THE REJECTION

My Parents, Alpha Lucien and Luna Thalia, alongside the pack's elders, were gathered around a bonfire in the pit, waiting for me.

Tonight was my Lunar Ascension, and I was nervous. The Lunar Ascension was a pack tradition that happened once a wolf turned 18.

It is a sacred ritual the elders perform under the full moon to mark the wolf's entry into adulthood and acceptance by the pack.

All I could think about was how my boyfriend Kael and I had planned to consummate our bond tonight, after the ritual.

We met during a pack meeting when our parents brought us together, and we had been together for over two years.

He was the Alpha of a neighboring pack in the kingdom, the Darkmoor pack, and our bond would join both packs together, making us even stronger.

“My daughter,” My father said, reaching out his arm to guide me into the pit.

He was a well-respected Alpha, but to me, he was a very sweet father, and I loved him.

“Kneel,” the elder commanded.

My mother handed him a bowl of red clay, and he used it to mark my forehead.

A mark that indicated I was part of the pack.

The silence was replaced by claps and cheers from other pack members and some members of neighboring packs in attendance.

A taunting clap broke out from the crowd, silencing the crowd. Everyone wanted to see what was going on.

Kael walked forward, and I was excited to see him. He loved to make an entrance, and it was one of the things I loved about him.

“Selene Stormborne,” He started with a smirk on his face. “Selene Stormborne, Selene Stormborne”

My ears started ringing, the crowd became blurry, and it was as if oxygen had been sucked out of my lungs

I knew what came next.

“I reject you as my selected mate”

The crowd gasped, and I couldn’t find my balance.

I could feel my mother's arm around me, but it wasn’t helping.

Why would he do this to me?

Why today of all days?

Why in front of my pack and neighboring packs?

“Kael,” I struggled to find my words, but I couldn’t. “Why?” I managed to ask

“Why?” His smirk only deepened. “You’re weak, pathetic, and wolfless!”

More gasps filled the air, and I couldn’t take it anymore

“Stop it, Kael,” My father growled.

I had rarely seen him angry, but this time anger was written all over his face.

“Or what?” Kael said with a smug smile.

He was determined to ruin me and embarrass my whole family in front of all the packs present, and I had no idea why.

I didn’t wait to see what happened next; I took off into the woods before anyone could stop me.

As I made my way towards the woods, the whispers only grew louder.

“She’s not a true werewolf”

“She’s a sham”

“I always knew she wasn’t one of us”

“Wolfless?”

I was humiliated.

I kept running until my legs could no longer carry me, and I embraced the darkness.

“Selene,” A familiar voice called out to me.

Maybe this was all a bad dream, and it was time for my Lunar Ascension.

My father reached out his hand to me, patiently waiting for me to accept it.

The expression on his face made it clear this wasn’t a dream.

“Selene, it's okay. Let’s go home. Your mother would be worried,” he said with a faint, reassuring smile.

“I’d rather remain here than show myself to the pack,” I replied a little too quickly, tears gathering in my eyes.

They already didn’t think I was one of them, so what was the point?

My father let out a heavy sigh. “Leadership is often tested and challenged. Let us go home; we can’t let the enemy win.” he looked exhausted; clearly, tonight had been a lot for him.

I don’t know how long I lay in the forest, but by the time we got out, the crowd had dispersed, and it was almost as if nothing had happened there.

Usually, after the Lunar Ascension, the celebration continued until daybreak.

Most people had gone, but a few stayed behind, drinking, eating, and laughing about what happened.

I could feel my father's embarrassment, but he didn’t say a thing.

All the elders and leaders of the neighboring packs were nowhere to be found.

Kael had done his big one, and had left not just me, but my pack and elders in embarrassment.

I wiped my tears before anyone could see them.

Then I heard two girls whisper

“Have you heard?” The first girl asked excitedly.

“Heard what?” The second girl asked.

“Alpha Kael's wedding has already been arranged”

And my heart stopped.