THE REJECTED LUNA

The moon hovered low, quiet and watchful, above the Shadow Moon Pack.

Aria Nightshade stood at the edge of the training field, alone. Her heart hammered so hard she almost expected someone to call out, “Are you alright?” But nobody did.

Tonight was her eighteenth birthday. Every wolf in the pack waited for this night, the night their wolf appeared.

A cold breeze cut across her skin and she shivered. She gripped the wooden fence tighter, eyes locked on the glowing moon.

“Please,” she whispered, like it was a secret she was barely brave enough to speak. “Let me have a wolf.”

Most wolves woke their wolf the moment they hit eighteen. But Aria? She hadn’t. She’d always been the odd one out. While the others were strong, confident, she just felt invisible. Or worse—mocked.

A wolfless girl. Useless. Unworthy.

She remembered those whispers—and it stung.

But tonight could be different.

Suddenly, warmth bloomed in her chest. Aria froze. Her breath tangled up inside her, everything tightening. The warmth spread, getting stronger, deeper, like something ancient and powerful was waking up inside her.

Her knees almost gave out. “What… is happening?” she gasped.

Then she heard a voice. Soft. Ancient, somehow. Female.

Hello… Aria.

Her eyes went wide. “W–who said that?”

A quiet, gentle laugh curled through her mind.

I’ve waited a long time to meet you.

Her heart thudded wildly. “My… wolf?” she whispered.

Yes.

Instantly, tears burned her eyes. She wasn’t wolfless. She never had been.

Relief crashed over her, big and wild.

“What’s your name?” Aria asked, softer now.

A moment passed. Then the voice replied.

Selene.

The name rolled through her, leaving her tingling.

Aria’s breath caught. “Selene,” she repeated.

Before she could ask anything else, Selene’s voice shifted. It got serious, sharper.

Do you feel that?

Aria frowned. “Feel what?”

Selene dropped her voice to a whisper.

Our mate.

Aria froze, every muscle locked. Mate? Her pulse went crazy.

“Where?” she whispered.

Selene didn’t hesitate.

Close.

Right then, loud drums shook the air around them.

BOOM.

BOOM.

BOOM.

The Alpha Ceremony was starting.

Aria turned to the pack hall glowing in the distance. Wolves packed in tight, excitement buzzing. Somewhere in that crowd… her mate.

Suddenly, her stomach twisted with nerves. “What if he rejects me?” she whispered.

Selene’s tone steadied her.

He won’t.

Still, Aria wasn’t so sure. She started walking toward the hall, each step making her heart pound harder. The pull in her chest got stronger. Hotter. Almost too much.

By the time she reached the entrance, her breathing was ragged. Something inside her insisted she go in.

The Alpha Hall doors were wide open. Music spilled out. Warriors laughed. The pack chattered, everyone alive with energy.

At the far end, the Alpha throne stood proud.

And sitting there—

Alpha Kael Stormfang.

Tall. He looked dangerous, untouchable, the kind of wolf the entire territory respected—and feared.

His dark hair fell into sharp eyes; he looked as if nothing could break him. Aria had always admired him from a distance. Never dreamed—

Her breath snagged. That fierce pull inside her exploded.

Her wolf woke. Selene spoke again, each word slow, clear, unavoidable.

Aria…

Our mate…

She could barely breathe. Her gaze climbed toward the throne. Toward him. The Alpha.

Selene’s voice boomed inside her: “Our mate is Alpha Kael.”

All the noise in the room faded. Her world just—paused.

Because right then—

Alpha Kael’s head shot up. His eyes met hers, dark and burning.

And Aria knew everything had changed.