Blurb Mia Hudson is the rejected mate of the alpha king, she lives her life in shame but she has her best friend by her side whom she loves the most. But everything changes when best friend is killed by the bloodcrest; a group of rebels who wants to overthrow the alpha king. Mia is determined to get stronger and avenge her best friend and joins forces with the alpha king on his quest to take down the bloodcrest. She finds herself caught in the middle of a dangerous power struggle between two rivals. In the midst of the chaos, she is approached by Ethan, the leader of one of the bloodcrest, who claims to know the truth about her father's death. As she struggles to make sense of what has happened, Mia must decide where her loyalties lie - with the people she has always trusted, or with a mysterious stranger who is offering her the answers she seeks. But as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that nothing is what it seems, and Mia must navigate a world of secrets, lust, love and revenge.
Chapter 1 THE REJECTION
"I want nothing to do with you!" Lucas yelled, his words cutting through the night air. "The moon goddess may have chosen you, but you hold no place in my heart or by my side," he added with a bitter tone. Mia stood frozen, her heart shattered by his rejection.
As the shock settled, she found herself tumbling into a shallow pit, disoriented and confused. Just as she thought all hope was lost, she woke up. "another bad dream." She sighed.
Mia turned to look at her phone and it was buzzing. "Hello?" Mia said, picking up the phone, her voice barely more than a whisper.
"Mia, where are you? You didn't come into work again today!" her best friend Ciara said, sounding concerned. "You've been doing this a lot lately. Is everything okay?"
Mia sighed. "I'm fine, I just...I just can't...I just need some time to myself, that's all."
"Mia, it's been five years, five years since Lucas rejected you. You can't keep shutting yourself out, you deserve better." Ciara said.
"You need to come back to work and stop moping around," Ciara said. "It's a mess without you." She added, only half-joking.
"I'll be there," Mia said. "You couldn't survive without me." She teased, winking at her friend.
Ciara said, her tone serious now, "Just know you're much more than a rejected mate. And the fact that you're not with the alpha king doesn't make you any less powerful or special. In fact, it's the opposite. You have the opportunity to be your own person, to make your own mark on the world."
"I love you" Mia said smiling. "I literally can't live without you"
"Aww, I love you too, I have to hang up now. See you tomorrow" Ciara said and hung up.
As Mia thought about Lucas, her mind drifted to the time when they were young and carefree. They would spend hours together, talking and laughing, sharing everything with each other.
*FLASHBACK*
The two of them were sitting in their favorite restaurant, a small and cozy place where they could be themselves. Lucas had just stolen a sausage off of her plate.
"Hey! That's my sausage!" Mia said as she watched Lucas eat her sausage.
Lucas grinned mockingly "bite me".
"I will, if you don't stop stealing my food" She looked around the restaurant and sighed. "I love it here! It's so peaceful It's the perfect place to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of the city," Mia said, taking a sip of her coffee.
She glanced around the restaurant, noticing how the soft lighting and subtle music created a calm and soothing atmosphere. "It's like a little oasis in the midst of chaos."
"You always were a city girl at heart, but with a craving for peace and quiet." Lucas said, a smile playing on his lips.
Mia laughed, a light, musical sound that filled the air. "You know me too well"
As Mia looked at Lucas, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of longing in her heart. She knew that they shared a deep connection, a bond that went beyond friendship.
She wanted nothing more than to be with him, to be his mate. The moon goddess had a plan for them, she just knew it. All she could do was hope and pray that her dream would come true.
As she sat there, lost in thought, Lucas suddenly reached across the table and took her last sausage.
"No fair!" Mia said, feigning outrage as Lucas swiped her last sausage from her plate. "You're not even hungry!"
"I was just saving you from the calories," Lucas said, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "I'm doing you a favor."
"Uh-huh," Mia said, rolling her eyes. "I know you just wanted an excuse to steal my food."
"Guilty as charged," Lucas said, grinning. "But you have to admit, I make a pretty convincing case."
As Mia looked at Lucas, she couldn't help but be taken in by his beauty. His eyes were a striking blue, like the ocean on a clear summer day.
His teeth were perfectly straight and white, and his smile was dazzling. His hair was a dark brown, just long enough to be slightly unruly, and his skin was tanned and flawless. In short, he was perfect. She felt a little silly, being so taken by his appearance, but she couldn't help it.
He was just so... beautiful. But it wasn't just his looks that captivated her. It was the way he looked at her.
***********
years had passed and Lucas had been chosen to be the alpha king of Moonshire. It had changed many things about his life, but it hadn't changed him. He was still the same sweet, caring person he had always been.
He was a leader who inspired others with his kindness and sincerity, and everyone loved and respected him for it.
**********
Mia stumbled down the hospital hallway, her heart pounding in her chest. The nurse had just called to say that her father had been in a car accident, and he had just passed away. She rounded the corner and saw the door to his room, and her legs nearly gave out beneath her.
Please, she thought, please let him be okay. She took a deep breath and pushed open the door. What she saw inside the room made her knees give way, and she crumpled to the floor. Her father was lying on the bed, still and pale, with a sheet draped over his body.
It's been exactly two weeks since her dad died and Mia haven't heard from Lucas, he ignored her calls and each time she went to his company the security never lets her in.
In her dream, Mia saw Lucas standing before her, his eyes dark and unreadable. Suddenly, the moon goddess appeared, her ethereal form glowing in the night sky. She held a red rope in her hands, and slowly, she tied it around their wrists.
As she did, Mia felt a surge of energy course through her, a connection that she had never felt before. She looked at Lucas, and saw that he was looking at her with an intensity that took her breath away. "You are fated mates," the moon goddess said, her voice echoing in the night. "Your destinies are forever entwined"
Mia shot up in bed, her heart racing and her head spinning. The dream felt so real, so vivid, that she could still feel the sensation of the red rope tying her to Lucas. And now she knew the truth - he was her fated mate. But she was also angry. How could he have ignored her after her father died? He was supposed to be there for her, to support her through this difficult time. Instead, he had disappeared, leaving her to deal with her grief alone. She couldn't understand why he would do that to her.