Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by His Enemy

waiting for all my

athered crowd. The air buzzed with anticipation; whispers, laughter, and

ze. This was it-the night I turned eighteen. The night the Moon Goddess herself would reve

ide me until I felt like I was floating. My chest rose and fell qui

f the other girls wore-but it was mine. Aunt Clara had sewn it for me, insisting I looked "ethereal" in blue. I wanted t

ld matter. Tonight, the Moon G

sed, waving from a group of

e too tangled to join their chatter. I

e by one, the conversations died down, until only the steady rhythm filled the night.

a

, broad-shouldered, strong, and devastatingly handsome beneath the moonlight. His hair, dark as midnight, framed a face carved with shar

cky woman would be

gine it, but deep down, my heart whispered a dang

-

us like wind. Couples stepped forward one after another, sparks igniting as bonds

a king, his expression unreadable, his hands clasped behind his back. His wolf aura radiated s

ce rang out. My name ec

len

rward, each step heavy with the weight of destiny. Gasps r

he orpha

he can't eve

won't acc

mbled as I climbed the steps, until I stood before Kael. His eyes-pi

oul on fire. My breath caught. My heart thundered. This was it-

diant, tugged at my l

oug

like a blade,

smile froze, confusion spr

oddess may have made you my mate,

h the force of a blow. My sto

ject

vision blurred, tears stinging my eyes, but I forced myself to stand tall. "W

h disdain. "You're weak. Pathetic. You can't even shift. How could someon

ough the crowd. Whis

jected

new

worth

My heart screamed inside me, but my pride begged me not to fall apart

s voice low but sharp enough for all to

h ragged. The sparks I'd felt moments ago burned out,

fight to hold them in. Lila's wide eyes found mine in the c

s if I were nothing. "The

ilenced him. Another couple was called forward

every step. People whispered, laughed, sneered, but I couldn't hear

y mate. In fro

-

y tears blurring the world. I pushed through the trees, branches scratching my skin, the

chest ached as if claws had ripped it open. The bond still pulsed

the night. "Why me? Why would you give me

leaves and the distant laughter o

face in my h