Chapter 1: The Rejection

The full moon hung high above Black Fang Kingdom, bathing the ancient Moon Altar in silver light.

Thousands of wolves gathered in silence.

Tonight was the Moon Bond Ceremony—the sacred night when the Moon Goddess revealed destined mates.

For most, it was a celebration.

For Kael Ashwyn, it felt like standing on the edge of a cliff.

His fingers trembled as he adjusted the sleeves of his plain white ceremonial robe. Around him, whispers drifted through the crowd like smoke.

“There he is.”

“The weakest omega.”

“Poor Alpha Lucien.”

“They say Kael can’t even shift properly.”

“He’ll disgrace the royal family.”

Kael lowered his eyes.

He had heard worse.

His parents had died when he was young. Raised by distant relatives who considered him a burden, he had learned that silence was often safer than defending himself.

At the center of the altar stood Lucien Draven.

The future Alpha King.

Tall.

Broad-shouldered.

His black military coat fluttered in the cold wind, and the silver wolf crest on his chest caught the moonlight. Even standing still, he commanded attention.

Women admired him.

Alphas respected him.

Enemies feared him.

Kael had admired him from afar for years—not because Lucien was handsome, but because he believed fate couldn’t be completely cruel if it had chosen someone so extraordinary as his mate.

The High Elder raised his staff.

“The Moon Goddess has spoken.”

A hush swept across the altar.

“Step forward.”

Kael obeyed.

Lucien didn’t move.

The Elder frowned.

“Crown Prince.”

Lucien finally descended the steps, stopping a few feet from Kael.

For one fleeting moment, Kael met his gaze.

Golden eyes.

Cold.

Unreadable.

Then the mating mark on Kael’s wrist began to glow.

A matching silver mark appeared on Lucien’s hand.

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

“It’s real.”

“They’re fated mates.”

“No…”

“Not the prince…”

Kael’s heartbeat quickened.

Despite everything, hope bloomed inside him.

Maybe the whispers didn’t matter.

Maybe fate truly had chosen them.

The Elder smiled.

“By the will of the Moon Goddess—”

“I reject him.”

The words cracked through the night like thunder.

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Kael stared at Lucien, certain he had misheard.

Lucien’s expression never changed.

“I refuse this bond.”

Someone in the crowd laughed.

Then another.

Soon the whispers returned, louder than before.

“The prince rejected his own mate.”

“I would too.”

“An omega that weak has no place beside a king.”

Kael felt every gaze settle on him.

His chest tightened.

The glowing mark on his wrist burned with unbearable pain.

It felt as though invisible claws were tearing through his soul.

The Elder stepped forward urgently.

“Your Highness, a public rejection of a fated bond carries grave consequences.”

“I know.”

Lucien’s voice remained calm.

“I will accept them.”

Kael searched his face for hesitation.

For regret.

For anything.

There was nothing.

Only indifference.

Something inside Kael broke.

Slowly, he lowered his head.

“So…” he whispered, almost to himself. “This is my fate.”

He took one step back.

Then another.

No one stopped him.

No one defended him.

The laughter followed him down the stone steps.

Just before he disappeared into the darkness, a strange chill swept across the altar.

The full moon, bright and white only moments before, shimmered…

…and turned silver.

The High Elder’s face drained of color.

“No…” he breathed.

“That’s impossible.”

Far beyond the kingdom walls, hidden beneath centuries of forgotten ruins, an ancient crown buried beneath stone began to glow.

A voice echoed through the darkness.

“The last heir has awakened.”

Kael never heard it.

He walked away believing he had lost everything.

He had no idea the world was about to discover who he truly was.