Chapter 1

JESSICA'S POV****

I could feel my heart being ripped out of my chest standing right before my long-time boyfriend and best friend, their hands clasped together.

I narrowed my eyes at them, my full blossom pink lips pressed together watching a smirk appear on Zoe's tin lips.

It was a full moon and also my 18th birthday, which I had been looking forward to it because everyone at the moon shadow pack had mocked and laughed at me for years because I was Wolfless and the only girl of my age without a wolf.

My mother has vehemently assured me that i would finally get my wolf on my 18th birthday.

But it was the full moon, the one everyone had been waiting for because it was a Lunar night, one that was regarded as the blood moon night, and the feast was to be held within all packs in Hilltown.

Alpha Landon and I have been dating since college, when Landon became Alpha of the pack, he met his wolf and realized that i was his mate but I had not been able to confirm it without the existence of my wolf.

I was so excited when i was been told that he was my mate and I dreamt so much of the day when I would finally meet my mate and be able to feel the mate bond that everyone had talked so much about.

But as the festival proceeded, i could not stop anticipating the feeling that came along with my wolf, the rush of adrenaline accompanied by my mate.

But nothing was forthcoming, there weren't any new feelings, neither was there a newfound strength, everything felt the same and to top it all, I could not find Landon anywhere around the festival ground.

my mother Vivian who sat with the rest of the elderly wolves could not stop staring at me keenly. she could hear my every heartbeat anxious and pacing frantically.

“ Jessica dear, what is going on?”. Vivian finally stride over to me seeing that I wasn't enjoying the festival with the restlessness that I was feeling.

“ Mother what is happening! Why haven't I met my wolf”. I cried out, my light skin poring sweat out.

“ I told you to calm down, your wolf can sense when you are anxious and wouldn't want to meet you in such a state”.

“ Everyone else has met their wolf, Zoe is going to find her mate soon while I sit here unable to accept the mate bond that I haven't felt”.

“ Landon understands that you are his mate, and it doesn't matter if you are unable to identify it or not, what matters is the both of you love each and that is the bond that matters”.

Vivian trailed her fingers through my brown long hair that was cascading down my shoulder, my warm brown eyes filled with worry that was slowly fading.

“ But mother, I can't find Landon anywhere, where could he be? ”.

“ He is the Alpha, he might be performing some rituals at the ancestral hall, so let him be”.

Vivian could tell that my heartbeat had calmed down, she tugged me around and dragged me back to a seat.

It was almost drawn, the blood moon fading away into the sky and the festival was slowly coming to an end with families going back to their various homes. Life animals were killed to appraise the moon goddess for showing mercy and strength she granted to them.

I strode down to the ancestral hall after waiting endlessly without any sign of Landon, although it was dark, but I could see two figures standing under the apple tree close to the ancestral hall.

They looked familiar and had their lips locked together, as I drifted closer to them, my heart began to race rapidly, and the feeling of having everything taken away was slowly clouding me.

I came to a halt a few inches away from them and was now certain about the identity of the two of them.

“ Landon! ”. I called slowly, still holding onto my breath. Landon immediately pulled away from Zoe while she adjusted the strap of her dress, a sly smirk appeared on her thin lips.

“ Zoe, what is going on? ”.

“ What does it look like to you, are you expecting the Alpha to make a wolfless girl his Luna? ”.

“ I am sorry Jessica, I did not want you to find out like that, but I can't keep waiting for you, there is no way that I can make you my Luna”. Landon expressed, that the words flew so easily from his full lips with no emotions attached.

“ What are you saying Landon, I am a late bloomer, you said it yourself”.

“ Forget what I said before, I need a real werewolf as my Luna who will strengthen my position as the Alpha”.

I could feel myself gasping for breath, I clutched onto my chest searching for a means to breathe properly but it proved impossible.

“ But I am your Mate, you know it”.

“ I am sorry, but I will have to reject the mate bond”.

“ What!! ”. I felt my world flash before my eyes before it crumbled.

“ I Landon Arlen, Alpha to the Moon Shadow Pack reject you Jessica Lyon as my mate”.

I felt my heart being shredded into tiny pieces, as I tilted my head forward hoping to keep the tears from flowing down my eyes.

I could feel the mate bond untangle, what felt like a feeling of bliss, drawn to him when he was far away was gone, replaced with a sad feeling of yearning that I could never get again.

“ I Jessica Lyon, daughter to the beta of Dark Moon Pack accept your rejection”.

I forced the words out of my mouth. My lips pursed into a thin line hoping to feel some relief, but I felt nothing other than the entanglement released, my heart filled with the burden of living without Landon for the rest of my life.

I clenched my chest tight and whimpered in pain, piercing deep into my eyes, the feeling of love I had experienced for five years with Landon slowly fading away as I watched them walk away, both their hands clasped together.

Drizzle of rain began to drip down, it was a sign that the mood goddess had answered all prayers at the festival. I knelt under the rain wishing that it could wash away all the pains I felt, but nothing changed, my heart still clouded with an unending feeling of pain, sorrow and guilt.