Xander's Rejected Luna

Jasmine’s POV The air hitches in my throat as Alpha Lucas’s voice slices through the night, cold and final. “I, Alpha Lucas, reject you as my mate and my Luna.” His words crash over me like a tidal wave, and I stumble back, my bare feet scraping the moonlit dirt of the yard. My heart pounds a frantic rhythm, every beat screaming his name—the name of the boy I’ve loved since I was a pup, the one who just tore my soul apart. Around me, the pack erupts, their jeers cutting deeper than any claw. “Blood-sucking demon!” they howl, their eyes glinting with hate under the silver glow. I clutch my trembling hands to my chest, the sting of rejection searing my skin, burning away the last shred of hope I clung to for my 18th birthday. Lucas towers over me, his broad shoulders squared, dark hair falling into those cruel hazel eyes I once adored. He turns away, his leather jacket creaking as he strides toward Kira, my stepsister, her slender frame swaying with a smug grin, her black hair gleaming like a raven’s wing. My stomach twists as he pulls her close, his lips brushing her ear, and the pack cheers louder. I want to scream, to lunge at him with all the fury boiling in my veins, but my legs betray me, locking in place. My wolf whimpers inside, a faint whisper against the chaos, unable to shift, leaving me exposed and raw. “Jasmine, you’re nothing!” Kira’s voice slithers through the crowd, sharp as a dagger. She steps forward, her green eyes narrowing, a wicked smirk curling her lips. “A freak, just like your mother.” The mention of Mama hits like a punch to my gut. I see her again—her golden hair matted with blood, shielding me from rogues in this very yard years ago, her last breath a shield I couldn’t repay. Tears blur my vision, but I blink them back, clenching my fists until my nails dig into my palms. I won’t give them the satisfaction. “Enough!” My father’s voice booms, but it’s not for me. He shuffles forward, his graying beard trembling, his once-strong frame now stooped. He glares at me, his lips twisting with disgust. “You’ve shamed us, girl. Your mother’s curse lives in you.” His words are a slap, and I flinch, the memory of his coldness after Mama’s death flooding back. He took Claire, Kira’s mother, as his mate, turning our home into a prison. Now, with him gone, buried months ago, I’m enslaved to them, scrubbing floors and dodging Kira’s venomous taunts. I stagger back, my silver-streaked hair falling into my face, a mess from the celebration that turned into this nightmare. My wolf stirs again, a soft growl in my mind. You’re more than this, Jasmine, she murmurs, but I can’t feel her strength. I’m trapped, powerless, and the pack’s laughter echoes like a curse. I glance at Lucas, hoping for a flicker of doubt, but his arm around Kira tells me everything. My chest tightens, a sob clawing its way up, but I swallow it down. I won’t break here. “Take her away!” Claire’s shrill command cuts through the noise. Her tall, wiry figure emerges from the crowd, her auburn hair pulled tight, her pale hands clapping like she’s directing a play. Two burly pack guards grab my arms, their grips like iron, dragging me toward the cellar. I thrash, my thin frame twisting, but they’re too strong. “No! Please!” I cry, my voice cracking, but Claire just laughs, a sound that chills my blood. The cellar door creaks open, and the damp, musty air hits me as they shove me inside. The door slams shut, the lock clicking with a finality that echoes in my skull. I collapse against the cold stone wall, my knees scraping the dirt floor. Darkness swallows me, broken only by a sliver of moonlight through a crack. My wolf whimpers again, We’ll find a way, but doubt gnaws at me. How? I’m a slave, a reject, a demon in their eyes. Tears slip free now, hot against my cheeks, and I bury my face in my hands. Hours pass, or maybe minutes—time blurs in this pit. My mind races, replaying Lucas’s rejection, Kira’s smirk, my father’s hate. I think of Mama, her warm laugh, the way she’d braid my hair and whisper about the Moon Goddess watching over us. Was it all a lie? The pack’s taunts about her death being my fault swirl in my head, and I clench my fists, rage simmering beneath the despair. I have to get out. I have to prove them wrong. A shuffle outside snaps me alert. Footsteps—light, hesitant. I press myself against the wall, heart pounding, as the door rattles. “Jasmine?” It’s Gina, my maid, her soft voice a lifeline. The lock clicks, and the door creaks open, revealing her small frame, her brown curls framing a worried face. She holds a candle, its flicker dancing in her dark eyes. “Come on, quick!” I scramble to my feet, my legs shaky but determined. “Gina, how—?” I start, but she grabs my hand, her grip firm despite her slight build. “No time. There’s a party in the woods tonight. Your chance to escape,” she whispers, urgency lacing her words. My pulse quickens. A party? Freedom? It’s reckless, but the thought of breaking free from this hell ignites a spark in me. “What if they catch me?” I ask, my voice trembling, but my feet are already moving toward the door. “They won’t if you’re fast,” Gina says, shoving a cloak into my hands. “Go, Jasmine. You deserve more than this cage.” Her eyes shine with something like pride, and I nod, pulling the cloak over my shoulders. The fabric smells of pine, a promise of the wild beyond. I slip out, the night air cool against my skin, and dart into the shadows of the trees. My wolf hums, Run, find your strength, and I obey, my bare feet silent on the moss. The party’s distant music calls to me, a siren song of escape. But as I near the edge of the woods, a twig snaps behind me. I whirl around, heart in my throat, and see Kira’s silhouette, her dagger gleaming in the moonlight. “You think you can run, freak?” she hisses, stepping closer, her blade catching the light as she twirls it with practiced ease. My breath catches, but I stand my ground, my hands balling into fists. She lunges, and I dodge, my wolf’s whisper guiding me. Fight! Before her blade can strike, a shadow moves tall, broad, with an aura that makes the air crackle. A man steps between us, his piercing blue eyes locking onto mine. His dark hair falls wild, and his leather-clad frame radiates power. My wolf jolts, Mate! but before I can process it, he growls low, “She’s mine,” his voice a velvet threat aimed at Kira. She stumbles back, her dagger clattering to the ground, and my world tilts. Who is he? What have I stumbled into?