CHAPTER TWO

Kane's POV

I don't believe in the Blood Moon Festival.

Yes, of course. I believe all my unmated pack members should attend it. And I made sure that this year's own would be splendid, sparing no expense when it came to all the preparations. They deserved to be happy.

I don't believe in the Blood Moon Festival because it's somehow pointless. What if you fall in love with someone else and the moon goddess doesn't mate the two of you together?

"Come on," I heard Lori's voice as she crept up behind me, throwing her arms around my neck. "Aren't you coming?" She asked, her voice sending shivers down my spine.

"Do I really have to do this?" I was referring to attending the Blood Moon festival.

"Don't you want us to be mated?" She cooed, placing soft kisses on my neck. "When the moon goddess sees that we are so perfect for each other, she'll have no choice but to mate us."

I found myself chuckling. "That doesn't sound like a good idea. In fact," I turned sharply, pulling her into my lap. She laughed, her arms wrapping around my neck. "We're mated already. That's a solid fact."

****

Barely five minutes after I had arrived at the venue, I was hit by a very sweet scent. The air carried with it floral notes of roses, vanilla, and citrus. It hit me so hard that I was actually unable to move.

"Our Mate!" My wolf growled inside of me.

Our what?! Is this a f*cking joke or what?!

"Is anything the problem?" Lori asked, holding my hand and pulling me to face her. "Kane, you look tensed. What's wrong?"

I turned and looked at her. This was all one sick joke. The moon goddess must be playing a trick on me now. The scent wasn't coming from Lori. She was right beside me, holding my arm, and the scent wasn't coming from her.

"I'll be right back," I said, excusing myself. She nodded, pulling away from me.

My wolf kept chanting Mate inside of me. I had to find out who this stupid mate was. How can it not be Lori, the woman I am in love with and have chosen as my mate?! Who is this, mate?!

The crowd parted ways as I came closer. Tracking the scent, I turned and bumped right into someone.

Standing in front of me was Aria, the annoying omega and maid. I was about to shove her aside when it hit me.

The scent was coming from her.

"Mate!" My wolf growled. "She's mine!"

She looked at me, her eyes wide with shock. The look in her eyes was weird—shock and surprise. I frowned, furrowing my brows. She stood frozen in her spot.

"Alpha Kane?" She spoke, her eyes darting behind me. "You're..."

Anger courses through me. What the hell is this?! How is this disgusting low-class omega, my mate?! I am Kane Jason! The alpha of the famed Crescent Moon Pack! How can I be mated to this....

I sighed and rubbed my temples. "This is just disgusting."

"What?"

"Kane, what's wrong?" I heard Lori's voice. She ran up to me, her eyes moving between me and Aria. "Who is this?" She asked with a look of disdain on her face.

Aria bowed her head. Pack members were starting to gather around us.

This is a stupid joke, and I have no time for this.

"I, Kane Jason Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack, rejects you Aria Logan as my fated mate."

My wolf howled in pain inside of me, and I felt the pangs physically. She felt it too, grabbing her chest with a pained look on her face. Tears gathered in her eyes.

"Alpha Kane....you can't..."

"He can't?!" Lori gasped. "How dare you! You think you can tell your alpha what to do?!"

"No! I didn't mean it like that I...."

"You are henceforth banished from this pack." I cut off her ramblings. "Do not ever return, or you will pay with your head."

I turned and walked away. It hurt, but the pain will fade away. I would rather die than be mated to someone of her status.

*****

Aria's POV:

My legs gave way, making me fall to the ground.

I can't believe what has just happened. Mated to the one I had a crush on since forever and then rejected in a heartbeat? Why is my life always so unfortunate? I came here hoping that I would finally be happily mated.

And yet, here I am.

My wolf howled to no end inside of me. I grabbed my chest, my heart aching so bad that I felt like it had been torn out of my chest and left bleeding on the floor.

The pain was more than any pain I had felt before. Hot tears gathered in my eyes but refused to fall.

Banished too. Oh my goddess, where will I go?! I have no one in this pack. No family, no friends, no mate. I'm all alone here.

Suddenly, my leg is kicked out from under me. I fell face flat to the ground, groaning in pain as I did.

"You dirty mutt." I heard someone hissing in anger, "Did you even think you could be mated to the alpha Kane?! Did you?!"

"She's so pathetic." Someone else said.

"Look at her. She even dared show up here in those rags."

"How disgusting. We should move away from her before we catch her germs."

"Take a picture! Hurry!"

"She thinks she can be Luna. What is this? A drama?! The only one qualified to be Luna is Lori."

"Yes, Lori is the perfect candidate for Luna. Plus, she and Alpha Kane are totally getting married."

On and on, they talked. how unfortunate I was, about how I was a shameful being. They talked about the moon goddess making a mistake by mating me to Alpha Kane. They talked and talked. No one offered to help me out. No one spoke up for me.

Their voices became a drone in the back of my mind. I thought far and wide about where I could go right now. I was born here. I had hoped to die here.

Banished.

Banished. Kept ringing in my ear.

Suddenly, I felt strong arms grab me and pull me up to my feet. I came face-to-face with two hefty and very angry-looking guards. They dragged me up to my feet and started to drag me away.

I didn't even have the voice to protest. The crowd shouted and booed at me. Someone threw their cup of alcohol at me. And another. And another. Soon, they were pelting me with all sorts of things.

The tears dripped from my eyes and fell to the ground. I tried to walk on my own, but apparently I was too slow for the guards. They dragged me, my bare legs bumping on the ground. I winced in pain, knowing that by now I was bleeding.

They dragged me to the pack borders. I felt my heart start to race.

"No, no, please!" I cried out. "Don't throw me out, please! I'll do anything! Please!"

"It's too late now." One of the guards said, "Alpha's orders."

I hadn't been out of the pack before. Not even once. My body is trembling in fright. Outside the borders, it looks so dark and cold.

Without warning, the guards threw me over. I fell on my ankle in a bad spot. The pain shot up my head, and I screamed bloody murder.

"Remember, don't ever come back." The guard said and turned away.

"Please!" I cried. "I'll die out here!"

In mere seconds, they were gone, and I was all alone. I looked around the forest, it was so dark and so quiet. I heard a rustle in the bushes. My heart dropped to my stomach.