Rejected, Returned and Untouchable

Chapter 1: The Moonfang Pack Hall glittered beneath thousands of crystal lights. Tonight was supposed to be the happiest night of Aria Nightshade's life. She stood near the back of the crowded hall, her hands clasped tightly together as excitement and nervousness tangled inside her chest. Every member of the Moonfang Pack had gathered for the annual Moon Ascension Ceremony. But this year's celebration carried special significance. Their Alpha, Damon Blackwood, was expected to announce his future Luna. And everyone knew who his fated mate was. Aria. A small smile curved her lips as she glanced toward the grand staircase leading to the Alpha's platform. For three years, she and Damon had shared a bond unlike any other. They had laughed together, trained together, and dreamed together. Although Damon had never officially claimed her before the pack, he had always made her feel chosen. At least, that was what she believed. The musicians played a soft melody while nobles and warriors filled the hall with excited whispers. "They'll finally announce it tonight." "Our Alpha has waited long enough." "Aria will make a wonderful Luna." Their words warmed her heart. Across the hall, she spotted her best friend, Maya. Maya waved enthusiastically. "There you are!" Maya hurried over. "I've been looking everywhere." Aria laughed softly. "I needed a moment to breathe." "You look terrified." "I am terrified." Maya squeezed her hand. "Stop worrying. Everyone knows you're the future Luna." Aria lowered her eyes shyly. "Nothing has been announced yet." "Please," Maya scoffed. "The Moon Goddess practically wrote your names together." Aria's cheeks flushed. For the first time all evening, she allowed herself to imagine what would happen after tonight. She imagined standing beside Damon before the pack. She imagined becoming Luna. She imagined building a family together. A future. A home. A life. The sound of a ceremonial horn suddenly echoed through the hall. The crowd fell silent. Every eye turned toward the staircase. Alpha Damon Blackwood appeared. The room erupted with applause. Tall. Powerful. Handsome. He carried the confidence of a born leader. His dark hair framed sharp features, while his golden eyes seemed to command attention wherever they landed. Aria's heartbeat quickened. Damon's gaze swept across the crowd. For a brief second, his eyes met hers. The familiar warmth she expected never came. Instead, his expression was unreadable. A strange uneasiness settled inside her. The applause slowly faded. Damon stepped onto the platform. "Tonight," he began, his deep voice filling the hall, "marks an important moment in Moonfang Pack history." The crowd listened attentively. "As Alpha, every decision I make must strengthen our future." Aria's smile faltered. Something about his tone felt distant. Formal. Cold. Not the Damon she knew. "The coming years will bring challenges. Enemies gather beyond our borders. Alliances are more important than ever." Murmurs spread among the nobles. Aria's stomach tightened. Why was he talking about alliances? This was supposed to be about mates. About love. About destiny. Damon continued. "That is why I have made a choice." The entire hall held its breath. Aria's pulse thundered in her ears. This was it. This was the moment. Damon turned toward the staircase. "Come forward." A woman emerged from the shadows. The moment Aria saw her, her world tilted. Selene Ravenscar. The Alpha Princess. Beautiful. Elegant. Dangerous. Her silver gown shimmered beneath the lights as she descended the staircase with perfect grace. Shock rippled through the crowd. Aria felt the blood drain from her face. No. No. No. This wasn't happening. Selene reached Damon's side. Damon extended his hand. Selene placed hers in his. Then Damon spoke words that shattered Aria's soul. "I have chosen Selene Ravenscar as my future Luna." Silence. Complete silence. The world stopped. Aria stared at him. Waiting. Praying. Hoping he would laugh and reveal it was some terrible misunderstanding. But Damon didn't. Instead, he raised Selene's hand before the entire pack. The crowd exploded into whispers. "What?" "But Aria is his mate." "How can he do this?" "Has he rejected the Moon Goddess' bond?" Aria could barely hear them. A roaring sound filled her ears. Her heart felt as if invisible claws were tearing it apart. Selene smiled. The smile wasn't kind. It wasn't apologetic. It was victorious. And it was aimed directly at Aria. Only then did Aria understand. Selene had won. The Alpha Princess had taken everything. Damon's voice cut through the chaos. "This decision is final." Aria's breathing became shallow. Every instinct screamed at her to run. But her legs refused to move. Damon finally looked at her. The bond between them trembled. For one painful second, she thought she saw regret in his eyes. Then it disappeared. Replaced by cold determination. "Aria Nightshade," he said. The hall fell silent again. Her name sounded like a death sentence. "You are a valued member of this pack." Valued member. Not mate. Not Luna. Not beloved. Just a member. Each word stabbed deeper. "However," Damon continued, "the future of Moonfang requires sacrifice." Aria felt tears threatening to spill. She refused to let them. Not here. Not in front of everyone. Not while Selene watched. "So this is political?" someone shouted. Damon ignored the interruption. "The matter is settled." The bond inside Aria cracked. Pain exploded through her chest. Several wolves gasped. Everyone felt it. Everyone knew what was happening. Damon wasn't merely choosing another woman. He was rejecting his mate. Rejecting her. Publicly. Before the entire pack. The agony was unbearable. Aria staggered backward. Maya rushed to steady her. "Aria—" "I'm fine." The lie tasted bitter. Nothing was fine. Nothing would ever be fine again. Above the crowd, Selene's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. Aria finally understood. This had been planned. Every second. Every word. Every humiliation. The Alpha Princess wanted everyone to witness her defeat. And Damon had allowed it. The realization hurt more than the rejection itself. Because she loved him. Moon Goddess help her, she still loved him. The ceremony continued, but Aria could no longer hear it. The voices blurred together. The lights seemed too bright. The air felt impossible to breathe. At some point, she turned and walked away. Nobody stopped her. Nobody knew how. Outside, the night air struck her face. The moon hung high above the pack grounds. Cold. Silent. Indifferent. Aria stumbled toward the gardens. Only when she was alone did the tears finally fall. A broken sob escaped her lips. She sank onto a stone bench. Memories flooded her mind. Every smile. Every promise. Every moment she had believed they shared. Had any of it been real? Footsteps approached. Aria wiped her tears quickly. She didn't want witnesses. But when she looked up, she froze. Damon stood before her. For a moment, neither spoke. The distance between them felt endless. Finally, Aria found her voice. "Why?" One word. One shattered question. Damon's jaw tightened. "It was necessary." She laughed bitterly. "Necessary?" "The alliance strengthens the pack." "The pack?" Aria whispered. "What about us?" Pain flickered across his face. Gone almost immediately. "There is no us." The words struck harder than any weapon. Aria stared at him. Searching desperately for the man she loved. The man who once promised to stand beside her. The man who once looked at her as though she were his entire world. She couldn't find him. Only Alpha Damon remained. Cold. Distant. Untouchable. Something inside her broke completely. "Then I hope the alliance was worth it." Without waiting for a response, she walked past him. Damon didn't stop her. And that hurt most of all. As Aria disappeared into the darkness, neither of them noticed the faint silver glow surrounding the moon. Or the strange flutter deep within Aria's body. A secret. A life. A destiny that would change everything. Three years later, the entire realm would kneel before the woman they had discarded. And the Alpha who rejected her would beg for a second chance. But on this night, all Aria knew was heartbreak. And heartbreak, she would soon learn, was only the beginning.