Chapter one

Elara’s pov

 

I stood on the tips of my toes, trying to catch a glimpse of Kevin through the sea of wolves gathered in the district square. Silver banners bearing the Blackwood crest fluttered overhead while excited voices buzzed around me. I felt my heart hammering against my ribs.

 

Today was the day.

 

The day Kevin Blackwood would officially become District Alpha. The day the secrets and hiding will end, the day my suffering ends.

 

I swallowed hard, ignoring the nervous knot in my stomach, call me pathetic, desperate but I’d been in love with Kevin for as long as I could remember. Since the day he’d chased away the boys who stole my lunch, I was so happy when I found out we were mates and now I couldn’t wait to come out of hiding and be with him. I felt hope fill my chest, something I never let myself feel.

 

“Look at her.”

 

The whisper came from somewhere behind me.

 

I stiffened.

 

“Still obsessed with Kevin.”

 

A few girls giggled.

 

Heat crawled up my neck, but I kept my eyes fixed on the platform, I was used to it. Being the omega meant being everyone’s favorite joke, once I became Kevin’s bride I would put them in their place.

 

The crowd suddenly erupted into applause,

as Kevin stepped onto the platform. My heart lurched but I clapped excitedly. Dear heavens he

 

Tall, Broad shouldered, with that irresistible smile , every girl around me sighed dreamily. Ibarely heard them. I was too busy staring at my mate.

 

Kevin raised a hand for silence, his presence immediately overwhelming the crowd. You could hear a pin drop. Finally he spoke.

 

“I have an announcement to make.” He said, a strange feeling settled in my chest. Kevin smiled, not at me but at someone else. I stood there looking confused. my stomach dropped.

 

“Mira Clark.”

 

The crowd parted as a beautiful blonde stepped forward.

 

No.

 

My pulse stumbled.

 

No, no, no…

 

Kevin reached for her hand and pulled her beside him, His smile widened, he never smiled like that with me.

 

“The Moon Goddess has blessed me with a mate.” He said and I felt the ground tilt beneath my face the crowd getting blurry

 

“And her name is Mira Clark.”

 

Mira gave a wide smile, the crowd exploded with cheers. People shouted congratulations at them. I stared so many thoughts crossing my mind all at once. All I could hear was the frantic pounding of my heart and the ringing in my ears.

 

The unmistakable sound of my heart breaking. I couldn’t breathe, I tried and failed. The cheers continued, relentless, it felt like I was being stabbed over and over.

 

Mira the one person that had bullied me since I was 8. The one Kevin had saved me from, the one he knew how much she hurt me and he always encouraged me to let it go. That Mira? His mate is Mira Clark. It suddenly made so much sense, it was never me and that’s why I was always hidden. Kevin Blackwood was ashamed of me. I laughed bitterly, the tears stung and I knew the crowd was watching me. I stood there in the parted crowd people whispering, others laughing with their hands on their lips like I couldn’t hear.

 

I should have left, I should have turned around and disappeared into the crowd before anyone noticed but it was too late. I couldn’t move.

 

I stood frozen as Keven took Mira’s hand and lifted it into the air. Mira’s smile was blinding, like she had won a price, and maybe she had.

 

“Congratulations, Alpha Kevin!”

 

“Long live the future Alpha couple!”

 

More cheers. More applause

 

Mira’s eyes scanned the crowd still smiling, then her gaze landed on me, for a brief moment her smile faltered, then it went back to normal. I felt smaller than I had in years. She thought I was pathetic,everyone did. The omega who had spent years chasing after Kevin Blackwood, the girl stupid enough to believe she ever had a chance. A lone tear slipped.

 

Mira leaned towards Kevin and whispered into his ear and he glanced in my direction. Our eyes met and unbelievably he had the decency to look ashamed his gaze leaving just as quickly, like I was nobody, like I didn’t matter, like he hadn’t spent hours promising me the world and that was the last straw I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I turned and began pushing through the crowd I needed to leave quickly.

 

“Look at Elara.”

 

“I almost feel sorry for her.”

 

“Almost.” A few wolves snickered.

 

My face burned every instinct screaming at me to run, but the crowd was merciless, they kept blocking my path. I kept my head lowered trying to push past my tears and the crowd. Almost, I had almost escaped when Mira’s voice rang across the square.

 

“Elara!”

 

The crowd quieted.

 

My blood turned to ice. I took a deep breath and slowly turned around.

 

Hundreds of eyes fixed on me.

 

Mira smiled sweetly.

 

“Why are you leaving?” she asked loudly. “The ceremony isn’t over yet.” She said. A ripple of amusement spread through the crowd.

 

I clenched my fists.

 

“Congratulations,” I forced out.

 

“Thank you.” Mira said beaming before she paused and I knew more was coming. “I know how much Kevin’s happiness means to you.”

 

Laughter exploded around me. My vision blurred a bit more. Every wolf in the district knew exactly what she was implying, I prayed the ground to open up and swallow me whole.

 

And there Kevin stood he said nothing, Not a single word, Not even as tears stung my eyes, not even as the crowd laughed.

 

That hurt more than anything because in that moment, I finally understood, he never even liked me I was just a fool he played all the while defending his true mate.

 

The crowd parted as Kevin and Mira made their way towards me. The knot in my stomach tightened a bit more, I wanted to disappear. Mira’s hand was looped possessively through Kevin’s the sight alone made my chest ache. They finally stopped in front of me the uncomfortable silence hanging like a curse.

 

Everyone stood silent, enjoying the show. The helpless omega standing before the alpha and his Luna. Kevin sighed and for a moment hope surged in my chest thinking he had something kind to say, mistake.

 

“Elara,” he began. “I never meant to hurt you.”

 

A bitter laugh nearly escaped me, never meant to hurt me? He had just shattered my heart in front of the entire district.

 

“I know you’ve always had feelings for me,” he continued. “But you need to understand something… I never felt the same way.” He said his voice softening at the last bit

 

The words struck harder than a slap.

 

Mira smiled.

 

“You were just… there.” Kevin continued

 

Something cold settled in my chest.

 

“I cared about you as a pack member… but I never loved you.”

 

A few wolves gasped while others smirked clearly enjoying my humiliation.

 

“You built fantasies in your head, Elara. That’s not my fault.”

 

My nails dug into my palms.

 

“You were never going to be my Luna.”

 

The crowd laughed, actually laughed, no disguise, and Kevin didn’t stop them.

 

“I think she understands now,” she said sweetly, resting her head on his shoulder like they were such great lovers.

 

Something inside me cracked,Not my heart. It was long broken, something else older and more powerful.

 

The air around me suddenly felt different, my wolf stirred violently beneath my skin. I saw the laughter fade, the smiles vanish. Even Kevin frowned.

 

“Elara?”

 

I lifted my head.

 

For the first time in years, I wasn’t looking at him with love but with disgust.

 

“No.”

 

My voice echoed strangely.

 

Stronger.

 

Colder.

 

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and Kevin’s eyes widened.

 

“No?” he repeated.

 

A slow smile spread across my face.

 

“You know what, Kevin?”

 

The ground beneath my feet trembled.

 

“You don’t get to reject something you never had.” I said and the crowd fell silent.

 

I took a step forward.

 

Then another.

 

“You think I need your approval?”

 

A pulse of energy rushed through my body.

 

My wolf roared.

 

Not whimpered.

 

Roared.

 

And for the first time in my life, everyone heard her.

 

Fear flashed across Kevin’s face.

 

Fear.

 

“I reject you, Kevin Blackwood and like weak, no personality wolf.”

 

The words rang across the square.

 

“I reject every lie.”

 

“I reject every memory.”

 

“I reject every feeling I ever had for you.”

 

Mira’s smile vanished and Kevin stared at me as though he were seeing me for the first time.

 

I met his gaze without flinching.

 

“From this day forward,” I said, “you mean nothing to me.”

 

And somewhere deep inside me, my wolf opened her eyes. I turned and left the square heart racing, mind racing even my legs picked up in a race. I’m done with this life.