Moonborn Among the Arcane

Lyra Ash If anyone had told me that this was how I would find my mate, there was no way I was going to believe it. I never expected my mating awakening to happen at the Moon‑Concord Festival. Not in a thousand hundred years. But guess what? It happened and the events that unfolded changed my life forever. My name is Lyra Ash and I possess a power stronger than anyone in all the magical kingdoms that exist. "Lyra you're going to be late for the festival" My friends told me as they rushed me to dress me up. "I'm coming... don't rush me" I said as I packed my hair properly. There were so many rumors about the moon-concord festival. Some said this was the festival where if you were lucky enough you would find your mate. But that wasn't my problem. My problem was my wolf. I wanted to find my wolf first, then maybe a mate. Everyone had found their wolf, it was just me. Honestly I couldn't beat the pain and humiliation. Even though I was told to be patient because it usually took time and things like this were normal. There was no way I couldn't feel it. I could see everyone transition into their wolves but then there was me who was obviously hopeless and wolf less. The thought of everything made me sigh in misery. I joined my friends outside as we prepared to be on our way to the festival. "Hey Lyra, do you know that most wolves feel the pull long before the bond fully activates." They were talking about finding their fated mates which was meant to happen once you had found your wolf. But I was too embarrassed to even reply I simply nodded and hid my shame Apparently mine was going to wake up late, I hoped. The truth was that the pack had already treated me like someone who fell outside the usual mold. "Do you also know that if you meet your fated mate, there is a high possibility for you to find your wolf" Immediately I heard that,my ears spiked. My attention was drawn into the conversation because how come I had never heard of this before. But then I brushed it all off. I didn't want to start telling myself that a mate bond could change the way they saw me or I saw myself I just wanted to find my wolf. Maybe the moon goddess would take pity on me during this moon festival and finally give her to me. Just maybe. "Oh my gid guys, did you guys hear? Valen Grey is going to be there" Then everyone screamed. Well, he was kinda impossible to ignore. Why? Because he was the alpha in line for Nightclaw. And unlike the rest of us he was considered extremely powerful. It wasn't enough that other species acknowledged his presence from a distance. He was feared but to us, he was greatly admired. I mean he was after all. But I had never seen him before. I had only heard his tales about how brave and dangerous he was in the face of war. He was extremely powerful. Then Layla's voice drew me out of my thoughts. "This is going to be my second time seeing him, with his red under golden eyes. He's just the dream I tell you. That day when I saw him my wolf reacted before my heart did." I turned to Layla who was speaking and giggled as I asked "Does that mean he's your fated mate?" Just with enough curiosity and a hint of mockery in my voice. "Oh, yes and tonight it's going to be sealed right under the moon." I couldn't help but smile. Layla was a dreamer but she was different from the rest of us because her mother was a mage. "Well, don't get your hopes too high. They're a lot of wolves he could pick from and we all know the alpha will pick the strongest to be his Luna" "Which obviously won't be you... Because everyone knows that you're... Wolf. Less" Layla said in a wicked sharp voice with the intention of mocking me viciously behind it. With that I didn't say a word till we got to the festival. As we approached there. I only had one prayer in mind: "Moon goddess please give me my wolf, I can't take this shame and humiliation anymore." *** The festival was well decorated and packed with people. Everyone was celebrating and I understood the cause of the celebration. It was a festival after all. Everyone in Lunaris was going to be there. So best believe there was going to be so much going on. "Imagine getting humiliated here, in front of the entire town. You would be so embarrassed for the rest of your life" Layla joked and we all laughed. Everything was going fine until I saw him at the festival. The sudden jolt hit like a physical shock. I paused and questioned myself. "What's going on Lyra?" Knowing very well this had never happened to me before. Wait, I felt it yearn for me. My wolf was coming out but there was a cost attached to it. Instantly my eyes searched the crowd and my newly found wolf merged with only one person in the festival. "Valen Grey" I could feel the bond unfurl instantly, hotter and louder than anything I ever experienced before then. "Wait, no this can't be happening" I pushed back the thoughts instantly. I was glad that my wolf was alive and inside me but I couldn't understand why it was craving Valen. I tried to deny it and push back but it ignored me and pushed forward. Then from nowhere Valen approached me. I was shocked, why was he standing before me? What did this even mean? I searched the crowd for what was going on but it was pretty obvious. "It seems destiny had picked you to be the one for me" I couldn't believe it. My wolf was attached to him. He really was my fated mate after all. I should count myself lucky because every wolf dreamt of this moment. How much luck could one really have? Imagine getting both your wolf and your mate in one night, the moon goddess really heard my prayers. "From the look of things your wolf is not trained and you're a weak wolf" He said as he sniffed my neck. I got excited and scared at the same time "What do you think?" At this moment I thought it meant recognition. Maybe I was finally able to belong. My years of being mocked wolf less had come to an end but I was far, far from the reality that was about to hit me. "Answer me? Everyone is here looking at you" "Well, if it's the will of the moon goddess then it is my will" I said quietly but I was met with a deep strange laughter from Valen. "Look at you, if it is the will of the moon goddess is that what you say. You have no will of your own?" He asked as he placed his teeth on my neck and marked me. Everyone gasped in shock especially me but immediately things took an unpleasant twist that broke me. "See, that is the destiny of the moon goddess but my destiny is not with you sadly" Then he pushed me and walked away as he spoke and spat. "Unfortunately, she cannot be my mate, she is too weak and fragile. I want someone strong and not pathetic" He rejected me publicly. Everyone turned and looked at me as I questioned my fate. What was going to happen to me now that my mate had rejected me in front of everyone?