LOST IN THE WOLF'S SHADOW

Sabrina Howler moved gracefully through the grand banquet hall, her pulse quickening with anticipation.

Her heart had always longed for one person in particular, the most feared but still the most wanted mate by all the she-wolves.

Even the low class Omega's secretly hoped to be matched with him, the Lycan king, Axel Thane.

Tonight was the Crescent Pairing, the most anticipated event where Lycans and Wolves gather in togetherness without rivalry or strife.

A ritual night where the moon goddess assigns mate.

Sabrina belonged to the ShadowFang pack, one of the most ancient, fiercest pack in the wolf kingdom.

Her family ruled the ShadowFang pack for generations, coming from a bloodline of Alpha's and she was the immediate heir as the next leader of the pack.

Her body tingled as the pull of the mate bond became stronger, she was getting closer to him.

Flames flickered in the massive stone hearth at the center of the room, casting reflecting shadows over the blissful interaction between gathered packs.

But at the Alpha's table, there was nothing but silence.

Axel sat at the head of the table, his expression unreadable, his posture relaxed but commanding. The seat of power belonged to him and everyone in the room knew it. He was unlike any other wolf to walk the earth.

To his left sat Alpha Thane, his father- by blood, if nothing else. His sharp features were tense, his jaws locked as he carved into the raw meat he was chewing with more force than necessary, as if slicing through something- or someone in his mind.

He didn't speak. Didn't glance at Axel not even once.

They both had a terrible father-son relationship, the type that was fueled with hatred and disregard.

It had been that way from the first time Axel shifted, revealing powers unlike any Lycan before him. And became worse ever since Axel took his place as the Lycan king, leading the Darkfang Legion while his father still lived.

To Axel's right sat Orion, his father's true heir. At least, that's what Thane had always believed. Axel's stepbrother and eldest son of Thane, the man of the spotlight before Axel was born.

He ate in stiff, practiced movements, his fingers tightening around his goblet with each passing second.

He did not look at Axel, just as Axel did not bother looking at him.

The space between the three of them was suffocating, an invisible battlefield of unspoken words and festering resentment.

Despite their shared blood, everyone could see the truth, their unyielding coldness towards each other wasn't about to die in forever.

Sabrina barely glanced at anyone as she walked towards the Alpha table. Her heart thrummed with certainty. It was him.

Her lips curled into a smile. The blood sacrifice had worked.

The night before, she had knelt by the Blood River, offering the ultimate price-her own beta, Eiden. The witch had promised that spilling his blood would bind her fate to the mate of her choosing.

Now, the moon goddess had answered.

"Alpha Axel," she said loudly out of joy, almost too loudly.

A hush fell over the gathering. Everyone turned at the mention of his name, curious to what was about to unfold.

Axel didn't bother to spare her a glance or answer, not that she wasn't worthy of acknowledgement, of course she was known to be the prettiest alpha she-wolf. He just didn't care about anything or anyone, ice-stoned you could say.

Sabrina gulped softly to his indifference, lowering her voice to a reverent whisper.

"Mate."

The word sent a ripple through the room.

To be the mate of Axel Thane meant more than just being bonded to the strongest. It meant power. Everyone knew that.

Her father, Alpha Howler, smiled from ear to ear. He had immediately drawn the picture in his head. The ShadowFang pack bonding with the Lycans? They would become untouchable.

But across the table, Orion's hands clenched into fists. His eyes had gone black and the tip of his canines were threatening to show.

Humiliation burned through him.

He'd always fancied Sabrina and as if the moon goddess was on his side, two years ago, Sabrina had been his mate.

The moon goddess had paired them at the last Crescent Pairing- which happens once every two years. But she had rejected him in front of everyone, resisting the effect of the mate bond all because she wanted his little brother who didn't even see her at all like he did.

And now?

Now she had a chance with him.

Axel was marked as a VoidBorn from birth, a cursed Lycan with otherworldly powers. The scar on his back served as a reminder.

The weight of his curse didn't allow him to know love and have desires, he remained cold, hardened and subjected to the wrath of the full moon. Yet still, every she-wolf yearned for him, whispering behind cupped hands, daring to dream that they would be the one to soften the ice in his heart.

The hall fell silent as everyone anticipated Axel's response. He didn't say anything, neither did he look moved or interested, the same detached indifference one might reserve for an uninvited guest.

Sabrina remained calm, knowing that his impassiveness was part of his charm.

A long, agonizing moment passed, then came her weary voice again.

"Alpha Axel," she called out shyly, inching closely to touch his arms.

"I don't want you," Axel finally spoke, freezing her hands halfway before they reached his shoulders.

The words cracked through the silence like a whip. Goblets froze midway, quiet conversations died unfinished.

Who rejects Sabrina Howler? someone who had never heard "no" before.

Sabrina blinked, her lips parting in disbelief. She'd not expected pure, unrelenting rejection as if she was nothing.

"But.." she started, voice wavering.

Axel rose, cutting her off as he walked out of everyone. His posture unbroken, not bothered by what she'd thought to say either.

The single act was a death knell. Cold. Absolute.

Lower wolves looked away, not wanting to be caught watching the humiliation that unfolded.

Sabrina's hands clenched at her sides, her heartbeat a violent drum in her chest.

She was aware of her unfathomable beauty- skin, smooth as untouched silk, the curve of her waist dipped inward like the gentle flow of a river, blooming into the full, sensual arc of her hips. But Axel didn't even flinch, shattering the bond before it could form.

"I don't accept your rejection," Sabrina called after him. Her voice clear and unwavering, breaking through the steady noise.

Axel didn't bother batting his eyes at her as he reached for the door.

Fools.

Love was a weakness. A distraction.

The moon goddess should know better than to mix him up with her minions- he was no worshipper of hers.

Although for a fact he dwelled within her realm.

His existence had been in darkness, shaped by blood and war. He did not yearn for warmth, nor did he crave a bond. He had a debt to settle- a revenge debt.

"I will escort you, Alpha," came a voice.

It was Oliver, Axel's beta.

"No need, I'm just stepping out for a smoke,"

And with that, he disappeared into the night.

Sabrina stood there, humiliated, furious, and determined.

Axel Thane may have rejected her.

But she wasn't going to let go easily.