Chapter 1

Rose’s POV

The night I found my mate was supposed to be the happiest night of my life.

Every young wolf dreamed about it—the moment when the Moon Goddess finally revealed the person destined to be yours. The one who would love you, protect you, and never leave your side.

But fate had always been cruel to me.

So maybe I should have known better.

The Blood Moon Pack’s grand hall was glowing with bright lights as music echoed through the building. Wolves laughed, drank, and danced under the silver moonlight pouring in through the tall windows.

Tonight was the annual Mate Ceremony, the night when many young wolves discovered their destined partners.

Excitement buzzed through the crowd like electricity.

But for me, standing alone near the corner of the hall, the atmosphere felt suffocating.

“Look, it’s the useless omega.”

“Why did she even come?”

“Does she really think someone would want her as a mate?”

The whispers drifted through the air, sharp and cruel. I kept my head down, pretending not to hear them.

I had grown used to it.

My name was Rose, the lowest-ranked wolf in the Blood Moon Pack.

An omega.

Weak.

Worthless.

At least that was what everyone believed.

Unlike other wolves my age, I hadn’t even been able to fully shift into my wolf yet. My wolf remained silent inside me, like she was sleeping—or maybe she simply didn’t exist.

And in a werewolf pack, that was the greatest shame of all.

I clenched the edge of my dress tightly, trying to steady the storm of emotions swirling inside me.

Maybe… just maybe tonight would be different.

Maybe the Moon Goddess hadn’t completely abandoned me.

The pack hall doors suddenly opened with a loud creak.

The room fell silent almost instantly.

Everyone turned toward the entrance.

And then he walked in.

Alpha Sunny.

Tall.

Powerful.

Devastatingly handsome.

The moment he stepped inside, the air itself seemed to shift with his presence. His dark hair was slightly messy, and his sharp jawline made him look almost carved from stone.

But it was his eyes that made every wolf lower their gaze.

Cold.

Commanding.

Dominant.

He was the youngest Alpha our pack had ever had, yet no one dared to challenge him.

Because Alpha Sunny wasn’t just strong.

He was ruthless.

Girls around the hall immediately started whispering excitedly.

“I hope he’s my mate…”

“Imagine becoming Luna…”

“I would die if Alpha Sunny rejected me.”

Their giggles filled the room.

I stayed where I was, quietly watching him from a distance.

Someone like him existed in a completely different world from someone like me.

Suddenly, Alpha Sunny’s eyes moved across the room.

For a brief moment… they landed on me.

My breath caught.

And then something strange happened.

A sudden warmth exploded inside my chest.

My heart began beating wildly.

My wolf—who had always been silent—suddenly stirred.

A voice whispered softly inside my mind.

Mate.

I froze.

No…

No, that couldn’t be possible.

My gaze slowly lifted to meet Alpha Sunny’s again.

His expression had changed.

His eyes widened slightly, as if he had just realized the same thing.

My heart pounded harder.

The Moon Goddess had finally given me a mate.

And that mate was…

Alpha Sunny.

Hope bloomed inside me so suddenly it almost hurt.

Maybe this was why my life had been so difficult.

Maybe all the suffering I had endured was leading to this moment.

My mate.

My Alpha.

But the look on Sunny’s face wasn’t what I expected.

Instead of happiness…

His expression darkened.

A deep frown formed on his forehead.

The entire hall seemed to hold its breath.

Then he began walking toward me.

Every step he took echoed loudly across the silent room.

My hands trembled as he stopped in front of me.

Up close, his presence was overwhelming.

I could smell the strong scent of pine and winter air surrounding him.

My wolf stirred again inside me, desperate and hopeful.

“Mate…” I whispered softly before I could stop myself.

Gasps spread through the crowd.

Everyone stared at us in shock.

Alpha Sunny’s jaw tightened.

For a moment, his golden eyes studied my face carefully.

Then his gaze turned cold.

Ice-cold.

“You,” he said slowly.

My chest tightened.

“Yes… Alpha,” I replied quietly.

A tense silence filled the hall.

Then suddenly—

Alpha Sunny grabbed my wrist roughly and pulled me toward the center of the room.

Pain shot through my arm, but I didn’t resist.

All eyes in the pack were now focused on us.

My heart pounded loudly in my chest.

Why did he look so angry?

This was supposed to be a happy moment…

Right?

Sunny’s voice suddenly echoed through the hall.

“Everyone listen carefully.”

The crowd leaned forward eagerly.

My stomach twisted with nervous anticipation.

Then he said the words that shattered my entire world.

“I, Alpha Sunny of the Blood Moon Pack…”

His grip on my wrist tightened painfully.

“Reject Rose as my mate.”

The world stopped.

For a moment, I thought I had heard him wrong.

My ears rang loudly.

“…What?” I whispered weakly.

Gasps filled the hall.

Then laughter followed.

Cruel, mocking laughter.

Sunny’s voice remained cold and merciless.

“My Luna will never be a weak omega who can’t even shift.”

Each word felt like a knife stabbing into my chest.

“You are unworthy of standing beside me.”

My vision blurred.

Tears filled my eyes, but I forced myself not to cry.

Not here.

Not in front of everyone.

“You have embarrassed this pack long enough,” Sunny continued.

“So I officially reject you.”

A sharp pain exploded inside my chest.

It felt like something inside me was tearing apart.

The mate bond.

It was breaking.

My knees nearly collapsed beneath me.

But Sunny wasn’t finished.

He suddenly turned toward a beautiful blonde woman standing nearby.

Her name was Luna Candidate Amanda—the daughter of the pack’s Beta.

She had always been admired by everyone.

Strong.

Beautiful.

Perfect.

Sunny pulled her gently into his arms.

“I already have someone far more suitable to stand beside me,” he said.

Amanda smiled sweetly as she leaned against him.

“Alpha…”

The crowd erupted into applause.

“Perfect couple!”

“She’s much better than that useless omega!”

“Rose should know her place!”

Their voices echoed around me like a nightmare.

My chest felt hollow.

Empty.

Broken.

Sunny finally released my wrist like I was something disgusting.

I stumbled backward.

My heart hurt so badly I could barely breathe.

But worse than the pain…

Was the humiliation.

Everyone was staring at me with mocking smiles.

Some looked at me with pity.

Others with pure amusement.

I forced myself to stand straight.

If Alpha Sunny wanted to destroy me tonight…

I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me beg.

Slowly, I lifted my head.

My tear-filled eyes met his cold golden gaze.

“Fine,” I said quietly, my voice shaking slightly.

“If rejecting me makes you happy…”

A bitter smile touched my lips.

“Then I accept it.”

The hall grew silent again.

Sunny’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if he hadn’t expected that response.

I turned away from him.

From the pack.

From the place that had never truly been my home.

And then I ran.

Cold night air hit my face as I burst out of the pack house.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as my legs carried me deep into the dark forest.

Branches scratched against my skin, but I didn’t stop.

Didn’t slow down.

Didn’t look back.

The pain in my chest burned like fire.

The mate bond had been violently severed.

Every breath felt like broken glass slicing through my lungs.

Finally, my legs gave out.

I collapsed onto the cold forest ground.

A sob escaped my lips.

“Why…?” I whispered brokenly to the silent sky.

“What did I ever do wrong?”

The moon shone brightly above me, but it offered no answers.

For years, I had endured the pack’s insults.

Their cruelty.

Their rejection.

But tonight…

The person who was supposed to love me the most had destroyed me completely.

“I hate this…” I choked.

“I hate being weak…”

Tears soaked the earth beneath me.

Minutes passed.

Or maybe hours.

I didn’t know anymore.

Suddenly—

A strange sensation spread through the forest.

The wind stopped.

The animals fell silent.

Even the air felt heavier.

My wolf stirred again inside me, restless and alert.

Then a deep voice echoed behind me.

Low.

Dangerous.

Powerful.

“You smell interesting.”

My entire body froze.

Slowly… I turned around.

A tall man stood between the trees.

The moonlight illuminated his figure.

Silver hair.

Sharp golden eyes.

An overwhelming aura of dominance surrounded him—far stronger than any Alpha I had ever seen.

Every instinct inside me screamed the same terrifying truth.

This man wasn’t just powerful.

He was something else entirely.

Something far more dangerous than an Alpha.

His piercing gaze locked onto mine.

Then his lips slowly curved into a dark smile.

“Well…” he murmured softly.

“This is unexpected.”

My heart began pounding again.

Not from fear.

But from something deeper.

Something impossible.

My wolf whispered again inside my mind.

But this time…

The word felt different.

Stronger.

More terrifying.

Mate.

The stranger took a slow step toward me.

His golden eyes gleamed under the moonlight.

And the next words that left his lips made my entire world tilt.

“Looks like the Moon Goddess has quite the sense of humor.”

He tilted his head slightly as he studied my tear-stained face.

“Tell me, little wolf…”

His voice dropped to a dark whisper.

“Why does my mate smell like she’s just been rejected?”