3

April

Six hours ago

Scott takes the ring from Alpha Kelvin, which symbolizes the power and title of Alpha, indicating that today, he will officially become the Alpha of our Blue Amber Pack, before he swears in his young but powerful voice.

 “I solemnly swear that I will protect and lead this pack with all my might and do everything in my power to assure the members of this pack a safe and comfortable life.”

If he has shifted and is about to take his position as the new Alpha, it means that he would have been able to find his mate.

Finishing his long speech about his duties, the elder turns towards the crowd with spread arms, “Members of the Blue Amber Pack, please bow down to your new Alpha.”

The crowd gasps in unison as the bond snaps into place, Scott clenching his jaw before he flashes the crowd another one of his gorgeous smiles. We all bow deeply, baring our necks in respect.

“Are you ready to tell us who your Luna is?” the elder asks, turning towards Scott and making my heart still in my chest.

Scott nods, his gaze meeting mine. I feel everyone's gaze on me, my heart racing in my chest as my nervousness expands in my chest.

A special connection seems to link Scott and me, which leaves me a little confused, because it is not my birthday today, and there are still months left until I will shift, so I shouldn't be able to feel the mate bond.

An invisible force like a wave brings me closer to Scott's spirit, and I feel happy about the connection, as it can only mean one thing: I am Scott's mate.

He holds our eye contact for a long moment before he lifts it, holding out his hand to someone in the back of the crowd. And not me.

My blood turns cold. Why does he ignore the connection between us?

Am I hallucinating?

“Hailey,” his deep baritone voice rumbles through the air, shattering my heart in a million pieces as I turn around to look at Hailey smiling back happily at him.

I can't believe how everything I just felt crumbles into nothingness.

My thoughts spiral as the crowd cheers in joy, and she lifts her long skirt to join her mate on the stage while my eyes well up with tears.

Hailey is a new member of our pack. She is popular among our male members because of her beauty, and it is not something that should be blamed or discussed.

But I have seen her other female followers treat girls who can't match with their group in a awful way. Hailey never does this with her own hands, but she watches the bullying with a playful expression.

And my disruption of their activities just made them hate me more.

I force down the urge to let emotions overwhelm me in front of everyone, breathing slowly to calm my racing heart.

I act as if nothing happened, forcing up a smile and clapping my hands as Hailey bumps into me.

“Oh, April. Sorry, I’m being so nervous that I get clumsy,” Hailey giggles in her high-pitched voice.

“Don’t worry,” I smile sadly, taking another step out of her way.

She tilts her head at me and I feel the soil tremble as Scott must have jumped down the stage to reach us.

“Don’t you want to congratulate me? I just got proclaimed your Luna!” She smiles mockingly, my heart twisting at the desperation I am feeling at this outrageous situation and his scent enveloping me.

“April, don’t act like this!” Scott reprimands me in an annoyed tone.

“Don’t ruin this special day for everyone.”

“Of course not,” I say, hating how my eyes well up with tears.

“Congratulations, Hailey.”

“Oh, please call me Luna!” she giggles again, making me feel even more humiliated.

“Congratulations, my Luna,” I say through gritted teeth, my voice shaking because of the sobs fighting their way up my throat.

Hailey smiles happily and passes me without even sparing me another glance.

Feeling paralyzed with shock, I watch Hailey reach Scott and greet him with a kiss. He takes her hand, and together they get back up onto the stage.

Under the pitiful looks of the people around me, I excuse myself and walk away.

I know exactly that this is highly disrespectful behavior and that I would have probably been punished for it by the new Alpha and Luna, but at this moment I couldn’t care less.

As soon as I’m far enough from the crowd, I start running, holding up the skirt of my long gown to prevent me from stumbling over it. I feel stupid as I made my mother buy it for this occasion, only to look good for him.

Reaching a small cage, I don’t care about how I would ruin the dress as I crawl into the narrow space.

I sit at the end of the cave, burying my head into my arms as I pull my legs closer and cry my heart out.

My heart hurts so much and I feel so incredibly stupid. I don’t even notice how the hours go by as my tears finally stop falling.

Wiping the tears from my cheeks, I take a deep breath and decide to rot in this small cave forever as I hear a giggle outside.

“Hailey?” I whisper to myself, and groan, really not wanting to find my crush making out with that stupid girl.

It is quite a secluded place out here, and I don’t know many people, besides my pathetic ass, who would come out here.

As soon as I’ve crawled out of the cave, I spot Hailey right away.

But she is alone.

I lift a brow and scurry after her, just to see her walking towards the pack’s borders.

“Hailey!” I shout, wanting to stop her. “Wait, it’s dangerous over there.”

Lifting my gown slightly, I run in her direction, looking around constantly to find someone from the border patrol.

‘Where are they?’ I ask myself as I pick up my speed to reach her.

“Hailey!” I call again, but she doesn’t seem to be able to hear me.

“Hailey, the pack’s territory ends there. Do not cross the border!”

She looks back at me from a distance but doesn't stop.

Just as I’m getting closer to her, I hear a rustling in the trees and I stop to lift my gaze, turning around to spot who it might be.

A scream resounds from the direction in which Hailey went and I turn my head panicky just to see a shadow in the corner of my eyes.

I don’t even get to react in time as I get tackled out of nowhere and hit my head as I fall onto the ground. With a groan, I try to get up, but my body gives out, and I get enveloped in darkness.