REJECTED BY MY MATE CLAIMED BY THE ALPHA KING

The most significant day in Shadow Moon Pack was the Moon Festival. The huge field was lit by the lanterns; the music rang in the woods, and all ranks of wolves were gathered under the bright full moon. For all but a few, it was a night of mourning. It was a night full of hope for Lyra Blackwood. She was twenty years old at this time, having long suffered from the taunts and teasing she had faced for not changing. The other wolves remarked that she was weak, cursed, and broken. Some thought that the Moon Goddess had left her. But tonight, clothed in a plain, silver dress, her late mother had worn, Lyra let herself fall into dreaming. This night might be the one to make all the difference! It's a night when she may find her mate. She could feel the pounding of her heart as she made her way through the crowd, attempting to suppress the gazes of the people around her. Everywhere, Alpha Damon Frost was standing with his father, and he was laughing with the pack warriors. He was tall, handsome, powerful, and liked by all, the traits of a coming man of importance—the Alpha. For years, Lyra, without anyone knowing about him, had eyed him up and down and thought that she was far too ordinary to attract someone like him. The ceremony started with the pack assembling around the sacred fire, and the elders praying to the Moon Goddess. As soon as Lyra approached the fires, there was a strange electric shock in her veins. Her breath caught. Her wolfless heart thundered against her chest. All her instincts urged her to look up. As her eyes locked onto silver eyes spanning the clearing in the open field, she felt the world come to a standstill. The bond came as a bolt of lightning. Mate. She found herself writing the word exploded in her mind. Her eyes filled with tears. The Moon Goddess did after all have given her a partner. It was Damon. She was destined to be the future Alpha, her partner. Damon was also momentarily stunned. His eyes grew bigger, and he felt the bond as well. A flame of hope struck fire in Lyra's heart. For a moment she took a timid step towards him, thinking that this would be the life that she had always dreamed of. The crowd gradually became aware of what was going on. The excitement of the clearing was heard in excited whispers. For the whole pack, a good fortune for a future Alpha to find his mate during the Moon Festival. It was difficult for Lyra to breathe as she walked closer to him. However, it all changed. Damon’s expression hardened. The shock had gone from his face and was succeeded by disgust. He wrinkled his lip as though he had swallowed poison. Lyra froze. It wasn't right. “Damon?” she whispered. First, he didn't respond quietly, but stepped forward and spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear. The Moon Goddess is playing an evil joke. Silence fell over the clearing. Hundreds of eyes were fixed upon them. Lyra’s stomach twisted. “Damon…” He laughed coldly. “You?” he said. “You’re my mate?” Rumors went around the crowd. Embarrassment burned on Lyra's face. This wasn't my choice, she whispered. “And neither did I,” Damon snapped. He faced the pack and shouted loudly. How can a weak girl, unable to shift, be the next Alpha of the Shadow Moon Pack? Several wolves laughed, and others were howling. Each word was like a knife to Lyra's heart. Her face pressed against his, she looked for something good, but none was there. Damon looked at her as if she were below him. Then, he grabbed Selena Hart, the stunning, rich beta family girl who was nearby. Selena smirked triumphantly, putting her arm in his. It was a scene that broke Lyra's heart. “Listen good Lyra Blackwood,” Damon said. “No, I don't want you to be my mate.” The voices rang out in the open. Now there were gasps in the air. It was like a physical blow to Lyra when the rejection happened. There was a sudden surge of pain in her chest. Her knees almost buckled under her. Her eyes watered as she looked at him in astonishment. “Please…” she whispered. “Don’t do this.” Damon remained emotionless. “You're weak, you're worthless, and you'll never lead this pack like Luna. Lyra's world fell around her and the crowd stood silent. A few wolves felt sorry for her, while many appeared contented. For years they had teased her for her weakness and now not even the Moon Goddess's gift was left. Selena came over to her with her arms around him and held him tightly. She said sweetly, “It seems as though fate has made a mistake.” More laughter followed. In the middle of her was all eyes. Rejection was no match for the humiliation that coursed through her veins. So she could not stand it anymore, she turned and ran. She didn't listen to the voices behind her. Set aside her tears, which cloud her vision. In spite of the pain that was tearing through her chest, she ignored it. She ran very quickly until she couldn't hear anything from the festivals anymore. At last she lay down by a river and cried out in a loud manner. She was a reject of her mate. Her pack had been laughing at her. She was totally isolated. Then there was a peculiar feeling throughout her body. It should have hurt her to be rejected, but it didn't. That was well known to all the wolves. But she didn't weaken, she felt something rising up in her. Her blood was boiling. Under her skin, there was some silver light. Lyra gasped and put her hands on her chest. A river ran beside her and started to ripple furiously. This was a strong energy that vibrated around her, that shook the trees. Her heart was filled with fear. All at once, a voice sounded in her head. It was old, it was female, it was unyielding. “Enough tears, child.” Lyra froze. “Who… who are you?” The voice chuckled softly. You can't tell me who I am.” Silver light lit up Lyra's eyes. “Who are you, you?” Her feet shook on the ground. The wind was cold and blowing through the woods. In the shadows, wolves started to howl in terror. Lyra's heart pounded with unheard of energy. After that, she heard a voice saying things she had never heard before that would forever change her life. “They have spurned you because you're weak.” The silvery sheen grew brighter. “But they don't know who you are. The light of the moon shone down on her shaking flesh, and there in her heart was an old thing, a thing very old, that woke quickly and in a flash of silver brilliance in Lyra's eye. In her old soul and her very soul, something old stirred.