REJECTED BY MY ALPHA, CLAIMED BY HIS BROTHER

The moon was full. So also was the humiliation I stood on the stage in a white dress. Veil. Crown waiting on the table next to Alpha Kade. With 200 wolves and My whole pack. Watching. Today was supposed to be my 18th birthday. My claiming day. My Luna ceremonie Kade took the mic. My mate. My boyfriend of 3 years. He looked handsome in his black suit. He looked like he was about to mess up my life. “Luna candidates, he started. Voice booming. “Step forward.” I stepped forward, my Heart was pounding really fast.” This was it. Kade didn’t lookedat me. He looked at the crowd. “I, Alpha Kade Blackwood of the Crimson Moon Pack, have made a decision.” My stomach dropped. “After careful consideration, I find that Lyra Hale is unfit to be Luna.” Silence. Then whispers. “What?! I whispered. “Kade?” He finally looked at me. Cold. Disgusted. “You’re weak, Lyra. You cried during training. You can’t even shift properly. You’re an embarrassment to this pack.” My knees went weak. “Luna needs to be strong,” he continued. “You are not.” The Beta handed him a dagger. Silver. For the rejection ritual. “I, Alpha Kade Blackwood, reject you, Lyra Hale, as my mate.” He cut his palm. Blood dripped. The bond between us snapped. Pain shot through my chest like someone ripped out my heart. I screamed. Fell to my knees. “Get her out of here,” Kade said. “Before she ruins the ceremony.” Two guards dragged me off stage. I heard laughter. I heard my name being dragged through the mud. Weak. Disgrace. Unfit. By midnight, I was gone. Bag packed. $200 to my name. I ran. 6 MONTHS LATER. NEW YORK CITY. I was working 3 jobs. Waitress. Cleaner. Night shift at a 24/7 store. No pack. No family. No mate bond. I thought I was free. Until he walked into the store at 2am. 6’4. Black suit. Black hair. Scars on his knuckles. Eyes like ice and fire at the same time Alpha Zayden Blackwood. Kade’s older brother. The one who left the pack 10 years ago. The billionaire. The monster. He stopped in front of me. Sniffed. His eyes went gold. “Lyra Hale,” he growled. “Crimson Moon. Rejected.” I backed up. “What do you want?” He stepped closer. I could smell pine and power and danger. “I want what’s mine,” he said. “My brother threw away a diamond. I don’t make his mistakes.” My wolf whined. Mate. No. Not again. “I’m not yours,” I said, lifting my chin. “And I’m not his either.” Zayden smiled. It wasn’t nice. “Then it’s a good thing I don’t ask, little wolf.” He then pulled out a black card. “You have 24 hours to pack. My jet leaves at 8am. You’re coming to Blackwood Estate. As my mate.” “I reject—” “You can try,” he cut me off. “But the moon already chose.” He leaned in. Whispered in my ear. “Run again, Lyra. I dare you. I like the chase.” And he walked out. My phone buzzed. It was zayden “8am. Don’t be late” My wolf was howling. My heart was terifyed And for the first time since the rejection... I felt something other than broken. I felt angry.