The Princess He Rejected

Chapter 3

_Lily's POV_

I couldn't stop staring.

The entire crowd seemed frozen as Alpha Ryder walked through the ceremonial grounds with the beautiful woman beside him.

The hopeful future I had been imagining all evening suddenly felt foolish. Beside me, Selena muttered something under her breath that I probably shouldn't have heard.

"What is he doing?" she whispered.

"I don't know."

My voice sounded strange, even to my own ears.

The woman walking beside Ryder was gorgeous. She had long dark hair, flawless skin and the kind of confidence that made people look at her the moment she entered a room.

I recognized her immediately. It was Scarlett, the daughter of Alpha Victor from the neighboring Silver Moon Pack.

Everyone knew who Scarlett was. She was beautiful, powerful and came from one of the strongest packs in the region. Wherever she went, people noticed her. Standing beside her now, Ryder looked perfectly matched with her in a way that made my chest ache.

The knot in my stomach tightened. Around us, whispers began spreading rapidly through the crowd.

"Is that Scarlett?"

"I heard she has been visiting for weeks."

"They look good together."

"Do you think they're together?"

"I wouldn't be surprised."

Each whispered comment felt like another stone being placed on my chest. I tried telling myself that none of it mattered. The ceremony hadn't started yet. People could walk beside whoever they wanted. Holding hands didn't necessarily mean anything. Yet no matter how many excuses I made, I couldn't ignore the pain growing inside me.

Ryder had never once looked at me the way he was looking at Scarlett. Not even close. I lowered my eyes. Maybe Vanessa had been right. Maybe I had been dreaming about something that was never going to happen.

"Don't do that," Selena suddenly said.

I blinked. "Do what?"

"Look defeated."

I forced a small smile. "I'm not defeated."

"You are."

She squeezed my arm. "The ceremony hasn't even started."

I nodded. She was right. Nothing had happened yet. Still, the image of Ryder holding Scarlett's hand refused to leave my mind.

The two of them continued moving through the crowd while pack members greeted them warmly. Several elders approached Scarlett and welcomed her. She smiled gracefully at everyone. She looked like she belonged there.

"Lily."

I looked up. My mother stood beside me. Concern filled her eyes. "Are you alright?"

I quickly nodded. "Of course."

She didn't look convinced. Neither did my father, who had appeared behind her. I hated that they could always tell when something was wrong. Even when I tried hiding it.

My mother glanced toward Ryder and Scarlett. Understanding immediately flashed across her face. "Oh."

I forced another smile. "It's fine."

My father frowned. "No, it isn't."

"Dad..."

"He shouldn't be walking around like that tonight."

"Dad."

His expression softened when he saw my embarrassment.

"I know."

I looked away. The last thing I wanted was for my parents to know how much Ryder affected me. Unfortunately, I suspected they already knew.

The sound of drums suddenly echoed across the clearing. The ceremony was beginning. Every wolf turned toward the center of the ceremonial grounds.

The head elder stepped forward. Moonlight illuminated his silver hair as he raised both hands.

"My fellow wolves," he announced.

"Tonight, under the blessing of the Moon Goddess, we gather to celebrate one of our oldest traditions."

The crowd erupted into cheers. I joined in, though my enthusiasm felt weaker than before. The elder waited for silence. Then he continued.

"Tonight, those who have reached their eighteenth year will stand before fate. Some will find their destined mates. Others may continue waiting. Whatever happens, remember that the Moon Goddess never makes mistakes."

The words settled heavily over the crowd.

"Never makes mistakes."

I hoped that he was right. Because if fate truly existed, I desperately wanted it to be kind.

The elder began calling names. One by one, young wolves stepped into the ceremonial circle.

Each time a name was announced, families cheered, friends offered encouragement and the entire crowd watched with growing excitement.

The first few pairings happened quickly. Two wolves recognized each other almost instantly and the crowd erupted in cheers. A young woman broke into tears the moment she realized she had found her mate while another couple simply stood together smiling as if nothing else in the world mattered. Their happiness was so genuine that it briefly softened something inside me.

For a short while, I managed to forget about Ryder and Scarlett.

I allowed myself to simply watch the scene unfold, letting myself believe that maybe, just maybe, I would experience something like that too. Maybe everything would still work out in the end.

But as more names were called and more wolves stepped forward, my own nerves slowly began to build again.

My palms grew damp and my heartbeat grew louder with every passing moment. Each announcement pulled me closer to the moment I had been waiting for all my life, and the closer it came, the harder it became to breathe normally.

Selena must have noticed because she leaned closer to me. "You look like you're about to faint."

"I might."

"You won't."

"How do you know?"

"Because if you faint, I'll never let you live it down."

I laughed despite my nerves. "Thank you for the support."

"You're welcome."

She grinned. Then her expression softened. "Whatever happens tonight, you're going to be okay."

The ceremony continued as more wolves stepped forward. More mates were discovered and more celebrations erupted throughout the crowd. Then, suddenly, the head elder called a new name.

"Vanessa Carter."

Vanessa practically glowed as she entered the circle. Her confidence was impossible to miss. Several minutes later, she discovered her mate; a warrior from another section of the pack.

The crowd immediately erupted into cheers. Vanessa looked pleased. Before leaving the circle, she turned her head and glanced directly at me. That smug smile on her lips made my stomach twist. It felt like she knew something I didn’t. And somehow, that thought unsettled me more than I wanted to admit.

The moon climbed higher above us. Its silver light bathed the clearing in an almost magical glow. The air felt charged with energy.

Even my wolf had changed. She was no longer calm. She paced restlessly inside me, alert and waiting, as if she could sense something approaching.

A strange warmth suddenly spread through my body. It was different from before. My breathing quickened. Something was happening. I could feel it.

Then, my wrist tingled. I looked down immediately. The silver mark flashed beneath my skin. Just for a second.Then it disappeared again.

Fear shot through me. It wasn’t imagination. It was real.

“What is it?” Selena asked.

I quickly lowered my hand. "Nothing."

The lie felt weak. But before she could question me further, another name echoed across the clearing.

"Scarlett Ravenwood."

The beautiful woman stepped forward gracefully. Every eye followed her...including mine. My pulse pounded. For some reason, I couldn't stop looking at Ryder. He was watching her and waiting. The certainty in his eyes made my stomach sink.

A terrible feeling settled over me.

No.

Please no.

Scarlett entered the ceremonial circle and silence spread instantly through the crowd. Every breath seemed to pause as everyone waited to see what would happen next.

Then she smiled and turned toward Ryder.

The crowd erupted into whispers. My heart nearly stopped as I stared at them, convinced this was it. This had to be the moment. She must have found her mate.

And of course, it had to be him. Why else would she look at him like that?

The whispers grew louder. My chest tightened. I couldn't breathe properly, couldn't think clearly, couldn't even move as I waited for the inevitable.

Then, suddenly, something unexpected happened. Scarlett walked right past Ryder....straight past him without a second glance. She stopped instead beside a young Beta from another pack.

The silence shattered instantly as the crowd exploded into cheers. I blinked. I was completely stunned.

Scarlett laughed as the Beta pulled her into a hug and around me the celebration continued but I barely registered any of it.

For the first time all night, something inside me loosened. Hope returned. Ryder wasn't her mate. I hated how happy that made me....absolutely hated it. Yet I couldn't deny it.

Selena looked at me knowingly. "You can breathe again."

"I wasn't holding my breath."

"You absolutely were."

I rolled my eyes and she laughed softly. Against all odds, a small laugh escaped me too. For a brief moment, it felt almost normal again. But it didn't last.

The ceremony continued and with every passing name, the air seemed to grow heavier. The moment was drawing closer and closer....like a storm building on the horizon.

Until finally, the head elder lowered his gaze to the list in his hands. The entire crowd seemed to hold its breath. My pulse thundered in my ears. I already knew. Before he even spoke, I knew.

"Lily Ashwood."

Every head in the crowd turned toward me at once. My legs felt weak.

Selena squeezed my hand. "You've got this."

I gave a small nod and slowly stepped forward into the ceremonial circle. The moonlight felt different there. The air itself seemed to shift as hundreds of eyes followed my every movement.

Among them, was Ryder.

For one brief moment, our eyes met. A powerful heat exploded through my chest. It was far stronger than anything I had felt before. My wolf surged forward inside me.

The sensation nearly brought me to my knees. Something was happening. The elder’s voice faded into the distance. The crowd faded. Everything around me blurred away as the warmth inside me grew stronger, spreading through every part of my body.

Then, suddenly, a scent reached me. It was that of fresh pine, rain and wild earth. My entire body froze. My wolf went completely still. And in that single breathless moment, every instinct inside me screamed the same truth.

Mate.

My eyes widened as the realization crashed into me. Across the circle, Ryder stiffened at the exact same time. His head snapped toward me, his expression shifting in an instant.

The world around us disappeared completely. The crowd, the noise, the ceremony...all of it faded until there was nothing left but him.

I stared at him, unable to move, unable to think.

Because deep inside, I knew it now without a doubt.

Alpha Ryder Blackwood was my mate.

The bond had awakened. Fate had spoken. And from the look in his eyes…

He had just realized it too.