CHAPTER 1

Vesper's pov 

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“You're not good enough for an Alpha.” 

Jack's voice rangout, sharp and cold.

I don't believe I heard right, the man who had promised me the world a few days ago now hurt me with his words and a rejection.

“You don't deserve to have someone like me, an Alpha.” He laughed out as the pack watched in anticipation.

The words sliced through me, leaving a wound deeper than any physical cut could ever give. The murmuring from the gathered pack echoed around us like a whirling storm, but all I could hear was Jack's voice.

As for my vision? They were already blurry.

“But… I thought—” I managed to voice out, my voice was already growing cracked.

His face became hard as he stared down at me with anger and disdain.

His reaction like one who was holding back even worse words. His dark eyes once filled with warmth for mw, now filled with disdain.

“That was a mistake,” he said, cutting me off.

The pack let out a surprise gas, some faces showed shock; others gleamed with cruel satisfaction, as though they had always known this moment would come. 

I felt an visible knife stab my heart.

We had been everything to each other—or so I believed. Jack was my mate, my Alpha, the man who promised to stand by my side against anyone. But now, he stood in front of me, his rejection clear and unforgiving.

Jack, the same man I had taken the blame for after he stole the sacred moonstone.

He had pleaded with me in the name of “our love” to take the blame for him, if I didn't, he was going to lose his chance of becoming an Alpha.

He had promised to make me his Luna.

But now after he got the position, he spat my decision in my face.

I felt heat rise to my face, the sting of humiliation burning brighter with each passing second. My fists clenched at my sides, trembling from the effort to hold back tears.

"You're really doing this?" I asked, my voice steadier than I expected.

His gaze flicked over me, and for a brief moment, I thought I saw regret. But it was gone before I could hold onto it.

“It’s for the pack,” he said. “The elders—”

“The elders?” I cut him off, my voice sharp. “You’re letting those old fools run your life now?”

Jack's expression darkened. “Don’t make this harder than it needs to be, Vesper.”

Harder? My heart pounded against my ribs. How could he stand there and act as if I was the problem? As if I hadn’t stood by him through every challenge, believed in him when no one else did?

“You’re a coward,” I spat, my voice breaking despite my best efforts. “You’re too weak to stand up for what’s right.”

A few pack members whispered among themselves, their voices carrying in the tense silence. Jack’s beta, Damon, smirked from his place near the edge of the circle. I had always suspected he hated me, and now his satisfaction was plain to see.

Jack’s lips pressed into a thin line. “It’s done, Vesper. I, Jack Quinn, reject you as my mate.”

The words hit me like a physical blow. My breath caught in my throat, and for a moment, the world tilted beneath my feet. The bond between us, the invisible thread that tied our souls together, frayed and snapped.

Pain lanced through my chest, stealing the air from my lungs. I stumbled back, gasping, but I refused to fall.

“You’ll regret this,” I managed to say, my voice raw.

He didn’t flinch. “I doubt it.”

The crowd parted as I turned on my heel, my steps heavy but determined. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing me break. Not here. Not now.

The cold wind bit at my skin as I left the pack grounds, my heart shattered but my pride intact.

By the time I reached the edge of the forest, my legs felt like lead. I sank to my knees, the weight of Jack’s rejection finally crushing me. Tears streamed down my face, hot and bitter.

I had given him everything—my loyalty, my love, my trust—and he had thrown it all away.

Why?

The answer gnawed at me, but deep down, I already knew. The pack elders had never approved of me. I was just a low-ranking omega, born without status or privilege. They wanted Jack to choose someone stronger, someone with a bloodline worthy of standing beside an Alpha.

And Jack… he had caved to their demands.

A rustling sound pulled me from my thoughts. Kathy, my only friend in the pack, emerged from the shadows. Her curly hair was wild from the wind, and concern filled her eyes.

“I heard what happened,” she said softly, kneeling beside me.

I wiped my face, trying to hide the evidence of my tears. “Everyone probably heard.”

Kathy’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Jack’s an idiot.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

She placed a hand on my shoulder, her grip firm. “You don’t have to stay here, Vesper. There are other packs. Places where you’ll be treated better.”

Leaving the pack had never been an option I considered—until now. But what choice did I have? Staying would mean enduring the whispers, the pitying looks, and Jack’s cold indifference.

Kathy’s words echoed in my mind: There are other packs.

Could I really leave?

“I can help you,” Kathy offered, her voice filled with determination. “We’ll figure it out together.”

My heart ached at the thought of leaving behind everything I had ever known, but staying would destroy me.

“Okay,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “I’ll leave.”

Kathy nodded, her expression fierce. “Good. We’ll start making plans tonight.”

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the forest in shadows, I made a silent promise to myself:

This wasn’t the end. Jack might have rejected me, but I wouldn’t let that define me. I would find a new life, one where I didn’t have to beg for love or acceptance.

And one day, Jack would regret letting me go.