THE REJECTION

Every werewolf dreamed of finding their fated mate.

Lyra Ashwood prayed she never would.

For years, she had watched other wolves discover their mates beneath the Silver Moon. She had seen the tears, the embraces, the celebrations. She had watched entire families rejoice when the Moon Goddess joined two souls together.

But Lyra had never believed that kind of happiness was meant for her.

At twenty-one, she was still the only wolf in Blackwood Pack without an awakened wolf. An omega without a family, without status, and without a place among the people who constantly reminded her that she was different.

Tonight was the Moon Mating Ceremony.

The most sacred night of the year.

And Lyra had already decided she would survive it quietly.

The ancient stone arena glittered beneath the enormous Silver Moon. Hundreds of wolves filled the seats surrounding the ceremonial grounds, dressed in their finest clothes. Noble families gathered together, whispering excitedly as they waited for the Moon Goddess to reveal their children's fated mates.

Lyra stood near the back.

Her white dress was simple and slightly faded, a hand-me-down she had carefully repaired herself. It wasn't beautiful, but it was clean.

That was enough.

She lowered her eyes when a group of young she-wolves passed by.

"Is that really what she's wearing?"

A quiet laugh followed.

Lyra pretended not to hear.

She had become very good at pretending.

"Watch where you're standing, Omega."

A shoulder struck hers.

Lyra stumbled but quickly regained her balance.

Vanessa Black stood in front of her, surrounded by two of her friends. As the Beta's daughter, Vanessa had spent years making sure everyone remembered her position.

Her gaze traveled slowly over Lyra's dress before a cruel smile appeared.

"I almost mistook you for someone important."

Her friends laughed.

"Maybe the Moon Goddess will surprise us tonight," one of them said. "Perhaps Lyra will finally get a wolf."

Vanessa tilted her head.

"She hasn't awakened one in twenty-one years. What makes you think tonight will be different?"

Lyra said nothing.

Vanessa stepped closer.

"Unless the Moon Goddess has decided to give her a mate instead."

The girls laughed again.

Lyra lowered her gaze.

She had learned that defending herself only made things worse.

"Ignore them."

A familiar voice came from behind her.

Lyra turned and found Nora standing there.

Her only friend.

Nora immediately moved beside her, glaring at Vanessa until the other girl finally rolled her eyes and walked away.

"Are you all right?" Nora asked.

Lyra nodded.

"I'm used to it."

"That's exactly what bothers me."

Lyra gave her a small smile.

"You worry too much."

"And you don't worry enough."

Nora looked at her dress and sighed.

"You look beautiful."

Lyra almost laughed.

"You don't have to lie."

"I'm not."

Nora's expression softened.

"One day, Lyra, they'll regret treating you like this."

Lyra looked toward the glowing moon.

"I don't need them to regret it."

"What do you need?"

Lyra thought about it.

"To leave."

Before Nora could answer, a deep horn thundered across the valley.

The entire arena fell silent.

The massive iron gates opened.

Royal guards marched through first, their black armor shining beneath the moonlight. The High Elders followed, their ceremonial robes embroidered with silver symbols.

Then the crowd parted.

Alpha King Kael Draven entered.

Lyra forgot how to breathe.

She had heard countless stories about him.

The strongest Alpha in the Seven Kingdoms.

A ruthless king.

A man who had never allowed weakness near his throne.

None of those stories prepared her for seeing him.

Kael was tall, imposing, and dressed entirely in black, silver embroidery tracing the edges of his ceremonial coat. His dark hair framed a sharp face, but it was his eyes that captured Lyra's attention.

Silver.

Cold.

Powerful.

He walked toward the royal platform without acknowledging anyone.

Then, as if sensing her gaze, he stopped.

His eyes moved across the crowd.

And found hers.

Lyra's heart stumbled.

For one strange second, the entire arena seemed to disappear.

Kael stared at her.

Not with anger.

Not with indifference.

Something flashed across his expression.

Surprise.

His jaw tightened.

Inside him, his wolf suddenly stirred.

Mate.

Kael's breathing stopped.

His wolf pushed forward again.

She's ours.

Kael's gaze remained fixed on the girl standing among the crowd.

An omega.

No.

It couldn't be.

His wolf growled.

She's ours.

Kael looked away.

He couldn't allow himself to believe it.

Not after everything the prophet had warned him.

The High Priest stepped into the center of the arena, holding the ancient Moonstone in both hands.

"Tonight, beneath the Silver Moon, the Moon Goddess shall reveal the bonds written by fate."

The crowd fell silent.

"Those chosen by the Moon Goddess shall stand together. Those bound by fate shall recognize one another."

The Moonstone began to glow.

One by one, names were called.

Pairs stepped forward.

Silver light connected them.

Families cheered.

Some couples embraced.

Others cried tears of happiness.

Lyra watched quietly.

She tried to convince herself she didn't want what they had.

Then the High Priest looked down at the Moonstone.

His expression changed.

"Lyra Ashwood."

A wave of whispers swept through the arena.

Lyra froze.

Nora squeezed her hand.

"Go."

Lyra slowly stepped forward.

Every eye followed her.

The moment she entered the center of the arena, the Moonstone began vibrating.

The High Priest frowned.

"Strange."

The vibration intensified.

Then—

BOOM!

Silver light erupted from the crystal.

The entire arena gasped.

Lyra staggered as a sudden warmth spread through her chest.

Her heartbeat accelerated.

Her entire body seemed to recognize something before her mind could understand it.

Then she heard it.

One word.

Mate.

Lyra's eyes widened.

Slowly, she looked across the arena.

Kael was already standing.

His expression was unreadable.

But his eyes...

His silver eyes were locked onto hers.

The bond struck them both at once.

A brilliant silver thread appeared between them.

The arena erupted.

"The Alpha King!"

"She's his mate?"

"That's impossible!"

"The cursed omega?"

Kael didn't move.

Neither did Lyra.

She could barely hear the voices around her.

All she could feel was the invisible connection between them.

For the first time in her life, something inside her felt complete.

Her wolf...

The wolf everyone said she didn't have...

Seemed to stir somewhere deep within her.

Kael descended the royal steps.

Each step brought him closer.

Lyra's heart pounded harder.

Maybe this was the moment her life changed.

Maybe the Moon Goddess hadn't forgotten her after all.

Kael stopped in front of her.

They were close enough for Lyra to see the faint tension in his jaw.

Up close, he was even more intimidating.

But there was something else in his expression.

Pain.

She didn't understand it.

The High Priest smiled.

"Your Majesty, the Moon Goddess has chosen your mate."

Kael remained silent.

His wolf roared inside him.

Claim her.

Kael clenched his fists.

The prophecy returned to his mind.

A dark chamber.

An ancient prophet kneeling before him.

A warning spoken twenty-one years ago.

Beware the Moon-marked wolf.

If she becomes your Queen, your bloodline will fall.

The Seven Kingdoms will burn.

Your crown will become ash.

Kael had spent years preparing for that day.

He had believed the dangerous wolf would be a warrior. Someone powerful. Someone from an ancient rival bloodline.

He had never imagined it would be her.

Lyra Ashwood.

A powerless omega.

His wolf snarled.

The prophecy is wrong.

Take her.

Kael looked into Lyra's eyes.

She was frightened.

But beneath the fear was something else.

Hope.

That hope nearly destroyed his resolve.

Her lips curved into the smallest smile.

"Your Majesty..."

Her voice was barely a whisper.

Kael felt his wolf reach for her.

Then he remembered the prophecy.

His expression hardened.

The High Priest waited.

"Your Majesty?"

Kael took a breath.

"I refuse."

Silence.

Lyra's smile disappeared.

The High Priest stared at him.

"Your Majesty?"

"I refuse this bond."

A gasp swept through the arena.

No Alpha King had ever rejected a fated mate.

Lyra stared at him as though she had misunderstood.

"You..."

Kael stepped closer.

His voice lowered.

"The Moon Goddess may have chosen you."

For one brief moment, his eyes softened.

"But you will never be my Queen."

Lyra's heart sank.

The High Priest hurried forward.

"Your Majesty, reconsider. This is the will of the Moon Goddess."

"My decision is final."

Kael turned toward the crowd.

"I, Alpha King Kael Draven, reject Lyra Ashwood as my mate."

The bond shattered.

Lyra screamed.

Pain exploded through her body.

She dropped to her knees as silver light burst between them and disappeared.

It felt as though something had been ripped from her chest.

Her vision blurred.

The arena erupted in whispers.

Then laughter.

"The Alpha King rejected her!"

"I knew it."

"An omega like her could never be Luna."

Lyra pressed a trembling hand against her chest.

She couldn't breathe.

She couldn't think.

She could only hear Kael's words repeating inside her head.

You will never be my Queen.

Nora rushed toward her.

"Lyra!"

She helped her stand, but Lyra barely felt her.

Across the arena, Kael stood motionless.

His fists were clenched.

Inside him, his wolf was raging.

What have you done?

Kael ignored him.

Take her back.

No.

She's our mate!

"I said no."

Kael's voice was barely audible.

But his wolf answered with a howl of anguish that echoed through his mind.

For a moment, Kael almost turned around.

Almost.

Then the prophet's warning returned.

Everything you love will perish.

Kael walked away.

The royal gates closed behind him.

Lyra watched him disappear.

Something inside her finally went quiet.

She wiped her tears.

Nora held her arm.

"Come with me."

Lyra shook her head.

"No."

"Where will you go?"

Lyra looked toward the dark forest beyond the arena.

"The only place they won't follow me."

Nora's face paled.

"The Sacred Moon Forest?"

Lyra nodded.

"Lyra, people don't go there."

"I know."

"It's forbidden."

"I know."

"Then why?"

Lyra looked back at the palace one final time.

"Because there's nothing left for me here."

She walked away.

Behind her, the kingdom continued celebrating.

Ahead of her, the Sacred Moon Forest waited beneath the Silver Moon.

Lyra stepped beneath the ancient trees.

The moment she crossed the boundary, the wind stopped.

The forest became unnaturally silent.

She took another step.

Then another.

A strange silver glow appeared between the trees.

Lyra stopped.

Her heart began pounding.

Someone was standing in the distance.

A woman dressed in silver robes.

Watching her.

Lyra's breath caught.

The woman slowly raised her head.

And smiled.

"Finally."

Lyra froze.

The woman's eyes glowed like moonlight.

"I've found you."

The silver mark on Lyra's wrist suddenly burned.

And somewhere deep inside the forbidden forest...

something ancient opened its eyes.