CHAPTER 4

Lisa's POV

"You're... my mate."

The words escaped in a trembling whisper as relief flooded through me.

The warmth coursing through my body, the intoxicating scent wrapping around me, and my wolf's joyful cries… the Moon Goddess had answered my prayers.

For a brief moment, Lucien simply stared at me, then his brows slowly knitted together.

"No." His voice was quiet. "There's been a mistake."

The smile froze on my lips. "W-What?"

"You can't be my mate."

My chest tightened so painfully I struggled to breathe.

Inside my mind, my newly awakened wolf whimpered.

‘What is he saying?’

The music around us had long faded and every pair of eyes turned toward us.

I forced a smile, desperately trying to convince both him and myself.

"Lucien... we've wished for this for years." My voice shook. "I've prayed to the Moon Goddess every single night."

I took another step toward him. "We're mates." I smiled through the tears threatening to spill. "You should be happy... aren't you happy?"

He sighed. "Come on, Lisa." His words landed like ice against my skin. "I never loved you."

Everything inside me shattered and even my wolf fell silent.

"I..." My lips trembled. "What?"

"I felt sorry for you." His voice remained calm. "You were always being bullied, you had no wolf, no friends."

"I couldn't just stand there and watch." He paused before continuing. "So I stayed by your side; I defended you, I comforted you but don't misunderstand my kindness for love."

My heartbeat thundered painfully inside my ears.

"So… it was all pity?"

He nodded. "I could do many things for you, Lisa. But making you my Luna..." His eyes swept over me. "...that's impossible."

The disgust hidden beneath his calm voice cut deeper than any blade.

"I can't."

My vision blurred.

This was the man I'd risked my life for. The man I'd walked into enemy territory for. The man I'd nearly died for.

"Why?" I whispered.

My voice cracked. "If you never loved me… why did you always make me feel like I mattered?"

"Why were you always there whenever I was bullied? Why did you send me to Silver Moon Pack?"

With trembling fingers, I pulled the bruised Moon Orchid from my purse.

"And why..." My tears finally escaped. "...did you give this back to me?"

Lucien looked at the flower before meeting my gaze. "Because you're my friend."

Friend?

That single word hurt more than every insult I'd ever endured.

"And now..."

My wolf suddenly howled inside me.

"...I'm your mate!"

The words burst from my lips.

As if answering me, Lucien's wolf released a low, reluctant growl as his jaw tightened.

For a second… I thought he'd change his mind. Instead, he looked away.

"I deserve a Luna worthy of standing beside an Alpha." His eyes returned to me. "You deserve someone else."

"No." I shook my head violently. "You don't mean that."

His voice hardened. "Look at yourself, Lisa. You've never cared about becoming stronger."

"You've never tried to change. You hide inside your room while Elara works for this pack every single day."

Each sentence struck harder than the last.

Then came the final blow.

"I cannot accept Empty Belly as my mate."

The nickname echoed across the silent ceremony grounds as my body went rigid.

He knew how much I hated that name, yet he used it before everyone.

I glanced toward Father, shame filled his face, not because his daughter was crying… but because I had embarrassed him.

His eyes met mine for only a second before he turned away and disappeared into the crowd.

My chest ached.

Even now… he couldn't stand beside me.

Then I looked at Elara, for the briefest moment… a smile flashed across her lips, but it vanished the instant our eyes met.

Maybe… I truly had been a burden to everyone.

Lucien took a deep breath, then, in a voice loud enough for the entire pack to hear, he declared,

"I, Lucien Vale, reject Lisa Wayne as my fated mate."

Agony exploded through my body. It felt as though someone had reached into my chest and ripped my soul apart.

The Moon Orchid slipped from my trembling fingers as I collapsed onto my knees.

My hair fell over my face as tears splashed onto the ground beneath me.

Inside my mind… my wolf cried. She cried so loudly that I could barely hear my own thoughts.

"I chose the woman I truly love." Lucien's voice echoed above me. "The woman worthy of becoming Bloodfang's Luna." 

He clapped once as a servant stepped forward carrying a silver tray draped with velvet.

My heart pounded.

No… please.

The servant lifted the cloth, revealing a flawless Moon Orchid resting upon the tray.

The very flower I'd risked my life to bring back.

Lucien picked it up carefully and he walked past me.

My breathing stopped.

He stopped before Elara as a gentle smile spread across his face.

He lowered himself onto one knee.

"I've loved you for as long as I can remember." His voice was warm. "You are everything this pack needs. The Luna I have always dreamed of."

He held out the Moon Orchid.

"Elara Wayne, will you do me the honor of becoming my mate?"

NO!

Something inside me snapped as strength I didn't know I possessed surged through me.

I forced myself to my feet.

My entire body trembled and my wolf slowly lifted her head.

"I..."

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"I, Lisa Wayne..."

I looked directly into Lucien's eyes.

"...accept your rejection, Lucien Vale."

The bond shattered as pain instantly flashed across his face. He staggered before dropping onto the second knee.

The Moon Orchid slipped from his grasp. A low groan escaped his lips as he clutched his chest.

I stared at him. "This is over."

Without another glance, I walked away.

By the time I reached home… I collapsed onto my bed. The tears I'd fought so hard to hold back finally won.

I buried my face in my pillow and cried until exhaustion dragged me into darkness.

The bedroom door slammed open as I jolted awake. Father stormed inside, his face burned with anger.

"Lisa!"

I slowly sat up.

"How dare you accept the Alpha's rejection!" His voice shook with fury. "Do you have any idea what you've done to my reputation as his Beta?"

I stared at him.

That was his concern? Not my broken mate bond or my humiliation, only his position.

"Thank the Moon Goddess he chose Elara." He scoffed. "I mean... who wouldn't?"

Inside my mind, my wolf spoke quietly.

‘Why are all the people around you so cruel?’

Father pointed toward me. "You'll go to the Alpha and apologize."

My jaw tightened. "No."

"He suffered because you accepted the rejection!"

"I suffered too." I met his eyes without looking away. "I felt every bit of that pain, both physically and emotionally. And I won't apologize for surviving it."

His face darkened. 

"If you refuse..." His voice became frighteningly calm. "...consider yourself disowned."

For a moment… I simply stared at him.

Did he truly mean that? Then something inside me finally broke free.

"So be it." My voice remained steady. "I've never known what it feels like to have a father anyway."

Shock flashed across his face but it lasted only a second.

"Fine." He turned toward the door. "Whatever happens to you from this moment onward… you're on your own."

The door slammed shut behind him.

A few seconds later… it opened again as Elara stepped inside. The flawless Moon Orchid rested gently in her hands.

"What do you want?"

My voice came out colder than I'd intended.

She sighed. "Lucien wanted to banish you."

My heart skipped.

"But..." She smiled softly. "I begged him not to, he only asked for one thing."

"Leave." I pointed toward the door. "I don't want to see you."

"He wants to apologize." She hesitated. "For old times' sake."

My wolf growled. ‘After everything?’

"I don't need his apology."

Elara stepped closer. "He also has a surprise for you." She lowered her gaze. "If you go… I won't accept him."

I searched her face. "Is that a promise?"

She nodded. "I felt terrible about what happened, but I couldn't interfere with the Moon Goddess's choice."

She reached for my hand. "I think he deserves one chance to explain."

My wolf whispered. ‘Don't trust them’

Neither did I, but… questions still lingered inside my heart.

Maybe, I would hear what Lucien had to say. Not because I'd forgiven him, but because I needed to know… why.