GILTED Mate

The Breaking Moon

Kael, in front of all the werewolves of the pack, does not accept Lyra.

The moon was high above the packground like a silver wound in the sky.

It was really beautiful, ancient, and Watching.

Its pale light spilled across the clearing, coating everything in a dreamlike glow. The pine trees stood like silent guardians around the ceremonial grounds, their dark branches swaying gently in the cool night breeze. The area was filled with hundreds of wolves that were mixing their laughter and excitement in a melody that, instead of sorrow, should have sounded joyful.

To Lyra Ashwood, that melody was a thousand drumming sounds before an execution.

They were celebrating Mate Ceremony Night. The most sacred night in every wolf's life; the night was when destiny unveiled itself and the night was when the hearts found the home or so she had always thought.

Standing at the edge of the clearing, Lyra pressed her trembling fingers against the soft fabric of her silver dress. Her stomach twisted with nerves.

"You are going to wrinkly that dress if you keep squeezing it like that."

The voice she knew so well turned her away from the thoughts that lingered in her mind.

Selene was next to her with the two cups of berry wine. Her best friend was so generous to offer one to Lyra the girl took it feeling very happy and inevitable.

Selene chuckled uh.. softly, all you have been waiting for, the whole of your life. Lyra shifted her gaze to the massive stone platform that stood in the middle of the clearing. The Moon Stone.

Every bachelor wolf would step on it tonight during their ritual ceremony, If destiny had it, a male would bond with a female and the connection would happen easy, good, changing Life, and scary.

The knot in her chest became worse been dreaming of it since I was a kid. The look of Selene changed.

I know.

Lyra looked up. The moon appeared to be too bright, It looked like it was more than near, Like it was eavesdropping.

When I was a little kid,Lyra said in a whisper, always thought that the moon knew everyone love stories.

Selene smiled at her.

That's typical of you, you know. Lyra let out a quiet laugh.

Even though she was laughing, she seemed sad, I pictured it, writing names among the stars. The breeze desultorily moved her dark hair.

I started to think that no matter how lonely a person could be, there are always two souls who are meant to be together somewhere in the universe to meet and get to know each other. For a very short time the two women did not talk,the stillness occupied the gaps between them.

Gentle, Heavy and Sacred. Finally, Selene squeezed her shoulder.

And what if you’re right? Lyra swallowed hard.

What if she really was? , What if tonight was indeed the night that changed everything? and What if a soul somewhere in this very gathering was the one to understand and accept all her scars?

The one who would actually see her for who she really was.

Select her, care and love for her. The mere suggestion electrified her with a ray of hope.

Hope was a very dangerous element, It was a thing built out of roots and when the roots were pulled from the soil, it hurt.

A horn was sounded, The crowd immediately was quiet. The pack members who had been standing in the area turned directly toward the stop

The arrival of the Alpha Council was happening. Excitement flowed in the clearing, Lyra felt her heart throb faster the Alphas appeared one after the other as they were Powerful, Respected and Feared.

But all of them diverted their attention when the last figure came; Alpha King Kael Blackthorne. The head of all the northern packs, the mightiest wolf that existed. A man that is the subject of legends.

He progressed through the throng like a tempest in a human body, he was tall, broad-shouldered and dressed head to toe in black.

The moonlight held onto him like a kid who was reluctant to leave his favorite toy, women gazed at him, men averted their gaze down. Even the air was different in his presence.

He was not just a man of respect but a man of fear also. Lyra met him first only from a long way off.

However, every time she saw him, she would experience something that she could not

explain. A peculiar draw and A low pain like listening to part of a tune that you have forgotten.

Kael walked up to the platform, his facial expression was as enigmatic as ever, cold, controlled and unattainable.The Elder lifted his hands to the sky.

Wolves of Moon crest!!…………Everyone chanted in exhilaration, the gathering was inaugurated by the ceremony of the night.

Gradually, wolves came to the Moon Stone in turn. They were referred to as names, few were happy tears was their sign of joy and number of them giggled. A few of them even slumped down on the ground into the arms of their mates. The bond came to the surface once more and more.

The environment was exuding the energy of excitement, Optimistic and energetic. With each successful coupling, Lyra felt additional thrill in her heart.

Before long she would also have her chance, soon the destiny would respond, she put her palm on her breast. The wolf in her stirred under her skin looking anxious, excited and waiting……..

The feeling amplified as the minutes passed different, strange and forceful.

Lyra Ashwood.

The Elder's voice resonated across the clearing, time halted, the crowd was a blur, and her heartbeat echoed loud. This was the moment.

With a heavy heart, she wended her way to the platform. Each step felt like an anchor pulling her down deeper. The stone she trod on burst to light quite a bit during her ascent.

She was the focus for the multitude of crowd's attention. The moon's light poured down over them all waiting, judging, and witnessing were the three actions of the elder and the rest. Lyra made it to the center. The elder was benevolent and smiled at her. "Simply put your palm on the stone." She did as she was bid.

The second her soft skin made contact with the Moon Stone, a mighty wave of power roared through her like a wild beast, an explosion of brightness erupted around her. The audience gasped in wonder, Lyra was surprise within her consciousness, her wolf made a loud proclamation.

The environment was not like it used to be, the breeze was thicker and all of a sudden- She got a glimpse of him a link that was invisible, ancient, and powerful! Between her soul and someone else's, it was the connection.

The connection of mates. Her joy was like the wide rays of the sun that break forth from the clouds after the storm, She could hardly breathe. She was going through her mind for a way to see him through the masses; searching, hoping, and then finding. And indeed, he was there. Kael.

Say something!!………..Anything please.

For a moment he simply stared at her. And she saw it real pain, hidden behind all that control then he spoke three words. Three simple words, Words sharp enough to destroy worlds “I reject you”

Silence!………The universe shattered. Lyra stared at him, certain she had misunderstood and she had imagined it. Then the bond screamed.

A soundless agony inside her soul. Her knees weakened. No.………Kael face remained expressionless. "I reject you, Lyra Ashwood." The words struck harder the second time. The crowd gasped, shock exploded through the clearing.

No one moved. No one spoke. The impossible had happened. A king had rejected his mate. Publicly. Cruelly. Completely. Lyra couldn’t breathe. Her chest felt hollow. As though someone had reached inside and ripped out her heart.

It was as if the moon in the sky had changed its appearance, never before had it looked beautiful nor gentle

Infact, it looked like it was shattered, Like her. "What is the reason?" she said under her breath.

Kael shut his eyes temporarily for just a brief moment and when he opened his eyes again, they were frosty.

"This bond is one I cannot accept." A wave of whispers was heard in the crowd, there was confusion, disbelief, judgement and pity also as Each word echoed in the ears of Lyra.

Some were more profound than sharp knives, abandoned, not valued, not enough and shame were her thoughts.

The wolf inside her cried out in distress, the suffering reached a level that she couldn't bear. The mate bond was being torn apart but not entirely but enough to feel like death was near

Moisture filled her sight as tears began to form, still it was impossible for her to tear her sight away because regardless of everything she desired and actual answer.

What error had she committed?, Why did she suffer for loving someone whom the fate designated?

"Just look at me," she uttered in a low tone.

Kael's look met her's and all of a sudden, she grasped a concept that was new to her.

He found it difficult to go through this, he endured but not that much but it was still something. The knowledge showed him only more pain, It was because he thought that he was making this choice.

He knew what it would do to her, Still, he did it. The ones who hurt us appear to be more of a friend than an enemy the wounds come from the people we trusted the most. The Elder went closer.

"Alpha King, think again,"………….

"No."…………..,,,.The one-word reply was like a thunderbolt in the clearing as none of them argued after that nor make a move.

Kael Blackthorne had already made up his mind. Lyra was the only one remaining under the moonlight, the same moon she believed in writing love stories. Now, it was like a cruel author twisting her story into a tragedy and all the people disappeared.

Faces were no longer visible, the sounds blurred and everything became far away, silent, and irrelevant but only the pain was present like a violent storm living inside her.

Kael turned in the opposite direction, It was because of her that it hurt the most. For it has an air of finality.

It was as if she was no longer a person who was worth seeing, She was not even worth being seen.

The bond quivered violently, still, it stood firm against the breaking, Just a thin line was left.

A single tenacious thread that linked their spirits.

Neither fate nor ache looked powerful enough to completely detach it.

Lyra abhorred it.

She loathed the thought that part of her was still yearning for him, the part that still needed him, cared for him. This thought was exhausting her.

As if that was the only reason she was reduced into a joke. As though that was the only reason she was a pile of rubble efforts to stand again. The crowd made way as she treaded off the platform.

No one stood in her way, no one uttered a word, but pity stood a by her like a shadow and the pity languished her more than hatred did.

Kael turned in the opposite direction. It was because of her that it hurt the most. For it has an air of finality.

It was as if she was no longer a person who was worth seeing. She was not even worth being seen.

The bond quivered violently.

Still, it stood firm against the breaking.

Just a thin line was left.

A single tenacious thread that linked their spirits.

Neither fate nor ache looked powerful enough to completely detach it.

Lyra abhorred it.

She loathed the thought that part of her was still yearning for him. The part that still needed him and still cared for him. This thought was exhausting her.

As if that was the only reason she was reduced into a joke as though that was the only reason she was a pile of rubble.Efforts to stand again. The crowd made way as she treaded off the platform.

No one stood in her way nor utter a word.

Pity stood by her like her shadow and languished her more than hatred did, Pity was the one who felt that way about you, Pity buried you alive.

She walked faster and then ran…………

The clearing disappeared behind her, the pack grounds vanished, trees swallowed her.

The forest did not ask questions,demand explanation nor stare with pity filled eyes instead it simply existed.

And tonight, that was the only mercy Lyra Ashwood could find as branches clawed at her dress as she ran through the darkness. Roots twisted beneath her feet like grasping fingers, but she barely noticed. The cold air burned her lungs, yet the pain inside her chest burned far worse.

The moon followed her relentless and a silver eye watching from above.The same moon she had worshipped her entire life and had led her to Kael Blackthorne and had stood witness while he shattered her.Tears blurred her vision and she stumbled and fell hard against the forest floor.

For a moment, she remained there motionless and broken at the same time. The earth beneath her was damp and cold. Fallen leaves clung to her skin.

Her body instinctively folded inwards like a wounded animal that has to shield its fragile organs but there was no way to protect her heart because it was already wrecked beyond repair.

A sound of a cry came out of her mouth, followed by another and then another. After a short while, the dam was broken, pain entered her. It was raw, violent, and uncontrollable. It's the kind of pain that hides behind courageous smiles or polite words. It's the kind of pain that exposes a person to their most basic truth.

The truth is not complicated at all. She got dumped. Not by a passerby, Not by a rival. Instead, it was her soulmate that was supposed to do so. The spirit chosen for her by the universe. The only one who had to love her in an unconditional way.

Without any doubts at all the man is not afraid. Instead, he had looked into her eyes and had cast her aside.

The past which hits her is like a sword in the memory “I reject you” three words. They were just three simple words. But they kept on reverberating in her mind forever. Again, more and more.

All of them were darker than the previous one. The wolf cried sadly. The voice was like the reflections in her memory, a sound of sorrow and not pain inflicted but of sorrow. Lyra held her chest with her hands which were shaking like leaves.

“I know” she said in a quiet voice. The bond between them was still there weak, damaged and bleeding but it was still alive. And that was worse because she still had a piece of him and not his thoughts nor his emotions. Just his presence.

Like a star far away that could only be seen through clouds. A token of everything she had lost. “Why?” she whispered into the darkness. The forest said nothing, only silence and the silence was more cruel than any words.

Hours passed, or maybe it was only a fraction of the time. It seemed the time was now valueless. At last, Lyra forced herself to get up she felt like a huge weight was added to her body as grief was swimming in her blood like a rock.

The forest around her spoke of the moonlight, the leaves were covered with silver, all the trees the shadows were fantastic. But the beauty of everything was an offense for her to bear today.

What a presumption of the reality to be beautiful when hers was ruined? A dry laugh was heard from her. It was a bit odd. It was broken and strange. She almost did not recognize herself. May be it was the pain of love that made people different or it was the loss of their past selves.

They were left with the originals of themselves, which were now unfamiliar, this thought was terrifying for her. She felt as if she had already changed not more powerful and not more knowledgeable. Just like a hollowed vessel. Like the remains of a burned house.

The building was still there. But all that mattered was destroyed by fire, a branch broken put it back to her thoughts. Lyra jumped. The nature instinct blamed her for it. quickly, she turned her back.

Not a thing, at all. It was just clouds in the sky, the leaves of the tree rustled as a result of the wind.

The trees whispered private conversations that she was unable to comprehend.

Bit by bit, her heart rate came back to normal even so, there was still a feeling of anxiety. The woods were different tonight feeling fidgety, observing and anticipating. Maybe it reflected her own feelings for the matter.

It was a distance away in the pack's grounds, where Kael Blackthorne was all alone as the party was over, the company of people had left. There were still some problems.

Oftentimes, the issues are too many. The moon Stone was a muted observer of the night's celestial bodies as Kael's gaze remained steady on it. He felt a tightness in his jaws, his hands interlocked behind his back and he appeared calm on the outside. Yet he was falling apart inside.

The connection was still there, not strong enough because It was broken. But it still was a hex, goodwill and a token and he despised it a lot.

However, a part of him was afraid that he would lose it for good as the contradictory ideas that he had made him mad. A king must act without the slightest of hesitations and must not be in doubt.

A king must not glance at the woods only to ponder whether the woman he rejected was safe, his companions, the wolf, growled. The sound rebounded in his mind.

In the first place, the thought of betrayal appeared in his mind and the second was from the wolf who expressed his disapproval.

"You are aware of the reasons behind our actions," he said. The wolf did not make a sound.

Nevertheless, Kael could sense its criticism as the prophecy was the weight on his mind, a shadow that clung to him. He had been preparing himself for it for many years and had been living in fear for those years.

He had made efforts to abolish it for those years.

The prophecy was as clear as day, an ancient warning, the Moon-Blooded Female would bring destruction to the wolf kingdoms.

The moment Lyra placed her foot on the Moon Stone, he had seen the signs,there was the silver light; the ancient source of energy and the unfathomable force that lay hidden in her.

All things corresponded to all and if the prophecy was valid... Then, her acceptance would mean the end of everything including the fate of his kingdom, destiny of his people and destruction of his whole world

The burden of a leader always implies the need for a sacrifice as he fulfilled that necessity tonight.

Yet, why did it feel like he had scalped his own heart?

Back in the woods, the sun began to rise.