The Alpha Rejects Me

Chapter 1 – Rejected Before the Moon

The first blast of the Moon Horn swept across Hollow Crescent Valley and silenced the thousands of wolves in one heartbeat. The full moon hung in the sky, glowing in broad daylight, and silver flames curled around the ancient pillars of the Moon Altar. All eyes were on the moonlit altar. This was the Alpha Ascension Festival. The day the Moon would reveal who the future Alphas and their mates would be. My pulse would not go down. I told myself to breathe. But every thump of my heart echoed the same impossible hope. What if today is the one day that changes everything?

'If you keep pacing, you'll make yourself a hole in the ground.' My father laughed, catching my wrist and halting me. His smile was warm, but the lines around his eyes told of years of hard work healing wolves, not ruling them. He brushed an invisible speck of dust off my simple blue dress. 'You don't need jewels to stand under the moon,' I smiled. “You make it sound easy.” He chuckled a little. Lyra, whatever happens today, just remember the truth – you were born with a good heart. No title the Moon may give or take away from her can alter that. He was more reassuring to me than he realised, but I could not shake the nervous flutter in my stomach.

My wolf was restless. He's here. I followed her excitement toward the grand stone staircase as the Alpha heirs entered the valley. Cheers rolled from each pack, and warriors thumped their spears against the ground in salute. Then I saw him. Rowan Ashvale walked with the unassuming confidence of a man already shouldering the burden of command. He didn’t go looking for attention; it found him organically. I’d watched him from a distance for years, not because he was to one day take over one of the strongest packs in the Dominion, but because I’d seen him lift injured soldiers onto his horse, thank servants by name, and stand guard for those who had nothing to offer him. Somewhere along the line, admiration had stopped and turned into hope.

"He'll make a fine Alpha," Father murmured next to me. Before I could stop myself, I answered. "He already is. The moment the words left my mouth, my cheeks grew warm. Father shot me a knowing smile but said nothing, sparing me my embarrassment. Before either of us could speak again, the high elder stepped to the centre of the moon altar. He lifted his silver staff to the shining moon, and a deep silence settled over the valley. Even the wind bowed in the presence of the sacred moment.

The elder said, “The moon is looking." Today, destiny will reveal who will be chosen to lead... and who will be chosen to walk beside them." Moonfire streamed like liquid silver over the altar. One by one the alpha heirs responded to the summons. Suddenly glowing threads sprang into being, darting among the crowd until they found their waiting mates. With each successful bond there were cries of joy, relieved laughter and tearful embraces. I applauded with the rest, but each new couple only tightened the knot in my stomach. There was one name I was waiting to hear.

Alpha Rowan Ashvale: the future.

Rowan walked to the centre of the Moonfire, and the valley waited. The elder muttered an ancient blessing and lowered his staff. From Rowan’s chest shot a brilliant silver thread that crossed the valley in an instant and wrapped around my wrist. All of me was flooded with warmth. My wolf threw her head back and yipped in delight. Buddy. I looked up, tears clouding my vision. I could hardly believe the Moon would pick me. I took a trembling step toward the altar, and hundreds of amazed faces turned my way.

Then finally Rowan looked at me.

My joy broke inside me.

His eyes showed no surprise. No respite. No luck. His eyes were cold, resigned. Almost disappointed. Without breaking eye contact, he reached under his ceremonial cloak and slowly pulled out a blade with a blackened edge. The silver thread between us quivered as if it knew what was coming.

The Holy Knife of Denial.

The valley was deathly still.

Rowan’s fingers clenched on the rejection blade, and even the silver flames surrounding the Moon Altar seemed to dim. My wolf curled up inside me, the earlier joy in her evaporating into panic. "No..." she breathed. He's our mate. I wanted to believe that was all it took. The Moon had selected us. That union was sacred. It would not end before it had begun. The High Elder stepped forward. His face was curiously grave. "Future Alpha Rowan," he said, "once a rejection has been uttered before the Moon, it cannot be rescinded. Harden your thoughts. “There are no second chances.” Rowan’s eyes held mine. I’ve already chosen my side.”

He lifted the black blade between us, and my heart beat in my ears. The glowing thread between our wrists throbbed frantically, as if for its life. Rowan took a slow breath. "I confess to the tie that Moon has shown. " Hope rose inside me so suddenly it hurt. Then he smashed it. "But I say no." His voice rang through the entire valley. I, Rowan Ashvale, deny Lyra Ashbourne as my mate by fate. The blade sliced the silver thread. A sharp c***k split the air, then pain so violent I crumpled onto the stone floor. It felt like my heart had been torn out with bare hands. My wolf howled in me... and then sank into terrible silence.

The High Elder spoke, each word laden with sorrow. “The moon has seen the rejection.” I could not breathe. Again and again I reached for my wolf, only to find emptiness. And whispers spread through the crowd, breaking the silence around me. He said no to her. "The daughter of the healer? “She really thought she was going to be Luna. Laughter and pity mingled; I couldn't tell which hurt worse. My father pushed through the crowd and dropped down by me before anyone could stop him. His hands were shaking as he helped me sit up. "Look at me, Lyra," he begged. "You're not that." I wanted to believe him, but the bond that had broken still burnt under my skin.

Rowan sheathed the rejection blade without the least sign of regret. "Fate made a mistake," he said quietly. “I’m not going to spend my life tied to someone I don’t love.” Each word was another strike. And before anyone could answer, soft footsteps sounded across the altar. Selene stepped forward from the crowd in flowing white robes for the ceremony, her confidence undiminished by the thousands of eyes that were on her. She halted beside Rowan, and he reached for her hand; it looked so natural it seemed rehearsed. The cheers that went up around them were deafening. "Future Alpha!" shouted someone. “Future Luna!” another shouted. My humiliation was their pleasure.

And then the impossible happened.

Moonfire swirled above Rowan and Selene, weaving into another silver thread. It went down and coiled around their joined hands, and gasps echoed through the valley. Most of the wolves clapped, convinced the moon had corrected its mistake. I stared, not believing. The bond between Rowan and I had only just been cut. No second mate bond should have happened so soon. My father saw the confusion on my face, but neither of us could speak before a loud c***k sounded across the altar.

The staff had fallen from the high elder's hand.

His eyes weren't on Rowan or Selene.

He was looking at me.

His weather-beaten face had turned positively white, and his eyes were glued to the faint silver mark still glowing around my wrist. One by one, the other Elders followed his gaze, and their confidence faded too. The party raged all around us, but something had changed. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong.

The High Elder staggered backwards, his staff falling to the altar. Warriors surged to seal off all exits. Rowan frowned for the first time, his confidence evaporating as the silver mark around my wrist flared back to life.

The elder pointed a shaking hand in my direction. "The rejection..." His voice broke. "...the moon never accepted it.