LUNA OF TWO SHADOWS

The night was quiet except for the rustling of leaves in the forest. The air was cool, carrying the smell of pine and damp earth. Above the trees, the moon shone full and bright bathing everything in silver light. For werewolves this was never an ordinary night. It was the night of choosing. The night the moon spirit revealed fated mates. Aria stood near the edge of the clearing her heart beating faster with every passing second. She pressed her hands together trying to hide the tremble in her fingers. Everyone from her pack had gathered. Warriors elders children all waiting for the moment the goddess tied souls together. “Are you nervous” her best friend Lila whispered beside her. Aria gave a small smile though it did not reach her eyes. “A little” she admitted. Lila grinned her green eyes glowing in the moonlight. “You will be fine. Whoever it is he will be lucky. You are strong and beautiful and stubborn as a rock.” Aria laughed softly but her chest still felt tight. She wanted to believe her friend but something in her gut twisted uneasily. She had always dreamed of this night of meeting her fated mate. But now that it was here she was not sure what awaited her. The Alpha of their pack stepped forward his voice deep and steady. “Tonight the moon will bind hearts as it has done for centuries. Trust the bond. Trust the goddess.” A low murmur of agreement spread through the crowd. Then silence. The ritual began. The glow of the moon seemed to intensify wrapping around the clearing like a blanket of silver. One by one members of the pack felt the pull of the bond their eyes meeting their chosen partners with gasps and tears of joy. Aria waited her chest rising and falling quickly. Then it happened. A sudden warmth spread through her veins her wolf stirring inside her. Her eyes snapped open and landed on him. Darius. The future Alpha of the Dark Fang pack. The crowd gasped. Whispers rippled through the air. He was tall broad shouldered with black hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see straight through her. His aura was powerful dangerous. And yet the bond sang between them louder than any doubt. Her heart leapt in her chest. This was her mate. But before she could even take a step toward him Darius’s lips curled into a cold smirk. His voice rang out across the clearing. “No.” The word struck her like a blade. The whispers grew louder shocked faces turning from him to her. “I reject you Aria of the Silver Moon pack.” The air seemed to freeze. Aria’s breath caught in her throat. Her wolf howled inside her in pain clawing against the rejection. She stared at him her lips parting but no sound came. Lila gasped grabbing her arm. “Aria…” But Darius only turned his back his shoulders stiff as he walked away leaving the bond shattered like broken glass. The moon above seemed dimmer now its silver glow fading as if even the goddess mourned what had just happened. Aria stood frozen her heart burning her future stolen before it even began. In that moment she made a silent vow. If he thought rejecting her would break her he was wrong. This was not the end. It was only the beginning.