Rejected By Him, Claimed By His Uncle

Nyra Hale I had loved Crown Prince Vaelor Draven for as long as I could remember, before I understood what a mate was. I was seven years old the first time I saw him. The royal family had visited Silvermere Pack for a winter festival. I had been hiding behind my mother's skirts because I was afraid of the crowd. I was a weak omega even then, and the other children never allowed me to forget it. Someone had pushed me into the snow and everyone laughed, except him. Young Vaelor had walked over, picked up the little white flower that had fallen from my hair, and handed it back to me. "Don't cry," he had said then he smiled. That was all it took. From that day forward, I loved him. I loved him through every birthday, every lonely night, every insult from adults, every time someone reminded me that an omega like me could never belong beside a prince. I kept believing that one day, somehow, he would become mine. And now that day had finally arrived. I stood outside the royal throne room, staring at the enormous golden doors. My hands trembled and beneath my sleeve, the silver mate mark on my wrist glowed faintly. Three days ago, the Moon Goddess had chosen me, Nyra V Hale, as the destined mate of Crown Prince Vaelor Draven. I still couldn't believe it. Me, the worthless omega, the servant everyone ignored, the girl who had spent her whole life watching other people receive everything she could only dream about. I was going to become the future Luna. I pressed my fingers against my lips to stop myself from smiling too widely. "You're going to embarrass yourself if you keep smiling like that." I turned and my perfect older sister, Calista, stood behind me. She was beautiful, everyone said so. She had golden hair, emerald eyes and perfect figure. She wore a crimson silk gown that made her look like she belonged in the royal palace. I smiled at her. "I'm just nervous" I said. She walked toward me and adjusted the necklace around my throat. "You have nothing to be nervous about" she said, her voice was soft. I trusted that voice more than anyone's. "You think Prince Vaelor will be happy to see me?" She smiled. "He'll be thrilled" she replied. My heart fluttered. "Really?" "Of course." She leaned closer. "He has been waiting for this" she added. I hugged her. "Thank you." I pulled away as the doors opened and my name was announced. "Lady Nyra Hale." My heart pounded and I walked into the throne room. Hundreds of wolves turned toward me but I only saw one person. Prince Vaelor stood at the bottom of the throne steps dressed in black and silver. He looked exactly like the boy I had loved all my life. My heart raced when he looked at me then smiled. "Nyra." My breath caught. He had never said my name like that before. I slowly walked toward him. "Your Highness" I greeted. He shook his head. "Don't call me that" he said. My cheeks warmed. "What should I call you?" I asked. "Anything you like" he replied then opened his arms. "Come here." Everything inside me melted as I stared at his open arms. For twenty-one years, I had imagined this moment, I imagined running into them, I imagined him whispering that he had loved me all along. My eyes filled with tears and I took a step then another. The entire world seemed to disappear. There was only Vaelor. I smiled. "Vaelor..." I stepped into his reach and then— SMACK! The slap sent me crashing to the marble floor and pain exploded across my face. For several seconds, I couldn't understand what had happened. I tasted blood just as the room was silent then I slowly lifted my head. Vaelor stood over me, his hand was still raised. The tenderness was gone and the man I had loved my entire life was staring at me with pure disgust. I touched my cheek. "Why...?" He laughed. "You actually believed me" he said. He crouched in front of me, his eyes were cold. "I opened my arms and you came running like a pathetic little puppy." Several people in the crowd laughed and my face burned. I stared at him. "But you..." He tilted his head. "You thought I wanted to hug you? Goodness, Nyra. You're even more pathetic than I thought." I felt my throat close. "You told me you loved me" I said. He stood. "I lied. I have been lying to you for years" he said. The words shattered something inside me and I couldn't breathe. Vaelor leaned closer. "I knew exactly what you wanted and that is what made this so much fun" he said, his voice lowered. A sob escaped my lips. "You wouldn't..." "Oh, I would." He straightened. "You spent your entire life dreaming about becoming my Luna and tonight, I wanted you to believe your little dream had finally come true." My heart was breaking. "Why?" His smile disappeared. "Because I wanted to watch it die" he replied. A familiar soft laugh sounded behind him and I turned. Calista, my sister, stepped forward, smiling, and she walked straight toward Vaelor. He reached for her, their fingers intertwined as they kissed deeply and my stomach dropped. "No." Calista looked at me. "Hello, little sister." I stared at their joined hands. "How long have you been together?" I asked. Vaelor looked amused. "Several years now" he said. My heart shattered. While I had spent a year believing my childhood dream was finally coming true, they had been together. Calista rested her head against his shoulder. "She's taking it rather well" she joked. I stared at her. "You knew and you helped him?" She smiled. "I helped plan everything" she said. My blood ran cold. "What?" Vaelor laughed. "We wanted tonight to be perfect" he added. My heart twisted. She had hated me this much. Vaelor stepped toward me. "There's one more thing" he said. I looked up and he raised his wrist. The mate mark glowed then he spoke. "I reject you, Nyra Hale." The pain came instantly and I screamed. My wolf howled inside my chest as the bond ripped apart. I collapsed onto the marble floor. Through the agony, I heard Calista laughing then Vaelor's cold voice. "Take her away to Blackfang" he ordered. Every person in the room went silent and my heart stopped because I knew exactly what that meant. Blackfang belonged to one Ruthless Alpha, Alpha Rhaedric Voss, the monster everyone feared. And as the guards dragged me away, I realized something far worse than losing my mate. Vaelor and Calista hadn't merely betrayed me, they had planned where to throw me. And they had chosen the one place from which they believed I would never return.