Chapter 1

Sara glanced up at the moon. It was a full moon tonight. She looked around at the crowd that had gathered around the large bonfire. It was the fourth full moon of the year meaning it was time for the mating ceremony. Sara sighed and offered a silent prayer to the moon goddess.

“Please moon goddess, let it be my turn this time. Please let me find my mate today and I promise to leave you offerings for an entire year”

She prayed. Sara took a glance at the moon again and hoped the moon goddess had heard her. Since she had come of age at 18, Sara had not found her mate. Now she was 24 and while it was not a taboo, her case was a bit special. Sara walked towards the crowd as the ceremony was about to start. On sighting her, a group of people who stood nearby shared point looks and moved away, whispering. Sara sighed. It was nothing new, her pack had always been hostile towards her.

Not only was Sara unmated, she was also wolfless. This led to many rumors about her within the pack especially as her parents had died mysteriously when she was younger. No one wanted to associate with her as everyone believed she was cursed. This was one of the reasons Sara prayed hard for a mate, she needed a mate to fill her lonely life. Although she wasn't sure if they would be someone in the pack who would be willing to be with her despite the rumors, Sara could only hope and pray.

"The Alpha has arrived!", a loud voice announced and Sara raised her head immediately, trying as much as the rest of the crowd to catch a glimpse of their alpha.

Zayne was quite young and had just taken over as alpha of the pack, at age 25 following the death of his father. But even though he was young, Zayne had already proven times without number that he was capable of leading. He had caught the most game at hunts, led the most successful expeditions, he was practically born to be the alpha hence why the pack loved him so much. Of course it also helped with the eligible female werewolves that he was incredibly handsome.

Standing at 5"9 ft tall, Zayne was easily the most handsome man in the Red Moon pack. He had long wavy Hercules gold hair. His pair of bushy eyebrows sat on top of his doe shaped mirthful eyes that seemed to sparkle. In between his eyes was a falcon's nose that completed his incredible looks. He was the dream of all the unmated female werewolves. Sara couldn't dare to dream that high, she only hoped to find someone kind and warm.

Alpha Zayne sat on his chair at the podium in front of the bonfire and gave his go ahead for the ceremony to begin. There was a display of activities from dancing to a fire show that left everyone awed. Then as the moon began to reach it's peak there was an unspoken anticipation in the air as almost all the unmated werewolves began to shift excitedly. Sara shared in this anticipation as well. Soon enough, the moon priestess arrived at the gathering followed by her attendants.

The moon priestess walked to the middle of the gathering and raised her hand. A hush fell over the crowd as everybody watched her excitedly.

"Red Moon pack! I bring again to you tonight the moon goddess wishes for us", she said in a gentle voice that carried across the crowd.

"And I have good news, for tonight, the moon goddess has finally revealed to me who she wishes for our great alpha to take as his mate and the Luna of this pack", She announced and immediately there was a rumble of excitement.

All the unmated werewolves whispered excitedly amongst themselves, who would be the alpha's mate? Zayne himself shifted forward on his chair, his expression the same but the anticipation in his eyes was unmistakable. The moon priestess began to perform her rituals and incantations, swaying as she said the words. Everyone in the field watched silently with apprehension. Suddenly the moon priestess stopped and snapped her head in Sara's direction. She seemed to be staring straight at Sara but that was impossible... wasn't it?

The moon priestess began to walk towards where Sara stood with the rest of the crowd. She stopped just a few feet away.

"You", the moon priestess said calmly staring pointedly at Sara, their gaze interlocked.

It took a minute before Sara realized that the moon priestess was actually talking to her. She looked around and everyone was staring at her.

"M.. Me?", Sara asked uncertainly.

"Yes you, come forward", the moon priestess, hand stretched outwards.

Sara looked around hesitantly before finally walking forward. The moon priestess led her to the middle of the field and Sara fidgeted nervously. She could feel the intensity of the gazes on her.

"What is your name, child?", the moon priestess asked Sara.

"Sara", she managed to answer softly.

"Hm, Sara", the moon priestess nodded.

"And are you unmated Sara?", the moon priestess asked her.

"Yes", Sara nodded.

"Which means if the moon goddess has chosen a mate for you tonight, you would accept?", the moon priestess asked.

Sara drew in a sharp breath,

"Yes", she managed to nod shakily.

The moon priestess nodded satisfactorily. Sara was extremely nervous, this couldn't be what she thought it was, right? She mustered up her courage and sneaked a peek at Zayne. Zayne was watching the scene, his expression still the same except now there was a small frown on his face.

"People of the Red Moon pack", the moon priestess began gently.

"I bring to you the moon goddess' wishes...", She continued as she took Sara's hand.

"The person she has chosen to be the mate of our alpha, the future Luna of...."

"Stop this atrocity at once!", a voice boomed suddenly and Sara let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. She looked towards the source of the voice, the podium where one of the council members stood up and was staring at her angrily.

"Tell me, moon priestess is this a joke?", the council member asked angrily.

"I do not joke with my duties", the moon priestess answered calmly.

"Then how could you even think of naming this... this... cursed child our alpha's mate!", he asked spitefully.

Sara drew in a sharp breath. There was a rumble of loud whispers in the crowd now.

"It is the wish of the moon goddess", the moon priestess answered calmly.

"That's preposterous!", the council member spat angrily and there was a small uproar in the crowd.

"Are you disregarding the wishes of the moon goddess? Or is it my words you do not trust?", the moon priestess asked him calmly but the aura around her had suddenly become cold.

"Forgive my council member, wise moon priestess, he doesn't mean it that way", Zayne said standing up. The entire field fell silent.

"We always trust and hope for the moon goddess' guidance and we are ever grateful for you who relays her wishes to us", Zayne continued as he walked towards Sara and the moon priestess. His tone was gentle yet firm.

He stopped a few feet from where they stood and glanced briefly at Sara before looking at the moon priestess.

"However, I believe I can reject this?", he asked the moon priestess squarely.

Sara's blood ran cold.

"Yes. While the moon goddess lets her wishes known to us, she only seeks to guide us. Ultimately we can make our own choices", the moon priestess answered.

Sara's heartbeat quickened, her head swarmed as there was a rise of whispers in the field. She looked at the crowd and they were all staring at her, some even sneering, suddenly she felt claustrophobic. Sara found it hard to breathe as her head swirled, she could barely register the words Zayne was saying.

"I, Zayne, Alpha of the Red Moon pack, reject you, Sara, as my mate. I hereby severe our mate bond and declare our ties broken"

Thenext thing Sara felt was a sharp searing pain in her chest as her heart broke into pieces.