Rejected Luna

CHAPTER 5: The Choice

Aria’s Pov

For a moment, nobody moved.

Nobody spoke. The entire world seemed to freeze around me.

The moonstone still glowed in front of me,it’s silver light spilling across the ground and wrapping around my body.

I stared at the glowing stone,unable to understand what was happening.

My entire life,I had wondered why my wolf remained silent.

Why was I always the one standing in the corner while everyone else found their place.

I spent years believing I was worthless.

But now? The Moon Goddess herself had chosen me.

A strange warmth spread through my whole body.

Maybe I actually matter.

The whispers around me slowly grew louder.

“Aria?”

“How is that possible”

“Someone without a wolf”

I heard every word, but for once, they didn’t hurt the way they used to.

Then the crowd shifted towards Alpha Kael. He began walking towards me.

The world around me began to disappear as I imagined him taking my hand.

He stopped in front of me. I couldn’t dare to look up.

“Alpha” I managed to whisper.

“I reject this bond” My world came down completely on me.

For a second, I thought I misunderstood. The words didn’t make sense to me.

My mind refused to accept them.

“What?” My voice came out quietly.

He turned around facing the crowd. “I Kael Draven reject the bond”

He stormed to the priestess.

“How could your ritual bond me with someone without a wolf or any use?”

“The Moon Goddess doesn’t make mistakes, Alpha” the Priestess said, bowing her head.

“She is right, Alpha. The ritual has been performed for years” Elder Marcus added

He left angrily leaving me alone with my questions.

And once again the Moon Goddess has proven something right to me again. No one wants me.

Nora held my hand.

“I want to be alone right now please” I said holding back my tears

She immediately understood and left me alone.

The walk back home from the ritual ground felt longer than any journey I had ever taken.

My feet moved but my mind was somewhere else.

His words were repeated in my head “I reject this bond”.

Only four words. And yet it managed to destroy the small piece of hope I had allowed myself to have.

When I reached my room, I closed the door behind me.

The silence immediately surrounded me.

I let go of the breath I didn’t know I was holding.

My eyes felt weak and I slowly sat on the edge of my bed.

I looked at my reflection in the small mirror in my room.

I looked the same.

Same face,same eyes,same person but somehow I felt different.

A knock sounded on my door.

I quickly wiped my face before turning around.

“Come in”

The door opened.

My stepmother entered.

I could tell from the look on her face that she is not here to comfort me.

A small smile appeared on her lips

“Well it’s been a quite an interesting night”

I said nothing.

She walked further into the room.

“I must admit, the Moon Goddess is funny for choosing someone like you”

My jaw tightened

“Why are you here?”

“To see if you are okay ofcourse”

"At least we’re family”

I scoffed. Hearing that from her makes my skin crawl

“Family?”

“What kind of family lets the eldest child stay in a room that looks more like a storage?”

“What family stands by and watch while the eldest child gets treated unfairly”

I shouted at her

“That is on your mother. Why should I take her responsibility and take care of you?”

“I never asked you to. Now stop acting like you care and get out”

She tilted her head

“You should be grateful. For one moment everyone noticed you”

I lost my patience at that moment “Enough”

I went to my door and opened it “leave”

I shouted enough that anyone passing by could hear. She walked out arrogantly laughing at me.

I finally let go of the tears I was holding.

I sat beside my door thinking how life can be so unfair to me.

It's bad that I don't have an awakened wolf already.

And now been chosen only to get rejected.

A knock came on my door.

It was Nora this time.

I cleaned my tears not wanting her to see I just finished crying. But she caught on anyways

“Aria” she rushed to my side and hugged me.

I couldn't hold back anymore. I cried uncontrollably. Nora hugged me and comforted me.

I cried for a while and eventually stopped. We sat on my bed and stared outside through the window for a while then Nora broke the silence

“Aria, I'm really sorry about this”

“Why are you sorry? It's not your fault” I said with my teary voice.

“I should have left you when you didn't feel like going”

“That doesn't change anything Nora. I would still have been chosen”

“But you won't be there to witness that much embarrassment”

She was right. It would have been less embarrassing if I wasn't there. But I can't blame Nora.

“Nora”

“Yes?”

“I'm leaving the pack”

“What?” Nora jumped off the bed

“Yes. I can't continue this way”

I bowed my head

“I need to go out there and find myself”

“You can do it here in the pack Aria”

I stood up and placed my hand on her shoulder.

“Trust me Nora. I can't do that when I'm surrounded by this kind of people”

“But you have me Aria”

“ I know but you're not sometimes enough”

“Who do you want me to be with”

“Nora try and understand” she removed her hand and ran out

I knew how she was feeling so running after her won’t change anything.

I started packing my things and planned to leave early in the morning.

I couldn’t sleep and somehow the night felt longer. I woke up very early and carried the little things I’ve packed on my shoulder,leaving the house secretly so I won’t be noticed by anyone.

I got to the Pack’s gate and saw guards patrolling the area. I took out one peach from my bag and tie it round a piece of cloth to throw into the forest and divert their attention for some minutes

“Are you really leaving?” a voice came from behind me and it was Nora.

“How did you?”

She cuts in before I could finish speaking “I’ve been with you since we were kids and you think I wouldn’t know what you’re thinking?”

She collects the peach I wrapped around the cloth from me, swinging it to see if it’s tied perfectly.

I hugged her.

“Nora I’m really sorry”

She pulled out from the hug

“Go once I throw this into the forest before I change my mind”

She threw the peach into the forest and the guards were immediately drawn to the sound.

“Who is there?” They left their post and went towards the sound.

I walked toward the gate not looking back at the home I left behind.

I’ve always thought staying in my pack was the best thing for me but now I’m leaving to find myself.