CHAPTER 1

THE REJECTION.

The full moon shone upon us, lighting up our city, and giving us a shiny glow.

Yes!

It was that time of the year, again.

The environment was filled with positive energy, as the scent of pine and beautiful flowers filled the entire atmosphere.

I took a deep breath, in other to relax my nerves.

Tonight was the night.

Tonight, my destiny shall be rewritten.

I shall stand before the Pack and solidify my bond with Thane Blackwood, the future alpha of the pack.

“Rory, it's almost time. Are you ready?” It was Elara, my best friend. She asked as she helped me adjust the collar of my silver dress.

The dress shone like the light of the stars, as it ignited the color of my dark room. Well, it was a gift from my mother, which came from her mother.

Indeed, it was a generational treasure, of my ancestral kind.

“I've always been ready, my whole life," I responded firmly, with my voice barely above a whisper.

“You look like the goddess of the moon. Thane will bless the moon for having a treasure like you,” she said, as her eyes sparkled with so much happiness.

I smiled weakly. 

At this point, my life was filled with so many uncertainties, and I couldn't help but imagine what life could throw at me.

If truth be told, I've waited my entire life for this moment, but at this very moment, I feel so uncertain about the whole process.

“Do you think that he'd accept me?”

“Of course, Yes! Look at him, and see how he seems obsessed about you. Just look at him,” she pointed toward the front of the gathered crowd.

Looking at the other end of the crowd, I could see him.

He had deep blue eyes, a broad chest, a well-chiseled physique like that of a professional model, and an intimidating aura.

As he spoke to the other elders of the pack, I could hear the sound of his voice, and it sounded melodious to my ears. 

At this point, the thought of being his mate gladdened my soul.

“Well, you're right. I guess I'd have to stop overthinking,” I said, trying to shake off my anxious thoughts.

Elara smiled at me. “Rory, when the time is right, don't forget to follow your heart. Remember, you're destined for greatness."

As the ceremony began in earnest, the pack immediately formed a reverse circle around me, as if it was some kind of initiation, and the light of the moon made sure to light up the circle.

Standing before me, were my family, community, and friends, and I suddenly felt a surge of panic building up in me, as their eyes pierced through my soul.

“Tonight, we're to witness the union of Aurora Winter and Thane Blackwood,” our current alpha, a woman with gray hairs, began.

“May the goddess of the moon bless their bond and strengthen our Pack.”

Immediately, silence engulfed the whole crowd, and my heart skipped for a second.

It was time!

As I stepped forward, my heart skipped, the moment I made close eye contact with Thane.

“Are you ready, Rory?” he asked with a calm, yet intimidating voice. His lips looked very succulent.

“Yes,” I breathed with loads of prayer, going through my mind.

Immediately, we held each other's hands, as a symbol of commitment.

In no time, I was already tensed to the core, as I didn't know what to expect. 

It was time for the vow exchange.

Before today, I had rehearsed over a million times, but at this moment, my mind went blank.

“I promise to be with you, as your protector and shield, all the days of my life,” Thane began, with a firm and resolved voice. At that moment, I felt his affection touch him, as he rubbed my palm, and my body shivered.

Now, it was my turn. However, immediately after I opened my mouth to speak, something shifted.

Thane’s expression changed, his eyes flickering, as if he was seeing the realms of the supernatural.

“I…,” I began, but before I could finish, he interrupted me.

“Rory, keep calm. I need to speak.”

The quiet crowd erupted in confusion, as everyone wondered what had gone wrong.

“Thane? What happened? What's wrong?”

“I cannot bind myself to you,” he blurted, as his voice echoed throughout the entire atmosphere. “I reject you, Aurora Winter, as my mate. You are unworthy!”

His words pierced through my soul like a bullet. I staggered in tiredness, as I held my heart, to minimize the pain I felt at that moment.

 Whispers erupted through the entire atmosphere, as loud murmurings could be heard.

“Thane, what do you mean? What did you say?” I asked him, with a trembling voice.

“I said you're not worthy of being called my mate. You're vulnerable, and your weaknesses make me sick. The Pack deserves a worthy Luna!"

There was an unbelievable shout of dismay from the crowd. They found it hard to believe what he had said. My heart raced, and I felt the ground beneath me shifting to another dimension.

“No! You can't say that! We’re meant to be one!” I cried desperately, as my worst fear had become a reality.

To be honest, the shame that followed his words hit me like a huge rock.

I knew at that moment, that I was finished.

The Pack's law clearly stated that a rejected mate was to be ostracized with immediate effect.

Honestly, the thought of being alone hit me like a bullet. I wasn't ready for it, in any way.

“I’m sorry, Rory,” Thane said, without any iota of emotion in his voice. "However, you need to understand that the future of this pack is at stake, and you can't be part of it!"

Suddenly, the dawn of realization hit me, as I realized that he wasn't ever going back on his words. 

My family's abode wasn't far, but each step I took seemed like an impossible journey.

As I ran for my life, I could hear the surrounding whispers. Whispers from people who were inquisitive about knowing why he did it. "Why would he?” “What was he thinking?” “She was meant to be his mate!”

However, the more they spoke, the more hurt I felt.

I felt like crying, fighting, hitting, screaming, venting, and letting out my emotions, but I wasn't ready for the worst.

Immediately, I got to the entrance of my parents' den. I felt at peace, but I knew that it was temporary. My parents stood there, their expressions strained and angry.

“Rory, we heard…” my mother began, with a shaky voice.

They didn't need to spell out my insecurities to me. I could see them, from the appearance of their facial features. “I know. There's no need to go back and forth." 

“We were worried about what you're going to do next. So, what's next for you?” my mother asked gently.

“Worried?” I snapped at them in anger. "You should be ashamed! Your daughter has been publicly rejected!”

“Don’t you dare speak to your mother like that,” my father interrupted, as he stepped forward towards my direction in both concern and frustration.

“Well, she's right!” I shouted with a shaky voice. “No matter how hard you try to hide it, it's quite obvious that you're both ashamed of me.”

“Rory,” my mum called out to me, but I stepped back.

“I want to be alone,” I said, and before they could protest, I retreated into the shadows of the den.

As I sat there in confusion, I noticed that a presence was lingering around me.

Just as I looked up, I saw Kaiden's dark shadow, and his silhouette easily gave him away...

He had always seemed mysterious to me, but somehow, I felt connected to him.

“Rory,” he said softly, stepping into the lighted area. “I saw everything that happened.”

“What are you doing here?” I snapped at him in anger, as a mental flashback of what happened earlier angered me. “You don’t have to witness my rejection.”

He didn't even move an inch after I said those words to scare him. Rather, he came forward, and stared deeply at me, with his deep blue eyes. "You're not alone. You know, right?"

“Go and tell that to Thane,” I replied in anger.

“Poor guy... He doesn’t even know what he's lost,” Kaiden said with a steady voice. “And I think you’re stronger than you can even imagine.”

Even before I could respond to him, the howls of the pack echoed through the entire forest. It was time for another meeting.

Immediately, Kaiden turned his gaze towards the sound, his expression changing from concern to evil.

“Rory, listen to me,” he began, as he stepped closer. “There's a secret you need to know about Thane. Maybe it'd help you."

I felt shivers run down my spine, as I tried to process what it could be.

Unfortunately, before he could respond to me, another howl echoed throughout the forest. This time around, it was louder.

“I'd have to go now," Kaiden said, with a very serious expression. “Next time!"

At that moment, I felt so unsure of the mystery that lay ahead of me.