0002: Rejected And Relocated

KAREN’S POV

"I reject you, Omega."

My breath stuttered at that single, brutal sentence. My chest burned, my heartbeat a frantic drum against my ribs. But I refused to flinch. Refused to let him see how his voice cracked something deep inside me.

Alex Scott, future Alpha of the Blue Cross Pack, stood before me, his blue eyes cold, his mouth twisted in disgust. Just two days ago, those same lips had whispered sweet promises, his hands gentle against my skin. Back when he thought I was someone important.

Back before he knew the truth of who I really was.

"I, future Alpha Alex Grayson Scott, hereby reject you, Karen Lukeman, a weak and lowly Omega, as my future Luna."

His voice was cold and dispassionate, each word a dagger driving the rejection deeper into my already broken heart. The pack watched in silence, their stares like knives against my skin. Some pitied me. Most enjoyed this. Omegas didn’t get happy endings. We weren’t meant to rise. We were meant to be broken and tossed aside like rags.

Alex’s smirk was cruel, expectant. He wanted me to break. To crumble to the ground. To beg. But I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction.

I clenched my fists, nails biting into my palms. The pain grounded me, sharp and real. My voice didn’t shake when I spoke.

"I, Karen Lukeman, hereby accept your rejection."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Whispers hissed like snakes in the grass. No Omega had ever stood tall after a rejection. None had ever accepted it without screaming in pain.

Alex’s smirk faltered. His eyes darkened, anger flashing like lightning in their depths. He hadn’t expected this. Hadn’t expected me to be unaffected by his cruelty.

I turned before he could speak again. Walked away, step by step, even as my legs trembled. The bond between us—once warm, now shattered—ached like an open wound. But I didn’t look back.

The moment I was alone, my knees hit the dirt. A sob tore from my throat, raw and broken. My hands clutched at my chest, fingers twisting into the fabric of my shirt as if I could claw out the pain. The rejection burned through me, a wildfire devouring everything in its path.

Why? My wolf whimpered inside me, lost and grieving. Why wasn’t I enough?

For one foolish moment, I had let myself hope. Had let myself believe that maybe, just maybe, Alex would see past rank. Past status. That the mate bond would mean something.

But I should have known better.

A whole week passed, but the pain didn’t. If anything, it grew worse. I moved through the pack house like a ghost, my heart a heavy weight in my chest. The others whispered. Laughed. Watched me with pity or scorn. But I kept my head high.

Rise, Karen. Always rise. My mother’s voice echoed in my mind, soft but unshakable. Even gone, her words were my anchor.

So I worked. Studied. Poured every ounce of pain into becoming the best healer this pack had ever seen. Let them call me weak. Let them sneer. I would prove them wrong.

Then—

"Karen!"

Salma’s voice shattered my thoughts. She skidded to a stop in front of me, chest heaving, her dark eyes wide. In her hands, an envelope. Crisp. Official.

"Open it," she breathed, shoving it into my hands.

I tore it open. My fingers trembled. And then—I saw it. Shadow Moon Pack. The Alpha King’s seal gleamed up at me. It was a job offer. My only way out of this hell. I had applied months ago when I saw the notice, never really believing I would get a response. And yet, here it was. A chance. A new beginning.

Tears blurred my vision, but for the first time in weeks, they weren’t from pain. I didn’t hesitate. That night, I packed my bags. I wasn’t just an Omega. I was a healer.

And I was free.

The taxi hummed softly as it carried me toward Shadow Moon Pack, the rhythmic vibration of the engine doing little to soothe the storm inside me. My fingers clutched the worn fabric of my bag, knuckles whitening as if it were the only thing holding me to reality.

Outside the window, the scenery was nothing like Blue Cross Pack—this place was beautiful, peaceful. The roads were well-maintained, the trees vibrant, and the air felt lighter.

I swallowed the lump in my throat as an old memory surfaced. When I was little, my mother and I used to dream about leaving Blue Cross Pack, traveling somewhere far, somewhere safe. But she never got the chance.

Tears stung my eyes. I could still see her fragile body lying on that small bed, her hand weakly brushing my hair as she refused my attempts to heal her.

Karen, sweetheart, you must never let them see what you can do. Promise me.

She had been afraid. Even with her last breath, she had been trying to protect me.

But what was the point? My life had never been safe. Being an Omega, being weak, being rejected—it had made every day a battle.

The car jerked to a stop, yanking me out of my thoughts. A pair of guards stood at the towering gate of the Shadow Moon Pack. Their presence alone radiated power.

"State your identity and purpose," one of them said, his eyes scanning me with suspicion.

I fumbled for my phone, quickly pulling up the email from their Alpha. "I was invited. I’m the new pack healer."

They read the message and exchanged glances before nodding. "Welcome to Shadow Moon Pack, Healer Karen."

Healer Karen. The words hit differently than I expected. I wasn’t just an Omega here. I wasn’t just some servant meant to be looked down on.

I was needed.

As the taxi rolled through the gates, my eyes widened at the sight before me. The Shadow Moon Pack House was enormous, standing proudly in the heart of a well-organized and structured community. Everything here looked cleaner, stronger, safer.

I pressed my hand to my chest, steadying the overwhelming emotions swirling inside me.

A sudden commotion made me shift my gaze. A group of children huddled together near the side of the road. One of them was crying, his little face twisted in pain.

"Stop the car," I blurted.

The driver sighed but obeyed. I barely waited for the vehicle to halt before I threw the door open and rushed toward them. The boy’s arm was bent unnaturally, his breaths coming in ragged hitches. The others hovered around him, their eyes wide with fear.

"What happened?" I asked, kneeling beside him.

A girl, her braids frayed from running, sniffled. "He fell when we were playing. We didn’t mean to—"

"Shh, it’s okay," I murmured, brushing a gentle hand over the boy’s damp forehead. His lip trembled, his tiny body shaking. "Does it hurt bad?" I asked softly.

He nodded, tears spilling over. I smiled, leaning closer. "Do you believe in the Moon Goddess?"

A chorus of yeses rose around me. "Then close your eyes," I whispered. "And pray with me."

As their lashes fluttered shut, I let my power rise—warm, golden, humming beneath my skin. My hands hovered over the break, the energy knitting bone and flesh back together.

The boy gasped. His eyes flew open, blinking up at me in wonder. "It—it doesn’t hurt!" he breathed.

I winked. "The Moon Goddess listens to brave boys like you."

The children erupted into cheers, their earlier fear forgotten as they pulled their friend to his feet. Their laughter was music, bright and unburdened, and for the first time in years, something warm unfurled in my chest.

With a deep breath, I returned to the taxi, apologizing for the delay. The driver just shrugged and started the car again. This time, when it stopped, I knew I had arrived. I stepped out, my heart hammering as my gaze swept over the people waiting for me.

Two young women. Two young men. Almost the same age as me. And one of them—the oldest and most masculine among them—there was something about him, something I couldn’t explain. When he smiled at me, my breath hitched.

His eyes locked onto mine, and in that instant, I felt it. The undeniable pull. The same intoxicating force I had felt the day I found out Alex was my mate.

But no,. Not again. But there was no mistaking it. It was really happening. As if on cue, the four of them began walking toward me. And all I could do was stand there, frozen, as my heart raced wildly in my chest.