THE LUNA HE WAS FORCED TO REJECT

“Please, Moon Goddess… just this once.” I pressed my hands together and fixed my eyes on the silver moon floating above the ceremony hall. “Let it be someone who actually wants me.” My voice barely made it past my lips. But honestly? I felt ridiculous for asking at all. For twenty years, I’d been the girl no one wanted. The unwanted Omega. The servant everyone called when something needed scrubbing or fixing, but nobody ever called when it was time for anything good. So, why would tonight be different? All around me, wolves packed the Great Hall, silver streamers everywhere. Some looked excited. Some were clearly nervous. Others had already started gossiping in hushed voices about who they hoped to get paired with. Tonight was the Mate Ceremony. The night every unmated wolf waited for, hearts pounding, hoping maybe this time they’d finally belong. I’d dreamed about tonight when I was little. I held onto that dream until it got worn out and tattered. But a long time ago, I quit believing in happy endings. “Quit looking like you’re gonna faint.” I turned. Mira—really the only person who ever had my back—stood next to me, grinning. “You’re shaking,” she said. I tried to smile. “I can’t help it.” “You’re twenty, Elara. You’re supposed to be excited.” “I am.” She gave me a look. “So, why do you look terrified?” I shrugged. “Because I am terrified.” She just laughed, soft and easy. “Breathe.” I sucked in a shaky breath. Then, right then, the doors swung open. The laughter died fast. Every conversation fizzled out at once. I turned toward the entrance. A man came in. Tall. Broad shoulders. Black hair that fell onto his forehead. He wore a black suit shot through with silver at the collar, but it wasn’t the fancy outfit that turned every head. It was him. He walked like trouble. Like he didn’t care if all eyes were on him—he just owned the room, and the room knew it. My heart picked up speed. I swallowed, feeling suddenly small. “Who is that?” I whispered. Mira’s smile vanished. She studied me. “You don’t know?” I shook my head. “That’s Kael Draven.” The name didn’t mean anything at first. But the way the crowd shifted did. Wolves lowered their heads as he passed. Some whispered his name. Some even stepped out of his way. Mira leaned in. “Don’t stare.” “Why?” She didn’t smile. “He’s the Alpha King.” My eyes went wide. The Alpha King. I looked again—and this time, he met my gaze. Everything froze. His gray eyes locked on mine. The sounds in the room faded. People melted into the background. Even the music disappeared. Something pulled inside me, fast and hard. Sudden and hot. It hurt. I gasped. A strange kind of warmth rushed through my veins. Mine. The word filled my head like thunder. I froze. That wasn’t my voice. My wolf—the part of me that’d been silent most of my life—woke up. Now she was alive and loud. Mine. My heart felt like it might crack my ribs. Kael stopped in his tracks. He looked—honestly—for a second, he looked just as shocked as I felt. His jaw tensed. Now he was walking straight toward me. I thought my knees might buckle. “Mira…” She grabbed my arm. “Elara.” “What?” “It’s him,” she breathed. “Your mate.” I could barely breathe. No way. Not him. Not the Alpha King. Not the most powerful wolf in the whole kingdom. Me—just an Omega? But Kael stopped right in front of me, and the bond hit hard. Hot and bright, like lightning in my chest. I could feel him. His heart. His anger. His fear. Wait. Fear? Why was he scared? Our eyes met again, and for one split second, I saw something in his eyes. Longing. Maybe hope. And a stupid, fragile hope rose in me before I could stop it. Maybe this was my night. Maybe the Moon Goddess had chosen me, after all. Maybe—just maybe—I wasn’t unwanted. Kael stared at me. I tried to smile, lips trembling. “Are you…” I couldn’t finish. He looked away. Just like that, the hope in me shook. The Elder’s voice carried across the hall. “By the will of the Moon Goddess, the mate bond has been revealed.” Whispers broke out all around us. “It’s the Alpha King.” “He found his mate.” “Who is she?” “She’s just an Omega.” I felt my face go hot. But none of that mattered now. Not with my mate standing right in front of me. I took a small step toward him. He stayed rooted to the spot. Another step. His eyes finally found mine again. “Kael,” I whispered. His face turned hard. My smile faded. Something was off. He looked like a man walking to his own death. “Say something,” I begged, barely audible. He swallowed hard, fists clenched. Then he stepped forward. I was sure he was about to touch me. Instead, his voice echoed through the hall. “I, Kael Draven…” He paused. My heart hammered in my chest. “…reject you as my mate.” Everything stopped. I just stared at him. Did I hear that right? “What?” He didn’t look away. “I reject you.” The words hit even harder the second time. My chest tightened until it hurt. Someone behind me let out a gasp. Mira whispered my name, but I barely heard her. The mate bond snapped. Pain exploded inside me, sharp and raw. I stumbled back. “No.” Kael flinched—pain flickered in his eyes. But he didn’t take it back. I shook my head. Tears burned in my eyes. “Why?” He didn’t answer. “Kael…” Nothing. “Why are you rejecting me?” My voice cracked. He clenched his jaw. I was shaking. Tears raced down my cheeks. “Did I do something?” Nothing from him. “Is it because I’m an Omega?” His eyes darkened. “No.” “Then why?” He watched me, hurt written all over his face—like this decision was breaking him, too. But if he was hurting, why do this? “Please…” I begged. “Just tell me why.” His lips parted. For a second, I thought he’d finally say something real— —but then he turned away. Something broke open inside me—something that would never heal. I’d imagined tonight a hundred times. Finding my mate. Being chosen. Someone looking at me like I mattered. Not standing here in front of hundreds, being thrown away. My tears came for real then. I turned and ran. Someone called my name, but I didn’t stop. I pushed through the doors, barely seeing, and stumbled out into the cold night air. My lungs burned. My chest ached. I pressed my hand to my heart like I could hold myself together, but I couldn’t. Why? Why would the Moon Goddess give me a mate just to have him throw me away? I wiped my tears with shaking fingers. The doors creaked behind me. I froze. Footsteps drew closer. I didn’t turn. Then I heard him. That voice—low, rough, like it hurt to speak. “Forgive me.” My heart stilled. I slowly turned. Kael stood a few feet away. Our eyes met. Neither of us moved. Then he turned his back on me. And just like that, he walked away. I watched him disappear into the darkness, vision blurring with tears. I didn’t understand why. Why did he reject me? Why did he look like he wanted to take it back? And why, when our eyes met, did the most powerful man in the kingdom look so haunted and afraid? One thing was clear. My mate rejected me. And I had no idea his rejection was just the beginning of everything about to tear my world apart.