The full moon illuminated the Bloodmoon Pack grounds, casting a soft silver light over the forest. Shadows flickered across the clearing, where numerous pack members had gathered for the Alpha Ceremony, a night meant to be joyful. For Alera, however, it felt like anything but.
She lingered at the edge of the crowd, her heart racing like a drum in her chest. Her fingers gripped the hem of her dress tightly, her knuckles pale from the strain. Her long black hair cascaded down her back in waves, and her golden eyes searched for him Alpha Kade, her destined mate. Just days ago, she had felt the bond between them ignite. It was powerful, overwhelming, a pull that intensified with every passing hour. And on this night, beneath the brilliant full moon, she dared to hope that he would claim her.
But instead, Kade stood tall on the stone platform, draped in ceremonial black. His cold blue eyes were fixed on her not with affection, but with contempt.
"Alera of the orphan line," Kade's voice pierced the air, sharp and cruel, made more potent by his Alpha authority. "You are not worthy to stand beside me."
Gasps rippled through the audience. Alera felt a lump form in her throat. He descended the platform, moving toward her slowly, the silence punctuated only by the echo of his footsteps. Just his presence made her wolf cower within her. He halted inches away. "I reject you," he stated, his voice devoid of feeling. "You are unfit to be Luna of this pack."
His words shattered something deep inside her. The mate bond twisted painfully, resisting, throbbing. Tears threatened to spill, but she blinked them away. She wouldn't cry never in front of them.
"Then I accept your rejection," she replied, forcing her voice to remain steady. Pain surged through her chest as the bond snapped. It was a clean break, a tearing of soul from soul. He turned his back on her without another glance, and the pack, her pack and laughed.
Later that night, Alera found herself by the river behind the pack house. This was her home, the place where she was raised by the pack healer after being abandoned as a baby. She didn't know who her real parents were, nor did she possess a title or any magic like the others in the northern territories. And now, she had lost her mate.
Her heart ached, but she did not cry, even when she heard footsteps approaching.
"You shouldn't be out here alone," a soft voice said. It was Mira, her only friend.
"I needed some air," Alera replied.
Mira sat beside her, falling into silence for a moment. "He didn't need to humiliate you like that," she said quietly. "You didn't deserve it."
Alera let out a hollow laugh. "Apparently, I did." Mira reached for her hand. "You'll find someone better." But Alera felt doubtful. No wolf ever truly moved on from a rejected bond. Many lost their sanity; some never loved again.
"Maybe it's for the best," she said, though she didn't truly believe it. "Now I can leave."
Mira blinked in surprise. "You're serious?"
"I don't belong here. I never did." The wind picked up, rustling the trees. The moon above began to fade, slipping behind clouds. Alera rose to her feet. "I'll be gone before sunrise."
She left with only a satchel, a cloak, and the ache of a broken bond. No one stopped her. No one cared. The pack gates slammed shut behind her, echoing like a death knell. She walked east, into the forest where the borderlands began. Rumors spoke of rogue wolves and forbidden territories, places where laws didn't apply, ruled by the Lycan King, a figure most believed to be a myth. An ancient bloodline, even more powerful than Alphas.
She didn't care. Let the wild take her.
She crossed rivers, climbed hills, slept under trees, hunted alongside her wolf who had remained strangely quiet since the rejection. Days melted into nights until she stepped into unfamiliar territory. Here, the land was darker, wilder. The trees were thicker, and the air was thick with magic. She could sense it, something ancient stirring beneath her.
Then came the sound a howl. Deep and powerful, unlike any Alpha's call. Her breath hitched. Her wolf stirred for the first time in days. Alera turned slowly and saw him a man standing across the clearing, cloaked in midnight black. His silver eyes shone like moons. He was tall, exuding power, radiating an energy that made the trees themselves bow.
His gaze locked onto hers, and the bond struck her like lightning. It was hot and electric. Her heart stopped. Another mate? No, not just another. A Lycan.
He stepped forward, his voice rumbling through the clearing. "You are mine."