediately out of bed.

  "I'm awake!" I shouted, wiping water from my face.

  My mother stood over me with her hands on her hips. Despite the anger on her face, she was still as beautiful.

  " if you don't get up this minute, you're going to miss the selection meeting."

  The meeting.

  "Oh, no!"

  How could I forget?

  Today was the day every omega who had come of age gathered at the Alpha's estate to be chosen as maids for the umber ceremony preparations.

  Being chosen was considered a great honor. The Alpha's estate housed the Alpha's family and the most important members of the pack. With the umber ceremony approaching they needed every available hand to help prepare, and let's not forget the amount of money the alpha will pay those who were selected.

  The umber ceremony was the sacred night when the Moon Goddess revealed destined mates to every werewolf who had reached adulthood.

  I had turned eighteen two months ago.

  That meant this would be my very first umber ceremony.

  Not only would I witness the ceremony for the first time, but I might finally meet my mate.

  The thought alone sent excitement rushing through me.

  Without wasting another second, I jumped out of bed and hurried into the bathroom to get ready.

  Thirty minutes later, I was rushing out of the house.

  My mother kissing my forehead before I left.

  "Good luck, sweetheart."

  "I'll see you later!"

  I hadn't seen my father since yesterday, but that didn't worry me. He was probably out working, as always, doing everything he could to provide for our family.

  Running as fast as I could towards the Alpha's estate, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going.

  I slammed into someone.

  "Watch Where you're going, omega!" he spat, his voice dripping with disgust.

  Why the disgust?

  Because I was an omega.

  The lowest rank in every pack.

  omegas were considered weak and useless. We were expected to do the hardest labour while everyone else looked down on us. To most of the pack, we existed only to serve.

  At the top stood the Alpha, the strongest of all, ruler of the entire pack.

  Below him was the Beta, then the Gamma.

  And at the very bottom...

  Us.

  omegas answered to everyone.

  The worst part of being an omega was the heat period. During that time, we loose control of our instincts making us vulnerable and dependants on suppressants. We release such sweet scent into the atmosphere that makes it almost impossible for those around to withstand. You can see how dangerous that might be.

  Finally, I reached the Alpha's estate.

  it was even more magnificent than I remembered.

  The last time I had been here was when I was 10 years old for the Alpha's son's fourteenth birthday celebration with my parents.

  Now I was back.

  inside, dozens of omega girls filled the waiting hall, all hoping to be chosen.

  "I really hope they pick me," one girl whispered excitedly.

  "Imagine living in the Alpha's estate," she continued giggling. "We'd get to eat what the Alpha eats... and maybe even see Alpha Sebastian every day." she said dreamily.

  "Stella!" her friend hissed. "keep your voice down.

  Have you forgotten he already has a fiancee? Helena. He absolutely adores her. lowly omegas like us don't even deserve to look at him."

  "I know." "A girl can at least dream." she said laughing.

  Alpha Sebastian.

  just hearing his name made my heart ache.

  if I were chosen to stay here....

  I'd get to see him, everyday perhaps.

  I'd also watch him with Helena everyday.

  That thought alone was enough to crush the tiny spark of excitement I'd been holding onto.

  "Hey! Girl in red!"

  A sharp voice echoed through the hall.

  I looked around, searching for whoever she meant.

  A girl beside me nudged me.

  "Aren't you wearing red too?"

  I blinked.

  I was.

  Not only was I wearing a red dress but my bright red hair made me impossible to miss.

  "You girl with the red dress and hair," the woman on the platform called again. "I'm talking to you."

  My heart skipped a beat.

  she meant, me.

  "Come up here."

  The room feel silent as every pair of eyes turned towards me.

  And in that moment...

  Everything around me faded away.