THE ALPHA WHO REJECTED HIS LUNA

THE REJECTION (Sophia's pov) The night of the mating ceremony was supposed to be the best and happiest day of my life. I had visualised it over my head a million times, every detail made my heart beat. The moon glowed like silver fire, the pack cheering and rejoicing, causing a hullabaloo around me. Alpha Ryder stood tall at the centre of the crowd, and finally, Alpha Blackwood would claim me, Sophia, as his Luna. Every thought and memory I had made me feel on top of the world. Every breath I took tasted of hope. Everywhere was clear, with the swaying trees and illuminated flowers all putting a smile on the faces of our pack. I could hear some murmurs behind some wished they were the ones experiencing this day while some were envious, curious and others supportive, all blending into a hum of anticipation. My wolf stirred inside me, packing nervously aware that tonight is going to be the best night of my life and knowing fully well that it will change my whole life forever. I stepped forward, shivering, shy, my hands trembled despite all my efforts to pull myself together, it remained invalid. The scents of the forest, mingled with the exuberant energy of every wolf and pack around me made my heart race. And then there he was. Alpha Ryder Blackwood, the strongest most powerful and popular of all, the man whom i Sophia had loved since I was 18 years old. The fiercest and the most untouchable Alpha the pack had ever known. His golden eyes were fixed on the moonlight and I luna felt happy to spend my life with such an alpha. My wolf whispered in my mind, a tremulous, ecstatic word that made my chest ache with happiness. And then I saw the almighty Alpha Ryder Blackwood. The air seemed to thicken my lungs as I was imagining how I would feel if Alpha Ryder Blackwood finally called me out as his Luna. I would blush for the entire pack. I gave off a smirk as I said this to myself. My Alpha, my destiny, but destiny I learned that night could be cruel. Ryder's face was joyful at first but gradually his jaw tightened. The golden glow of his eyes shifted from warm to cruel. The murmurs of the pack fell into an expectant hush. Every eye of the pack turned towards me and the alpha. And then in a calm voice, he spoke. “I, Alpha Ryder Blackwood”, he said his voice harsh, desperately cruel and authoritative “reject you Sophia as my Luna”. The words broke me, I felt fully ashamed of myself, it struck me like a bullet I just wished for the ground to open and swallow me because I got too ashamed to go back. My heart panted and became extremely weak. My Alpha let out a howl of anguish that seemed to pierce the very night. Around us, gasps echoed, sharp and cruel. I felt as though I was sinking into the river. I whispered, a soft, deliberate sound that seemed to vanish in the chill of rejection. I felt pain that ripped through me, a lot of emotions I couldn't explain, the humiliation I got made me dizzy it burned my chest hotter than a hot kettle. The pack watched us in disbelief, in stunning silence. Some of them smirked. My secret shame now displayed, my whole world was crushed in a single sentence. “You are too weak to stand beside me”, Ryder continued, his voice devoid of mercy." I will utterly feel ashamed to have a worthless Luna stand beside me." The word pierced into me like a hammer. My plans and visions unravelled as tears filled my eyes, i wanted to scream or if possible curse him, to let my wolf tear at the world in retaliation that the man i Sophia had loved for five years would say such a thing to me, would look at me and see nothing. Alpha Ryder Blackwood stepped past me, his boots crunching on the floor. Each pace he made while walking past me made my anger and pain extreme. Every pace was deliberate, every motion commanding, he didn't look behind me to check how his words broke me until he disappeared into the shadows leaving me in tribulation and grievance. I felt a quiet calmness within me after he had left. “This was not the end” “This was the beginning” “I won't let his negative attitude and response towards me make me feel less." “I would train harder." "I would become stronger." “ I would become more fierce and I would prove to him that he was wrong by telling me such a word that broke me in front of the entire pack and make them witness it. And then Alpha Ryder Blackwood would finally see what he had done to himself and the fire he had refused to claim but then it would be too late. For now, I swallowed my tears and lifted my head high up to the sky. My wolf calmed slightly, sensing the shift in my determination, boldness and encouragement. The moon goddess had not chosen him for me tonight but I had gotten something that was more relevant and paramount. Strength. Determination. Boldness. And I would embrace them with everything in me. The weather was a bit cold and the night was dark, i felt alive in a way I never expected. Pain and rejection had tried to crush me but they had the meaning of rejection. He had just drawn the battle line unknowingly even if an omega was included to settle the dispute it would still be hard for me to let go of this public disgrace and embarrassment from Alpha Ryder Blackwood. Tonight I was reduced to a stupor, I was rejected. But tomorrow, i would be highly unstoppable. The entire pack began to leave gradually while I walked behind them only for me to hear a devastating conversation among them.