Rejected By The Alpha King. # werewolf#romance. # rejected # emotions # fated mate

The moon was full tonight. It hung over the Blackwood forest like a silver coin, big and cruel. The kind of moon that makes mate bonds burn. My heart was beating so fast I was sure everyone could hear it. _Thump. Thump. Thump._ Today was my 18th birthday. Today was the day the Moon Goddess decided who I belonged to. I tugged at the hem of my white dress. It was second-hand. The lace at the bottom was already fraying. All the other girls had gowns made by the pack’s best tailor. Mine was from the donation bin. That’s what happens when you’re an omega. That’s what happens when your wolf never shows up. “Stop fidgeting, Luna,” Selena hissed from beside me. Her dress was red silk and hugged every curve. Her wolf, Astra, was already strong and vicious. Everyone knew it. “I’m not fidgeting,” I whispered back. “You look pathetic,” she said, smiling sweetly so the elders wouldn’t see. “No wolf. No family. No money. What Alpha would want you?” I didn’t answer. Because deep down, I was asking the same question. The pack square was packed. 500 wolves. Elders on the raised platform. Torches lit. The smell of pine and anticipation thick in the air. And at the very front, sitting on the stone throne, was him. Alpha King Damian Blackwood. Even from here, he made the air feel colder. 6’3. Black suit tailored to his shoulders. Black hair. Jaw sharp enough to cut glass. Eyes the color of a winter storm. He was 25. The youngest Alpha King in history. And the most ruthless. Under his rule, the Blackwood Pack had conquered 3 other territories. Wolves feared him. Respected him. And apparently... he was my fated mate. The thought made me sick and hopeful at the same time. A low hum went through the crowd. The mating ceremony was starting. Elder Mara stepped forward, holding the Moonstone. It glowed faintly in her hands. “Daughters of the Blackwood Pack,” her voice boomed. “Tonight, the Moon Goddess reveals your mates. Step forward when your name is called.” One by one, girls walked up. Their mate marks burned. Alphas claimed them. There were cheers, tears, kisses. Selena went. Her mate was Beta Cole. A good match. She looked at me over her shoulder and mouthed, _loser._ My palms were sweating. “Luna Carter,” Elder Mara called. My legs felt like jelly. I walked. Head down. Don’t trip. Don’t cry. The closer I got to the Moonstone, the hotter my wrist got. There. Right on my inner wrist. A mark was appearing. Two crescent moons. Interlocked. The mark of a King. A gasp went through the crowd. Elder Mara’s eyes widened. “By the Moon Goddess... Luna Carter. Your fated mate is...” She turned. And pointed. Straight at the throne. Straight at him. Alpha King Damian Blackwood. No. No no no. The world tilted. My ears rang. Damian didn’t move at first. He just stared at me. Like I was dirt on his shoe. Then he stood. Slowly. Every wolf went silent. He walked down the steps. Each footstep echoed. He stopped right in front of me. Close enough that I could smell him. Pine. Power. And something dangerous. My mate mark was burning now. Painful. The bond was pulling me toward him like a string tied to my chest. For one second, I thought... maybe. Maybe he felt it too. His eyes dropped to my wrist. To the mark. His jaw ticked. Then he laughed. It wasn’t a kind sound. “Her?” His voice was low, but everyone heard it. “A weak omega? With no wolf?” More laughter from the crowd. He reached out and grabbed my wrist. Yanked it up so everyone could see the mark. “This,” he said, disgust dripping from every word. “This is supposed to be my mate? The future Luna of 5 kingdoms?” He dropped my hand like it burned him. “My wolf doesn’t even recognize her,” he continued, looking at the elders. “She has no scent. No wolf. No strength. She’s broken.” Tears burned my eyes. Don’t cry. Don’t you dare cry. “Alpha,” Elder Mara started. “The Moon Goddess does not make mistakes—” “The Moon Goddess made a mistake,” Damian cut her off. Cold. Final. He turned back to me. And for the first time, I saw it in his eyes. Nothing. No recognition. No pull. No regret. Just rejection. “I, Alpha King Damian Blackwood,” he said, voice ringing through the entire square, “reject you, Luna Carter, as my mate.” The words hit me like a punch to the stomach. _Reject._ _Reject._ _Reject._ The bond inside me snapped. It felt like someone ripped my ribs open. I fell to my knees. Gasping. Pain shot through my chest, my head, my bones. Rejection pain. The worst pain a wolf can feel. Someone was laughing. Selena. “Pathetic,” she whispered. “I told you.” Hands were pointing. Whispers everywhere. “Omega trash.” “No wolf.” “Embarrassing.” “Get up,” Damian said. He wasn’t yelling. He didn’t need to. “Omegas like you don’t belong in my pack. You’re weak. You’re useless. Leave. Now.” Leave. Banished. I forced myself to stand. My legs were shaking. My vision was blurry. I looked at him one last time. Looking for anything. Any regret. There was none. I turned and ran. Past the torches. Past the staring wolves. Past the life I thought I would have. The forest closed around me. Cold. Dark. And as I ran, with rejection burning in my veins, I made a promise to the moon above. _One day, Alpha King._ _One day you will come to me on your knees._ _And I will decide if I want you back._ The moon didn’t answer. But somewhere deep inside me, in the place where my wolf was supposed to be... Something stirred. Something ancient. Something angry. And it was awake.