Chapter 1

A summer’s night. In the woods of the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. Where the Lunar Pack lives. Living a happy life, but unfortunately, everything changed.

“Bring Ethan to the pack house immediately!” Danyon commanded Ash. One of his servants.

“Right away, sir,” Ash replied and rushed out of Danyon’s sight.

“My darling Aurelia. Shall we make our way to the pack house?” Danyon asked his mate.

“Of course, my dear.” Aurelia made her way down the steps towards Danyon.

Their arms intertwine. They make their way out of the castle. They watched as the entire pack make their way to the pack house.

Excited.

The announcement of the Alpha’s son receiving his mate makes every female wolf anxious. Every Alpha needs a suitable mate to be able to fill the shoes of this extensive role.

Everyone makes their way into the pack house. Taking a seat. The single wolves find their seat in the front row. The girls in the front range from short to tall. One or two have blond hair, and most of them have brown. Only one has black hair.

Her eyes are blue. Her body is firm. She wears a t-shirt with blue jeans complimenting her lower body. She seems a little bit more nervous than the other girls.

The trumpets echo through the pack house, making a loud noise—the scraping of the chairs as the pack stands up from their chairs. Restlessness throughout the house. Everyone turned around to look towards the door.

The Omega of the pack, Aurelia, makes the first entrance. Following her is Danyon, the Alpha of the pack. Thirdly, to follow is Ethan. The soon-to-be alpha. The three of them make their way toward the pulpit.

“Please be seated,” Danyon commanded the pack. “Welcome all to the annual insinuation of the mating ritual.” The pack house filled with the sound of hand clapping.

“Ethan. If you would please stand closer.” Aurelia gave a gesture with her hand for Ethan to stand next to her.

“Certainly,” Ethan responded and made his way toward his mother.

“Ethan and our loyal pack. We believe you all know why we are here and the producers we must follow.” Danyon said.

“Yes.” Ethan, including the pack, replied. Sounding like a chorus.

Ethan’s tone sounded like disappointment and anger.

“Ethan, darling. Smile a little.” Aurelia asked Ethan. Ethan forced a smile.

“Now. For the important part. We have been looking into all our single wolves. That has not yet been chosen to be someone’s mate.” Danyon said. “One of our lucky wolves will be chosen to be our son’s mate. Although he can reject you, if so, a new mate must be chosen. This can take up to a few weeks, and everything can delay the process of crowning Ethan the Alpha.”

“You will not reject the mate we have chosen for you. Do you understand me?” Aurelia whispered to Ethan. She smiles at the pack.

“Yes, mother,” Ethan replied with disappointment. Staring towards the ground.

“Now, let the initiation begin,” Danyon said, smiling at the pack. “Ladies, if you would please come up to the pulpit.” He gestures to them to come.

The female wolves make their way up to the pulpit. Standing prim and proper the way they have been taught. Seeing the girls look nervous. Looking around. Looking at the other girls standing there feeling insecure about themselves.

“The mate that we have chosen for our son is….” Danyon has a moment of silence, and before continuing, Aurelia finishes his sentence for him.

“Mia Phillips.”

Ethan’s eyes widen in shock. His jaw dropped to the ground.

***

Mia’s Point of View

A smile appears on my face. Excitement filled my heart.

The other girls looked at me, anger filling their eyes. Unfortunately, they didn’t have a say in what the Alpha and the omega had chosen. They decided to clap their hands and pretend to be happy.

“Ethan Miller. Do you accept Mia Phillips as your mate?” Danyon asked.

Ethan stared at me. Then stormed out of the pack house in anger. I stood there in shock.

Disappointed.

“Don’t worry, sweetie. He does accept you. He is just a bit in shock at this moment.” Aurelia assured me.

I nodded while taking a big breath.

“Fellow pack. Ethan is just in shock. We will continue the ceremony tomorrow night. We can make our way to the bonfire area for the annual barbecue.” Danyon said, making his way down the pulpit steps.

While everyone made their way out of the pack house, Mia was the last to leave. Just as Mia was leaving the pack house, Ethan pulled her to the side.

“Ethan,” I said in surprise.

“Let’s just wait until everyone is at the bonfire. I don’t want them to hear us.” Ethan said with anger. Never have I seen him like this.

“What is wrong with you? What is going on? Why didn’t you say anything in there?” I asked with a crackling tone.

“I will explain everything in a minute.”

Everyone was gone. Silence filled the air. Making everything intense. Mia stood there waiting for Ethan to say something.

“I, Ethan Miller, reject you, Mia Phillip, as my Luna and mate,” Ethan said emotionless.

“What?” Tears started to fill my eyes.

“You heard me dam it. I don’t want a weak human like you at my side.” His tone got aggressive.

“I…” I stuttered as I fought to hold back my tears.

“How will you ever be able to protect yourself when I’m not nearby? How?” He said, grabbing my hair and pulling my head back. I whimper from the pain. “My point exactly. You can’t even protect yourself from me.” He flung me back while releasing my hair, making me almost lose my balance.

“Accept the fucking, rejection. Now!” He commanded.

“I, Mia Phillips, accept your rejection.” Tears started to roll down my cheeks.

“I think it is better if you tell my parents, you rejected me and not the other way around,” Ethan said with no remorse.

Mia stared at Ethan, not knowing what to say. She decided to turn around and walk away. Not looking back. Wiping away her tears. Sobbing as she walks through the forest. Dodging branches. Climbing over logs. Not wanting to join the barbecue.

Mia stared at the bright white moon when she reached a huge cliff. She wiped away her last tear.

“Maybe it would be best if I leave the pack. Ethan is right. I’m nothing but a weak human.” I whispered to myself.

Mia decided to sit on the ledge of the cliff. Her legs hanging off. Staring at the cloudless sky. The moon was right in front of her with thousands of stars around it. After a few minutes, while Mia was sitting on the ledge, Roman made his appearance from the woods.

“Mia. What are you doing here?” Roman asked.

“I just wanted to look at the stars. I’m not in the mood for all the congratulatory speeches.” I said with a sniffle.

“Are you all, right?” He asked, finding himself a seat next to me.

“I’m fine. Couldn’t be better.” I forced a smile, holding back my tears.

“I don’t think Ethan deserves you.” He said, placing his hand on my leg. “You belong with me.”

“You’re supposed to be Ethan’s best friend. Meaning don’t hit on his mate.” I made my way to my feet.

“You and I both know. He doesn’t want you. I overheard your conversation earlier. He rejected you.” A grin appeared on his face as he walked closer to me.

“Stay away from me.” I turned around to walk back to the pack when Roman grabbed my arm.

“You’re not going anywhere.” Roman pulled me closer while trying to kiss me.

“Fuck off, Roman!” I said, then slapped him through the face.

“You, fucking bitch!”

Mia tried to break loose from his grip, but unfortunately, she wasn’t strong enough. They went back and forth as Mia tried to shake free, looking like a tug of war. They were fighting on the cliff’s ledge when Mia slipped, and Roman released his grip on her. Making Mia fall off the cliff into the sea.

Roman stared at the waves of the sea. Trying to see if he can spot her.

Nothing.

Not even a piece of clothing drifting.

“Fucking bitch. That will show her to reject me. No one rejects me.” He whispered to himself. He made his way back to the pack. Pretending like nothing had happened.

***

“Roman, my man! Where have you been?” Ethan asked, throwing his arm around Roman’s neck.

“I had to take a piss.” Roman forced a smile.

“Seriously, too much information,” Ethan replied.

“Can we have a drink, please?” Roman said with a giggle.

With laughter and giggles filling the air. A voice screaming from the other side of the forest began soft and became louder and louder as the voice got closer.

“Mia! Where’s Mia?” Mace asked in a panic state.

“What’s going on?” Ethan asked. Trying to calm her down.

“We can’t find Mia anywhere. She left the pack house last. Ethan, wasn’t she with you?” Mace asked with tears filling her eyes.

“She was, but she said she wanted to clear her head,” Ethan replied with a shacking tone.

“We need to start a search for her.” Roman suggested.

“You’re right.” Ethan pointed his nose to the sky and started to sniff to find her scent. “This way.” He pointed in the direction of the cliff.

Even though Ethan rejected Mia as his mate. They were still connected. He could smell her rosy scent, but it was starting to fade. Ethan and Roman sprinted to the cliff where Mia’s scent still lingered.

Mia’s scent was whiff.

Ethan, Roman, and Mia’s parents Mace and Asher arrived at the cliff where her scent stopped.

“No, please no.” Mace whispered.

The rest of the pack had followed them. Stopping at the cliff trying to find any evidence of Mia anywhere.

Ethan spotted something in the corner of his eye.

“No.” A whisper left his mouth.

Ethan made his way to the object, Mia's cell phone. The screen is cracked. No use in trying to call her.