The moon hung high in the sky, glowing brighter than ever before.
It was the night every wolf waited for—the night of the mate bond reveal.
My heart pounded as I stood at the edge of the clearing, surrounded by pack members. Laughter echoed, excitement filled the air… but I felt none of it.
Because tonight, I was terrified.
"Step forward," Alpha Damon's deep voice commanded.
My breath caught.
Him.
The strongest Alpha in the region. Cold. Untouchable. Feared.
And rumored to have no heart.
One by one, wolves stepped forward, finding their mates. Joyful cries filled the night.
Then it happened.
His eyes locked on mine.
A strange pull gripped my chest. My wolf stirred, restless, desperate.
No…
It couldn't be.
I stepped forward slowly, my legs trembling.
"Mate…" my wolf whispered.
The word echoed in my mind like thunder.
I looked into his eyes, expecting shock… maybe even curiosity.
But instead—
Disgust.
A cold, cruel smirk formed on his lips.
"No," Alpha Damon said loudly.
The entire clearing went silent.
"I reject you."
The words hit harder than any physical blow.
Gasps spread through the crowd. My vision blurred as tears filled my eyes.
"Why…?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.
He leaned closer, his voice low and deadly.
"Because I would never accept someone as weak as you."
My heart shattered.
And under the same moon that was supposed to bless me…
I was broken.