Called by the Dragon

The full moon hung heavy over the Bloodfang Pack's ceremonial grounds, casting a silver glow over the circle of gathered wolves. Tonight should have been the most sacred, most joyful night of Selena Ashborn's life-her eighteenth birthday, and the day she was supposed to find her fated mate.

Instead, her world was about to burn.

She stood at the center of the pack, trembling but proud. Her long dark hair flowed freely over her shoulders, and her white ceremonial dress glowed in the moonlight, marking her purity, her readiness. Her wolf pulsed beneath her skin, eager, alert, waiting for the bond to snap into place.

Her eyes searched the crowd. She already knew. She had felt it.

Kael.

Alpha Kael of the Bloodfang Pack.

Her fated mate.

He stepped forward slowly, his towering frame exuding dominance, dressed in black as always, a crimson sash marking his alpha status. His cold silver eyes met hers-and for a fleeting moment, she thought she saw a flicker of warmth. Hope bloomed in her chest like fragile glass.

Then his voice shattered it.

"I, Alpha Kael of the Bloodfang Pack," he said, loud enough for every wolf present to hear, "reject you, Selena Ashborn, as my mate."

The words hit her like a thunderclap.

Gasps echoed through the circle. Whispers followed. Some were shocked. Others smirked.

Selena couldn't breathe.

Her vision swam. Her heart screamed. Her wolf howled in agony inside her.

"I-I accept your rejection," she managed to choke out, though her knees threatened to give out beneath her.

Kael's expression didn't change. Not even a flicker of regret crossed his chiseled face. Behind him, a slim blonde woman-Lila-stepped forward and slid her arm around his. Lila's smirk was poisonous.

Of course. Lila had always wanted Kael. And now she had him.

Selena stumbled backward. Her hands shook. Her lungs burned.

"Selena," came her mother's voice from the edge of the circle, but she didn't look. Couldn't.

Her chest felt cracked open, her soul sliced in two. The bond hadn't even fully formed, yet the rejection was ripping through her like fire. She turned and ran.

Ran from the circle.

Ran from the whispers.

Ran from the pain.

Into the forest.

Branches scratched at her arms and face, but she didn't care. The tears came hot and fast. Her wolf was disoriented, silent, bleeding.

He didn't want her.

Her mate didn't want her.

She wasn't strong enough. Not beautiful enough. Not worthy enough.

How could she ever be whole again?

She ran deeper into the woods, past the pack borders, past the wards. The cold night air cut into her lungs, but she didn't stop. She wanted to scream, to shift, to disappear.

Then she heard it.

A snap.

Too close.

She froze.

A growl behind her.

Another.

She turned slowly, heart thudding in her throat.

Eyes.

Six glowing eyes stared at her from the darkness. Rogues.

She backed away, her feet crunching against dead leaves. Her wolf tried to rise, but she was too weak, too hurt to shift.