PROLOGUE

“ I, Alpha Reed of the Blue moon pack, rejects you, Luciana Garcia as my one and future mate!” Alpha Reed bellowed, with angry eyes, staring back at Luciana.

The words stung her like a thousand bees as Alpha Reed rejected her as his mate. Her mind struggled to comprehend what was happening, unable to believe that the person she had been destined to spend eternity with had not only betrayed her but was now casting her aside.

 It was a double blow, as not only had she just discovered her mate cheating on her with another female pack member, but now she was being rejected.

Luciana's eyes welled up with tears as she stared at him in disbelief. 

"No!" she choked out, her voice breaking as the reality of the situation set in. This couldn't be happening to her, she thought. Not after all the promises her parents had made to her about the joy and happiness her mate would bring. Not after all the promises Alpha Reed had made to her the night before when they laid together.

But Alpha Reed was not done.

“ No?” Alpha Reed chuckled dryly.

“ I have no use for a weak Luna like you. I need someone who can match my strength and not a useless fiddle like you… “ he told her with a smirk on his face.

 His cruel words cut her to the core as he dismissed her as a "weak Luna". Her heart sank as she realized that he was not the person she thought he was. The pain in her chest was almost unbearable as she tried to comprehend how she could have been so wrong about the person she thought was her soulmate.

Before she could react, Alpha Reed had given an order to his warriors, “ seize her, and lock her up in the dungeons! “ he ordered.

The room spun as Luciana was dragged away, her thoughts consumed by the pain of betrayal and rejection. she had no idea what lay ahead for her, but one thing was certain: her life would never be the same again.

Luciana's only thought was to run. she quickly slipped out of their grasp as they attempted to apprehend her. Her slim figure gave her an advantage, allowing her to escape the three warriors blocking her path.

Luciana shifted into her wolf form as she bolted down the stairs and out of the house, disappearing into the dense forest. she knew that she couldn't afford to be caught. 

The pack had a brutal rule - every rejected mate of the Alpha was to be locked up, and their fate was unknown. Some were known to have  taken their own lives, while others were subjected to unspeakable horrors.

As she sprinted through the forest, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed behind her. The Alpha must have commanded the entire pack of warriors to pursue her, she thought. With her heart racing, she pushed herself to run faster, not daring to look back. she had no idea where she was going, she just needed to survive.

Suddenly, the smell of water reached her nose, and she could feel a cool breeze on her face. she knew there was a river nearby. If she could make it there and swim to the other side, she might be able to escape. she sprinted towards the sound of rushing water, her legs pounding the earth. The sound of the pursuing pack grew louder and more menacing with every passing second. But she couldn't let them catch her. she had to make it to the river, no matter what.

Swimming was a weakness for most of the warriors in her pack, but she was different. Luciana's mother, before she had passed away, had defied her father's orders and taught her how to swim. she felt a sense of pride as she approached the shimmering surface of the river, knowing that she could escape her pursuers. 

But her relief was short-lived.

As she Drew closer, she saw someone standing in her way. Her heart sank as she recognized him as her mate, an Alpha wolf who had always been controlling and possessive, Alpha Reed. she let out a low growl, trying to convey her defiance, but to him, it might have sounded like a whine.

"How dare you run away from me?" he snarled, shifting back into his human form. Her heart pounded in her chest as she took a few cautious steps back, aware that there were other warriors from her pack behind her. she didn't know how she could get out of this situation, but she knew that she had to try.

"I command you to shift!”  Alpha Reed ordered, demanding that she shift into her human form, his Alpha voice resonating through the forest. she gritted her teeth and resisted, knowing that her survival depended on it. In her wolf form, she was faster and stronger, compared to her human form.

 But then the Beta chimed in, “ Luciana Garcia, obey your Alpha!”,  his own voice urging her to comply.

she scanned the area, taking in the pack of wolves closing in on her. They were hungry for blood, ready to tear her limb from limb. The thought of becoming a slave to the Alpha was just as terrifying, though.

Bracing herself, she crouched down, ready to defend herself. But it was no use. The Beta launched himself at her, shifting into a wolf in midair. Before she knew it, the rest of the pack was on her too, their teeth and claws ripping into her flesh.

she fought back with everything she had, but there were too many of them. One of them bit down hard on her hind leg, and she felt the joint snap. Another sank its teeth into her fore leg, and she screamed out in pain.

Through the agony, she could feel her body changing, reverting back to its human form. 

No!, She screamed internally. No!.

The wolves around her backed off, their eyes wary as they looked at her in shock. she stumbled on her feet, her heart pounding in her chest.

she writhed in agony on the cold, hard ground, her body exposed and vulnerable. she desperately needed to heal, but her energy was drained. Gasping for air, she struggled to keep her eyes open as the Alpha's menacing figure loomed closer.

Suddenly, a loud thud disrupted the tense silence, and she sensed a struggle erupting around her. Her senses dulled by pain and exhaustion, she could only guess at what was happening. she inhaled deeply, trying to detect any new scents. 

There was something unfamiliar in the air, a scent that didn't belong to her pack. Were they rogues? If they were, they would surely finish her off once the fight was over.

As the sounds of running footsteps echoed through the forest, Luciana waited in terror for what was to come. Her instincts kicked in, and with the last shred of energy she had left, she shifted back into her white wolf form.

Suddenly, a voice spoke nearby. "She's alive..." It was a stranger, and she detected the strong scent of blood on them.

Another voice growled in response. "But with this much blood...why would wolves attack a helpless female? And who are they?" The person boomed.

" Is that really important right now?" The first voice she heard earlier asked.

Luciana laid there, weak and defenseless, listening as the strangers debated her fate. Would they help her, or leave her to die at the mercy of her attackers?

" Who are they?, Tell me!" The man with the booming voice ordered.

The voice was commanding, radiating power that drew her in. He was a force to be reckoned with, even capable of taking on her Alpha and mate in a fight. He was the one who had attacked Alpha Reed, she realized with a jolt.

"I think They are from the Blue Moon pack, that's the only pack close to the border," the man continued, "and we don't know why they were attacking her. You and i, both arrived here at the same time Alister. What's important now is that she needs help, or she's going to bleed out and die."

The man with the authoritative voice spoke up again. "What do we do then?"

Despite her weakness, curiosity got the best of her, and she tried to open her eyes to see who was speaking. If she was going to die, she wanted to know who her killer was. she had to see his face.

Luciana managed to pry her eyes open just enough to look up at him. He had dark hair and the brightest green eyes she had ever seen. And damn, he was so handsome.

"Stay calm," the man whispered, "we'll help you. You're bleeding too much."

Then another voice chimed in. "Can we move her? I can run with her on my back."

" I'll carry her…" 

she didn't know how she knew, but she could sense that the speaker was trustworthy. she felt herself being carried by warm arms and placed on the softest fur she had ever laid on.

For a fleeting moment, she wished he was her mate. And with that last thought, she succumbed to the darkness.