Chapter 1

Veronica's POV

"Mom, for the umpteenth time I'm telling you that I can't accept that fragile human as my mate!" Jason barked angrily as he paced around the large sitting room.

"Jason, she's your mate destined by the moon goddess. You can't just reject her because she's a human and not a werewolf like us" Mrs. Perry said calmly, shifting slightly from where she sat. She was a short petite woman with blonde hair.

"Mom, are you even listening to me? How do you expect me to get married to that 5'1" girl with brown, boring eyes and a freckles-stained face? She's too fragile! I bet she can't even lift a crate." Jason retorted, squeezing his face in disgust as though the thought of my face irked him.

"I need a strong and bold mate. This pack deserves a powerful Luna. I need someone who can support me if the pack is under an attack and not some weak, powerless human" He added, raising his voice a pitch higher this time.

"Keep your voice down!" Mrs. Perry replied sharply. Jason was visibly shaken. Seeing his mom pissed off and raising her voice was a very rare sight. "Everyone will be here soon, and I want you to be of your best attitude. Even if you're going to reject your mate, at least show some respect to her parents and the members of the pack who'd be coming to the event tonight" She added, eyeing her son who was still pacing around the room nervously.

*****

I could clearly hear the argument between mother and son. My ear has been squatting on the door frame the whole time, listening in on the conversation going on inside. I couldn't believe what I just heard.

My mate just rejected me because I was human and not a werewolf.

I could feel a lump in my throat as tears trickled down my face, I let the tears flow effortlessly. I turned around and began to run down the hallway. I couldn't bear the thought of someone catching me eavesdropping on Luna's conversation. I'd definitely get killed.

I made my way to the garden which led to the exit of the compound. Alpha Philip’s house—which was nestled in the center of the pack— was the biggest building and it boasted a large garden space. 

The coronation was scheduled to take place tonight. Jason will become the pack's alpha tonight and his Luna will also be publicly announced. Everyone was enthusiastic about the event. I could see my friends, Aurora and Jenna helping out with the arrangements for the party. If only they knew that my mate rejected me.

"Hey Vee, where have you been hiding, you lazy ass"

It was Aurora's tiny voice. I could hear her giggling as she walked up to me. I quickly dried up the tears on my face and took in three deep breaths before turning around to face my friend. A huge smile was plastered on my face, concealing the redness of my eyes.

"Aurora, how's the preparation coming through?" I smiled as I hugged her warmly.

Aurora and Jenna are beta werewolves. We've been friends since childhood and were almost inseparable. I loved my friends so much and told them everything but how do I tell them that my mate is the future alpha of the pack and he has rejected me?

"Don't give me that look. You just disappeared into thin air and you're reappearing when the preparations are almost done" She said, standing akimbo. Lying to my friends was one thing I was very bad at doing and Aurora's large eyes that seemed to pierce into my heart made it even harder to lie.

"Hey hotties, it's time to get ready for the event" Jenna squeaked as she hugged me and Aurora simultaneously from behind. Jenna and Aurora exuded excitement as though they were the ones being crowned the Luna of the pack.

It was evening and every member of the pack had gathered at Alpha Phillip's large, decorated garden. Right in the middle of the yard, there was a stage for Alpha Phillip and Luna Christine to stand on. Everyone was so excited. Kids were running up and down the stage trying to act all high and mighty, adults were sharing conversations and laughter, and the older members were sitting, sipping on some coffee, they were enjoying their time. Everyone was feeling happy.

"May I please have everybody's attention!" I heard our Alpha Phillip Perry, Jason's dad, call out through the microphone. Everyone stilled, as it was important to show the Alpha respect, but the enthusiasm and happy atmosphere remained. 

He continued, "The Crescent Pack is very lucky to be here today. My son has found his mate, and I am finally happy to stand down and give my son the Alpha title. As of tonight, my son will be the new Alpha, and his mate, our new Luna. I hope we can give them all the support and respect they deserve. I also hope they will lead with pride, honor, and dignity, protecting us all. It has been an honor to lead this pack for twenty-five years. Now Jason will you take my place and present your mate for the pack to meet her?"

The pack members clapped and cheered loudly as Alpha Phillip handed over authority to Jason. The cheering slowly died down as Alpha Phillip took up the microphone to speak again.

"Now, Jason, present your Luna to the pack" Alpha Phillip smiled broadly.

The clapping and cheering became even louder as I slowly and shakily made my way to the stage. My heart was racing wildly and my palm was sweaty. I got to the stage and stood face-to-face with Jason. His eyes were blank and held no expression. The cold stare coming from his face made me even more uncomfortable. He kept on shooting deadly stares at me till the clapping and cheering quietened.

He walked forward and took the mic. He had a straight and confident gait. Jason was handsome, breathtakingly handsome with caramel-colored hair, hazelnut eyes and a perfectly chiseled face that complimented his towering height. Every girl in the pack drooled whenever he passed by.

"Good evening everyone, it is an honor to have you all present here" his baritone voice rang throughout the yard.

He continued, "It is indeed a huge honor to be able to serve you as the leader of this pack but I must say this publicly to everyone's hearing. I'm sorry but I refuse to accept Ms. Veronica Brook as my mate. If there's anything that Crescent Pack needs, it is a strong and bold Luna, and Veronica Brook is nowhere close to meeting those standards. With that being said…" 

He paused and looked at me "I refuse to be joined in matrimony with my supposed mate. I hope you all understand. Thank you"

With the last statement seeping out of his mouth, murmuring rose among the members of the pack. I couldn't stand the humiliating and condescending words that came from my 'mate'. I could feel tears rolling down my face. This is the most embarrassing moment of my life.

"What's more to live for," I thought to myself as I ran down the stage and made my way through the crowd, running away from the rest of the members of the pack. 

My heart thumped loudly as I ran through the dense forest that served as a boundary between the Crescent Pack and the Dackhood pack— a smaller werewolf pack. I was breathing heavily even as tears trickled down my face ceaselessly as I ran.

After a long run, I got to the cliff of the mountain. "Maybe, just maybe, if I die, I won't have to put myself and my family through so much pain and humiliation", I thought to myself as I took one last step on the cliff.

And then, I jumped.