Chapter 3: Rejection

Months passed, yet no matter how desperately I tried, I could not forget Sebastian or that fateful night that happened to us.

I told myself over and over that it meant nothing to him. Maybe he only gave in to my teasing or got carried away by the moment. Yet no matter how hard I tried to forget, the memories would not fade. His touch, his voice, the way he looked at me that night, every moment stayed burned into my mind as if it had just happened yesterday.

Then, the day I had waited for my entire life finally arrived. My awakening Ceremony.

Among our pack, awakening ceremony was the most sacred milestone in every wolf's life. This was the age when a wolf's true power awakened completely. It was when we gained full control over our shifting abilities, when our wolves fully emerged, and when the Moon Goddess revealed the one soul destined to be our fated mate.

Every young wolf underwent the same ancient ritual, one that had been passed down through countless generations. It symbolized our acceptance into adulthood and our place within the pack, while allowing the Moon Goddess herself to reveal the path she had chosen for us long before we were born.

When night finally fell, I made my way toward the sacred forest to perform the ritual.

High above, the full moon shone bright in the vast sky, covering everything below in its brilliant silver light. Its glow felt almost holy, lighting up every tree, every blade of grass, and every winding path deep into the ancient woods.

Tonight was the most important night of my life. By tradition, every wolf had to complete the ritual alone. It was a journey meant only for ourselves, a final test before stepping fully into adulthood.

I took a deep breath and left the safety of our village, following the narrow path deeper into the woods. When I reached the Moonstone Clearing, the air felt different. At its center rested the great Moonstone. Slowly, I stepped toward it. Standing before the ancient stone, I lifted my face toward the heavens and allowed the moon's silver light to wash over every part of me.

I closed my eyes. A slow, calming breath escaped my lips as I released every lingering fear inside my heart. Then I felt her, my wolf.

For the first time in my life, she awakened completely. She stretched within me, proud, fierce, and beautifully wild, filling every corner of my soul with warmth and strength. I could feel her excitement blending with my own, as though she, too, had waited her entire life for this moment.

Together, we waited. The forest fell into complete silence. Only the gentle whisper of leaves dancing in the wind surrounded me.

Then… It happened.

A scent drifted through the cool night air. It wrapped around me so suddenly and fully that my breath caught. It was warm, earthy, and strong. The fresh smell of pine mixed with something deeper, richer, and clearly masculine. It was a scent I knew by heart.

My entire body froze. Sebastian… 

My heart slammed violently against my ribs as I snapped my eyes open.

At that exact moment, my wolf let out a triumphant howl inside me, overflowing with joy as she recognized the soul she had been searching for all along. Every nerve in my body came alive and every heartbeat echoed with a single, undeniable truth.

This was not merely admiration and no longer  an innocent childhood crush. This was fate. The Moon Goddess had already chosen him for me long before I ever understood why my heart had always belonged to him. Because he had always been my mate.

Slowly, I turned toward the edge of the clearing. My legs trembled beneath me, weakened by the overwhelming force of the bond awakening inside my soul.

Then I saw him. Sebastian stepped out from the shadows, allowing the moonlight to reveal him completely.

He looked breathtaking. Tall, powerful, and impossibly handsome, he carried himself with the quiet confidence of a future Alpha. His silver eyes burned intensely as they met mine, and for one beautiful, impossible moment, I saw the same astonishment reflected within them.

Neither of us spoke. The invisible bond between us felt strong and drew me closer to him with every moment. It was as if countless silver threads wrapped around our hearts, binding our souls together under the Moon Goddess’s watchful gaze.

He felt it, I knew he did. I could see it in his eyes. Unable to stop myself, I took a slow step toward him, tears already gathering in my eyes from overwhelming happiness.

"You're my mate. You felt it too, didn't you?" I said, my voice trembling with joy. 

For one heartbeat, I truly believed he would smile. That he would come to me and  take my hand but his face turned instantly cold and his eyes emptied of every trace of warmth. He stepped back as if my very touch burned him.

“No,” he said, his voice sharp and unyielding. “This is a mistake. Everything between us was wrong.”

I shook my head, bewildered and wounded. “But the bond and our souls, how can you deny what is true? We belong together.”

“There is no bond,” he cut me off, his tone merciless and final. His words were so harsh they left me reeling.

“What do you mean? But what about that night between us? Did it truly mean nothing to you at all?” My voice broke, thick with hurt and disbelief.

“That night and this feeling, none of it was real.  It never should have happened. It was all a terrible mistake.” 

He drew a sharp breath and spoke the words that shattered me completely. “So I, Sebastian Hawthorne, future Alpha of the Silverdale Pack, reject you, Lily Ashford, as my mate and future Luna.”

With every word he spoke, it felt as though a blade had been driven straight through my heart. I was already frail and exhausted from the ritual. Hearing such cold cruelty from him tore at my chest so fiercely I thought I might die from the agony.

“No! Please do not do this,” I begged him, tears spilling freely. “I cannot bear this. I am still so weak after the ritual. Please have mercy on me.”

He looked away, his jaw clenched tight. 

“This is the only way to make things right, Lily. Pretend none of this ever happened. We must go back to how we were before.” He paused, his voice softening just a little. 

“I will spare you for now and I will not finish this formal rejection today. But I am telling you plainly that I will do it soon. There is someone already chosen to be my Luna. I am truly sorry.”

His words drained the last of my strength. He looked at me then and for a fleeting moment I saw pity and sorrow in his eyes. But in the next breath he turned his back on me and walked away.

Weak and trembling, I sank onto the cold stone ground. Only then did I notice tears were streaming fast down my face. This was meant to be the happiest night of my life. I never thought that on the most sacred night of my ritual, the night I found my fated mate, he would be the very one to cast me aside.

I could not accept it. Surely he did not mean those words didn't he? Perhaps he was simply overwhelmed? Maybe he would yet come to his senses. 

I refused to believe it. I refused to let hope die. Perhaps, he would come back. He had to…

When I finally returned home, I locked myself inside my room.

The moment the door closed behind me, every ounce of strength I had been desperately clinging to disappeared. I collapsed onto my bed and wept bitterly.

Michael knocked on my bedroom door, his voice was thick with worry as he called out to ask if I was all right. My brother knew I had gone through the sacred ritual, so he could not understand why I had returned home broken and weeping.

“What is wrong? Why are you crying?” he asked anxiously the moment I opened the door. His heart sank the instant he saw my tear‑swollen eyes.

“It is nothing. Really, it is nothing,” I lied, even though I knew he would never believe such words.

“Nothing? Look at your face. Look how much you have cried! I do not understand. Tonight was your awakening ceremony. You should be the happiest you have ever been, so why are you so broken?” he pressed gently, though his voice held a rising dread as if he already feared what he might hear.

I stayed silent for a long time. Then I could bear it no more and collapsed into deep, wrenching sobs right before him.

“I found my mate…” I whispered through my tears.

At once he stepped forward and wrapped me tight in his arms, holding me as if he could shield me from whatever pain had struck me so hard.

“I do not understand. Shouldn’t this be the most wonderful news of all?” he said softly, sounding so confused. 

“But he does not want me. He is going to reject me!” I cried out. My voice shattered completely as the pain broke free.

“What kind of wolf dares to reject you! Who is that worthless bastard!” Michael roared, his voice shaking with unbridled rage.

“Tell me! Is he from our pack? Do I know him?” 

I was stunned by the sudden, blazing fury in him. His arms tightened around me and veins stood out sharply against his skin, showing how fiercely he fought to hold back his rage.

I could only weep harder. I could not bring myself to speak his name.

“Tell me who he is,” he said fiercely. “Tell me who this wolf is and I will face him myself.”

This was the first time I had ever seen Michael truly angry. He looked ready to destroy anyone who had caused me this pain.

“Please… Michael, do not ask me right now. I just want to be alone. Please…” I sobbed without pause.

I saw the pity and helpless love in his eyes as he held me close. No matter how gently he tried to make me speak, I could not bring myself to tell him the truth.

How could I possibly tell my brother? How could I say that his own best friend was my fated mate and that he had cast me aside without a second thought? How could I ever tell him that?