CHAPTER1- THE REJECTION.

"You're nothing but an omega, Selena. Weak. Insignificant." Damian's voice cut through the air like a blade, sharp and unforgiving. "You can never stand beside me."

The words hit Selena like a physical blow, and she froze, every muscle in her body locking into place. The bond that had once felt so strong—so undeniable—was now a chain around her heart, pulling her into the depths of despair. She had hoped for this moment for so long. She had dreamed of it. But nothing could have prepared her for this.

Her silver eyes locked onto Damian's golden gaze, searching for some flicker of remorse, some sign that this was all a cruel joke. But there was nothing. His expression was cold, detached, like she was nothing more than a passing inconvenience.

The crowd behind her remained silent, the air thick with tension. Selena could hear the whispers, the disbelief, and the pity as they waited for something—anything—to break the tension. But all she could do was stand there, trembling under the weight of his rejection.

"You think you're strong enough to be my mate?" Damian continued, his words laced with a cruel finality. "You're not. You're just an omega. You don’t belong with me."

Selena’s heart shattered, but she refused to let him see the pain. She straightened, lifting her chin in defiance. No. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing her crumble.

"You’re wrong," she managed to say, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her. "I’m stronger than you think. Stronger than you ever gave me credit for." Damian's eyes flickered, but only for a moment. "It doesn't matter. I’ve made my decision."

The finality of his words slammed into her chest, and before she could stop herself, tears welled up in her eyes. But she wouldn’t cry. Not here, not in front of them. She spun on her heel, taking one last glance at him, hoping for some sign of regret, but he was already turning away. The connection—the bond that had once felt so warm and right—now felt like a chain around her throat.

"Selena, wait!" someone called after her, but she didn't stop. She couldn’t stop. The pack was watching, but none of their faces mattered now. The pack, the bond, the fated mate… it all felt like a distant dream. She had been a fool to believe in it. Without another glance, she ran.

The sound of her heart beating in her ears drowned out the world as she fled deeper into the woods, away from the pack lands, away from Damian, away from the heartbreak.

She had been rejected. But that didn’t mean she had to stay and let him break her.

She would find her own strength. She would become more than the girl he had discarded. She would never need him. She would never need anyone.

With each step, the distance between her and the pack grew. The once-familiar scent of the forest, now tinged with the bitter sting of rejection, pressed against her like a weight. The trees seemed to whisper as she passed, their rustling leaves mocking her in the wind. She could feel their eyes on her, even if they weren't physically watching. The pack, her pack, had witnessed her humiliation. And as much as she hated it, part of her wondered if they believed Damian was right. Maybe she wasn’t enough. Maybe she had never been enough.

But she couldn’t afford to dwell on that. Not anymore. She swallowed the lump in her throat, focusing on the rhythm of her breathing as she continued her flight. The further she ran, the more the hurt seemed to dissipate, replaced by a growing fire in her chest. She wasn’t going to let this destroy her.

The moon was just beginning to rise, its pale light filtering through the trees, casting long shadows on the forest floor. It should have been comforting, but all she felt was an eerie emptiness. The connection she had once shared with the moon—the connection that had always made her feel like she was part of something larger, something beautiful—was gone. And in its place was a hollow ache that seemed to twist in her gut.

For the first time, she truly understood the weight of the omega title that had always been placed on her. The pack had never really seen her as an equal. To them, she had always been a delicate, fragile thing, something to be protected but never truly valued. And Damian—he had made sure to remind her of that today. He had broken her spirit without a second thought. But no more.

She stopped in a small clearing, the moonlight casting silver beams over the moss-covered ground. Her breaths were shallow, the exhaustion beginning to creep into her limbs, but she refused to rest. She couldn’t stop. Not yet.

Her eyes scanned the surroundings, finding the familiar sight of the hidden cabin where Angela had once trained her. The older witch-wolf hybrid had always been a quiet, steady presence in her life, offering her protection when the pack had abandoned her. Angela had seen potential in her when no one else had. She had taught her how to harness the untapped power that ran through her veins, power that had been hidden, waiting for the right moment to surface.

Selena touched the pendant around her neck, a small silver crescent moon that Angela had given her during their first lesson. It was a reminder—of who she was, of what she could become. Her mother’s bloodline ran deeper than anyone realized. Her mother’s true power was locked away inside her, waiting to be unlocked.

But she hadn’t known how to access it until now. Until the rejection. Until the moment Damian had cast her aside like she was nothing. That had been the catalyst. It was a cruel thing, the way the world seemed to push you to your limits before offering you the strength you had always carried inside.

"Do you remember what I told you?" Angela’s voice echoed in her mind, calm and steady. "Strength comes from within, Selena. From the choices you make. Never let anyone else dictate your worth. Not even a fated mate."

The words burned in her mind like a mantra. She closed her eyes, remembering all the lessons Angela had taught her: the strength of her bloodline, the power she could wield, the magic she could command. It was all here, waiting to be unlocked.

She clenched her fists at her sides, feeling the familiar pulse of energy stirring within her, building, waiting to be released. The power coursing through her veins was ancient, raw, untamed. She had never fully understood it, not until now. The rejection, the anger—it was all a catalyst, unlocking something far more dangerous than she had ever imagined. But she couldn’t run from it anymore. It was a part of her.

She took a deep breath, centering herself. She wasn’t weak. She wasn’t fragile. She had never been either. She had always been more than what they had seen. More than what Damian had seen.

With a sharp exhale, she extended her senses outward, feeling the pulse of the forest around her. The trees, the earth beneath her feet, the wind in her hair—it all seemed to respond to her, as though it were alive, aware of her presence. Her connection to the land, to the very heart of the world around her, grew stronger. She could feel the magic stirring in the air, the ancient power that flowed through every living thing.

This was hers. This was her strength. She wasn’t going to let anyone ta

ke it from her. Not Damian. Not the pack. No one.