Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by the Crown

Owen Greystone's POV

On my twentieth birthday, learning that Ember was my mate hit me like a cruel prank. A wolf-less human mated to me, the future Alpha of the Moonshine Pack? The moon goddess had to be mocking me.

"You've got to be kidding me."

A wolf-less human as my mate? Laughable. Still, I couldn't treat her any differently - my father had made it clear she was to be regarded as a full pack member, with equal rights. Accepting her into the pack was already my biggest compromise. Her as my Luna? Never. We'd shared a few kisses, but that was a mistake. I knew what a true Alpha's Luna was like, my mother, a formidable warrior who could fight beside my father at any moment. Ember, on the other hand, would always be a damsel in distress. I couldn't even imagine what role she'd play in a battle, a cheering squad, maybe?

I needed a strong Luna to support and grow the pack with me, not a fragile human I would have to shield. I would spare no time in shielding her. Even if she had spent years sheltered by her adoptive parents, brother, and friends, I, Owen, wouldn't pamper her or become her protective umbrella. In fact, it was best if she disappeared discreetly so she wouldn't continue to implicate her loved ones.

I had rejected her at the ceremony and forced her to accept it. I thought she would fight it, but when she accepted without a word, a sharp pain struck my chest. I brushed it off and joined my friends at the bonfire, drowning the ache in alcohol and faking a smile.

Ember must have gone home, sitting in her room in a daze, crying her heart out, but she would only be crying because of a slight setback.

She wouldn't feel the pain as I do. I felt drained just at the thought of it. Did I offend the moon goddess to make her my mate?

"Well, look who we have here, the future Alpha!" My brother Asher burst in with Klaus, Ember's brother, both with glasses of tequila in hand, smiling. They took the opposite couch.

I snatched Asher's glass and downed it. Everyone knew I would soon become Alpha, but the pressure still made my pulse race. I wasn't used to it.

"Brother, next weekend's your big day! We should be celebrating," Asher said. "A double celebration if you find your mate!" Klaus added.

I avoided Klaus's eyes, guilt gnawing at me. If he knew I'd rejected his sister and humiliated her, his toast would turn into a punch.

Damn it! Why this guilt? I couldn't help but groan, of all these people in the pack, anyone could have been my mate, but why does it have to be her?

"Stop sulking, Owen," Asher teased, elbowing me. "It's a happy night, but you are frowning. "Keep that up, and you'll be a wrinkled old Alpha before you're thirty!"

He and Klaus laughed, clinking glasses. I couldn't join in because of guilt. Klaus was my best friend, but I'd crushed his sister, used cruel words, and humiliated her. I was a jerk.

"Has anyone seen Ember?" Klaus's mother rushed in, worry etched on her face.

My heart lurched at her name. I didn't understand why I had such a weird reaction. I felt like a kid caught in a lie and was frightened the adults would find out.

"I heard her saying she wanted to visit the pack house before I left," Klaus said.

"Yes, that's what she told me before we parted ways. She said she was visiting the pack house to see Owen.” Klaus's mother turned to me, her pained stare piercing me. “Owen, didn't you see her?”

"No, I didn't see her," I blurted, too fast.

"I checked the pack house hoping I would find her there," she said, trembling. "But she's not there. It's been hours. She loves this ceremony, where could she be?" Her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

I tried to catch Ember's lavender scent, but to my dismay, it was faint, barely there. She wasn't in the pack.

"I'll go look for her, she could be in danger."  Klaus said, setting down his glass and standing.

"We're with you, man," Asher said, jumping up and nudging me. "Right, Owen?"

"Yeah, sure, more eyes, better odds," I muttered, forcing my voice steady to avoid suspicion.

Klaus, Asher, and I, along with Klaus's parents, followed the fading scent into the woods. It weakened with every step, twisting back on itself as if she'd been toying with us. My guilt vanished, replaced by irritation. Ember was pulling some dramatic stunt, ruining the night. Rejecting her was the right choice; her weak-minded, emotional nature would drag the pack down with her. 

Ember would probably be somewhere, sobbing, making us chase her like idiots. If she hadn't been so desperate, clinging to dreams of being Luna, I'd be back at the bonfire, sipping tequila, maybe flirting with a real mate to wipe her from my mind. Instead, here I was, trudging through the woods because of her. Thank goodness I rejected her; living with someone so weak would drive me mad.

"Look!" Klaus shouted, bolting forward like a shot. I'd never seen him move so fast. On the ground lay a crimson bow... Ember's. I'd seen it in her hair hours ago, when she stood before me, tears in her eyes as I tore her apart.

I clenched my jaw. Ember wouldn't vanish without a trace. She was probably hiding somewhere, hurt and angry, making everyone worry.