Rejected Luna: Royal Blood

the windows, hauling sacks of flour from the storage shed to the kitchen. Each job was physi

e entirely. They were used to seeing me like this, dirty and tired, doing the work that no one else want

my daily routine: cleaning the training grounds. The area was deserted now that the warriors had gone off to pat

I worked, I couldn't help but feel a pang of bitterness. While the others trained to become warriors, learning how t

I had no status in the pack. And as an orphan, I had no one to defend me, no one to speak up

oment to rest, leaning against the wall of the storage shed. My entire body ached, my hands were raw from scrubbing and hauling, but the day wasn't ove

another task, but instead, I saw Ava, the pack's healer, walking toward me with a basket in her hands. Ava was older, with silver hair and kind

voice gentle but firm. "I n

anded me the basket, which was filled with herbs and bandages, and motioned

t of concern. "You've been working hard to

o keep my voice steady. "I have

d the door to her cottage and led me inside, where the smell of dried herbs and incense filled the air. I set the bask

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of transformation. This was the night when those who had not yet transformed into their wolves would be given the chance to do so under th

was a nig

d with banners representing the pack's history. The air was thick with the scent of burning sage, meant to purify and prepare the young wolves for their transformatio

plagued me for the past year. I tried to hide the anxiety bubbling inside me, but it was hard wh

f the ancestors to guide the young wolves through their transformation. The atmosphere grew hea

t since he turned sixteen. His body convulsed, muscles bulging as fur sprouted from his skin. In a matter of moments, he was no long

wolves finally breaking free. It was a sight to behold-magnificent and terrifying all

ying to will something-anything-to happen, but my body refused to cooperate. I was p

pointment. Whispers began to spread through the crowd, growing louder with each passi

eon was a tall, imposing figure with a presence that commanded respect and fear in equal me

all. The pack seemed to part around him, giving him a clear path straight to where I sto

w and cold, "do you know what

trying to find my

mpt, "are you still standing here like a useless lump

nd I flinched, but I refused to look awa

hall could hear. "Nothing happened because you are nothing, Emily. You've had more t

didn't want to cry in front of him, in front of all of them, but the humiliati

ect this pack. Trying doesn't make you one of us. What use do we

"Do you know what happens to wolves who can't shift, Emily? They get lef

s in check. But the frustration, the anger, the despair-all of it was boiling ove

ur pathetic face around here again until you've figured out how to shift