REJECTED BY MY ALPHA, CHOOSEN BY THE LYCAN KING

"I, Alpha Tristan Blackwood, reject Selena Ashwood as my mate." The words struck Selena like lightning. For a heartbeat, she thought she had misheard him. The Moon Blessing Hall fell silent. Hundreds of eyes turned toward her, waiting for her reaction. Selena stood frozen in the center of the hall, dressed in a silver gown she had spent months sewing with her own hands. Her fingers trembled as she stared at Tristan, searching his face for even the slightest hint of a joke. There was none. His icy blue eyes were cold and distant. "Tristan..." she whispered. The man she had loved since childhood looked at her as if she were nothing. "I refuse to be bound to a wolfless girl," he said, his voice echoing through the hall. "I am the future Alpha of the Black Moon Pack. I deserve someone stronger." Murmurs spread through the crowd. "Poor Selena." "She still doesn't have a wolf at eighteen." "An Alpha can't have a weak mate." Selena felt their words stab into her heart. For years, she had endured the ridicule. Every full moon she waited for her wolf to awaken. Every year she hoped. And every year she was disappointed. Still, she believed one thing with all her heart That Tristan would never abandon her. How foolish she had been. A woman suddenly stepped beside Tristan and wrapped her arm around his. Vanessa Hart. Beautiful. Powerful. And Selena's greatest rival. Vanessa smirked. "Did you really think our Alpha would choose you?" she mocked. "You should know your place." Laughter erupted from several members of the pack. Selena clenched her fists. Her chest burned. Not from anger. From heartbreak. She looked at Tristan one last time. "Did you ever love me?" she asked softly. For a second, his expression shifted. But it disappeared so quickly she wondered if she had imagined it. "No." One word. That was all. It shattered her. Selena swallowed the lump in her throat. She would not cry. Not here. Not before these people. Without another word, she turned and ran. The laughter behind her followed her all the way out of the hall. --- Rain poured from the dark sky. The cold wind whipped through Selena's long black hair as she ran deeper into the forest. Branches scratched her skin. Mud stained her dress. But she didn't stop. Her tears mixed with the rain. "Why?" she cried. "Why wasn't I enough?" Thunder roared overhead. Selena finally collapsed near the edge of an ancient cliff overlooking the raging river below. Her breathing came in ragged gasps. Everything she had dreamed of... Gone. Her mate. Her future. Her place in the pack. Gone. She buried her face in her hands. For the first time in years... She allowed herself to break. --- Suddenly "A strange heat spread through her chest. Selena gasped. The pain intensified. It felt as though molten silver was flowing through her veins. "What... what's happening?" She fell onto the wet grass. Silver markings slowly appeared across her arms. Ancient symbols. Beautiful. Powerful. Impossible. The ground beneath her trembled. The wind changed. Then she heard it. A voice. Soft. Ancient. Female. At last... You have awakened. Selena froze. Her eyes widened. "W-Who are you?" I am Lyra. Your wolf. Selena's breath caught. "My wolf?" No. That couldn't be true. Everyone knew she didn't have one. For eighteen years... Nothing. Yet the voice in her mind felt stronger than anything she had ever imagined. You are not weak, Lyra said. You were sealed. Protected. Waiting for the right moment. Selena shook her head. "I don't understand." Because you are not an ordinary werewolf. You are Moonborn. The last heir of an ancient bloodline. Selena stared blankly into the darkness. Moonborn. The name sounded familiar. Stories told by elders. A royal bloodline destroyed centuries ago. Everyone believed they were extinct. That can't be me... Lyra remained silent. But deep inside... Selena knew. The truth was awakening. --- Then the forest went silent. Every bird stopped singing. Every creature hid. Even the rain seemed to hesitate. A terrifying aura filled the air. Selena slowly rose to her feet. Someone was here. She turned. And froze. A tall man stood among the trees. Dressed in black. Dark hair dripping with rain. Silver eyes glowing softly in the darkness. Eyes she had seen countless times before. In dreams. Night after night. Selena's heart skipped a beat. "You..." The stranger stared at her as though he had found something precious he had been searching for all his life. Shock crossed his handsome face. Then relief. Then overwhelming joy. Without warning "He dropped to one knee before her. Selena's eyes widened. The earth trembled beneath them. "My Queen," he said quietly. "I have searched centuries for you." Selena took a step back. "What?" The man slowly raised his head. His silver eyes locked onto hers. "I am Rowan Draven." The name sent a chill through her body. Everyone knew that name. The Lycan King. The ruler feared by every Alpha. A man so powerful that entire packs bowed before him. Yet now... He was kneeling before her. "This must be a mistake," Selena whispered. Rowan shook his head. "There is no mistake." He stood and stepped closer. Selena's heart pounded wildly. The air around him was intoxicating. Dangerous. Powerful. Then A strange warmth spread through her chest. Her soul trembled. And suddenly... She felt it. A bond. Ancient. Irresistible. Her eyes widened. "No..." Lyra's voice echoed inside her mind. He is your mate. Selena stumbled backward. Impossible. After being rejected just hours ago... How could fate give her another mate? And not just anyone. The Lycan King himself. Rowan gently took her trembling hand. His gaze softened. "You were never meant for Tristan Blackwood." "You were born to stand beside me." Selena looked into his silver eyes. And for the first time that night... Her broken heart beat with hope. But neither of them knew Far away, inside the Black Moon Pack... Alpha Tristan suddenly dropped to his knees. His chest burned unbearably. His wolf roared in agony. Because the moment Rowan touched Selena... Tristan realized something horrifying. He had rejected the wrong woman. And he was about to lose her forever.