REJECTED
1531 Words
The Silverfang Pack celebrated beneath a sky full of stars.
Music echoed through the clearing. Bonfires crackled against the cool night air, casting dancing shadows over warriors, elders, and families gathered around the sacred altar.
Tonight was the Mate Ceremony.
The most important night in every werewolf's life.
One by one, wolves stepped forward, finding the person the Moon Goddess had chosen for them. Laughter erupted as newly mated couples embraced, their scents intertwining for the first time.
Some cried.
Some kissed.
Others simply stood in stunned silence.
Every story ended the same.
Together.
Standing near the edge of the crowd, Aria tightened her grip around the small silver necklace hanging from her neck.
She wasn't sure why she was nervous.
She already knew who her mate was.
Damon Blackwood.
The future Alpha of the Silverfang Pack.
Her childhood friend.
The boy she'd grown up chasing through the forests.
The boy who had once promised her...
*"When I become Alpha, I'll protect you."*
Back then, they had been twelve.
Back then...
He had meant it.
A gentle smile tugged at her lips.
Maybe everything was finally going to be okay.
"Aria."
She turned.
An elderly woman approached carrying a tray filled with moonlit candles.
Old Martha.
The pack's healer.
She smiled warmly.
"You've been staring at Damon all evening."
Aria's cheeks immediately flushed.
"I have not."
"No?"
The old woman chuckled.
"Then why have you looked in his direction seventeen times?"
"...You counted?"
"I was bored."
Aria buried her face in her hands.
"Oh, Goddess..."
Martha laughed softly before resting a wrinkled hand on her shoulder.
"You deserve happiness, child."
For just a moment...
Aria believed her.
---
Life hadn't been kind to Aria.
Her mother died giving birth.
Her father fell protecting the pack when she was only six.
The Alpha took her in afterward—not out of love, but duty.
She had food.
She had shelter.
She had a place to sleep.
But she never truly belonged.
The other children whispered behind her back.
*"Orphan."*
*"Weakling."*
*"She's barely a wolf."*
Her wolf hadn't awakened until she was sixteen.
Three years later than everyone else.
Even then...
She was smaller.
Weaker.
Different.
Most of the pack quietly referred to her as an Omega.
Others simply pitied her.
Only Damon had ever treated her like she mattered.
At least...
He used to.
---
A loud voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Everyone!"
Alpha Victor Blackwood stepped onto the sacred stone platform.
Instant silence swept across the clearing.
Victor's silver hair shimmered beneath the moonlight.
"Tonight, we celebrate the Moon Goddess' greatest blessing!"
Cheers erupted.
"Tonight, new bonds shall be forged!"
More cheers.
He turned toward his son.
"Damon."
The young Alpha stepped forward.
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
Golden eyes.
Every movement radiated confidence.
Nearly every unmarried woman in the pack watched him with admiration.
Aria couldn't help smiling.
He looked every bit the Alpha he was destined to become.
The Moon Priestess lifted her ancient silver staff toward the heavens.
"Moon Goddess..."
"Reveal the one destined to stand beside your chosen Alpha."
Moonlight descended from the sky.
Soft.
Pure.
Beautiful.
It surrounded Damon before slowly drifting across the gathering.
Past dozens of hopeful faces.
Past noble families.
Past seasoned warriors.
Until finally...
It stopped.
Right in front of Aria.
The entire clearing fell silent.
Her breath caught.
The silver light wrapped gently around her wrist.
Warm.
Comforting.
Beautiful.
The Moon Priestess smiled.
"The Goddess has spoken."
Whispers immediately spread throughout the crowd.
"It's Aria?"
"The orphan?"
"No..."
"Impossible..."
Old Martha squeezed her hand.
"Go."
Her legs felt like they belonged to someone else.
Still...
She walked.
Step by trembling step.
Toward Damon.
Toward the future she had dreamed about for years.
When she finally stood before him...
Their eyes met.
His expression...
Was unreadable.
Aria smiled nervously.
"Damon..."
For a heartbeat...
Neither moved.
Then Damon looked away.
"What a joke."
The words struck harder than any slap.
Aria blinked.
"...What?"
He laughed.
Cruelly.
"You?"
He looked around at the crowd.
"My mate?"
"Tell me this is some kind of mistake."
The whispers grew louder.
"Damon..."
He took a slow step backward.
"No."
"I don't understand..."
"You don't?"
His laugh grew colder.
"I've spent years preparing to become Alpha."
"I trained."
"I fought."
"I bled."
"So tell me..."
His golden eyes locked onto hers.
"...Why would the Moon Goddess reward me with an Omega?"
Every word cut deeper than the last.
Around them...
People began laughing.
Quietly at first.
Then louder.
Aria felt her chest tighten.
"Damon..."
"Please..."
He slowly circled her.
"What exactly can you do?"
"Fight?"
"No."
"Lead?"
"No."
"Protect your Alpha?"
He smiled bitterly.
"You can barely protect yourself."
Aria's hands trembled violently.
"Damon..."
He stopped directly in front of her.
His voice echoed across the clearing.
"I reject you."
Silence.
Complete.
Absolute.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
Aria stared at him.
Surely...
She had heard him wrong.
"...What?"
Damon didn't hesitate.
"I."
"Reject."
"You."
Gasps rippled through the gathering.
The Moon Priestess stepped forward.
"Future Alpha."
"A rejection cannot be undone."
"I've thought carefully."
His eyes never left Aria.
"I refuse to accept a weak Omega as my mate."
Pain exploded through Aria's chest.
Her wolf cried out inside her.
She stumbled backward, clutching at her heart.
It felt as though someone had ripped something out of her.
She couldn't breathe.
She couldn't think.
She could only hurt.
Then...
Someone laughed.
Another joined.
Soon dozens of voices echoed through the clearing.
"The future Luna?"
"What a joke."
"I knew she'd never be good enough."
"Poor Damon."
"He deserves better."
Tears blurred Aria's vision.
Desperately...
She searched the crowd for one familiar face.
One person to defend her.
Instead...
She found Serena.
Her best friend.
Standing beside Damon.
Smiling.
Not sympathetically.
Triumphantly.
Their eyes met.
Serena's lips curved into the faintest smile.
A smile that said...
*"I won."*
Something inside Aria broke.
---
Damon stepped onto the altar beside his father.
"As future Alpha..."
"I reject the Moon Goddess's choice."
"I will choose my own Luna."
The elders exchanged uneasy glances.
None dared challenge him publicly.
Not tonight.
Not before the entire pack.
Alpha Victor finally spoke.
"...The ceremony is over."
No applause followed.
Only whispers.
Aria couldn't hear them anymore.
She turned.
Then walked away.
No one stopped her.
---
The forest swallowed her whole.
Branches scratched at her arms.
Roots caught her feet.
But she didn't care.
She ran.
Farther.
Faster.
Until the music disappeared.
Until the laughter faded.
Until only darkness remained.
Then suddenly rain began to fall.
Cold, heavy, and merciless.
Within seconds, she was soaked.
She finally collapsed beneath an old oak tree.
Her knees struck the mud.
A broken laugh escaped her lips.
Then came the tears.
Violent, and uncontrollable.
She cried for the little girl who believed Damon would always protect her.
She cried for the future she had imagined.
She cried because she had never felt so completely alone.
Lightning split the heavens.
Thunder rolled across the mountains.
The storm had arrived.
Aria looked toward the sky through tear-filled eyes.
"Why?"
Her voice cracked.
"What did I do wrong?"
Only thunder answered.
She laughed bitterly.
"I guess..."
"...even the Moon Goddess doesn't want me."
She wiped away her tears with trembling hands.
"I won't cry anymore."
Not for him.
Not ever again.
Taking one shaky breath, she forced herself to stand.
She didn't know where she was going.
She only knew she couldn't stay there.
The rain became heavier.
The wind howled through the trees.
Her vision blurred as water streamed into her eyes.
She stumbled over tangled roots.
Kept walking.
Then—
**c***k!**
The ground disappeared beneath her feet.
"W-What?!"
Rotten wood shattered beneath her weight.
Aria screamed as she plunged into darkness.
Her body slammed against something hard before tumbling across cold stone.
Pain exploded through her shoulder.
Her head struck the ground.
Everything spun.
Then...
Darkness.
---
Back at the Silverfang Pack...
Most of the guests had already returned home.
The celebration had ended in uneasy silence.
Damon stood alone near the sacred altar, staring into the dying flames of the bonfire.
"You did what you had to do."
Serena's soft voice came from behind him.
He didn't turn.
"I know."
She stepped beside him.
"You can't have an Omega as your Luna."
"The pack would never respect her."
Damon remained silent.
Serena studied his face carefully.
"You don't regret it..."
"...Do you?"
A long silence followed.
Finally...
"No."
His answer came quickly.
Too quickly.
"I made the right decision."
Serena smiled gently.
"I know you did."
She reached out and brushed an invisible speck of ash from his shoulder.
"You deserve someone who can stand proudly beside you."
Someone...
The last part remained unspoken.
Damon nodded once before walking away toward the Alpha House.
He never looked back.
Serena watched until he disappeared into the darkness.
The warmth vanished from her face.
A slow smile spread across her lips.
"So predictable."
She glanced toward the forest where Aria had fled.
"There goes the only obstacle I had left."
A quiet laugh escaped her lips.
"I almost feel sorry for you..."
"...Almost."
Then she turned and disappeared into the night.
- Writer
