Hatred

Selene remained on the cold stone floor, frozen in place. Her chest felt like it had been ripped open. The spark she had felt, that beautiful, fated connection now burned like acid in her veins. She had dreamed of this moment in secret for years. In her foolish heart, she had imagined that if the Moon Goddess ever paired her with Kai, he might see past her dark skin. That he might finally look at her with something other than indifference.

Instead, he had looked at her like she was filth.

A broken sob escaped her lips. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to hold the pieces of her heart together, but it was useless. Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks as the distant sound of cheering and music floated up from the party.

She stayed there for what felt like hours, curled against the stone wall, until the cold became unbearable. Slowly, painfully, she pushed herself to her feet. Her legs felt weak, but she forced herself to move. She couldn’t stay here any longer.

With heavy steps, Selene made her way down the tower stairs and slipped out through the servants’ exit. The night air was colder now as she walked the long path back to her family’s estate. Every step hurt. The mate bond kept pulling at her, urging her to go back to him, but she fought it.

*He doesn’t want me,* she thought bitterly. *Of course he doesn’t.*

When she finally reached the large family castle, the main building was dark and quiet. The real celebration was still happening at the palace. Selene didn’t even try to enter through the main doors. She headed straight to the maids’ quarters at the back of the compound, the place she had called home for years, despite being the daughter of the house.

As she approached, the few maids still awake quickly moved out of her way. Some whispered behind her back. Others openly stared with disgust. Even among servants, she was treated as an outcast.

Selene kept her head down and entered her small, cramped room at the very end of the hall. It was barely bigger than a storage closet. A narrow wooden bed, a worn-out dresser, and a single cracked mirror were all she had. She closed the door softly behind her and sat down on the edge of the hard bed.

She stared at the floor for a long time, still dripping with dried wine and tears.

“I have a mate…” she whispered to the empty room. “And he hates me.”

The reality of what had happened kept crashing over her again and again. Prince Kai, the boy she had secretly loved from afar since they were children was her destined mate. Yet the look in his eyes when the bond snapped into place was one of pure revulsion. He hadn’t said a word. He had simply walked away.

Selene lay down on the thin mattress, curling into a ball. She pulled the old, threadbare blanket over her body, but it did nothing to warm the coldness inside her chest. Sleep refused to come. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Kai’s disgusted expression. She heard the cheers for Elara’s beautiful white wolf. She remembered her parents’ proud smiles for her sister while they had ignored her existence all day.

“Why?” she whispered into the darkness. “Why give me a mate if he will never want me?”

Tears soaked into the thin pillow as silent sobs shook her shoulders. She had no wolf. She had no love from her family. And now, even her mate had rejected her without a single word.

The noise from the distant palace party eventually faded as the night grew deeper. Selene lay there, exhausted but unable to sleep, wondering how she was supposed to face tomorrow.

How was she supposed to live knowing that the one person the Moon Goddess chose for her wanted nothing to do with her?

……

The next morning arrived with soft golden sunlight filtering through the palace gardens. Selene had barely slept. Her eyes were swollen from crying, but she still reported for duty like always. She couldn’t afford to miss work. Not when this job was the only thing keeping her fed and clothed.

She moved quietly through the royal garden, carrying a fresh bouquet of white roses that Queen Astra loved. As she arranged them carefully in a crystal vase near the outdoor breakfast table, she noticed the Queen and King sitting together, enjoying their morning tea.

Luna Astra looked up first. Her warm eyes softened the moment they landed on Selene.

“Selene,” Astra called gently. “Come here, dear.”

Selene hesitated for a second before approaching and bowing respectfully. “Good morning, Your Majesties.”

Astra stood up and surprised her by pulling her into a gentle hug. “Happy birthday, Selene. I know yesterday was hard for you, but I want you to know that I remembered. I always remember.”

Selene’s eyes stung with tears. It was the first time anyone had wished her a happy birthday in years.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” she whispered, voice thick with emotion.

Astra pulled back and cupped Selene’s face with both hands, studying her with motherly affection. “You are such a kind and hardworking girl. I wish you find your mate soon, someone who will see how truly special you are and love you the way you deserve.”

Alpha Lysander, who had been watching quietly, set down his teacup and stood as well. He placed a large, comforting hand on Selene’s shoulder.

“I wish the same,” he said, his voice deep and sincere. “I hope one day soon, everyone including your parents will open their eyes and see your true worth. You are not a curse, Selene. Never let them make you believe that.”

Selene’s lips trembled. For the first time in a long while, warmth bloomed in her chest. These two people the Alpha and Luna of the pack had always treated her with kindness when no one else would. Their words felt like a healing balm on her broken heart.

“Thank you,” she said softly, lowering her head so they wouldn’t see her tears. “Your words mean more to me than you’ll ever know.”

To show her gratitude, Selene quickly went to work. She personally prepared a special herbal tea blend she knew Luna Astra loved for her headaches and arranged a beautiful fruit platter with flowers carved from melons something she had secretly practiced for months. When she served it, both Astra and Lysander’s faces lit up with delight.

“Selene, this is wonderful!” Astra exclaimed, tasting the tea. “You always know exactly what I need.”

Lysander smiled proudly. “You have a gift for making others happy, even when you’re hurting. Never lose that.”

Selene bowed again, a small, genuine smile finally touching her lips. For a brief moment, the pain from last night felt a little lighter.

But unknown to her, someone had been watching the entire scene.

From the upper window of his private chambers in the royal tower, Prince Kai stood with his arms crossed, jaw clenched tightly. He had barely slept either. The memory of the mate bond kept replaying in his mind, that powerful spark, the way his wolf had howled in recognition, and the sight of Selene’s dark skin and tear-filled eyes.

“How could the Moon Goddess do this to me?” he muttered angrily. “Someone so weak… so pathetic. She has no wolf. She’s nothing but a burden.”

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He stormed out of his room and headed toward the garden, his blood boiling.