Rejected By My Alpha Claimed By The Lycan King

The Moonlight Pack’s grand hall glittered beneath hundreds of crystal lights. Tonight was supposed to be the happiest night of Aria Nightshade’s life. For years, she had dreamed of this moment—the night she would finally stand beside her fated mate before the entire pack and complete the mating ceremony. Her heart raced as she adjusted the silver dress her mother had made for her. “You look beautiful,” her best friend Lily whispered. Aria forced a nervous smile. “Do you think Alpha Damon will be happy to see me?” Lily hesitated. The hesitation did not go unnoticed. Everyone in the pack knew Alpha Damon Blackwood was distant toward Aria. Yet Aria believed the Moon Goddess would never make a mistake. A mate bond was sacred. Surely Damon would accept her tonight. The grand doors suddenly opened. The crowd immediately fell silent. Alpha Damon entered. Tall. Handsome. Powerful. Every woman in the room stared at him. But Damon’s eyes never landed on Aria. Instead, they remained fixed on another woman. Selena Frost. The daughter of the Beta. Aria’s stomach twisted painfully. Something felt wrong. Very wrong. The Elder stepped forward. “Tonight, we gather to witness the union of Alpha Damon Blackwood and his fated mate, Aria Nightshade.” Applause erupted. Aria stepped forward. Her hands trembled. Her wolf purred excitedly. Mate… Mate… Mate… For the first time, Damon’s eyes met hers. But there was no warmth. No love. Only coldness. A terrible feeling settled inside her chest. The Elder smiled. “Alpha Damon, do you accept Aria Nightshade as your mate and future Luna?” Silence. The entire hall waited. Aria held her breath. Then Damon spoke. “I refuse.” The words crashed through the hall like thunder. The crowd gasped. Aria froze. Her heart stopped beating. “What?” she whispered. Damon stepped forward. His voice was loud enough for everyone to hear. “I reject Aria Nightshade as my mate.” The room exploded with shocked murmurs. Aria’s face turned pale. Tears immediately filled her eyes. “Damon…” “I don’t love you,” he said coldly. The words sliced through her heart. “I never wanted you.” The pain of the mate bond began burning inside her chest. Aria struggled to breathe. The entire pack stared at her. Some looked shocked. Others looked amused. Selena smirked from the crowd. Humiliation washed over Aria. “Please…” she whispered. But Damon wasn’t finished. “I, Alpha Damon Blackwood, reject Aria Nightshade as my mate.” The mate bond shattered. Pain exploded through Aria’s body. She collapsed to her knees. A scream escaped her lips. Tears streamed down her face. The crowd watched without mercy. Tonight should have been her coronation as Luna. Instead, she had become a public embarrassment. Damon walked toward Selena. Then, before everyone… He wrapped an arm around her waist. The crowd gasped again. Selena smiled triumphantly. “She’s the woman I truly want.” Aria’s world crumbled. Suddenly— BOOM! The massive doors of the grand hall burst open. A powerful pressure swept through the room. Every wolf instantly lowered their heads. Even Alpha Damon stiffened. Fear filled the hall. Heavy footsteps echoed across the floor. One. Two. Three. A tall man dressed in black entered. His silver eyes glowed like moonlight. The air around him radiated terrifying power. The Elder’s face turned white. “No…” The crowd trembled. “It can’t be…” Aria looked up through her tears. The stranger’s gaze locked onto hers. His eyes widened. For a brief moment, shock crossed his face. Then he spoke four words that changed everything. “Bring my mate to me.”