“The Moon Goddess never makes mistakes…
or so I believed.” The full moon hung high above Blackwood Pack, bathing the village in silver light.
Music echoed through the square as wolves laughed, danced, and celebrated the annual Mate Ceremony.
For everyone else, tonight was filled with hope.
For me, it felt like standing on the edge of a cliff.
I took a deep breath and smoothed the wrinkles from my simple white dress.
It wasn’t expensive like the gowns worn by the Alpha’s daughter or the other high-ranking girls.
My guardian had worked for months to buy this dress, insisting that every she-wolf deserved to look beautiful on the night she met her mate.
I hoped she was right.
“Eighteen already,” my best friend, Selene, whispered with a grin as she linked her arm through mine.
“By this time tomorrow, you’ll probably be mated and planning your future.” I laughed nervously.
“Or I’ll be the only girl in the pack without a mate.” Selene rolled her eyes.
“The Moon Goddess has someone for everyone.” I wanted to believe her.
More than anything, I wanted to believe that somewhere in this crowd was the man destined to love me.
The drums suddenly stopped.
Every conversation faded into silence.
Alpha Victor stepped onto the stone platform in the center of the square, his powerful voice carrying across the gathering.
“Tonight, our young wolves will meet the ones chosen for them by the Moon Goddess.
May every bond formed under this moon bring honor to Blackwood Pack.” Excitement spread through the crowd.
One by one, newly turned wolves stepped forward, waiting for fate to reveal itself.
My heart pounded so hard I thought everyone could hear it.
Then…
A scent drifted through the night.
Warm cedar.
Rain.
Wild earth after a storm.
My wolf stirred for the first time.
Mate…
The voice echoed inside my mind like a heartbeat.
I froze.
No…
It couldn’t be.
Slowly, I turned toward the training grounds.
A tall man stood there, surrounded by warriors.
Dark hair.
Piercing blue eyes.
Broad shoulders.
The future Alpha of Blackwood Pack.
Alpha Damon.
The moment our eyes met, time seemed to stop.
His expression changed.
Shock.
Recognition.
Then…
Disgust.
He walked toward me, every step making my heartbeat faster.
The crowd parted, whispering excitedly.
“They’re mates.” “The future Alpha found his mate!” “I knew it!” Tears filled my eyes as hope bloomed in my chest.
Maybe my life was about to change.
Maybe I finally belonged.
Damon stopped only a few feet away.
His cold gaze swept over my plain dress, my worn shoes, and the scar on my wrist.
His lips curled with contempt.
“I…” My voice trembled.
“You’re my mate.” Silence.
Then Damon laughed.
A cruel, heartless laugh.
“I reject you.” The words struck harder than any blade.
“I, Damon Blackwood, future Alpha of Blackwood Pack, reject Aria Blackwood as my mate.” Gasps echoed across the square.
Someone laughed.
Another person whispered.
I felt hundreds of eyes burning into me.
“No…” I whispered, tears spilling down my cheeks.
“Please…” “I will never accept a weak, worthless orphan as Luna.” Every word shattered another piece of my heart.
The mate bond screamed in agony.
Pain exploded through my chest.
The crowd watched.
No one defended me.
No one stepped forward.
I realized then…
The Moon Goddess hadn’t blessed me tonight.
She had cursed me.
And as I stumbled away from the only home I had ever known, I had no idea that this rejection was only the beginning.
Far beyond Blackwood Pack, a pair of golden eyes snapped open.
A deep voice echoed through the darkness.
“I’ve found her.” The Lycan King smiled.
“My mate.”