Bride of The Forsaken Alpha

The moon hung high above the Silverclaw Pack's territory, casting an ethereal glow over the grand hall. Every member of the pack had gathered, their voices humming with excitement. Tonight was a night of destiny-a night when their Alpha would claim his Luna.

Elena Thorn stood at the center of it all, her heart pounding against her ribs. She wore a flowing white gown, a symbol of purity and devotion, the delicate fabric hugging her curves. Her long, dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, the silver pendant at her throat shimmering in the moonlight. This was the moment she had dreamed of since childhood-her fated mate, Alpha Ryker, would finally mark her as his.

Ryker stood before her, tall and powerful, exuding the raw dominance of an Alpha. His golden eyes burned into her, his expression unreadable. The ceremonial fire flickered behind him, illuminating his sharp features. Every she-wolf in the pack envied her, and yet, a nagging unease coiled in her stomach.

A deep silence fell over the hall when Ryker lifted his hand, signaling for attention. "Tonight, I stand before you all, prepared to take my mate," he announced, his voice commanding and sure. Murmurs of approval rippled through the crowd.

Elena swallowed, waiting for the moment his teeth would sink into her flesh, binding them forever.

Instead, he took a step back.

Shock crashed over her like a tidal wave. "Ryker?" Her voice came out barely above a whisper.

His jaw tightened. "I, Alpha Ryker of the Silverclaw Pack, reject you, Elena Thorn, as my mate and Luna."

Gasps filled the room. The weight of his words struck her chest like a physical blow, stealing the breath from her lungs. Her legs wobbled, but she refused to fall.

The rejection seared through her like silver poisoning her veins, her wolf howling in agony. "Why?" she choked out, her vision blurring with unshed tears.

Ryker turned his gaze to the right. Aria, her closest friend, stepped forward, slipping her hand into his. "Because I have chosen another," he declared, his voice cold and final.

Betrayal cut deeper than claws ever could. Aria-her confidante, her sister in everything but blood-now stood where Elena should have been.

The murmurs grew louder, some outraged, others confused. Elena's hands curled into fists. "You knew," she whispered, staring at Aria. "You knew, and you still-"

A smirk danced on Aria's lips. "Fate can be rewritten, Elena. Ryker was never yours."

Rage flared in her chest, but the pain of rejection crushed it beneath its weight. The bond, meant to be unbreakable, shattered into a million irreparable pieces. Her wolf whimpered, her soul torn in half.

Alpha Ryker turned away. "Leave, Elena. You no longer belong here."

Tears burned down her cheeks, but she refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing her crumble. With every ounce of strength left in her battered heart, she spun on her heel and ran.

The towering trees of the Shadowwood loomed ahead, their darkened branches reaching like skeletal fingers. She didn't stop. Twigs snapped beneath her feet, the wind howling through the dense forest. Pain radiated through her chest, but the ache in her soul hurt far worse.

Her body trembled. Cold seeped into her bones, the night air chilling the exposed skin where Ryker's mark should have been. The rejection bond had left a gaping wound, a void threatening to swallow her whole.