MOONBOUND BETRAYAL

"Fate is a liar." The thought keeps circling, beating in the back of my mind as I stand beneath the moon, chest tight, heart racing so fast it makes me lightheaded. Tonight was supposed to change everything—the moment the bond sparked, the magic clicked into place, and everything finally made sense. But when Ronan Stormvale meets my eyes, there’s no spark. Just a cold, crooked smile that drains the blood from my face. Then he says it—steady, emotionless. “I reject you, Selene. You’re not my mate.” The world tilts. Gasps rippled through the crowd like a gust of wind. Dozens of wolves watch in stunned silence as if they can’t quite believe it. Neither can I. A mate bond is sacred. Divine. Irrefutable. He’s not supposed to do this. I search his face, my throat tightening. Not for weakness. Not for second thoughts. But something—anything—that explains why. But his expression is unreadable. Blank. Detached. The anger is there, simmering under my skin, but I bury it. I won’t give him the satisfaction. If he thinks he can humiliate me, he’ll find out just how wrong he is. I raise my chin, roll my shoulders back, and steady my voice.“Understood, Alpha heir.” Murmurs spread like wildfire. The title is deliberate. He may have rejected me as his mate, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s bound to this pack by more than just fate. He still has a duty. A legacy to uphold. And yet, here he is, tearing a sacred bond apart as if it means nothing. My mother used to say the Moon Goddess didn’t make mistakes. That fate was deliberate like a thread pulled tight through a needle. She always said our destinies were written in the stars, long before we ever took our first breath. But standing here—rejected, humiliated—it doesn’t feel like fate. It feels like a joke the universe forgot to finish. I grit my teeth, doing everything I can to stay upright. My legs feel shaky, and I hate that he might see it. But I won’t cry. I refuse. Not now. Not in front of them. But then— A searing pain ignites on my wrist, sharp and sudden, like fire branding my skin. My gasp shatters the tense silence. I grab my arm, but the pain only gets worse. It spreads fast, searing through me like something hot and alive, curling under my skin. Someone in the crowd chokes on a breath. “Look at her wrist,” a voice whispers. I do. A symbol carves itself into my skin right before my eyes—dark, intricate, pulsing with an eerie glow under the full moon. Fear ripples through the pack, their shock turning to something colder. More dangerous. Not fear. Superstition. The Elders are the first to react. Their expressions shift from detached indifference to something I don’t quite understand—something dangerously close to horror. One of them steps forward—Elder Matthias. Cold as ice, feared for his lack of mercy. His voice cracks slightly. “This… this cannot be.” I don’t know what’s going on, but something in me panics. Every instinct is screaming: Run. Then Ronan speaks, low and rough. “What the hell is that mark?” I follow his gaze, confused. He’s not looking at me—not really. I just stare at my wrist like it’s something foreign. Dangerous. There’s no regret in his eyes. No sorrow. Only fear. The mighty Alpha heir is afraid of me. Something is very, very wrong. And then, just like that, the entire pack takes a collective step away from me. A shift. A silent rejection. It’s worse than Ronan’s words. Worse than the pain on my wrist. I don’t belong here anymore. The realization is like ice in my veins. I stumble back, chest tight, and barely able to breathe. My hands won’t stop shaking. “What’s… what’s happening to me?” But no one answers. No one moves to comfort me. Even Lyra, my closest friend, looks torn—her concern warping into something uncertain. A deep growl breaks the silence—low, rough, and so powerful it rattles in my chest. For a second, I think it’s Ronan— But it’s not. It’s Alpha Darius. Ronan’s father. He steps forward, eyes like polished steel—sharp, watchful, already two steps ahead of everyone. There’s no kindness in his expression. Just calculation. Like he’s already deciding what to do with me. “Seize her,” he commands. The order is instant. The warriors move, closing in. Like I’m a threat. Panic surges in my chest. I take another step back, then another. Lyra’s voice breaks through the chaos, desperate and raw. “Run, Selene!” I don’t hesitate. I shift mid-stride, my wolf exploding from within me in a burst of raw power. My bones snap and reshape, fur sprouting across my skin as I drop to all fours. Then I bolt. Through the gasps. Through the chaos. Through the betrayal that tastes like ash in my mouth. The Silverclaw warriors are right behind me. And the worst part? I have no idea why. The forest blurs around me—shadows stretching and twisting between the trees as I run. My paws hit the ground hard, over and over, but I barely feel it. Every breath scrapes my throat, and my chest is burning. My heart’s slamming in my chest, so loud it’s all I can hear. I don’t look back. I can’t. Because if I do, I’ll see them gaining. And if they catch me—I don’t know what happens next. Moonveil Forest looms ahead, its thick canopy of ancient trees swallowing the moonlight. No one ventures too deep into this place—not unless they have a death wish. But right now? The real monsters are behind me. I won't stop. I don’t think so. I leap through the underbrush, ignoring the scratches on my fur and the burn in my muscles. Then— A sharp movement from the left. A flicker of something fast, too fast. My instincts scream. I veered, but it was too late. Something burst from the shadows—a blur of black and silver, fast and precise. The thing slammed into my side. Before I could react. The air wrenched from my lungs as I hit the ground, pain knifing through my ribs. Everything blurred around the edges. I heard a low chuckle, the kind that makes your gut twist. I looked up, still dazed, my heart beating way too fast. Someone was standing over me. Golden eyes. Watching me like I was prey. Not a pack warrior. Not one of them. But before I can even think, his paw slams down on my back. Heavy. Firm. Unmoving. I’m not going anywhere. Something cold coils in my stomach. Not full-blown panic. Not yet. But fear is circling. Close. Closer than I want to admit. Because there’s something about his voice. Something about the way he looks at me. Like he knows. Like he’s been waiting for me all along. And worst of all? I don’t think he’s here to save me.