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***Moonlight pack***

  The moon hung low in the sky, casting its glow over the gathering that seemed to fill the once empty grounds.

  Crystal stood beside George, the Beta of the Moonlight pack.

  Her heart racing with anticipation, she had imagined this moment so she thought.

  Amy, her best friend,had informed her earlier that George was planning a surprise for her. Now standing here she seems to know what it is all about.

  Just then George turned to her, his eyes bore into her soul as he spoke. "I, Beta George of the Moonlight pack hereby reject you-Crystal".

  A weight settled in her chest, making it hard to breathe. She thought George would accept her.

  When she turned sixteen, George had informed her that she was his mate and even went as far as seeing her parents.

  What went wrong?

  She thought George would accept her, at the very least acknowledge the mate's bond - he was her mate after all.

  "What do you mean" Crystal's voice cracked as she stepped forward.

  "You do not expect i, the Beta of the Moonlight pack to accept a werewolf who hasn't shifted. You are human, Crystal" he replied angrily.

  "I know i do not possess any werewolf abilities but you can't simply disregard the mate bond"

  "It's been four years Crystal. I waited for so long in order to give you time to shift. You are not one of us, I can't be with you. I would be too embarrassed to show myself in any gathering" George spat, his words venomous.

  "You can't do this, George" 

  "I can and I will. I don't want to have anything to do with you".

  The rejection hurts deeply but what hurt even more was that George had further announced he would be taking Amy as his mate.

  Glancing at Amy who had walked too close to George's side not to be noticed.

  The betrayal cut deep and panic swirled around her, suffocating her.

  Her eyes locked onto Amy's, who had a playful smirk on her face. She seemed to realize she had been blinded to the truth.

  Amy had taken one person she thought she could rely on and trust - her mate.

  The pack members had been watching with a mix of curiosity and disdain. She could here the girls giggling as stood together.

  She felt her face burning with shame and embarrassment as the crowd dispersed.

  With George turning to leave, Crystal felt waves of emotions. She had been rejected and alone.

  What would happen to me?

  Would I be forced to live forever as an outcast?

  The rejection echoed in her mind like a mantra, with the words cutting deep. Her eyes stung even more as she watched George walk away with Amy, their hands clasped together.

  She felt like she was losing everything that mattered to her - her mate.

  Still brooding, she heard footsteps approaching her

  She turned to see her brother, Ethan walking towards her with a concerned look on his face.

  "Crystal, what's going on?" he asked, his eyes scanning the now empty grounds before him. "I could feel your emotions from afar. What's wrong?"

  Crystal felt a lump in her throat as she tried to explain. "George rejected me," she said, her voice barely audible. "And worst still, he chose Amy over me."

  Ethan's face darkened and he pulled her into a tight hug. "I'm so sorry, sis. You are better off without him"

  Crystal nodded.

  As Ethan held her close, Crystal felt a wave of emotions swirling within her.

  She was hurt, angry and betrayed.

  But most of all, she was scared.

  What would happen to her?

  Would she be forced to leave the pack?

  Ethan seemed to sense her fear and held her tighter.

  "We will figure this out," he whispered.

  Crystal nodded

  "I think we need to get out of here," she said pulling away from Ethan. "I need some time to think and process everything".

  Ethan nodded, his expression understanding.

  As they walked away, Crystal felt a sense of uncertainty.

  ...

  On reaching home, Crystal's parents, Edwin and Sophia came out to meet them, concern etched on their faces.

  "Crystal, what happened?" Sophia asked, her voice soft with worry.

  Crystal took a deep breath and explained the situation, trying to hold back tears.

  Her parents listened attentively, their expression growing more serious with each passing moment.

  When Crystal finished speaking, Edwin growled silently.

  Crystal felt a pang of sadness and betrayal.

  Ethan's face darkened. "Why would Amy and George put you through this?"

  "I don't know. It's clear George and Amy had this all planned out to embarrass me".

  Her parents exchanged a concerned glance.

  "We will figure this out, Crystal" Edwin assured her.

  But Crystal knew that she would be forced to leave the pack. As a rejected mate, she would no longer be a pack member.

  The thought was daunting but Crystal steeled herself.

  Crystal excused herself. "I need some time alone," she said, her eyes welling up with tears.

  "Come back early ", Ethan said.

  Crystal nodded and turned away, her feet carrying her towards the forest.

  The forest had always been her comfort area.

  She needed to escape the pain and shame that threatened to consume her...

  As she ran, the trees blurred together, their branches swaying in the wind like fingers reaching out to snatch at her clothes. Crystal didn't notice. She was lost in her own world, a world of pain and heartache.

  She needed to outrun the pain that threatened to consume her.

  She ran faster and faster and stopped.

  She let the pain and heartache wash over her, and she screamed.

  She screamed into the darkness, her voice echoing off the trees.

  The sound was raw and anguished. It seemed to come from deep within her.

  It was a sound of despair, of loss, of heartbreak.

  Crystal felt herself breaking down.

  She felt like she was shattering into a million pieces, each one of them sharp...