Moonlight Deception

Chapter One: Rejection

Alyssa walked desolately under the moonlight, she was already quite the distance from her home and for a moment she paused, she felt a sting of hesitation spur up within her and it made her even more sad. She reassured herself and begun walking, soon she was met by Freya her childhood friend.

“Are you sure about this?”, Freya said in a subdued tone.

“There is nothing left for me here”, replied Alyssa tearfully. “I have lost it all”

Freya nodded with her face down and embraced Alyssa tightly and soon both women were sobbing. Freya eventually recollected herself and broke the embrace.

“Here is the horse you asked for, ride North following the tip of Orion’s belt and it will lead you to Silvercrest city. It is a 3 days ride, you have to leave now before Alpha Derek notices that you are gone”, Alyssa said. “Do not stop riding until you have gotten to Silvercrest”

“Thank you Freya, we will meet again in the future”, Alyssa said as she wiped herself and mounted the horse. She knew that if she didn’t escape now she would never get another opportunity.

Alyssa begun riding and soon she was out of the town and in the forest, she kept riding non stop till noon and then she stopped by a stream to rest. She stared at the water and wondered how her life gotten to this point.

***

Alyssa's heart pounded in her chest as she stood before Derek, her eyes pleading for a glimmer of hope. The moon bathed them in its silvery glow, casting an ethereal light on the scene unfolding in the heart of the Moonbound pack's territory.

"Derek, please," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "We're meant to be together. How can you reject our bond?"

Derek's gaze remained firm, his features etched with determination. "Alyssa, your father made a deal with my father to ensure peace and maintain stability but I renounce the deal. I have no intentions of being your mate and I have no intentions of cohabiting with the Luna snow pack"

Her heart shattered into a million pieces. The pain of his rejection threatened to consume her, she knew that she wouldn’t be able to protect what was left of her family and her pack. Alyssa had always suspected that Derek was up-to something shady but here she was with first hand confirmation.

“We have been close to each other for years now and are known to all as future mates, was that all a lie?, I have trusted you and given you my heart. My family’s survival rests on you so please do not turn your back on me”, Alyssa pleaded.

“Your family and the Luna snow pack is dead to me, so are you. However, you may still be of use to me in the future”, replied Derek as he walked towards her menacingly.

A fire ignited within her as she met Derek's eyes once more, she swung her claws at Derek’s face tearing into his flesh and leaving a gaping wound but Derek did not seem to care.

“I am not going to be some pawn in your game, I will reclaim my family honour”. Alyssa said as the tension between the two rapidly grew, Alyssa could feel her legs shake and she was not sure why. Maybe it was the anger or the feeling of betrayal or the shock. Or maybe it was all of them. Alyssa could see that Derek was conflicted on what to do with her and she decided to use the opportunity to escape as she knew that he could try to capture her. Using the blanket of night as her cover, Alyssa made her way to the remnants of the Luna snow pack and told them of Derek’s betrayal. Alyssa tearfully told them that she was going to leave to ensure their safety.

***

Tears ran down Alyssa’s cheeks as she recollected the events that led to her departure from her hometown but she knew that she couldn’t turn back. Days turned into nights, and nights into days as Alyssa traversed forests and crossed rivers. She encountered creatures she had only heard tales of, their eyes reflecting both curiosity and caution. They sensed her spirit, her fierce determination, and respected her solitary journey.

3 days into the journey and Alyssa finally arrived at the gates of the great city of Silvercrest, she had heard that it was a sanctuary city created by the Alpha king and the Human Emperor Michael 100 years ago. It was a city where humans and shape-shifters co existed in harmony and peace. As she strolled moved through the city she was filled with awe and wonder.

Days turned to weeks, weeks turned to months and eventually Alyssa had spent 2 years in the city of Silvercrest but happiness and Satisfaction still eluded her. Alyssa had joined a small band of wolves called the elites, they were not a pack and some of it’s members were humans but they maintained pack standards and looked out for each other. One evening as Alyssa walked home down the cobblestone streets, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of her past and the longing for a sense of belonging. The city had provided her with safety and acceptance, but happiness still seemed just out of reach.

As she approached her modest dwelling, a sudden chill ran down Alyssa's spine, causing her to instinctively scan her surroundings. That's when she saw him, standing a few feet away in the dimly lit alley, his golden yellow hair shimmering under the moon's gentle glow, he was tall and really well built but the most distinctive thing about him was his aura.

His gaze was cold and detached, devoid of any warmth or familiarity. Alyssa felt a pang of fear, but she was also filled with admiration. She had never beheld a man with such an air of authority and control, she noticed how the people around him acted in submission and she concluded that he must be someone important but she suddenly snapped out of it and she realized that he was still watching her, she hurriedly turned to walk away in embarrassment and her jaw dropped in shock. There he was standing before her, he had moved several feet in the blink of an eye.

"Who are you? Why are you following me?" Alyssa demanded, her voice laced with caution. “Are you some sort of bond villain?”