Chapter one

Eliora’s POV

I stared at the crowd smiling happily. Today was the day of the full moon. A day where young werewolves would shift for the first time and find their mates.

I held my stomach tight as the pain hit me in full force again, almost making me lose my balance.

It wasn't as severe as the last one. This one, left as briefly as it came. The pack doctor said it was due to my pregnancy.

I can't be weak, especially not in front of all my pack members. I am the Luna.

I searched the crowd again wondering why neither my best friend nor my mate were here.

After what felt like eternity away from him, I felt him walk up to me. I smiled and turned around. I threw my arms around him.

“Darling! It's been boring here without you." His hands remained at his side refusing to hug me back. 

I stepped away from him. Maybe he was still mad at me but he wasn't supposed to show it in front of the pack. We were supposed to maintain a united front. 

My eyes moved to my best friend hoping for some back up as usual but she skillfully avoided her eyes. Something was wrong.

I ignored the guilty look on her face. Maybe she was feeling guilty for not coming to help me when I needed her.

“Where were you? I needed you by my side but you were nowhere to be found." He refused to respond to me. 

“What are you doing? You are drawing the attention of the pack.” I said slowly but he still maintained a straight face and refused to speak to me.

I smiled and withdrew my hands from around his neck. I turned to the crowd performing the job of a Luna as I had successfully done for the past years.

“The moon is almost at its peak. We should take our seats.” It was my job as Luna to remain calm. 

We would talk it out after the ceremony. Now, it was about the people and no one else.

I looked up to the sky. The moon was almost at its peak. I admire its beauty.

        

" It's at its peak! It's time." I screamed happily. My eyes scanned the crowd as some teenagers were screaming in pain due to their first shift. It happens every year but each year feels different.

        

Cold hands clasped around my warm arm and I was forced to turn around. I planned on confronting the person but the words dried in my throat when I saw the look on his face.

Something was definitely wrong.

   

" I, Alpha Kace Thayer of Bloodclaw pack, reject you , Eliora Thayer as my mate and Luna of the Bloodclaw pack." I gasped as I stared at him. He just rejected me! 

“What do you mean? What's happening? We can talk this out Kace!” I said trying to hold his hand but he slapped my hands to you. I held my stomach tight as I felt the pain spreading through my body. It was getting worse by the second.

If only I could hold out for a few minutes, I told myself. He wasn't in his right senses. He would regret this as soon as he came back to his senses. I have to be there for him. I can do this.

“It's Alpha to you!” I struggled to look at his face. His eyes were not the ones that had looked at me tenderly for the past few years. The tenderness in his eyes were gone. They were replaced with anger, determination.

Agonizing pain coursed through my veins as realization hit me. The force almost knocked me down. I felt every fiber in my body being torn into two. Each breath felt like fire. My whole being shuddering in effect.

I tried to hold it in but I couldn't stop the tears. I just need to be strong.

        

I felt the bond being snapped out of place. The rejection wouldn't be completed until I accepted his rejection. He wasn't in his right sense. We never had any problem that would warrant his rejection, I chanted to myself as I tried to breathe through the pain.

    

    " No o. You can't do this to us!" I cried out as I felt my chest  tighten. It was worse that I had no wolf to take all or part of the pain. I had to bear it all.

        

She struggled to look at my best friend wondering why she wasn't by my side, urging me to stay strong and slapping my mate. 

But the bitch was smiling, her arms linked with that of her mate. The pain shot up to another level as I realized what had happened. The bitter taste of their betrayal filled my mouth and I felt the tears run down faster.

Now that I think of it, it all makes sense. They always went missing together and came back together. 

I always felt the pain when they weren't with me. I turned to the pack’s doctor in tears. She was also with them. She knew why I was in pain but blamed it on stress. 

They all betrayed me!!

" You are already in too much pain as it is. So, just accept the rejection or die trying not to. You don't have a wolf so you are as weak as an average human. You will die at this rate, Eliora. Stop trying hard to be strong. You will never be strong". The person I once considered as my best friend said as she rested her head on my mate’s shoulders.

I watched as he patted her head softly. He had never shown this type of affection to me.

I struggled to my feet, feeling liquid run down from my nose. I could taste my own blood. I felt my consciousness being tugged at. I was a few minutes away from tapping out.

I am not going to die. I have to be the strong Luna that everyone needs. I chanted. The full moon seemed to mock me.

" I accept your rejection." I said weakly in defeat. I felt the pain in my chest subside. There was stillness. My chest felt empty. The voice that kept me awake most of the night was gone. It was ripped away from me.