The Princess He Rejected

_Lily's POV_ I woke up before dawn, long before the first rays of sunlight appeared over the mountains surrounding our pack territory. For a few moments, I remained curled beneath my blanket. I was staring at the wooden ceiling above my bed while a smile slowly spread across my face. The excitement that had been building inside me for weeks rushed through me all over again. Today was my eighteenth birthday. For ordinary humans, turning eighteen might simply mean becoming an adult. For werewolves, however, it meant something much bigger. Today, I would meet my mate. My heart immediately began beating faster. Every young wolf in the Moon Shadow Pack spent years dreaming about this day. Some imagined finding a powerful Alpha. Others hoped for a kind partner who would love them forever. No matter what their dreams were, everyone secretly wondered who fate had chosen for them. I was no different. A small laugh escaped my lips as I buried my face into my pillow. What if my mate was Alpha Ryder? The thought made my cheeks grow warm. I had admired Ryder Blackwood for as long as I could remember. Every girl in the pack admired him of course. But my feelings went much deeper than a simple crush. When I was twelve years old, I had fallen into the river during a storm. Everyone else had panicked but Ryder had jumped in without hesitation and pulled me to safety. He probably didn't even remember it but I did. I remembered every detail. The way he had carried me back to shore. The way he had wrapped his jacket around my shoulders. Then afterward, he had smiled and told me that I was brave even though I had been crying my eyes out. From that day onward, my heart had belonged to him. A knock sounded at my bedroom door. "Lily?" my mother's gentle voice called. "Are you awake?" "Yes," I replied quickly. The door opened and my mother stepped inside. She was carrying a breakfast tray. The warm scent of fresh bread immediately filled the room. "Happy birthday, sweetheart." I sat up and smiled. "Thank you, Mom." She placed the tray on my desk before turning toward me. For a moment, she simply stood there staring. Something about her expression made me pause. She looked happy but she also looked sad....as if she was trying not to cry. My smile slowly faded. "Mom?" She blinked. "Yes?" "Are you okay?" Her lips curved into a small smile. "Of course." "You don't look okay." For a brief moment, something flickered across her face. I saw fear, pain and regret in her expression. Then it disappeared. "I'm just emotional today." I frowned. "Why?" She walked over and sat beside me on the bed. Her fingers gently brushed through my hair. "Because my little girl is growing up." I laughed softly. "I'm not little anymore." "No," she whispered. "You're not." Something about the way she said it made my chest tighten. Before I could ask more questions, she stood up. "Eat your breakfast before it gets cold." "Mom?" She paused at the doorway. "What is it?" I hesitated. "Has something happened?" For a second, she looked like she wanted to say something....something important. But instead, she simply shook her head. "No. Nothing has happened." Then she left. I stared after her. The strange feeling in my stomach only grew stronger. Mom had been acting oddly for months. Sometimes I would catch her watching me from across the room. Sometimes she looked like she wanted to tell me something. Every time I asked, she changed the subject. I didn't know what secret she was hiding but I knew that there was one. After finishing breakfast, I got dressed and headed downstairs. My father was already sitting at the kitchen table. Thomas Ashwood wasn't a warrior or an elder. He was simply a carpenter who spent his days building furniture and repairing houses around the pack. Despite that, everyone respected him. My father was one of the kindest men in the pack. The moment he saw me, his face brightened. "There's the birthday girl." I laughed and walked over to hug him. "I'm officially an adult now." He wrapped his arms around me and held me tightly. When he finally pulled away, I noticed the same strange expression I had seen on my mother's face....that same sadness again. My stomach twisted. Why were they both acting like this? "Okay," I said while crossing my arms. "What's going on?" My father blinked. "What do you mean?" "You and Mom are being weird." "Weird?" "Very weird." My mother immediately looked away. My father cleared his throat. "We're just nervous." "Nervous about what?" "Today is important." I studied both of them carefully. Neither met my eyes. They were definitely hiding something. Before I could continue questioning them, my mother quickly changed the subject. "What are your plans today?" I sighed. Fine. If they didn't want to talk, I couldn't force them....not yet. "I'll probably spend some time with Selena before the ceremony." My mother nodded. "That sounds nice." After breakfast, I left the house and headed into the village. The entire pack seemed alive with excitement. Colorful banners hung between buildings. Children ran through the streets laughing. Pack members gathered in groups. They were discussing about the mating ceremony that would take place after sunset. The atmosphere should have made me happy. But instead, my parents' strange behavior continued to bother me. "Lily!" I turned and immediately saw Selena running toward me. My best friend practically threw herself at me. "Happy birthday!" I laughed as she wrapped me in a hug. "Thank you." She stepped back and grinned. "So, today's the day." "The day?" "The day Alpha Ryder realizes that you're his mate and sweeps you off your feet." I groaned. "Can we please not start with that?" "No." "Selena." "Nope." I rolled my eyes. She laughed. "You're blushing already." "I am not." "You absolutely are." Despite my embarrassment, I couldn't help smiling. Selena knew everything. She knew about my feelings for Ryder. She had spent years teasing me about them. The two of us walked through the village together while discussing the ceremony. As we passed several groups of girls, I noticed them staring at me. They were whispering and laughing. I recognized many of them. Most came from powerful pack families. I wasn't exactly popular among them. "Ignore them," Selena muttered. It was easy for her to say. A moment later, one of the girls approached us. It was Vanessa; she was beautiful, rich and incredibly annoying. She faked a smile. "Happy birthday, Lily." "Thank you." "I suppose you're excited for tonight." "A little." Vanessa laughed. "Just don't get your hopes up too much." My smile faded. "What does that mean?" She shrugged. "Oh, nothing." Her friends giggled behind her. Then she leaned closer. "I just wouldn't count on becoming Luna anytime soon." With that, she walked away laughing. Selena glared at her retreating figure. "I swear one day I'm going to throw her into the river." I laughed despite myself. But Vanessa's words lingered in my mind. What if she was right? What if Ryder wasn't my mate? The thought hurt more than it should have. As the afternoon passed, I found myself drifting toward the training grounds without really meaning to. A part of me already knew why. No matter how hard I tried to focus on other things, my thoughts always seemed to lead back to him. Alpha Ryder. The moment I spotted him, my steps slowed. Even from a distance, he commanded attention. He stood among a group of warriors. He was giving instructions while they listened carefully to every word he said. He was confident. There was something about him that naturally drew people in. Others listened when he spoke, trusted when he gave orders and followed wherever he led. Watching him now, it was easy to understand why he was such a respected Alpha. Unfortunately, it was also impossible for my heart to behave normally whenever he was nearby. Selena noticed immediately. "There it is," she said with a grin. "What?" "That look." I groaned. "What look?" "The look you always get when you see him." I ignored her. My attention remained fixed on Ryder. As if sensing my gaze, he suddenly turned and our eyes met. The world seemed to freeze. For one brief moment, neither of us looked away. Something strange happened inside my chest. A warm sensation spread through me. Then Ryder's expression changed. His jaw tightened and his eyes narrowed slightly. Before I could understand what it meant, he looked away. Just like that, the moment ended. My heart sank. Selena sighed dramatically. "You really have it bad." Unfortunately, she was right. By late afternoon, I returned home to prepare for the ceremony. The house was unusually quiet. As I stepped inside, I heard my parents arguing in the kitchen. Their voices were low but I could still make out some of the conversation. "You have to tell her," my father said. "Not today," my mother replied. "When then?" "I said not today." My chest tightened. Tell me what? I walked into the room. Both of them immediately fell silent. "What are you talking about?" "Nothing," my mother answered far too quickly. "It didn't sound like nothing." My father looked uncomfortable. My mother looked terrified. Neither answered. The silence stretched between us. Finally, my mother grabbed a silver dress hanging nearby and handed it to me. "Why don't you go get ready?" I stared at the dress. It was beautiful, far more beautiful than anything I had ever owned. The silver fabric caught the light and shimmered softly, making it look almost magical. For a moment, I allowed myself to admire it but the distraction didn't last long. My parents were still hiding something from me and no beautiful dress could make me forget that. Questions swirled endlessly through my mind and I wanted answers more than ever. Yet one look at my mother's face told me everything I needed to know. Whatever secret she was carrying, she wasn't ready to share it. Realizing that there was no point pushing further, I took the dress upstairs and began getting ready for the ceremony. By the time the sun started sinking below the horizon, golden light filled my bedroom. I stood in front of the mirror and stared at my reflection in disbelief. The silver gown fit perfectly. It hugged my figure in a way that made me feel elegant and confident. My dark hair fell over my shoulders in loose waves and for the first time in my life, I truly felt beautiful. A nervous smile touched my lips as I continued staring at my reflection. Everything could change tonight. Fate would reveal the future the Moon Goddess had chosen for me. Taking a deep breath, I made my way downstairs. My parents were already waiting in the living room and the moment they saw me, both of them froze. My mother's eyes immediately filled with tears. The sight made my chest tighten. Without thinking, I crossed the room and wrapped my arms around her. She hugged me back instantly. She held me so tightly that it almost felt as though she was afraid to let go. "I love you, Lily," she whispered. "I love you too." When she finally released me, my father stepped forward and kissed my forehead. "No matter what happens," he said quietly, "remember that." My heart skipped a beat. No matter what happens? Why would he say that? The strange feeling that something was wrong returned stronger than ever. Together, we walked toward the ceremonial grounds. Hundreds of wolves had already gathered. Torches illuminated the night and music floated through the air. The elders stood near the center waiting for the ceremony to begin. As soon as I entered, I felt dozens of eyes turn toward me. Then my gaze found Ryder. He was already there. The moment our eyes met, that same warmth exploded inside my chest. I sucked in a sharp breath. Ryder suddenly stiffened....as if he felt it too. Then a tingling sensation appeared on my wrist. Confused, I looked down. My eyes widened. Beneath my skin, a silver mark briefly flashed before disappearing. The sight lasted only a second but I had definitely seen it. What was that? Slowly, I lifted my head. Most people hadn't noticed. They were focused on the ceremony. Except one elderly pack member standing near the edge of the crowd. His eyes were locked on me. And the expression on his face sent a chill down my spine. He looked terrified. Before I could approach him, he turned and disappeared into the crowd. I stood frozen in place. The ceremony hadn't even begun. Yet somehow, I already knew. Something was coming. Something that would change my life forever.