Rejection

Margaux pov

"I don't care what they say. If nobody accepts me, Lucien will."

That was the lie I kept on loop in my head.

Today was my eighteenth birthday. The big one. The day every single wolf in the pack spent their entire life waiting for because the Moon Goddess finally decided to drop your mate's name in your head.

Normally, girls spent years curating P*******t boards and dreaming about this exact second, but I didn't need to. I already knew who I wanted.

Lucien.

My best friend. The future Alpha. The guy who literally promised he'd stay by my side regardless of how messed up things got.

I stood in front of the mirror, smoothing the fabric of my black gown.

"You're seriously wearing that?" Margot's voice cut through the room from behind me.

I looked over my shoulder at my twin sister. "What's wrong with it?"

Margot rolled her blue eyes so hard I thought they'd get stuck. "Nothing is wrong with it, Margaux. It's just… black? For your mating day? You look like you're mourning."

I looked back at my reflection. The dress wasn't fancy or glittering with sequins, but it felt like me. "I hate tight clothes. Besides, it's comfortable."

"Comfortable?" Margot laughed, though it sounded more stressed than mean. "Every single unmated wolf in the territory is going to be in that hall tonight."

"So?"

"So maybe try looking slightly less like you're heading to a funeral."

I grumbled under my breath, turning back to the mirror. I swept my dark hair back, twisting it into a quick bun, and secured it with a small flower clip. I reached for my dark eyeshadow, but after Margot's funeral comment, I threw it back in the drawer and swiped on a bold red lipstick instead.

I turned around, hands on my hips. "How about now? Still giving cemetery vibes?"

Margot scanned me from head to toe, finally letting out a soft sigh. She shook her head. "Okay, fine. You don't look like you're going to a funeral. But honestly, the black… whatever. You pull it off with a good combo, well let's leave that for later." She sprayed vanilla musk on the air to be absorbed by her green dress before facing me "Come on, we need to head to the meeting ground."

She grabbed my shoulder, her grip reassuringly warm as we walked out together.

Mr. Voss was waiting by the front door, standing next to our mother. The tension in the hallway was thick enough to cut.

"Remember, girls," our dad said, stepping forward to rest a heavy hand on each of our shoulders. "No matter what happens tonight, it doesn't change the fact that you both are our beautiful daughters."

My mom's lips curved into a tight, reassuring smile, but my dad's eyebrows were pinched high with worry. I took a slow, deep breath, trying to steady myself as we stepped out of the house and walked toward the crowded, glowing lights of the ceremonial hall.

Inside, the atmosphere was absolute chaos.

The air smelled like sweat, cheap perfume, and smoke. The mating ceremony was already in full swing, and the serious contrast of people's reactions was jarring. Across the room, a girl from our training class suddenly gasped, dropping to her knees as she made eye contact with a beta from the neighboring pack. "Thank the moon goddess" Within seconds, they were wrapped around each other, laughing and crying. But just a few yards away, a brutal shouting match erupted. A guy screamed a flat refusal at a sobbing girl, " I reject you," he said, turning on his heel and sprinting out of the double doors into the freezing night, leaving her completely shattered on the polished floor. It was beautiful and utterly terrifying all at once.

Margot slipped into the crowd, leaving me to drift toward the isolated edge of the hall. I gripped the hem of my black dress, rubbing the fabric between my fingertips. The temperature outside was below freezing, but sweat was already pooling along my hairline, my skin feeling entirely too hot.

Then, a solid, familiar hand slipped into mine.

I looked up, immediately locking onto Lucien's brown eyes. My shoulders instantly dropped.

"What took you so long, Lucien?" I breathed.

Without a word, he pulled me closer, wrapping his broad arms around my shoulders. He smelled like sweat but that was one thing I loved about him 

"You don't have to be afraid, okay?" he whispered, pressing a soft kiss to the top of my head. "I am here for you"

The absolute panic in my chest finally quieted down. It was the best feeling in the world knowing that no matter how weird or broken I felt, I had someone who saw me. Really saw me.

I wrapped my arms tightly around his waist, burying my face in his chest.

"Come on, guys, wrap up the cuddling. It's our turn, Margaux," a sharp voice interrupted.

I pulled back from Lucien to see Margot standing there, practically vibrating with excitement. "Let's go, Lu," she urged.

We followed her toward the center of the hall, where the pack Elders stood around a blazing stone fire. The air grew heavy and thick.

First came the awakening.

The Elders chanted, the ancient words vibrating through the floorboards. Margot went first. Almost instantly, a massive, brilliant silver wolf materialized in the spiritual mist behind her, letting out a deafening howl that shook the rafters. The entire pack erupted into wild cheers, chanting her name. She looked radiant.

Then, it was my turn.

I stepped forward, closing my eyes and waiting for the familiar spark, the pull in my soul, any sign of life. But there was nothing. Just cold, empty silence. I had always known my wolf was weak, barely a whisper in the back of my mind, so when the mist around me remained completely still, I didn't cry. I just nodded, stepping back into the shadows. I was okay with it. I didn't need a giant wolf to be whole.

"Margaux Voss," the Head Elder's voice boomed through the microphone, signaling the start of the mating phase.

I held my breath, my fingers instinctively searching for Lucien's hand. He gripped me back, his fingers incredibly tight around mine. I squeezed my eyes shut. Please let it be my best friend. Please, Moon Goddess, just give me Lucien, I begged silently.

The Elder's voice echoed across the silent room. "Lucien Ashby, you are mated to Margaux Voss."

My stomach did a violent, ecstatic flip. I literally jumped, my feet leaving the ground as a massive grin took over my face. I threw my arms around Lucien's neck, laughing into his shoulder.

But Lucien didn't hug me back.

His arms stayed dead at his sides. He was completely rigid, like a statue.

"The Moon Goddess actually answered my prayers, Lucien," I whispered, pulling back to look at him.

The expression on his face made my smile instantly freeze.

"Lucien?" I called out, staring into his dark eyes as I took a half-step back. "Why aren't you saying anything?"

He wouldn't look at me. His eyes darted to Margot, then to the floor, then toward the Elders. I reached out to touch his arm, but he flinched away, taking a sharp step back as if my touch was toxic.

"Lucien," I whispered, my throat dry. "Please."

The Elder cleared his throat, the sound echoing through the dead-silent hall. "Margaux Voss, do you accept Lucien Ashby as your mate?"

Every single eye in the room was locked onto us.

"Yes," I said, my voice shaking but clear. "I do."

The Elder turned his gaze to my best friend. "Lucien Ashby, do you accept Margaux Voss as your mate?"

Silence. You could literally hear the wind howling against the glass windows.

"Say something," Margot hissed from the front row.

"I am so sorry, Margaux," Lucien finally said.

The words felt like a huge blow to my chest. My hands dropped to my sides. Why was he apologizing?

"I reject Margaux Voss as my fated mate."

His voice was loud, echoing off the high ceilings. The crowd let out a collective, sharp gasp. My brain completely refused to process the words. I looked over at my parents. Both of them immediately looked down at their shoes, refusing to make eye contact. Margot's eyes were wide, her mouth slightly open in shock.

"Do you… do you even know what you're saying?" I stammered, reaching for his hand again.

He slapped my hand away instantly. "Don't."

"Lucien, it's me," I whispered, my voice cracking. "Your best friend for fifteen years."

His father, the Alpha, stepped forward, his eyes cold. "Are you certain you want to throw this connection away, Lucien?"

Lucien didn't hesitate. He looked directly at the Elder. "Yes. I, Lucien, son of Alpha Ashby, reject Margaux Voss as my fated mate."

The reality of it finally hit me, cold and violent. This wasn't a nightmare. My best friend, the person who knew every single secret I had, had just thrown me away in front of everyone we knew.

I opened my mouth, trying to scream, trying to demand an explanation, but the only word that managed to slip out was a fragile, "Why?"