The Scarred Alpha’s Mate

CHAPTER ONE ELARA – POINT OF VIEW Children run around in circles, chasing each other with balloons and flowers. I chuckle, moving past them, careful not to spoil their fun. It is our Annual Pack Festival, where we pay homage to the moon goddess and bless her with gifts. It has evolved into a celebration of ourselves, but I have kept the faith. Even now, where I have everything I need, I still find my way to the lake, a basket of fruits in hand. I kneel carefully, the sand prickling my skin, but I pay attention to the water. My sister, Sera, always teased me for this, but I don’t have to explain my faith to anyone. I drop the basket in the water and watch it float away. I close my eyes and mumble a prayer, “Goddess, I am your humble servant. Use me for your will. Bless my loved ones. Keep us safe and hearty so we may continue to serve you. Keep our Pack from rogues and thieves. Protect the children and keep us fed. Amen.” I dust the sand off my body and leave. If I’d paid attention to the lake, I’d have seen the current in the water, how unnatural it is, as if the Goddess had answered. I walk back through the town square, smiling at the children. I look around with a frown. Sera is nowhere to be found. She’d promised she’d follow me to the lake, but I never assumed she would hold up to her end of the bargain. She’s very flighty, and I do not blame her. She has a lot of admirers, while I have eyes only for my boyfriend, Alpha Alaric. Alaric and I have grown from sneaking around as children to being together. His father passed two years ago, passing the baton of leadership to him. He’s a very competent Alpha and a better boyfriend. Soon, our mate bond will activate, and we’ll be married. I’ll be his Luna, and he’ll be my King. I can’t seem to find him anywhere, though. He should be here, but he isn’t. I smile widely when I see his mother and mine. I walk to them and curtsy deeply, “Hello, mothers.” “Elara.” Luna Raventhorn looks at me, nose high in the air. She doesn’t really like me, and I don’t know why. Mom smiles at me and looks at the sand on my knee, “Been to the lake, again? The moon goddess servant.” She chuckles, and I flush, “Have you seen Sera, or Alaric?” They share a look and shake their heads. “We haven’t. Why not check the King Palace? He’s probably delegating.” Luna says, and I nod, “Of course.” Oblivious, I make my way to the Palace. Goosebumps break over my skin as I step in, but I push away the ill feeling. It’s probably nothing. Then, I reach for the handle and frown when I hear laughter. Sera’s laughter. “She’s such a know-it-all, as if she’ll be blessed with divinity.” Sera chuckles, and my stomach sinks. This can’t be real. This has to be a mistake. Slowly, I push open the door, and I see them together. She’s straddling him. His hand is in her hair, with one on her hips. He leans in and kisses her softly. My heart shatters to the ground, and a whimper escapes me, “A … Alaric, Sera? What … what is this?” They look at me. Alaric grunts as if I’ve disturbed his peace. Sera moves off him and sighs, “I guess you were bound to find out soon enough.” “What are you doing?” I am frozen in shock. “What does it look like?” Alaric snaps, irritated, and gets up. “Did you think you, an Orphan my parents took in, was fitting to be the Luna of Raventhorn Pack?” Sera asks slowly, a deranged grin spreading on her face. “You’re fat, spilling all over the place, and do not belong here. Alaric is mine. He has always been mine. You were just a placeholder, and you’re not needed anymore.” Her words knock the air out of my lungs, “No.” “Yes.” Alaric wraps his arm around her and looks at me sternly, “You’re done here, Elara.” Together, they walk past me and strut outside. I linger in the room, my ears ringing, then I rush behind them. “I am your mate, Alaric!” I scream, tears streaming down my face. Everyone has gathered. They are all watching. He turns back to me and scoffs, “No, you’re not. I reject you, Elara. Sera is my mate, and I have marked her already. I chose her. I do not choose you.” The pain hits me like a thunderbolt. I’ve always heard about the pain rejection brings, but I never assumed I’d be in the position. The pain spreads all over me, climbing to my chest, then my stomach, then my legs. I fall to the ground, screaming in agony. Everyone watches, disinterested, as if they knew this was going to happen. They knew. The best part of my life was fake, and no one told me. “Get out, or you’ll be thrown out.” Sera snarls at me. Luna Raventhorn nods and calls, “Guards, throw this fat imbecile out of my home!” My wolf whimpers in me, frail and injured. I find the strength and pull myself up. My whole body is trembling as the agony rushes through me. The guards come, and they drag me out. My knee scrapes the ground, and blood spills. I scream, but they don’t stop. They laugh as they throw me outside the border and abandon me there. I lay on the ground, bleeding and weak. Then I hear the sound, immediately followed by the attack. Three rogue wolves jump out of the woods and pounce on me. My heart slams hard against my ribcage, and I try to fight them off. Help me, Moon Goddess. My wolf is weak, but I do not give up. I howl in pain as their claws sink into my ribs and into my chest. However, I don’t hit the ground. I fall into softness, and the last thing I hear is a beastly voice, “Mate.”