THE REJECTED LUNA

The morning sun stretched across Blackwood Pack, painting the village in shades of gold and amber. Wolves moved through the streets with excitement, preparing for the annual Moon Goddess Festival. Laughter echoed from every corner, banners danced in the breeze, and the scent of food drifted through the air. For most people, it was a day of celebration. For me, it was the day that could change my life forever.

I stood in front of the mirror inside my small bedroom, adjusting my dress for what felt like the hundredth time. My stomach twisted with nerves. Today was my twentieth birthday, the age when many wolves found their fated mates. I had dreamed about this moment for years, imagining what it would feel like when the Moon Goddess finally revealed the person destined for me. What if my mate wasn't here? What if I never found him? The thought alone was enough to make my heart race.

"You'll wear a hole in that dress if you keep pulling at it."

I turned and smiled as my grandmother stepped into the room. Her silver hair framed her warm face, and her eyes sparkled with amusement. She had raised me since I was a child and knew me better than anyone.

"I'm nervous," I admitted.

"That's normal," she replied, walking over to straighten a loose strand of my hair. "But you should enjoy today instead of worrying about what might happen."

I sighed. "Easy for you to say."

She laughed softly. "Trust the Moon Goddess, Aria. She never makes mistakes."

I wished I shared her confidence. The truth was that there was only one wolf I secretly hoped to find at the end of the bond.

Alpha Kael Blackwood.

The very thought of his name sent warmth rushing through me. Kael was everything a leader should be: strong, respected, fearless, and fiercely protective of his pack. Most unmated women admired him, but my feelings went far beyond admiration. For years, I had watched him from a distance, hoping he would one day notice me. Of course, he never had. Why would he? He was the Alpha of Blackwood Pack, and I was simply Aria Nightshade.

By sunset, the entire pack had gathered in the Moon Temple. Excitement filled the air as unmated wolves waited for their names to be called. The ceremony was one of the oldest traditions in werewolf history. Tonight, the Moon Goddess would reveal the fated bonds she had chosen.

I sat among the crowd, trying to ignore the pounding of my heart. My eyes drifted toward Kael. He stood near the front beside his Beta, Rowan Hayes. Even in a room full of people, he commanded attention without trying. His dark hair, broad shoulders, and sharp features made him impossible to ignore. As though sensing my gaze, he suddenly looked in my direction.

For a brief moment, our eyes met.

My breath caught.

Then he looked away.

The ceremony continued, and one by one, wolves stepped forward. Some left smiling. Others returned to their seats disappointed. Every passing minute made my anxiety worse.

Then the High Priestess called my name.

"Aria Nightshade."

The room seemed to fall silent.

I rose to my feet and walked toward the center of the temple. Hundreds of eyes followed my every step. My pulse thundered in my ears as the High Priestess placed her hands on my shoulders and whispered an ancient prayer to the Moon Goddess.

At first, nothing happened.

Then a brilliant silver light burst around me.

Gasps filled the room.

The energy wrapped around my body like moonlight. A powerful force exploded inside my chest, stronger than anything I had ever felt before the mating bond.

My mate was here.

The silver light stretched across the temple like a glowing thread, connecting me to someone in the crowd. My eyes followed its path.

The bond led directly to Alpha Kael Blackwood.

Shock swept through the room.

Whispers erupted everywhere.

I couldn't move.

I couldn't breathe.

The Moon Goddess had chosen him.

For a moment, happiness overwhelmed me. Every dream I had ever buried in my heart suddenly felt possible. Slowly, I lifted my gaze to meet Kael's eyes.

But instead of happiness, I found something else.

Fear.

Real fear.

His face had gone pale.

His jaw tightened.

The entire room waited for him to speak.

Then Kael took one step backward.

And in a voice barely above a whisper, he said words that shattered the happiness inside me before it even had a chance to bloom.

"No, this can't be happening."

The bond between us pulsed violently.

And deep inside, I knew my life was about to change forever. The silence inside the temple became unbearable. Hundreds of eyes moved between Kael and me, waiting for one of us to speak. My heart pounded so hard that I could barely hear the whispers spreading through the crowd. Finding your mate was supposed to be a blessing from the Moon Goddess. It was supposed to be the happiest moment of a wolf's life. Yet the look on Kael's face made it feel like a disaster.

I tried to understand what I was seeing. Confusion. Shock. Fear. None of it made sense. The bond between us was real. I could feel it pulsing deep inside my soul, connecting me to him in a way I had never experienced before. Every instinct told me to walk toward him, but my feet refused to move.

Rowan stepped closer to Kael and said something in a low voice. I couldn't hear the words, but I saw the tension in Kael's shoulders. His fists clenched at his sides. For a brief second, our eyes met again. A strange emotion flashed across his face before disappearing just as quickly. It almost looked like regret.

The crowd continued whispering around us.

"The Alpha found his mate."

"Why doesn't he look happy?"

"Something is wrong."

My cheeks burned under the weight of their stares. I wanted to disappear. I wanted the ground to open beneath my feet and swallow me whole. Yet despite the embarrassment, a small part of me still held onto hope. Maybe he was shocked. Maybe he needed time to process what had happened.

Then the High Priestess stepped forward with a smile.

"Alpha Kael Blackwood," she announced. "The Moon Goddess has revealed your fated mate."

A cold feeling settled in my stomach.

Because instead of stepping toward me, Kael took another step back.

And the fear in his eyes only grew stronger