Chapter one

Tick Tick tok.

I stared at the clock, my heart beating as every second passed as if it is going to make it happen faster.

“You look beautiful Ava.” My mother spoke and I smiled, she stared at me for a second. “Your father is proud of you.” She added.

My throat dry and my palm sweaty and I gave her a silent smile, I have being waiting for this for a long time.

Tonight is the binding ceremony- the night I finally get claimed by Alpha Damon.

“It’s time.” I smiled and mom pulled her hand out for me to take, as we headed outside, I found father beside me, leading me into the crowd, people parted ways for me to head through it.

When we reached to the middle, an entire space just for me, my eyes finally peered up and I saw him.

Alpha Damon.

He choose me.

He has not spoken to me since the bond was confirmed, mom always said maybe it has to do with his own integrity, he wanted to do it right.

“Do you Alpha Damon take Ava to be your mate and your future Luna, to lead the pack beside you and strengthen you.” The elder asked and I smiled.

His eyes were on mine when I saw a hint of regret, a flash of betrayal flowing through his eyes before he said the words that broke me.

“No.” Damon spoke, his voice firm and commanding. “

That single word cut like a blade. Damon’s eyes held mine; sharp and merciless.

My breath hitches and my father’s hand got tighter on mine, my eye bubbled with tears as I stared at him.

The whole community gasped, I could hear murmurs and whispers.

“I Alpha Damon, reject you Ava as my mate, as my Luna and as my anything.” He announced, his tone harsh and unwelcoming. “You are fragile, you are weak. A Luna should command fear and not pity, you are not worth being glanced at.” His voice was venom.

It was filled with regret and unfamiliar emotions.

My chest shattered like glass and I could feel the pain radiating through my body.

“No.” I breathed out staring at him, when I let go of my father’s hand. “you can’t do this to me, you do not get to make this decision.” I whispered so low, I could barely hear my heart beating against my chest.

Damon stared at me, cold and regretful, when he looked away from me. He sized my chin, claws grazing my skin until blood swelled.

“I can and I will, you do not belong to me, you don’t belong to my community.” He yelled shoving me away.

I glanced across the area and whispers flared

“She is pathetic.”

“She is weak.”

“He is right about that.”

My eyes swelled with tears, the words still echoing through my mind.

“Why? Why are you doing this.” I yelled and the crowd gasped, no one ever yelled at the Alpha and I just did.

I could hear mummers.

“You were never meant for someone like me.” Damon spoke. His eyes flickered with something-regret- no it’s something darker. “Keeping you with me would be cruelty, and maybe Ava I want to watch you suffer.”

My face twisted in disappointment and so did my parents when someone pulled me out of the crowd.

“She is rude”

“She has no manners”

These words echoed through the crowd and it filled my mind, my eyes filled with more tears, my chest tightened, he rejected me for the world to see.

——

“What did you do?.” Father yelled when my body fell to the ground, I turned to stare at him and mom, the candles in the house felt even more dimmer and surrounded by my darkness, his eyes darkened with anger.

“I didn’t- enough.” Mom yelled. “Do you realise what you have done, you yelled at the Alpha, you cursed at him, and do you even realize what they are saying.” She asked.

“He rejected me.” I breathed out, my heart tightened against my chest, I wanted to run, I wanted to be free, I didn’t want to be any part of this conversation.

“If he rejected you, you have to have done something horrible for that to happen, did you yell at him, did you curse at him before, I trained you better than this.” Father yelled and I shake my head.

My heart skipped a beat as I heard both of them yell, shifting blames between who didn’t bring me up properly, or how tech should have never let me out of the house after it was confirmed I would be his mate.

My legs shook, my eyes burning with rage when I stood up and I reached for the other side of the door.

Their words still ringing in my head.

“Ava.” I heard my mom yell and I turned to her, “If you leave never come back again.” She spoke and my heart shattered, she meant every word. And my father stood beside her backing her up.”

“You disgraced us, we put us to shame.” Father yelled again, I reached further to the door and I found myself heading into the forest.

My knees weakened but not from grief, from rage and I ran into the forest, escaping my pain, I could not stop running, my parents voice filled my mind, how easy it is for them to let go for me, they loved me when they found it I would be his mate but not anymore.

I could hear his voice too.

Damon.

Warm and cold, and his deadly gaze.

The way Damon rejected me, my chest burned as if Damon had carved my heart out with his claws, and my feet trembled against the ground when I fell to the ground and a scream escaped my lips.

Somewhere in a distance, I heard a wolf growl.

Without having any idea of where I am, where I could be?

I could have stepped into the wrong territory.

I froze.

The growl is not from Damon’s wolf’s it’s someone else.

My heart hammered trying to figure out what is happening, when I froze again.

My pulse right in my throat when a man stepped out of the darkness, his presence radiating danger, he was nor dressed like a a warrior, he didn’t wear the clothes that they did.

I froze, my wolf practically begging for help when I stared at him, he came out of darkness and I tried to move away, I could not, I didn’t realise I had a wound on both my feet.

“Who…who are you?” I whispered, my eyes filled with tears as he stared at him.

I stared at him again, feeling the wave of anxiety washing over me when I realized I have been bitten.

“You are not dying on me tonight, kitten.” He whispered before darkness consumed me.