REJECTED BEFORE THE MOON CHOSE ME

THE COURSE WOLF

Not even a second passed before chaos swallowed the courtyard.

“What happened?”

“The Moon Mark disappeared!”

“I’ve never seen anything like this!”

Fear twisted through the crowd, sharper than any knife. Wolves tripped over their own feet trying to back away. Mothers shielded their kids. Warriors, who’d looked proud just a moment ago, exchanged worried glances.

I looked down at my wrist.

The silver mark—just gone.

Nothing faded. Nothing cracked. Just... gone, like the Moon Goddess had never even touched me.

My heartbeat hammered hard against my chest, louder than the voices swirling around. “No…” I breathed, rubbing my wrist like maybe the mark would reappear if I wanted it enough. “Please… come back.”

But nothing changed. The warmth from earlier evaporated. All I felt now was a bone-deep chill.

Up on the platform, the High Elder stood frozen, skin pale as winter. His lips quivered.

“This… this cannot be.”

I reached for him, desperate.

“Elder, I don’t understand—”

“I didn’t do anything—”

“I swear, I didn’t—”

He didn’t answer. Just took another slow, deliberate step backward. He looked at me like I was a monster he couldn’t even recognize.

Then Elder Varek stepped forward. Unlike the rest, he wasn’t scared. He was smiling—a tiny, secret smile—but I saw it. He wiped it away, turned to face everyone, and his voice hit like thunder:

“The Moon has spoken!”

Eyes swung toward him.

“The sacred bond has vanished.” His gaze landed on me.

“There’s only one explanation.” He jabbed a finger at my chest. “This girl is cursed.”

His words hurt more than Damian rejecting me. “No!” I stumbled forward, choking on panic. “I’m not cursed! I don’t even know what happened!”

A voice shouted back, “No one does!”

Another yelled, “Stay away from her!”

“What if the curse spreads?”

Panic swept the wolves. People scrambled away, like my skin was contagious.

I spun around, searching for those familiar faces—the people I’d grown up with, waved to every morning, called friends. None of them looked at me with kindness anymore. Only fear. Only disgust. Only hate.

A tight lump crawled up my throat.

“Please… I’m still Lyra.”

Silence.

Suddenly, a woman screamed, “Protect the children!” Mothers swooped in, pulling their kids farther from me. One little girl glanced back, eyes wide and wet with tears—the same girl who’d smiled at me yesterday, now sobbing while her mother shielded her face.

My chest ached so bad I could barely breathe.

“I didn’t do anything,” I whispered. Then louder: “I didn’t do anything!”

Luna Selene stepped onto the platform, her silver gown catching the moonlight. She moved like royalty, expression hard and cold.

“I warned everyone this girl would bring disaster,” she said.

Instantly, the crowd hushed. Nobody argued with her.

Selene faced Alpha Rowan, Damian’s father. “My Alpha… we cannot allow a cursed wolf to stay in our pack.”

Whispers rose—agreement.

“If the Moon herself rejected her,” she continued, “then she’s a danger to every wolf here.”

Her gaze locked on mine. “The curse must be erased before sunrise.”

My knees threatened to buckle.

“No…” I shook my head over and over. “You can’t! I haven’t done anything wrong…I don’t even know why the mark disappeared!”

I turned to Damian—the one person who should have defended me. The boy who promised once to protect me, the man who’d just rejected me.

Our eyes met.

I reached for him, hope burning through me.

“Damian… You know me. I would never hurt anyone. Please… tell them. Tell them I’m not cursed.”

For just a second, something flickered across his face—guilt, regret, uncertainty. He stared at my tear-streaked face. His hands curled into fists.

I waited for one word. That’s all I needed.

He dropped his gaze. Stayed silent.

The silence shouted louder than any accusation.

Something broke inside me then. Not because he’d turned me down, but because he wouldn’t bother to defend the truth.

Right then, I knew—I was utterly alone.

Elder Varek raised his staff, and the rest of the council climbed onto the platform, circling the sacred stone. One after another, they laid their hands on it, faces grim. The crowd stared, silent.

I stood in the center, abandoned. Even Mira—my only friend—got held back by two warriors, tears streaking her cheeks as she screamed my name.

“She isn’t cursed! Please listen!”

A warrior yanked her away.

I tried to smile at her, but it just came out as another sob. At least someone still believed me.

The elders murmured over the stone. I caught bits—“ancient records,” “never happened before,” “too dangerous,” “can’t risk the entire pack.”

Finally, Elder Varek turned back to the crowd.

“The council has reached its decision.”

Everyone held their breath.

He stared right at me. “Lyra Ashford, you stand accused of bringing the Moon’s wrath upon this pack.”

“I didn’t—”

“Silence!” His voice echoed like a whip.

“You will be executed before sunrise.”

The world spun. Executed? I couldn’t believe it.

“No… This has to be a mistake. I’m innocent. I’m innocent!”

Nobody even looked at me.

Two warriors stepped forward, iron chains swinging in their hands. I instinctively stepped away.

“Please. I’ve lived here my whole life. You all know me. I’ve never hurt anyone.”

My eyes searched the crowd for anyone. Someone. Please.

Most looked away, some with satisfaction, others with nothing but silence.

Damian didn’t move. Didn’t speak. Didn’t even glance my way.

The warriors grabbed my arms. The cold iron bit into my wrists. I cried out as the chains snapped shut, the sound ringing through the silent courtyard.

Something inside me crumbled.

This couldn’t be real. Just this morning, I was dreaming about finding my mate. And now…I was going to die before sunrise.

Elder Varek raised his hand to the old bronze bell beside the platform. His face, stone cold. He didn’t hesitate.

He struck the bell.

Dong—

The deep, mournful sound rolled across the pack, the first toll of the Execution Bell.