Chapter One: The shockingly cruel words

“Lyra! Lyra! You're so lazy, hasten your movement.” Diana yelled.

“Ma'am Diana, please, I'm almost done.” Lyra replied.

“You can't even mop the floor well, just take a look at the stupid and tasteless tea you made.” Diana kept ranting.

The full moon hung high in the sky. The mate ceremony was full of life; the night sky sparkled across the whole pack, celebrating the ceremony.

The pressure in the air weighed heavy, as anticipation surged in. This night was going to be the night that everything will turn around for Lyra, she will finally meet her mate during the mate ceremony.

She had done all her daily duties, sweeping and mopping the palace floors, mostly with the fact that tonight was the mate ceremony and she, of course, served Diana her tea, which she presumed was tasteless.

Lyra had all hopes that she will meet her mate tonight, she wore the nicest dress she had, expectantly with faith. Lyra wished all her life that she could stop scrubbing floors in the pack house and serving tea, she wanted liberty. Most times, her hands were sore from too much scrubbing, she barely had time to rest or sleep.

Lyra walked into the grand hall where the mate ceremony took place. She stood nervously among the crowd, her palms sweaty as cold sweat ran down her forehead, wondering who her mate would be. Pondering with anxiousness as her face twinged with worry, Mel called out to her.

“Lyra, you're trembling, take a deep breath, to ease yourself.” Melinda said as she walked towards Lyra.

“Yeah, I know, but I can't help but be nervous at this point, I don't know who it's going to be, but I sense that it's someone of high status.” Lyra replied, still worried.

“But this isn't your first time attending a mate ceremony, so why the act?” Mel asked curiously, her face full of questions.

“Yeah, but this one is special and important to me because I'm going to meet my fated mate.” Lyra answered.

Chuckling, she replied: “Oh Lyra, aren't you supposed to be excited? Instead, you're nervous, well, you're free to express your emotions.”

Melinda, the only friend Lyra had, had been the only one who cared about Lyra, since her parents died in the rogue attack that happened eleven years ago.

Lyra's parents were Omegas, but they showered her love, taking care of her with their whole heart but the earth was so cruel, it snatched them away from her. They had nothing, but they made sure Lyra was happy while they were still on earth.

Lyra had missed her parents all her life, wishing they could come back.

Lyra tried to calm down, but it wasn't working, she inhaled deeply, catching her breath, suddenly a scent hit her—it was sweet and intoxicating.

“Mate!” She whispered.

“OMG, I'm so tensed up.” Lyra said to herself. She felt surprised yet anxious, her heart was beating fast as excitement mixed with anticipation surged in.

At this point, Lyra searched around abruptly confused by the scent, her heart beat raced faster than ever as she felt a magnetic and uncontrollable pull.

She stood up moving towards the scent; it was a mixture of lavender and flower, she flared her nose and inhaled the air, the scent was refreshing, soothing Lyra.

Scanning the crowd, she snapped her eyeballs to the side of the room, her heart skipped a beat as a flow of excitement rushed in when she realized the figure. Kael, the Alpha of the pack, Silver Moon Pack, he was tall, muscular, and handsome, his aura was filled with pride, and he stood able-bodied.

They stared at each other, their eyes locked for a moment, time seemed to stop as tension filled the atmosphere. The both of them had recognized their bond. There was no movement, only silence, as their eyes were fixed on each other.

“What! I can't believe Lyra, the maid who scrubbed floors is my fated mate, impossible.” Kael thought in his heart. I'm done for, this is pathetic, I feel so agitated right now. Kael said, his heartbeat quickening as a sly creep of anger crept to his chest, his jaw tightened, his face twisted with a frown as his muscles rippled beneath his skin.

Lyra's wolf growled desperately, responding to the mate bond as the feeling of seeing her mate came, she was desperate to accept him. Her whole body longed for him.

She moved closer with fear, her legs were shivering as she moved, staring at his golden eyes, twinkling brightly.

Her heart pounded loudly in her chest like it was going to explode, the atmosphere was filled with the scent of woods and pine, trying to calm the thunder striking and the pressure rising inside of Lyra, her heart wavered.

Her entire body shook, trembling as she tugged the hem of her dress sweating bullets, a blue silky fabric, cheap, and a bit shabby but still beautiful, striking a reminder that she's an Omega. She had longed for this day, she yearned for the night she could stand before Kael the Alpha, and that was now.

Fear crept into her chest, as the moment she had been waiting for came, but she thought, What if he doesn't fancy me? What if the Moon Goddess made a mistake and paired us up?

While at Kael's end, he was worried. How could I be mated to her, I can't experience the same thing as dad, though he's dead now?

…THOUGHTS OF THE PAST…

“Ahh! No, my love, please don't die and leave me in this battle, I still need you.”

“I love you, please take care of our boy, show him the love I couldn't give him.”

“Mummy, please don't leave me.”

…END OF THOUGHTS…

Mum died because she was unable to withstand pain, and after her death my dad was shattered. I was left motherless. Dad loved and cherished me, but he was never the same as before. Kael pondered.

He took a glance at Lyra, scrutinizing her face. She looks beautiful, but it still wasn't enough, I need someone strong, Natasha or Lyra? He thought, scrutinizing Lyra.

“Lyra, will you stop making a fool of yourself?” Diana's voice was piercing and full of disgust.

“Comport yourself, you look desperate, like the slave you are.” Diana cursed behind Lyra.

Diana was the one who sheltered Lyra after her parent's death, but she maltreated her, making her scrub the floors and serve tea throughout her days in the pack. She sometimes punished her harshly by whipping her.

“Lyra, put yourself together, everything will be okay.” Mel encouraged.

“Sure Mel, I know, but I just feel like—” Mel interrupted. “He's going to reject you,”

“Something like that, not really.” Lyra replied.

“Don't worry, have some faith, you're beautiful, hardworking, and you have a kind wolf, so relax, okay.”

“Thanks, Mel,” she replied.

Lyra looked back at Kael, the Alpha which she just found out was her mate. The anticipation inside of her increased. She had put so much hope on tonight, but all her dreams, somewhat, felt unreachable.

The occasion started with mates moving forward, their bond visible as they held themselves beautiful like a couple. The pack applauded as each couple passed, meanwhile Lyra was staring at Kael, but his facial expression was aloof, not even sparing her a glance.

The occasion progressed, excitement filled the air with the smell of food and sounds of laughter and chatter, Lyra didn't focus on the ceremony but on Kael, his aloof appearance felt uneasy, he's really cold-hearted.

“Lyra!” Kael called shockingly, his voice distant.

A cold shiver ran down her spine, She felt butterflies in her stomach as her stomach twisted. Lyra froze, clamming her sweaty palms, her breath hitched. “Why is he staring at me with that look?” Lyra's feet couldn't move, it was as if they were stocked to the floor. She felt a lump in her throat, her ribs ached with every beat of her heart.

With fear, She moved forward, taking a step towards the podium where he stood tall and powerful, his demeanor strong and mighty. All eyes were on Lyra as the whole pack was silent. Their gazes were on her, brimming with curiosity, some with shock.

“Why is this happening? Among all the wolves in the pack, why did the Moon Goddess mate me with the Alpha?” Lyra pondered.

As she approached him, she could sense how frigid he was already, making her heart falter. Her entire body shook with unease as she felt he was rejecting her already. She clenched her hands, letting her nails sink in as the hands were clammy.

She opened her heart ready for what he will say, but the words that came out of his mouth were shockingly cruel and heart-wrenching:

Kael breathes out, his golden eyes twinkling with a flicker. He walked forward, looking at Lyra like she was some dirt, fighting with his mind before making his decision.

“I, Alpha Kael, reject you… His words resounded, stabbing her heart with a blade. Omega Lyra as my mate.”