Chapter 2

_Leah's POV_

As I ran, the wind brushed through my fur, and my senses heightened with every step. I felt every leaf under my paws, every whisper of the night. It was like nothing I had ever experienced. I could see clearly in the darkness. My wolf's eyes could pick up every detail. I felt free for the first time in my life, no longer bound by the walls of the packhouse or the weight of my status as an omega. My muscles surged with power as I pushed myself to run faster. I was trying to escape the confusion and fear swirling inside me.

But then, I heard them—heavy footsteps in the distance. Someone was following me. I glanced over my shoulder, my heart dropping when I saw them. The guards. They were coming after me, just as I feared.

"Leah!" one of them shouted. "The Alpha needs you to come back to the packhouse right now. This is an order. If you don’t come back, there will be consequences!"

I skidded to a stop, my heart pounding in my chest. Consequences. I knew what that meant. Alpha Kayden wasn’t the type to let disobedience slide. He could be cruel when he wanted to be. And even though my wolf screamed at me to keep running, I knew I had no choice. I couldn’t risk what he might do if I didn’t return.

Reluctantly, I turned around and followed the guards back to the packhouse, my stomach twisting with fear and uncertainty. What was going to happen? Would Kayden punish me? Was he angry that the Moon Goddess had made me his mate? My thoughts spun wildly as we approached the house.

When we arrived, Kayden was sitting on the porch, his expression unreadable. His eyes locked on me, and I could feel the tension in the air.

“Shift back,” he ordered, his voice cold.

I hesitated for a second, but then I forced my wolf back, the white fur receding as my bones cracked painfully, returning me to my human form. The shift left me feeling vulnerable and exposed, standing there in front of him in nothing but the moonlight. Without a word, Kayden grabbed my arm roughly, his fingers biting into my skin as he pulled me inside.

I barely had time to process what was happening before he dragged me into the main hall. My heart raced as I realized what he was about to do. I had seen rejection ceremonies before, but never imagined I would be part of one.

“Ray,” Kayden barked at his Gamma, “gather everyone. I have an important announcement.”

Ray nodded and disappeared to spread the word. I stood there, my mind racing, barely able to breathe. This was it. He was going to reject me. I had known it was coming, but the reality of it hit me like a tidal wave. How could the Moon Goddess have made such a cruel mistake? How could she pair me—an omega, a nobody—with an Alpha like Kayden?

He turned to face me. His eyes were cold. “Don’t get your hopes up, Leah. I will never accept you as my mate,” he said, his voice like ice. “You’re an omega—weak, insignificant. I need a strong Luna, not someone like you. Selena is the one who deserves to lead by my side. She is strong, the daughter of a Beta, and has a powerful wolf. You don’t compare to her.”

Every word he said cut deeper than the last. I wanted to fight back, to scream that it wasn’t fair, but I stayed silent, my chest tight with emotion. There was no point. He had already made up his mind.

Soon, the hall began to fill with pack members. I could feel their eyes on me, some curious, others filled with pity. They all knew what was about to happen. Selena entered the room, walking confidently toward the front, her eyes gleaming with triumph. She stopped beside Kayden, a satisfied smirk on her face.

“I told you, Leah,” Selena said quietly, her voice dripping with venom. “You don’t belong here. Kayden was always mine. I am the one who will stand by his side.”

I swallowed hard, refusing to let her see how much her words hurt. I already knew she was right. Kayden and Selena had been together for years. She was everything I wasn’t—strong, confident, powerful. And I was just… me.

Kayden stepped forward and addressed the pack. “I have gathered you all here tonight for a rejection ceremony.”

Gasps echoed through the crowd, and I could feel the weight of their shock, their disbelief. But I didn’t look at them. I kept my eyes fixed on the floor, trying to keep my emotions under control.

Kayden took a small knife from Fred, his Beta, and made a shallow cut on his hand. My stomach churned as I realized what was coming next. He grabbed my hand and did the same. I winced as the blade sliced my skin, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the ache in my heart.

He pressed our hands together, mixing our blood as he spoke the words that sealed my fate. “I, Alpha Kayden Maxwell of the Blood Moon pack, reject Leah James as my mate.”

The words hit me like a punch to the chest, knocking the air from my lungs. The pain that followed was unbearable, like my soul was being torn in two. I gasped, clutching my chest as the bond between us snapped. It was a pain like no other—sharp, deep, and endless.

Kayden stared at me, waiting. I knew what I had to do. I had to accept his rejection, to sever the bond completely. My voice trembled as I forced the words out.

“I… I, Leah James, accept your rejection.”

The pain intensified, ripping through me like fire. I staggered, struggling to stay on my feet. Tears blurred my vision, but I refused to let them fall. I wouldn’t let him see how broken I was.

Kayden turned away from me, as if I was nothing more than a nuisance. “Now that that’s done, I have another announcement,” he said, addressing the pack. “Selena will be my mate. She has all the qualities of a future Luna—strength, power, and the bloodline of a Beta. She is everything a Luna should be.”

The crowd erupted into cheers, their approval for Selena loud and clear. I watched as she stepped forward, a radiant smile on her face. She leaned into Kayden as if to mark her territory. The sight of them together made my stomach turn.

Selena’s gaze flicked to me, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “I told you, Leah. You were never meant to be here. How dare you try to steal Kayden from me?"

I couldn’t take it anymore. The rejection, the humiliation—it was too much. Without another word, I turned and bolted from the hall, my heart shattering with every step. I didn’t know where I was going, but I didn’t care. I just had to get away. Away from the pain, the rejection, and the cruel reality of my life. Away from the mate who didn’t want me.