Blood of The Shadow Moon

Rejected

Chapter Three: Rejected

Elara's POV

The moon hung high above Silvercrest Pack.

Bright.

Full.

Beautiful.

The Moon Goddess was watching.

Tonight was supposed to be one of the happiest nights of my life.

Instead, I felt sick.

The Mate Ceremony was underway.

Young wolves were finding their mates one after another.

Cheers echoed throughout the square.

Laughter.

Happy tears.

Celebration.

Everything I had dreamed about.

Everything I wanted.

Yet the closer midnight came, the harder my heart pounded.

I couldn't stop looking at Kaiden.

Future Alpha Kaiden Silvercrest.

The boy I'd loved for years.

The boy I secretly hoped was my mate.

The boy who had already told another girl she was the one he chose.

Maybe I was a fool.

Maybe I had always been a fool.

Then it happened.

A scent hit me so suddenly my knees nearly buckled.

Cedar.

Rain.

Forest.

Strength.

Warmth.

Home.

My breath caught.

Mate.

My mate.

The bond awakened inside me like a living thing.

The entire world seemed to disappear.

I turned slowly.

Terrified.

Hopeful.

Desperate.

Please.

Please let it be him.

Across the square, Kaiden froze.

His eyes widened.

The crowd immediately noticed.

Whispers spread through the gathering.

Future Alpha Kaiden Silvercrest had found his mate.

My heart soared.

His gaze locked onto mine.

For one perfect moment, I thought my dreams had come true.

Then his expression changed.

Shock.

Disbelief.

Anger.

Disgust.

My heart dropped.

The bond remained.

Strong.

Undeniable.

But the look on his face told me everything.

"No."

The word echoed across the square.

Silence followed.

Complete silence.

My stomach twisted painfully.

Kaiden stepped onto the platform.

Every eye in the pack followed him.

Including mine.

"I refuse."

Gasps spread through the crowd.

Alpha Ronan frowned.

Luna Elena looked confused.

Selena smirked.

Kaiden's gaze never left mine.

"The Moon Goddess would choose her for me?"

His voice dripped with disbelief.

"A nobody?"

The words hit harder than any slap.

An uncomfortable silence settled over the crowd.

But Kaiden wasn't finished.

"I deserve a Luna worthy of Silvercrest."

More whispers.

More stares.

My chest hurt.

"I deserve strength."

Another knife.

"I deserve respect."

Another.

"I deserve a mate who can stand beside an Alpha."

His eyes narrowed.

"Not a weak omega."

Tears burned my eyes.

But I refused to let them fall.

Not here.

Not in front of everyone.

Not in front of him.

Luna Elena stepped forward.

"Kaiden, enough."

But Kaiden ignored her.

Ignored everyone.

His voice rang across the square.

"I, Future Alpha Kaiden Silvercrest, reject Elara as my mate."

Pain exploded through me.

A scream built in my chest.

The bond stretched painfully between us.

Waiting.

Waiting for my answer.

The entire pack watched.

Some with pity.

Some with sympathy.

Others with satisfaction.

Selena looked positively delighted.

For a moment, I thought I might break.

For a moment, I thought my heart might never recover.

Then I looked at Kaiden.

Really looked at him.

At the male I had loved for years.

The male willing to humiliate me in front of the entire pack.

The male willing to treat the Moon Goddess's gift like trash.

Something inside me hardened.

I straightened my shoulders.

Lifted my chin.

And met his gaze.

A few wolves looked surprised.

Good.

Let them be surprised.

"You know what, Kaiden?"

The crowd fell silent again.

Kaiden frowned.

I took a step forward.

"If this is the kind of Alpha you're going to become..."

I shook my head.

"Then maybe the Moon Goddess made a mistake."

Gasps erupted.

Selena's smile disappeared.

Kaiden's jaw tightened.

For the first time all night, uncertainty flashed in his eyes.

Good.

Let him feel it.

The bond trembled.

Waiting.

I swallowed the pain.

Swallowed the heartbreak.

Then spoke clearly enough for everyone to hear.

"I, Elara, accept your rejection."

A sharp crack echoed through the square.

The mate bond shattered.

Pain ripped through my chest.

Several wolves gasped.

Kaiden flinched.

Only for a second.

But I saw it.

Regret.

The first crack in his perfect mask.

I wiped away a single tear.

Then looked him directly in the eye.

"You may be Silvercrest's future Alpha."

My voice remained steady.

"But one day you'll regret this."

Silence.

Absolute silence.

No one laughed.

No one mocked me.

No one spoke.

For the first time in my life, the entire pack saw me.

Not as an omega.

Not as an orphan.

But as someone who refused to be broken.

I turned around.

Ignoring the shocked faces.

Ignoring the whispers.

Ignoring the pain.

And walked away.

Behind me, I heard Luna Elena call my name.

I didn't stop.

I heard Alpha Ronan shouting at Kaiden.

I didn't stop.

I heard Selena celebrating.

I definitely didn't stop.

I ran.

Through the village.

Past the pack borders.

Into the forest.

Tears streamed down my face.

The rejection burned.

My heart shattered with every step.

Eventually my legs gave out.

I collapsed in a moonlit clearing.

Alone.

Broken.

Lost.

I stared up at the full moon.

"Why?" I whispered.

The night remained silent.

Then a low growl echoed through my mind.

Powerful.

Ancient.

Female.

Protective.

"Because your story was never meant to begin with him."

My eyes widened.

The ground beneath me trembled.

Golden light flashed through the clearing.

And somewhere deep within my soul...

A white wolf opened her eyes.

🌙🩸