Rejected By The Alpha, Chosen By Fate

The moonlight spilled across the grand hall, silver and cold, as if it already knew my fate. My heart pounded against my ribs as I stood at the edge of the gathering, fingers twisting the fabric of my dress. Tonight was supposed to be the happiest night of my life. Tonight, the Moon Goddess would reveal my mate. “Aria,” my best friend whispered at my side, her voice trembling with excitement. “What if it’s him?” Him. Damon Blackwood. The Alpha of the Black Moon Pack. Ruthless. Untouchable. Every woman’s dream. I forced myself to breathe as my eyes searched the crowd—and found his. The world fell away. A heat bloomed in my chest, sharp and certain, as my wolf stirred inside me. Mate. The word rang through my soul like a vow. My knees almost gave out. He was mine. The Moon Goddess had chosen me. Damon’s powerful stride cut through the silence as he walked toward me, the crowd parting like shadows before fire. His scent—cedar, smoke, danger—wrapped around me. My lips trembled with a smile I couldn’t hold back. But then he stopped. His gray eyes were like winter storms, empty of warmth. “I, Damon Blackwood, Alpha of the Black Moon Pack…” His voice echoed through the hall, merciless. “…reject you, Aria of the Silver Claw Pack, as my mate and as my Luna.” The words struck like claws tearing through my chest. Gasps rippled. My wolf howled in agony, clawing inside me. My throat burned. My lips parted, but no sound came. “You… reject me?” My voice cracked, raw and desperate. His jaw tightened. “You are weak. Unworthy. I will never accept you.” Laughter rose from the crowd, sharp and cruel. Their whispers sliced deeper than knives. My cheeks burned as I fought to hold my head high, even as my heart shattered into pieces. And then— A searing pain ripped through my stomach, so sharp I doubled over. My hands clutched at my waist as heat pulsed beneath my skin. The laughter blurred into distant echoes. Something inside me was changing.