The Alpha's Rejection
The entire Silver Moon Pack territory was alive with excitement.
Bright lights decorated the large pack hall, and the smell of roasted meat filled the air. Wolves from every corner of the territory had gathered for the special event.
Tonight was the Mating Ceremony.
For most wolves, this ceremony only happened once in their lifetime. It was the moment when a wolf publicly accepted their mate in front of the entire pack.
But tonight's ceremony was more important than usual.
Because the Alpha himself was involved.
Liana stood near the back of the hall, her heart pounding loudly in her chest.
Her hands trembled slightly as she watched the crowd.
Everyone looked excited.
Everyone except her.
She knew very well that most of them were not happy for her. Many of the pack members had never accepted her, especially because she still couldn't shift into her wolf.
To them, she was weak.
Too weak to ever stand beside the Alpha.
Yet fate had chosen her.
Two weeks ago, the mate bond between her and Alpha Logan had appeared suddenly during the pack gathering.
She still remembered the moment clearly.
The moment their eyes met across the hall.
A strange warmth had rushed through her chest, and a voice deep inside her soul whispered a single word.
Mate.
It had been the happiest moment of her life.
But things hadn't gone the way she expected.
Alpha Logan had not shown any happiness when he realized she was his mate.
Instead, his expression had turned cold.
Since that day, he had completely ignored her existence.
Yet tonight, the entire pack had gathered for this ceremony.
Liana didn't know what to expect.
Her eyes slowly moved toward the front of the hall.
That was when the crowd suddenly became silent.
The large doors opened.
Alpha Logan walked in.
His tall figure immediately commanded everyone's attention. His sharp silver eyes scanned the room as he walked toward the center of the hall.
Power radiated from him naturally.
He was the strongest wolf in the entire territory.
The leader of the Silver Moon Pack.
Behind him walked Vanessa.
Liana's chest tightened the moment she saw them together.
Vanessa looked beautiful tonight. She wore a long dark dress that hugged her body perfectly, and her confident smile made it clear that she felt she belonged beside the Alpha.
The crowd began whispering.
"They look perfect together."
"Vanessa should be the Luna."
"That weak girl could never stand beside the Alpha."
Liana lowered her head as their words stabbed into her heart.
She tried to ignore them.
She tried to stay calm.
But it was becoming harder with every second.
The ceremony leader stepped forward.
"Tonight we gather to witness the Alpha's choice," he announced loudly.
The entire hall became silent.
Liana's heart began beating faster.
This was the moment.
Her fingers tightened nervously as she waited.
Alpha Logan stepped forward slowly.
His expression remained cold and unreadable.
For a brief moment, his silver eyes met hers.
The faint mate bond between them stirred painfully in her chest.
But there was no warmth in his gaze.
Only cold indifference.
Then he turned away from her.
Instead, he reached for Vanessa's hand.
Gasps spread across the hall.
Liana felt like the ground beneath her feet had disappeared.
Vanessa smiled proudly as she stood beside him.
The ceremony leader looked confused.
"Alpha… what does this mean?"
Alpha Logan's voice was calm and firm.
"A Luna must be strong."
His words echoed clearly through the hall.
"And the Silver Moon Pack deserves a Luna who can protect it."
He glanced briefly in Liana's direction.
His gaze was sharp and cold.
"But my supposed mate cannot even shift into her wolf."
The crowd erupted into murmurs.
Liana's chest tightened painfully.
She felt hundreds of eyes staring at her.
Some with pity.
Most with amusement.
Vanessa smirked as she wrapped her arm around the Alpha's.
Alpha Logan raised his voice so everyone could hear him clearly.
"I, Alpha Logan of the Silver Moon Pack…"
Liana's body trembled.
She already knew what was coming.
But hearing it out loud still felt impossible.
"I reject Liana as my mate."
The words struck her like thunder.
The entire hall exploded with shocked gasps.
Some wolves began whispering excitedly.
Others laughed openly.
Liana felt like her heart had shattered into a thousand pieces.
The mate bond in her chest twisted painfully.
She struggled to breathe as the humiliation washed over her.
Vanessa stepped forward proudly.
"Finally," she said loudly. "The pack deserves a real Luna."
More laughter spread across the hall.
Tears burned in Liana's eyes, but she refused to let them fall.
Not here.
Not in front of everyone.
She lifted her head slowly and looked directly at Alpha Logan.
"Is that truly what you want?" she asked quietly.
For a moment, the hall became silent again.
Alpha Logan's expression didn't change.
"You are too weak," he said coldly.
"You would only bring shame to this pack."
Those words cut deeper than any blade.
Liana felt her chest tighten painfully.
But instead of crying, something strange happened.
A sudden wave of energy rushed through her body.
It was warm.
Powerful.
Ancient.
Her eyes widened slightly as the unfamiliar feeling spread through her chest.
Deep inside her soul, something stirred.
Something that had been sleeping for a very long time.
Liana placed a hand over her heart.
What is happening…?
Far away… beyond the borders of the Silver Moon Pack…
A massive black wolf suddenly lifted his head toward the moon.
His golden eyes glowed brightly in the darkness.
He could feel it.
The awakening of a powerful bond.
A deep voice echoed inside his mind.
"My mate… has finally appeared."
Back in the pack hall, Liana slowly raised her head.
The humiliation was still there.
The pain was still there.
But something inside her had changed.
And very soon…
The entire world would learn that the weakest wolf in the pack was hiding the greatest secret of them all.