The alpha regrets losing me

Lyria moon shadow POV. The sacred mating grounds shimmered beneath the haunting silver glow of the full moon, its ethereal light spilling over the vast clearing like liquid silver. Ancient stones circled the ceremonial platform, their weathered surfaces glowing faintly under the moonlight, as though blessed by the Moon Goddess herself. Tall pine trees surrounded the grounds, their dark silhouettes swaying gently in the cold night breeze. Every member of the Midnight Fang Pack stood in attendance. Warriors, elders, omegas, betas, and noble bloodlines all gathered beneath the sacred sky, their eyes fixed upon the raised platform where fate itself was about to unfold. Whispers rippled through the crowd like restless winds. Tonight was not just any ceremony. Tonight, Alpha Kael Blackthorn would publicly claim his fated mate. And that mate… was supposed to be Lyria Moonshadow. Lyria stood at the edge of the sacred path, her entire body trembling beneath her simple white ceremonial gown. The delicate fabric brushed against her legs as the icy night air kissed her skin. Her fingers clenched the thin material nervously, her palms damp with fear and anticipation. Her heart pounded so violently against her ribcage it felt as though it would burst. Tonight was supposed to be the happiest night of her life. The night the Moon Goddess’s blessing would finally be fulfilled. The night she would stand beside the man her wolf had recognized as hers the moment she turned eighteen. Alpha Kael Blackthorn. For years, Lyria had loved him in silence. Even when he barely spared her a glance. Even when his cold indifference cut deeper than sharpened claws. Even when cruel pack members mocked her for daring to dream above her station. A lowly omega. Weak. Insignificant. Unworthy. She had heard every whisper. “An omega could never become Luna.” “Kael deserves someone powerful.” “She should know her place.” Yet despite it all, Lyria had clung to hope. Because the Moon Goddess did not make mistakes. Fated mates were sacred. Unbreakable. Destined. Or so she believed. Taking a shaky breath, Lyria stepped forward as the crowd slowly parted for her. Her silver hair shimmered under the moonlight, and though her body trembled, a fragile spark of hope still burned within her chest. Some faces in the crowd held pity. Others held amusement. Some openly sneered. But Lyria ignored them. Her gaze locked onto the man standing at the center of the platform. Alpha Kael Blackthorn. Tall. Powerful. Mercilessly handsome. He stood like a god among wolves, his broad shoulders rigid with authority, his dark hair gleaming beneath the moonlight. His piercing blue eyes settled on her as she approached. Lyria’s breath caught. But then her fragile hope wavered. There was no warmth in his gaze. No affection. No tenderness. Only coldness. Only disdain. A sudden chill slithered down her spine. Her wolf stirred uneasily inside her. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong. The elder stepped forward, his silver staff raised high beneath the sacred moon. “Tonight,” his ancient voice boomed across the silent clearing, “under the blessing of the Moon Goddess, Alpha Kael Blackthorn shall claim his fated mate and future Luna.” The crowd erupted into cheers. Excitement thundered around her. Lyria’s chest tightened. This was it. Her moment. Kael stepped toward her. For one fragile, beautiful second… Hope bloomed. Then— “I, Alpha Kael Blackthorn…” His cold voice sliced through the night like a blade. Lyria froze. “…reject you, Lyria Moonshadow, as my mate and future Luna.” Silence. The world stopped. The cheers vanished. The air itself seemed to die. A sharp, unbearable pain exploded inside Lyria’s chest. It felt as though her very soul had been ripped apart. The sacred mate bond shattered violently within her, snapping like fragile glass. A broken cry tore from her throat as she collapsed to her knees, clutching her chest in agony. “No…!” Tears flooded her vision. Her body convulsed from the pain. “No… please…” The suffering was unbearable. Her wolf howled inside her, a cry so full of grief it nearly destroyed her. Gasps spread through the crowd. Shock. Whispers. But no one moved to help her. No one dared. Lyria lifted her tear-filled eyes toward Kael. Desperate. Broken. Begging. But Kael’s expression remained mercilessly cold. Unreadable. As though she were nothing. As though she had never mattered. Then, from beside him, another figure stepped forward. Selene Vexley. The beta’s daughter. Beautiful. Elegant. Powerful. Everything Lyria was not. Selene’s lips curled into a cruel smirk as her sharp gaze swept over Lyria’s broken form. “Did you truly believe,” Selene mocked, her voice dripping with cruelty, “that an omega could ever stand beside an Alpha?” Laughter erupted through parts of the crowd. The sound was more painful than any wound. Lyria’s humiliation burned through her like wildfire. Her entire world crumbled beneath the mocking eyes of her pack. Kael didn’t defend her. Didn’t hesitate. Didn’t care. “You are too weak to be Luna,” Kael declared, his voice devoid of emotion. “I need a mate worthy of ruling beside me.” Those words destroyed what little remained of her heart. Weak. Unworthy. Disposable. The elder looked visibly uneasy, but he said nothing. Because no one challenged an Alpha. No one. Broken sobs escaped Lyria’s lips as she fought to breathe through the agony. Then— Something strange surged within her. A pulse. Deep beneath her skin. Ancient. Sleeping. Powerful. Silver energy crackled faintly along her veins, glowing beneath her flesh like moonlit lightning. The air shifted. A sudden wave of power rippled outward. Several wolves gasped. “What was that?” “Did you see that?” “Her energy…” Even Lyria herself didn’t understand what was happening. But before anyone could react— Kael’s warriors seized her violently. Rough hands dragged her upward. Fear shot through her shattered body. “By Alpha’s command,” one warrior growled, “Lyria Moonshadow is hereby banished from Midnight Fang territory.” Lyria’s head snapped upward in horror. Banishment? Her entire body went numb. For simply being rejected? “This is not fair…” she choked out, tears streaming down her face. “This is wickedness… this is unjust!” Her voice cracked with pain and desperation. “You can’t banish me!” she begged, struggling against their grip. “I have nowhere to go… please…” Her cries echoed through the sacred grounds. But her pleas were futile. No one stepped forward. No one cared. Kael never even looked back. Not once. “Take her away.” His voice was final. Cold. Heartless. And just like that… Lyria Moonshadow was cast out. Thrown into the darkness beyond pack borders. Alone. Broken. Unwanted. Her bare feet stumbled against jagged earth and stone, blood staining the ground beneath her as she was forced away from the only home she had ever known. The mocking laughter of her former pack still echoed behind her. Her wolf whimpered in unbearable sorrow. Tears blurred her vision as darkness swallowed her path. Yet above… The full moon glowed brighter. Larger. Watching. Waiting. Its silver light followed her trembling figure into exile. And though Lyria did not yet know it… Though her heart was shattered… Though she had been discarded like nothing… Fate was far from finished with the girl they had broken.