The Rejected Luna

Chapter Three: The Moon Festival

The journey ended just as the sun began to set.

The coachman pulled on the reins, and the carriage came to a slow stop in front of the Alpha Manor.

Selene climbed down from the back of the carriage, careful not to step on her dress. Her legs felt stiff after sitting beside the luggage for almost two hours.

She brushed the dust from her skirt before looking up.

For a moment...

She forgot to breathe.

The Alpha Manor looked nothing like home.

Silver banners hung from every balcony, moving gently with the evening breeze. Hundreds of lanterns were tied to the trees, waiting to be lit after sunset. Fresh white flowers lined the stone pathway leading to the entrance, and music floated through the air as guests arrived one after another.

Children laughed as they chased each other across the courtyard.

Noble families greeted old friends with warm smiles.

Servants moved through the crowd carrying trays of drinks and food.

Everything looked... alive.

Selene couldn't stop herself from smiling.

She had always dreamed of seeing the Moon Festival at the Alpha Manor.

It was even more beautiful than she had imagined.

"Selene."

Her mother's voice shattered the moment.

Selene turned immediately.

Helena frowned.

"Stop standing there."

"People are trying to get through."

The smile disappeared from Selene's face.

"I'm sorry."

She lowered her head and stepped aside, allowing another family to pass.

Vivienne walked past her, the silver gown catching everyone's attention.

"Oh my..."

A woman near the entrance smiled.

"That must be Lady Helena's younger daughter."

"She's gorgeous."

"No wonder everyone says she'll become Prince Kael's Luna."

Helena accepted every compliment with a proud smile.

"You're too kind."

Vivienne lowered her eyes shyly.

"Please... you're making me embarrassed."

The women laughed.

Selene quietly followed behind them.

No one noticed.

Or maybe they did.

They simply chose not to.

Just as she reached the entrance, a young servant hurried over carrying a silver tray filled with crystal glasses.

"There you are."

He held the tray toward Selene.

"I've been looking everywhere for you. Please take these to the banquet hall."

Selene blinked.

"I'm sorry?"

The servant frowned.

"The guests are waiting."

He looked genuinely confused.

Before Selene could explain, Helena spoke.

"Go on."

Selene slowly turned.

"Mother..."

Helena didn't even look at her.

"Don't make a scene over such a small mistake."

The words caught in Selene's throat.

She looked back at the servant.

He was still holding out the tray.

Then his eyes landed on her face.

Recognition slowly spread across his expression.

His face turned pale.

"Oh..."

"I'm so sorry, Miss."

"I thought..."

He stopped, unable to finish the sentence.

Selene forced a small smile.

"It's alright."

She carefully handed the tray back.

The servant bowed several times before hurrying away.

As Selene continued walking, two noble ladies standing nearby watched her.

"I thought she worked here too."

"So did I."

"I can't believe she's Lady Helena's daughter."

Neither of them lowered their voices.

Neither of them cared if she heard.

Selene kept walking.

Her fingers tightened around the side of her dress until her knuckles turned white.

She didn't look back.

Not once.

—

The grand hall was already filling up by the time Selene stepped inside.

She had never seen so many people in one place before.

Nobles from different packs stood together, laughing over glasses of wine. Warriors in polished uniforms lined the walls while servants moved quietly between the guests, making sure no one's cup remained empty.

Selene stayed close to the wall.

That was where her mother had told her to stay.

It was easier that way.

No one paid attention to the girl in the faded blue dress.

"Selene."

She looked up.

Helena had somehow appeared beside her.

"What did I tell you before we left home?"

"To stay behind Vivienne."

"And?"

"Not to speak unless someone speaks to me."

Helena nodded.

"And if someone mistakes you for a servant?"

Selene hesitated.

"I... shouldn't correct them."

"Good."

Helena's eyes swept over her one last time.

"Don't ruin tonight."

She turned and walked away before Selene could answer.

Selene watched her disappear into the crowd.

Not once had her mother asked if she was alright.

Not once had she smiled at her.

She looked down at her hands and quietly rubbed her thumb over the rough stitches on her dress.

"They'll hold," she whispered to herself.

"They have to."

A loud horn suddenly echoed through the hall.

The conversations stopped.

Even the musicians lowered their instruments.

Every head turned toward the entrance.

"The Alpha Prince."

The announcement spread through the hall like fire.

Guests hurried to either side, leaving a wide path through the middle.

Selene stood on her toes, trying to see.

A group of royal guards entered first.

Their black uniforms were embroidered with silver wolves, and each carried a sword at his side.

Then he appeared.

Prince Kael.

He was taller than Selene had imagined.

His black suit fit him perfectly, and the silver crest of the royal family rested against his chest. His dark hair was neatly combed back, making the sharp lines of his face even more noticeable.

He walked with the quiet confidence of someone who had never doubted his place in the world.

People bowed as he passed.

He acknowledged them with a small nod.

Nothing more.

"He's even more handsome than the rumors."

"I heard he's never lost a duel."

"They say he's the strongest Alpha of his generation."

The whispers followed him everywhere.

A little boy suddenly broke free from his mother's hand and ran across the hall.

He wasn't looking where he was going.

He crashed straight into Kael.

The child lost his balance and fell.

The room fell silent.

The boy quickly looked up.

"I'm... I'm sorry, Your Highness."

For a second, nobody moved.

Kael looked down at him.

His face didn't change.

"Watch where you're going."

His voice was calm.

Cold.

He stepped around the child and continued walking.

One of the guards behind him bent down, helping the little boy to his feet before returning him to his worried mother.

The guests smiled as though nothing had happened.

"A true Alpha."

"So composed."

"So disciplined."

Selene looked at the little boy.

His eyes were red as he clung tightly to his mother's dress.

She quietly looked away.

Something about that moment made her chest feel heavy.

Kael reached the front of the hall where the elders and noble families waited to greet him.

Helena gently nudged Vivienne forward.

"Go."

Vivienne took a graceful step and bowed.

"It's an honor to meet you, Your Highness."

Kael gave a polite nod.

"The honor is mine."

Vivienne's cheeks turned pink.

Several noblewomen exchanged knowing smiles.

"They look perfect together."

"I've been saying it for months."

"Look at them."

"They're like they're already mates."

Selene heard every word.

She lowered her eyes.

It made sense.

Standing beside Vivienne, Kael looked exactly the way everyone imagined a future Alpha and Luna should look.

Strong.

Elegant.

Perfect.

Selene looked down at her own dress.

One loose thread had escaped from the seam she had sewn the night before.

She quickly tucked it back in before anyone noticed.

Then she heard footsteps.

Slow.

Steady.

She looked up without thinking.

Kael was walking through the crowd again, greeting guests one by one.

For the briefest moment...

His eyes lifted.

They met hers.

Selene forgot to breathe.

She quickly looked away, pretending to straighten her sleeve.

When she finally looked up again...

He had already moved on.

But for reasons she couldn't explain...

Her heart refused to slow down.

—---

A deep drumbeat echoed through the hall.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

The music stopped.

Conversations died away until the hall became so quiet that the crackling fire in the torches could be heard.

An elderly man dressed in white robes walked onto the raised platform. His long silver hair reached his shoulders, and he leaned lightly on a carved wooden staff.

The High Priest.

Every wolf lowered their head.

"Welcome," he said, his voice carrying across the courtyard. "Tonight, we gather beneath the blessing of the Moon Goddess."

He lifted his eyes toward the full moon shining above the manor.

"Some of you will leave this place exactly as you arrived."

A small smile crossed his face.

"And some of you..."

"...will never be the same again."

A nervous laugh spread through the crowd.

Selene stood near one of the stone pillars at the back.

She folded her hands together, hoping no one would notice her.

"The Moon Goddess has written every fate," the High Priest continued. "No Alpha, no King, no family can change what has already been chosen."

Helena smiled confidently.

Vivienne's fingers tightened around her skirt.

The High Priest raised his staff.

"Prince Kael Ashbourne."

Kael stepped forward.

The silver light from the moon fell across his shoulders.

He stood tall, his face calm as always.

"Do you accept the will of the Moon Goddess?"

"I do."

"Then step into the moonlight."

Kael obeyed.

The High Priest closed his eyes and began to pray.

The courtyard became still.

No one spoke.

Even the wind seemed to disappear.

Selene shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

Her shoes were beginning to hurt.

She glanced toward the exit, wondering how much longer the ceremony would last.

Then...

A strange warmth spread through her left wrist.

She frowned.

Maybe it was because she had been standing too long.

She rubbed it gently.

The warmth didn't disappear.

It became hotter.

Her fingers stopped moving.

A sharp pain shot through her arm.

She sucked in a breath.

"Ouch..."

The whisper escaped before she could stop it.

She pulled her sleeve back.

A thin silver line appeared beneath her skin.

Selene froze.

The light slowly spread across her wrist.

"No..."

She quickly covered it with her hand.

"What is this...?"

Across the courtyard—

Kael suddenly stiffened.

His jaw tightened.

He looked down at his own wrist.

For the first time that evening, something changed in his expression.

His hand closed around his arm.

The High Priest opened his eyes.

His smile faded.

The silver mark on Kael's wrist began to glow.

A gasp escaped the crowd.

"The mate bond..."

"It has started."

Selene took a small step backward.

The burning in her wrist became unbearable.

She bit down on her lip to stop herself from crying out.

Her breathing grew uneven.

She looked around.

No one was watching her.

Not yet.

She pulled her sleeve down, hoping to hide the glowing mark.

Then Kael slowly lifted his head.

His eyes searched the crowd.

Not in a hurry.

Not confused.

Simply searching.

The hall became quieter with every second.

His gaze moved past the elders.

Past the visiting Alphas.

Past Vivienne.

She smiled the moment his eyes reached her.

The smile stayed on her face...

Until he looked away.

He kept searching.

Helena's smile slowly disappeared.

Kael's eyes continued moving through the crowd.

Then...

They stopped.

Selene's heart skipped.

For a second, neither of them moved.

The burning in her wrist became almost unbearable.

Her fingers slipped from her sleeve.

The silver mark shone brightly beneath the moonlight.

Someone gasped.

Another voice whispered,

"...No."

The whisper spread through the crowd.

Heads turned one after another.

The elders looked first.

Then the nobles.

Then the guards.

Finally...

Every pair of eyes rested on Selene.

She stood completely still.

The hall suddenly felt too small.

Too quiet.

She could hear her own heartbeat.

Vivienne slowly turned around.

Her smile disappeared.

Helena followed her daughter's gaze.

The color drained from her face.

The High Priest stared at Selene for several long seconds.

Then he lowered his head.

"The Moon Goddess..."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

"...has spoken."

No one clapped.

No one celebrated.

The silence was heavier than any sound.

Selene looked at Kael.

He was already looking at her.

His face gave nothing away.

Then...

His jaw tightened.

His eyes turned cold.

Not angry.

Not surprised.

Just...

Cold.

Selene's fingers curled around her skirt.

The smile she hadn't even realized was forming quietly disappeared.

She lowered her eyes.

Somewhere in the crowd...

Someone laughed.

Another voice whispered,

"It has to be a mistake."

The whisper grew louder.

"It can't be her."

"Impossible."

"Prince Kael's mate?"

"That girl?"

Selene closed her eyes for one brief moment.

When she opened them again...

Kael was still looking at her.

He didn't take a single step toward her.

He didn't smile.

He didn't deny it.

He simply stood there.

And somehow...

That hurt more than anything.