Rejected By My Alpha Mate, Claimed By The Lycan King

The Moonfall Pack was alive with celebration. Music echoed through the clearing while wolves laughed and danced around the massive bonfire at the center of the pack grounds. Tonight was important. Tonight was my eighteenth birthday. The night every werewolf dreamed of. The night I would finally meet my wolf. I stood at the edge of the crowd, smoothing down the simple silver dress I had borrowed from a friend. Unlike the daughters of Alphas and Betas, I didn't own anything expensive. Not that anyone cared. I was Aria Moonfall. The pack's forgotten omega. "Move." A sharp shoulder slammed into mine. I stumbled backward. Laughter erupted around me. Selena Frost stood there with her usual group of admirers. Her blonde hair shone beneath the moonlight, and her perfect smile made every unmated male stare. "Watch where you're standing, omega," she said. The girls beside her giggled. I lowered my gaze. Fighting back would only make things worse. It always did. "Leave her alone, Selena," one girl muttered. Selena rolled her eyes. "Why? It's not like anyone else wants her around." More laughter followed. My cheeks burned. I turned away before they could see how much their words hurt. For eighteen years, I had endured it. The whispers. The insults. The pity. The truth was simple. I didn't belong. Not really. The Moonfall Pack tolerated me because my parents had died serving the pack years ago. Without them, I was alone. No family. No status. No future. The sound of a horn suddenly echoed across the clearing. Silence fell. Alpha Damon Blackwood stepped onto the platform overlooking the ceremony grounds. Every female instantly straightened. Including Selena. Damon was everything an Alpha should be. Tall. Powerful. Handsome. The future Alpha King of the northern territories. His dark hair moved slightly in the wind as his golden eyes swept across the crowd. My stomach tightened. Not because I expected him to notice me. But because everyone knew he never would. "Tonight," Damon announced, "we celebrate the coming-of-age ceremony of our newest adults." Cheers erupted. The ceremony began. One by one, newly turned eighteen-year-olds stepped forward to receive the blessing of the Moon Goddess. I watched quietly. Then my name was called. "Aria Moonfall." The crowd instantly became quieter. Some people exchanged amused looks. Others simply ignored me. I walked toward the platform anyway. My heart pounded. The Elder raised his staff. "Place your hand upon the Moon Stone." I obeyed. The moment my fingers touched the glowing crystal— Pain exploded through my body. I gasped. A strange warmth raced through my veins. The world blurred. Then a voice echoed inside my head. A voice that wasn't mine. Mine. My wolf. I froze. Tears filled my eyes. After eighteen years... I finally had a wolf. Excitement surged through me. Then another scent drifted into the air. Warm. Dangerous. Irresistible. Every instinct inside me awakened. My wolf practically purred. Mate. The word hit me like lightning. Mate. I spun around. Searching. Looking. Then my eyes landed on him. Alpha Damon Blackwood. The entire world disappeared. All I could see was him. My mate. The man chosen by the Moon Goddess herself. For one beautiful second, hope filled my chest. Maybe everything would change. Maybe I wasn't worthless after all. Maybe— Damon's eyes met mine. His body stiffened. Shock crossed his face. He felt it too. The mate bond. The connection. The destiny neither of us could escape. The crowd noticed immediately. Murmurs spread. Questions followed. Damon continued staring at me. The silence became unbearable. Then Selena stepped beside him. "What is it?" she asked. Damon didn't answer. His jaw tightened. His eyes darkened. And suddenly, something cold settled in my stomach. Something was wrong. Very wrong. Damon looked at me as if I were a mistake. As if fate had insulted him. As if I disgusted him. My wolf whimpered. No. Please no. Not this. Not him. Not now. The crowd waited. Everyone sensed something important was happening. Then Damon finally spoke. His voice echoed across the entire clearing. And shattered my heart. "Impossible." The word hung in the air. My hands trembled. "Damon..." I whispered. His expression hardened. The next words destroyed everything. "I refuse this bond." Gasps erupted throughout the crowd. Selena's smile slowly grew. I felt the blood drain from my face. No. No. No. My wolf screamed inside me. But Damon wasn't finished. His golden eyes locked onto mine. Cold. Merciless. Publicly. Before the entire pack. He growled, "Aria Moonfall can never be my mate."