REJECTED BY MY MATE, CHOSEN BY THE LYCAN KING

Chapter 1: The Girl Nobody Chose Ava Blackwood stood at the edge of the training field, watching as the young wolves sparred under the afternoon sun. The sounds of growls, laughter, and cheers filled the air, but she felt strangely disconnected from it all. "Come on, Ava! Stop daydreaming and join us!" Her brother Marcus waved from across the field. Ava forced a smile and shook her head. "I'm fine here." Marcus frowned but didn't push. Everyone in Moonclaw Pack knew Ava Blackwood. Not because she was special. Not because she was strong. But because she was average. Painfully average. In a pack where strength meant everything, Ava had always struggled to stand out. Her wolf had awakened later than most. She wasn't the fastest runner, the strongest fighter, or the most talented hunter. People didn't hate her. They simply overlooked her. And after years of being ignored, Ava had learned to stay quiet. She turned her gaze toward the mountains surrounding the pack territory. Beyond those peaks lay the unknown world. A world she had never seen. Sometimes she wondered what life would be like outside Moonclaw. Would people still see her as insignificant? Or could she finally become someone else? "Ava!" A familiar voice interrupted her thoughts. She turned and saw her best friend, Emily, rushing toward her. Emily practically bounced with excitement. "You won't believe it!" Ava laughed. "What now?" "The Moon Ceremony is only three days away!" Ava rolled her eyes. "You've reminded me every day for the last month." "Because it's important!" Emily grabbed her arm dramatically. "This is the year we find our mates." Ava's stomach fluttered. Mates. The one word capable of making every young wolf dream. The Moon Goddess created mates for a reason. A perfect match. A soulmate. Someone who would understand you better than anyone else ever could. Most wolves spent their entire lives waiting for that moment. And Ava was no different. She had dreamed about it since childhood. Not because she wanted a prince. Not because she wanted power. But because she wanted someone who would choose her. Someone who wouldn't look through her like everyone else did. Someone who would see her. "Imagine if your mate is handsome," Emily teased. Ava laughed. "Imagine if he's not." "Then I'll ask the Moon Goddess for a refund." The two girls burst into laughter. For a moment, Ava forgot all her worries. For a moment, everything felt normal. But deep inside, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming. Something big. Something that would change her life forever. --- That evening, Ava walked home beneath the golden glow of sunset. The Blackwood house sat near the edge of the village. It wasn't large. It wasn't impressive. But it was home. As soon as she stepped inside, the smell of dinner greeted her. Her father sat at the table. His silver hair was beginning to show signs of age, though he still carried himself like a warrior. "Ava." She smiled. "Hi, Dad." "How was training?" "The usual." His eyes softened. "You work too hard." Ava nearly laughed. If only he knew how many people thought she didn't work hard enough. She took her seat at the table. For a few minutes, silence filled the room. Then her father spoke. "The Moon Ceremony is almost here." There it was again. The topic everyone seemed obsessed with. Ava groaned. "Not you too." A small smile appeared on his face. "I can't help it." She looked away. "What if my mate doesn't want me?" The words escaped before she could stop them. The room became quiet. Her father sighed. "Ava." She stared at the table. "What if he thinks I'm weak?" "What if I'm not enough?" Strong hands rested on hers. She looked up. Her father's eyes were filled with warmth. "You are more than enough." A lump formed in her throat. "But—" "No." His voice was firm. "Listen to me." She swallowed. "You are kind." "You are brave." "You are loyal." "Those things matter." Ava blinked rapidly. Sometimes she forgot how much her father believed in her. Even when she didn't believe in herself. Especially then. "Thank you," she whispered. He smiled. "Any mate worthy of you will see that." Ava hoped he was right. She desperately hoped he was right. Three days passed quickly. Soon, the night of the Moon Ceremony arrived. The entire pack gathered near the sacred clearing. Torches illuminated the darkness. Excitement buzzed through the crowd. Ava stood among dozens of young wolves her age. Her heart pounded so hard she thought everyone could hear it. This was it. The moment she had waited for her entire life. Beside her, Emily looked ready to faint. "I can't breathe." Ava laughed nervously. "You're breathing fine." "No, seriously." Ava shook her head. The pack elders stepped forward. The crowd fell silent. Elder Thorne raised his hands toward the sky. A full moon shone above them. Brighter than Ava had ever seen. Its silver light bathed the clearing. The atmosphere felt almost magical. "Children of Moonclaw," Elder Thorne announced. "Tonight, the Moon Goddess reveals destiny." The crowd erupted into cheers. Ava's pulse quickened. One by one, wolves began discovering their mates. Excited cries echoed throughout the clearing. Some laughed. Some cried. Some embraced. Every successful match increased Ava's nervousness. What if her mate wasn't here? What if she didn't have one? Suddenly, a strange sensation spread through her chest. Her breath caught. Heat rushed through her body. Her wolf stirred restlessly. Ava froze. The feeling intensified. Someone. Someone was close. Very close. Her heart thundered. Slowly, she lifted her gaze. Across the clearing stood Ethan Ryder. The future Alpha. The strongest young wolf in Moonclaw. Tall. Handsome. Confident. Every girl in the pack admired him. The moment their eyes met, the world seemed to stop. A powerful bond slammed into her. Electricity shot through her veins. The connection was undeniable. Her wolf practically howled with joy. Mate. The realization hit her like lightning. Ethan Ryder was her mate. Ava couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. Couldn't move. Happiness exploded inside her chest. For the first time in her life, fate had chosen her. And somehow, it had chosen someone extraordinary. Ethan stared at her. Shock flashed across his face. Then something else appeared. Something Ava couldn't quite understand. His expression darkened. The joy inside her faltered. A knot formed in her stomach. Why did he look upset? Why wasn't he smiling? Why wasn't he coming toward her? Around them, whispers began spreading through the crowd. Everyone had noticed. Everyone knew. Ava forced herself to take a step forward. Then another. Her heart trembled with hope. "Ethan..." She barely managed to whisper his name. The future Alpha's jaw tightened. Silence swallowed the clearing. A terrible feeling crept into Ava's chest. And for the first time that night... She became afraid. Very afraid. Because the look in Ethan Ryder's eyes wasn't love. It wasn't happiness. It wasn't excitement. It was disappointment. And Ava suddenly realized that finding her mate might not be the happy ending she had always imagined. It might only be the beginning of her heartbreak.