REJECTED BY THE ALPHA, CLAIMED BY HIS FATHER

I couldn't stop smiling as I stood in the middle of the clearing. The full moon was huge and bright overhead. My white dress felt soft against my skin and the flowers in my hair smelled sweet. This was it. The night I finally became Luna. My fated mate, Alpha Ryder, was going to claim me in front of the whole Silver Moon Pack.

My wolf was practically dancing inside me. He's ours. He's really ours tonight.

The drums started beating fast. Everyone watched as I walked up the stone steps to the platform. Ryder stood there tall and strong, his green eyes on me. I reached for his hand, excited sparks already jumping between us from the mate bond.

Elder Thorne cleared his throat. "Alpha Ryder, do you accept Ava as your fated mate and Luna?"

I held my breath.

"No," Ryder said loudly.

The word hit me like a slap. The whole pack went dead silent.

"What did you say?" I whispered. My smile dropped fast.

Ryder looked right at me, no warmth in his eyes. "I reject you, Ava. I choose Lena as my Luna instead."

Gasps and whispers exploded all around us. Lena stepped out from the side in a tight red dress, grinning like she had already won. My chest felt like it was cracking open. The mate bond that had been warm and golden inside me for three years suddenly twisted and snapped. Pain shot through my whole body. My wolf howled in agony.

"Why are you doing this?" I cried. Tears burned my eyes but I blinked hard. "You marked me! You said I was your everything!"

Ryder didn't even flinch. "The pack needs power and strong alliances. Lena gives us that. You were just a weak mistake the moon gave me. I'm fixing it."

Every word cut deeper. The entire pack was staring at me. Some looked shocked. Others had pity in their eyes. A few even smirked. Humiliation burned my face red. I wanted to disappear. I wanted to scream. But I forced my chin up.

"Then I reject you too, Ryder," I said, my voice shaking. "I'm done with you and this pack."

I turned and ran down the steps. No one tried to stop me. I pushed through the crowd, their whispers following me like knives. As soon as I hit the trees I ran faster. Branches scratched my arms and tore my pretty dress but I didn't care. I ran until my lungs burned and my legs felt like jelly.

Finally I collapsed beside a small stream, splashing cold water on my face. I cried so hard my stomach hurt. The bite mark on my neck from Ryder throbbed once, then went cold and numb as the bond died completely. How could he humiliate me like that? In front of everyone?

I sat there for a long time, shaking and alone. Then something strange happened. Heat bloomed on my left wrist. I pushed up my ripped sleeve and stared.

A glowing mark had appeared. A circle with moons and old-looking symbols twisting inside it. It pulsed with power. My wolf perked up, curious and alert.

"What is this?" I touched it. The mark flared brighter and a rush of energy shot through me. For the first time tonight I didn't feel completely broken.

But then I heard heavy footsteps coming through the woods. Fast. Getting closer. A deep, powerful voice echoed in my head.

*Ava...*

My heart raced. I jumped up, looking around wildly. The mark burned hotter. Whoever was coming felt huge. Stronger than Ryder. Stronger than any wolf I had ever met.

The trees shook. A massive figure stepped out of the shadows, silver eyes locking onto mine.

It was Alpha King Lucian. Ryder's father.

And the way he was looking at me... it felt like the mate bond was waking up again. But this time with him.

"Oh no," I whispered.

This couldn't be happening.