Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by the Crown

Frost'

ct you, Ember Frost, as

ny, the most significant ev

and I want to see Owen before the ceremony beg

my best. Who knows, you might find your mate tonight!" she replied,

rprise. As a wolf-less human, it felt like a divine miracle when we discovered we were

w my place in the pack. And today was the day, and I couldn't

said with a shy smile, l

e bonfire with his friends, with a bright s

y wrist and pulled me to a secluded corner. He released m

how your face he

ked, confused

my mate? Ah, girl, you must be insane to bel

unnoticed by others. My chest ached with pain, and my he

ld want you as my mate? A human, of what use will you be to the pack? You were overjoyed when you discovered we

ven more stupid. Maybe he was right. What could I, as a wolf-less human, give the pack? I wasn't even a true member. On my sixteenth bi

ejection. The thought of it, of admitting how pathetic I am,

reystone," I stammered, trembling as pain surg

're nothing but a weak, useless human. "A mere shadow, not a wolf". "Have you ever looke

kisses, that made me believe he accepted me. But now I realized the truth:

in my misery. A few passersby smiled at him as he passed, ignorant of our conv

g heart. Breathe, Ember. Breathe, quit bein

a in the pack always defended me against bullies. My parents and my brother, Klaus, were gifts from the moon goddess. They never treated me differently, nor did they eve

I'd ruine

er, you

aming Ember." My family and Elena would face disgrace because of me. He was right after all, I was useless, a burden they di

y to someone with no place among the living? It was the night of the ceremony

a wolf" carving deeper with every step. I didn't realize when tears began streaming down my face. The pain of being rejected by the man I love

r their love, for my brother Klaus, for the pack's kindness. They'd given me a home despite my human blood. But I was a stain on thei

night air stung my lungs, making me cough violently. I am so useless that I couldn't even withstand such a slight change i

ooth stone Klaus gave me when we were kids. "For protection," he had sai

ome for eighteen years. I closed my eyes, pressing the stone to my lips. "

en I fell off the cliff. The wind rumbled, swallowing my cry, a