THE REJECTED WHITE LUNA

Aria was the daughter of the Alpha of the Silver moon pack born into a life of strength and legacy but instead of respect, she is overlooked by the members of her own pack due to her weak wolf. She had always wanted to have a mate just like everyone else but on the night of the mating ceremony, her dreams came crashing down when her own mate rejects her publicly choosing another.Aria is left humiliated but something inside her refuses to stay broken.

As tension rises and unseen forces begin to shift, Aria starts to realize there may be more to her than anyone ever believed and when Aria stumbled on another pack and found out he is her second chance mate. Aria is stunned especially when she finds out who he is. Will Aria use this opportunity to take revenge on those that maode her suffer? and what happens when the alpha who rejected her starts wanting her back?

Chapter one:The girl without a wolf

The sharp scent of sweat and damp earth clung to the air around the training grounds, pressing heavy on Aria’s skin as she stood at the edge of the field. Her arms were wrapped tightly across her chest, not just to ward off the chill but to cage the tremors of a heart weighed down by years of unspoken pain. Her gaze was fixed on the dirt beneath her boots, but the sounds, the guttural commands, the crashing bones, the triumphant howls, pierced through her solitude.

“Shift!”

The single word cracked like lightning, and a cry of transformation shattered the tension. Aria’s eyes snapped upward just in time to see a boy on his knees, trembling violently as his body convulsed.

Bone creaked and reshaped with savage inevitability beneath his stretched skin until, finally, a wolf tore free, wild and raw, a living tempest unleashed.

Cheers erupted, swelling and crashing like a wave through the gathered crowd.

Pride. Triumph. Belonging. All things that slipped through Aria’s fingers like smoke.

She stood frozen, chest tight, as if the joy around her robbed her of air. This field, these moments, had once held promise for her. She had hoped, fought, and begged her own body for a sign, a spark, anything.

But there was only silence. No call in her mind. No wolf waiting in the shadows. Nothing.

“She’s still here?” The murmur cut through the cheers, sharp and cold.

Aria’s fingers clenched at her sides, nails digging into her palms, but she refused to turn.

“What’s the point? She should be hidden away in the omega quarters by now.”

“Even the omegas serve some purpose.” A cruel laugh floated on the breeze, and each word was a stone sinking in her chest.

“Aria.” The voice made her stop, utterly still, as though the ground beneath her had hardened.

It was not a summons from a friend. It never was. She turned slowly, dread coiling tighter in her gut.

Alpha Magnus, her father, stood a few steps away, tall, impossibly rigid, a monument to authority and cold expectation. His gaze swept over her, brief and dismissive. There was no warmth, no flicker of concern. Only the cold blade of disappointment.

“Why are you here?” His voice was low, but each syllable sliced.

Aria swallowed hard, her voice a fragile thread. “I… I came to train.”

“You have nothing to train.” Muffled laughter rippled from the onlookers.

The words burrowed deep, but she planted her feet. “I thought if I kept trying….”

“Trying?” His tone sharpened like a whip. “For seventeen years?”

Suddenly, all eyes were on her, and the weight of their judgment was suffocating.

“You embarrass this pack every time you set foot on this field,” he continued. “Go inside. There, at least, you’ll be less visible.”

Less visible. The phrase echoed in her mind like a cruel mantra.

She lowered her gaze, nodded, and turned away before the tears could betray her.

Inside the pack house, the atmosphere was no balm. If anything, it was worse.

Out in the open, some pretended not to see her. Here, no one even bothered.

“Careful, she might shatter something,” one maid hissed as Aria passed.

“Or herself,” another chuckled darkly.

Aria’s head stayed bowed, her footsteps light, almost ghostlike, as if she could vanish by moving quietly enough.

“Hey.” A shiver crawled down her spine. She didn’t turn; she knew the voice well. Damien, the Beta Morris son.

“Well, if it isn’t the Alpha’s failure,” he sneered, circling her like a predator.

“What are you doing out here? Shouldn’t you be hiding?” Snickers rippled from the shadows.

“I’m not bothering anyone,” Aria murmured, eyes fixed ahead.

Damien closed the distance, voice dropping. “That’s the problem. You exist.” Her breath hitched.

His shoulder jabbed hers, rough enough to unbalance but not to topple, just enough to remind her of her place.

Steadying herself, she pressed on, refusing to look back.

By the time she reached the forest’s edge, her chest heaved, lungs hungry for air.

Beneath the ancient trees, the cacophony of the pack faded into a distant memory.

The taunts, the whispers, the disdain, all dissolved into the rustling leaves and the cool, forgiving breeze.

Aria exhaled, shoulders dropping, the tight knot loosening for the first time all day.

This sanctuary, this wild refuge, was her only reprieve.

“Rough day?” The gentle voice pulled her from shadows.

She turned to see Lina emerging from behind a tree, concern softening her eyes. Unlike the pack, Lina’s gaze held neither judgment nor pity. She saw Aria’s worth.

“I heard,” Lina said softly. “Are you alright?”

A humorless laugh escaped Aria’s lips. “Do I look alright?”

Lina said nothing, simply enfolding her in a hug. Aria stiffened briefly, then surrendered to the rare comfort, clutching it like a lifeline.

“I don’t understand,” Aria whispered. “Why don’t I have a wolf?”

Lina’s arms tightened. “You will,” she promised. “Maybe you’re just… different.”

The word struck a nerve. Different. A label Aria had worn too long.

As the sun dipped low, painting the sky with bruised colors, Aria sat alone on the forest floor, eyes fixed on her hands.

Seventeen years. No wolf. No bond.

She dared to hope, maybe her mate was out there somewhere, waiting.

But in the pack, she was no daughter, no sister. Out here, no one’s. A cold truth crept in, chilling her heart.

What if they were right? What if she really was nothing?

Chapter two:The new luna

The pack house felt different that day, louder than usual and filled with excitement that Aria didn’t share.

She stood at the top of the stairs, her fingers resting lightly on the railing as wolves moved past her in a hurry, their voices overlapping as they spoke.

“They’re here.”

“I heard she’s stunning.”

“A perfect Luna for Alpha Magnus.”

Aria remained where she was, silent, watching them pass. No one spoke to her, and she didn’t expect them to.

“She’s coming.”

The words spread quickly, and the energy in the room shifted with it.

Aria straightened slightly when she felt someone stop behind her. She didn’t need to turn to know who it was.

“You will stand with the pack.” Her father’s voice carried the same cold authority it always did.

Aria turned slowly. “Where…?”

“At the back.” The answer came without hesitation. Not beside him. Not anywhere close.

At the back, where she wouldn’t be seen.

“…Yes, Alpha.”

The courtyard was already filled when Aria stepped outside.

Wolves stood in orderly rows, their posture straight and confident, as if they were part of something she could never reach.

She moved quietly to the space left at the very back and stayed there, keeping her presence small.

When the gates opened, the crowd fell silent.

A woman stepped in first, her movements calm and graceful, her presence alone enough to draw every eye toward her. It was obvious who she was.

The new Luna.

She smiled as she looked at the pack, acknowledging them with ease, as though she had always belonged there.

Beside her walked a girl about Aria’s age. She carried herself with the same confidence, her gaze moving across the courtyard as she took everything in.

Her eyes stopped when they found Aria.

The pause was brief, but noticeable. Then she smiled.

There was something about it that made Aria look away immediately.

“She’s the daughter,” someone whispered behind her.

“Selene.”

“I heard she shifted at thirteen.”

“Of course she did.” A few quiet laughs followed. Aria swallowed, keeping her gaze lowered. “Pack,” Alpha Magnus called, his voice strong and steady.

“Today, we welcome our Luna, Lydia, and her daughter, Selene.”

“And in one week’s time, the welcoming ceremony will be held,” Beta Morris added.

Applause spread through the courtyard, and the tension broke as people began to move forward.

Some approached the new Luna, while others gathered around Selene, eager to speak with her.

Aria stepped back to avoid the crowd. Then she took another step. And another. Until she turned and walked away without drawing attention.

She had almost reached the doorway when a voice stopped her.

“Running away already?” Aria paused before turning. Selene stood a few steps away, watching her with quiet interest.

“I’m not running,” Aria said.

Selene tilted her head slightly as she stepped closer. “It looks like you are.” Aria didn’t respond.

Selene’s gaze moved over her, slow and deliberate. “You’re smaller than I expected.”

“I didn’t expect anything,” Aria replied.

Selene smiled faintly. “No wolf, right?”

The question wasn’t loud, but it carried enough weight to make Aria’s chest tighten. She didn’t answer. Selene stepped closer, closing the distance between them.

“I’ve never seen someone without one before.”

Aria forced herself to speak. “I’m not….”

Selene’s hand moved suddenly, grabbing her wrist. Aria flinched.

“Not what?” Selene asked, her voice soft but firm.

“Not weak? Not unwanted?”

Her grip tightened just enough to hurt. “I didn’t mean….” Aria started.

“Good,” Selene interrupted. She leaned in slightly, her expression shifting.

“Because you don’t get to mean anything here.”

Aria felt the words settle heavily as a few people passed by, slowing just enough to watch before continuing on.

Selene released her wrist and straightened, her expression smoothing into something more pleasant.

“Don’t worry,” she said lightly. “I’ll be around you can ask me anything.” Aria pulled her hand back, rubbing her wrist.

Selene’s lips curved again. “I think I’m going to enjoy this.”

Aria frowned. “Enjoy what?”

Selene paused before answering, “Living here.” Then she added quietly, “Above you.”

She walked away after that, leaving Aria standing alone by the doorway.

By the time Aria returned inside, the noise had followed. The halls were filled with voices and laughter, but none of it felt meant for her. She kept her head down as she walked.

“Move,” someone muttered as they passed her, brushing her shoulder.

Another voice followed with a quiet laugh. “She’s always in the way.”

Aria didn’t react. She kept walking as though she hadn’t heard anything. Her room felt smaller that night, and colder than usual.

Aria sat on the edge of her bed, her gaze fixed on her wrist. The marks had already begun to fade, but she could still feel where Selene had held her.

In just a few minutes, Aria had already learned enough.

Selene wasn’t someone she could avoid. Everything about her felt deliberate. A soft knock sounded at the door. Aria stiffened immediately.

No one ever knocks.Just Lina. “…Come in.” The door opened slowly, and Selene stepped inside.

“I forgot something,” she said, closing the door behind her. Aria didn’t move.

Selene walked further into the room, glancing around as if she were inspecting it.

“This is where you stay?” she asked. “It’s small.”

“It’s enough,” Aria replied quietly. Selene looked back at her with a faint smile..

“Of course it is.” She stepped closer. “You should learn something quickly, Aria.”

Aria’s heart began to race. “What?” Selene stopped in front of her, and this time there was no smile.

“Your place.” Aria felt her breath catch.

Selene reached for her wrist again, her fingers brushing over the same spot as before. Aria flinched instinctively. Selene noticed.

“If you don’t,” she said softly, “I’ll teach you.”

Aria didn’t respond. She couldn’t. For the first time, it wasn’t the entire pack she feared.

It was just one person. And that person is standing right in front of her. Selene turned and walked toward the door. She paused briefly before leaving.

“Tomorrow will be fun.” The door closed behind her.

Aria stared at the closed door, her heart still pounding against her ribs like a trapped animal. The silence that followed Selene’s departure seemed to have weight, pressing down on her shoulders and making it difficult to breathe.

A cool draft slipped beneath the window frame, raising goosebumps along her arms. She hugged herself tightly, fingers digging into the thin fabric of her sweater.

The pack house had never felt like home, but now it felt like something worse, a cage with a predator inside.

She rose from the bed, wincing as the floorboard creaked beneath her feet. Moving to the small mirror mounted on the wall, she examined her reflection in the dim light.

The girl who stared back looked pale, fragile, exactly how she felt. Her wrist still bore the faint redness where Selene’s fingers had gripped, the mark already fading but the ache lingering.

“Would things get any better?” Aria muttered under her breath, feeling frustrated about the whole situation.

Chapter three: SHADOW OF DOUBT

The whispers started early, as they always did, but there was something different about them that morning, something that carried a kind of restless excitement through the pack house.

“The ceremony is in a week and I also heard multiple packs are coming.”

“Alpha Magnus wants it to be the biggest gathering in years.”

Aria walked through the halls quietly, her steps soft against the polished floors as the voices drifted around her without pause, weaving through the air as though she wasn’t standing right there among them.

“A proper Luna deserves that much and her daughter too.”

Aria didn’t stop walking, and she didn’t react, because she had learned long ago that reacting only gave people more reason to continue.

Even so, something about that day felt different in a way she couldn’t fully explain.

It wasn’t that people were being harsher than usual, but there was a weight in the atmosphere that made everything feel slower and harder to ignore, as though something unseen was quietly building around her.

Breakfast had already begun by the time she reached the dining hall.

The long table was filled with wolves speaking over one another, their voices blending into easy conversation as chairs shifted and laughter rose naturally among them, creating a kind of warmth that never seemed to reach her.

Aria paused at the entrance for a moment, unnoticed, or perhaps simply ignored, as no one looked up or acknowledged her presence.

For a brief second, she considered stepping forward and taking one of the empty seats, pretending that she belonged there just like everyone else. But the thought faded almost as quickly as it came.

Her stomach tightened slightly, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten properly in days, but she pushed the feeling aside.

She turned away and walked back toward her room instead. As she passed the kitchen, voices drifted out through the open doorway.

“I guess she’s not coming to eat today,” one of the maids said, her tone carrying mild irritation.

“I guess she’s desperately wishing for some to notice her absence ,” someone else said, followed by a quiet laugh.

Aria’s fingers tightened slightly against the fabric of her clothes, but she didn’t stop walking. She kept her pace steady, even though each word settled uncomfortably inside her, not because they were new, but because they were said so easily, as though she had already been reduced to something less than a person.

By the time she reached the hallway leading to her room, her steps had slowed without her realizing it.

“Aria.” Her name was spoken softly, and that alone was enough to make her stop.

She turned to see Lina standing nearby, her expression gentle and her eyes filled with concern that felt out of place in a place like this.

“I heard you didn’t come to eat yesterday,” Lina said as she stepped closer. “I was worried.”

The word felt unfamiliar to Aria, and she lowered her gaze slightly. “I was fine.”

Lina didn’t look convinced as she reached for Aria’s hands without asking, holding them lightly.

“You shouldn’t skip meals,” she said quietly. “You’re already looking thinner than before.”

Aria let out a faint breath that almost sounded like a laugh, though there was no real humor behind it.

“I’m not hungry.”

It wasn’t entirely a lie, because after a while, hunger stopped feeling like hunger and became something quieter, something that blended into everything else she already felt.

“I can get you something better,” Lina offered quickly. “Not what they serve here. Something warm.”

Aria shook her head. “It’s okay.”

Lina studied her for a moment longer, her expression tightening slightly before she looked away, as though she was thinking about something she wasn’t ready to say.

“Things are going to change soon,” she said. Aria stilled.

“Because of the ceremony?”Lina nodded.

“Packs are coming from everywhere, and not just small ones. Strong ones. Important ones.”

She hesitated briefly.

“I’m sure it won’t be so bad for you.”

Aria didn’t respond immediately because she wasn’t sure whether Lina believed that or was simply trying to comfort her.

“Or maybe you might even meet your mate,”Lina added. Before she could respond, laughter carried down the hallway from the dining room.

Selene’s voice stood out among the others, bright and effortless in a way that drew attention without trying.

“She already acts like she belongs here.””Like the true daughter of a Luna.”Some maids passing by whispered to themselves.

Aria’s grip on her clothes tightened without her noticing, her fingers pressing hard enough to leave faint marks against her skin.

Lina’s gaze dropped to her hands, and she reached out gently, easing her grip.

“Careful,” she murmured.

Aria nodded slightly, though something about the moment felt strange in a way she couldn’t fully understand.

Later that day, Aria found herself standing at the edge of the training grounds again, watching as wolves trained, their movements controlled and precise as they ran and fought.

It used to inspire her when she was younger, when she still believed that one day she would stand among them. Now, it only reminded her of everything she lacked.

“Still watching?” Aria turned slightly at the voice. Lina stood beside her, though Aria hadn’t heard her approach.

“I like it here,” Aria said, even though the noise around them made that untrue.

What she meant was that it was easier to stand there and feel something, even if that feeling came from being reminded of what she could never have.

“You shouldn’t stay too long,” Lina said after a moment. “So people won’t notice you more.”

“They always notice,” Aria replied.

“This time it will be different,” Lina said quickly.

Aria glanced at her, catching the brief hesitation that followed.

“With the ceremony coming, everyone is paying closer attention,” Lina continued. “Not just our pack.”

Aria felt something tighten in her chest.“Paying attention to what?”

Lina didn’t answer right away. She looked out at the field before speaking “To everything.”

The answer didn’t ease her thoughts, and instead left her with the uneasy feeling that whatever was coming would not pass quietly.

The days that followed moved slowly, each one blending into the next while somehow feeling heavier than the last.

The pack grew busier as the ceremony approached, with preparations filling every corner of the house.

Decorations were arranged, meetings were held, and the training grounds remained active with constant movement.

Everywhere Aria looked, there was purpose. Everyone had a place. And everywhere she went, she was reminded that she didn’t.

And for Selene, she had not disturbed or made things difficult for her after what happened the other day.

There was a little peace...But it felt controlled, as though something was slowly shifting beneath the surface, quietly reshaping how the pack saw her.

“Back to earth, Aria.” Lina’s voice broke through her thoughts as they walked near the forest later that evening.

“What are you thinking about?” Lina asked.

Aria frowned slightly. “Do I look like I’m thinking?”

Lina smiled, but there was something restrained about it.

“Everyone is just stressed,” she said “The ceremony and the guests are a lot to handle.”

Aria stopped walking. “How do you know what I was thinking about?”

Lina hesitated briefly before answering. “It’s me. I know you better than anyone.”

Aria held her gaze. “Then why does it feel like all of this is only happening to me?”

Lina’s expression shifted before she answered. “It’s not. You’re just noticing it more.”

Something about the way she said it made Aria uneasy, as though Lina was choosing her words carefully instead of speaking freely.

Before Aria could question it further, Lina reached for her hand. “You’re not alone,” she said softly.

The words should have brought comfort, especially coming from the only person who had ever stood beside her, but instead they felt distant, as though they lacked the certainty they once carried.

In the night, Aria sat by her window, staring out at the dark sky.

The moon hung low above the trees, steady and unchanged, casting its pale light across the forest as if nothing in the world had shifted.

There was only one night left before the ceremony.

One night before the pack filled with strangers. One night before everything either changed or remained exactly the same.

Aria pulled her knees closer to her chest and rested her chin against them as the familiar emptiness settled inside her again, not in a sharp or overwhelming way, but as a quiet, constant presence that had been there for so long she no longer remembered what it felt like without it.

As she stared out at the sky, a thought formed slowly in her mind, creeping in without urgency but refusing to leave once it settled.

Maybe Lina was wrong. Maybe nothing was going to change.

Maybe the ceremony wouldn’t make things better. Maybe it would only make everything worse.

Aria closed her eyes slowly, and for the first time in a long time, she didn’t allow herself to hope, because hope was beginning to feel like something that only made everything harder to endure

Chapter four: the rejection

Aria stepped into the grand hall slowly, her breath catching as the massive doors shut behind her with a dull, echoing thud. The scent of polished wood and warm candle wax mingled with the heavy perfumes lingering in the air, creating an intoxicating atmosphere that was both regal and suffocating.

The hall was a tapestry of deep crimson and gold, colors that spoke of power and ancient tradition. Long banners draped from the towering stone walls, each one embroidered meticulously with the crest of the Silver Moon Pack, a silver wolf silhouetted against a full moon.

The fabric shimmered softly under the glow of grand chandeliers hanging from the vaulted ceiling, their crystals casting fragmented light like shards of frozen stars across the polished black marble floor.

Aria's eyes traced the intricate patterns on the banners, feeling the weight of history pressing down on her fragile frame. The floor beneath her reflected her image, small, delicate, and unmistakably out of place amidst the grandeur.

The pack members were arrayed before her in a display of hierarchy and strength. To the right, future alphas stood confident, their garments rich with embroidery and symbols of their impending leadership.

To the left, high-ranking warriors loomed, clad in heavy leather and furs, their muscles taut beneath the fabrics, eyes sharp and calculating.

At the far end, the high table commanded attention. Alpha Magnus sat there, his dark hair streaked with silver, dressed in a robe of deep burgundy trimmed with gold that matched the banners behind him.

His golden eyes, cold and dismissive, scanned the hall with unyielding authority. Beside him, his Beta Ethan stood tall with a broad shoulders, the direct opposite of him. On the other side, the elders wore robes of darker hues, black and deep gray, each embroidered subtly to denote their status.

The rest of the pack filled the space between, their faces a mix of curiosity, judgment, and silent accusation. Their clothes varied from the rough homespun of the common warriors to the finer silks of the elders, all bearing the crest of the pack in some form, a pin, a clasp, a stitched emblem.

A hush fell over the room, broken only by a whisper that slithered through the crowd: "That's her..."

"She actually came."

"Has no shame."

Aria swallowed hard, feeling her fingers curl at her sides as the whispered judgments wrapped around her like a noose.

Her silver eyes lifted instinctively, searching the faces of the alphas, and other people in the hall. Her eyes landed on him.

Alpha Kael stood tall and broad shouldered, dark hair falling just above his intense eyes. His posture was relaxed but radiated power in waves, a silent challenge to the judgment around them. His gaze locked with hers, steady, piercing, and unsettling.

For a moment, the hall ceased to exist. The murmurs faded, the whispers died away, and only the intensity of that gaze remained.

Aria's breath caught.

“Why was he staring at her.” Could it be that, she's the mate to him. But those thoughts were quickly disappeared as soon as it came across her mind.

The ceremony went on and Alpha Magnus, officially welcomed as Luna Lydia and Selene. You could see from the face of Selene, she felt like she was on top of the world.

Beta Morris whispered something into Alpha magnus ears and his expression, already stone-like, grew sharper. He straightened, letting the sleeves of his robe fall just so, commanding silence before he spoke.

"In the name of our ancestors and under the gaze of the eternal moon, we convene," Magnus intoned, his voice deep as the river valley.

"Tonight, we welcome Luna Lydia to the seat of power, and in her, the promise of new blood, new alliance, and the dawn of a stronger era. Selene, child of the moon, you stand at your mother's side not only as daughter but as hope incarnate."

The crowd responded in unison: "May her lineage be blessed."

Lydia glowed beneath the weight of attention, her hands resting lightly on Selene’s shoulders, as if afraid the girl might drift up and away into the chandelier-lit heavens. Aria watched, unable to reconcile the gentle, almost maternal touch with the rumors that chased Lydia through every corridor of the estate, ambition sharp as a blade

Alpha Magnus decided to send Aria to the omega quarters as she was of no use and he needed to convince the pack elders before he could go ahead with that decision.

He climbed the podium and to get the attention of the people in the hall he used a spoon to make some sound with his wine glass.

“I would like to make an announcement. “As the Alpha of this pack and the father of Aria and Selene, this decision is for the good of the pack.

He barely paused, as if reciting a speech he’d rehearsed in murky dreams. "Our pack is strongest when its weakest are known. When the sick, the lost, and the frail are not hidden, but tended." His voice sharpened, slicing through the suspenseful hush. "Which brings us to Aria."

It was not a name, but a diagnosis.

The air chilled. Several heads turned. Even the flames in the candelabras seemed to flicker in anticipation.

Alpha Magnus did not look at her as he spoke, but rather into the crowd, as if searching for an answer among the multitudes.

"Many have asked why this one was spared," he continued, "when the moon gives no blessing, when the wolf within sleeps or simply does not exist." He let the accusation hang, heavy and slow, like a cloud that would not rain.

Aria felt her heart shattered into pieces. She never believed her father would hate her this much.

“Since she is my daughter” He continued i would like her to be moved to the omega quarters where she will be at least useful to the pack.

There were murmurs but no one could say anything to defend her. Aria felt the ground should open up and swallow her up.

Just then Alpha kael moved up to the podium. The hall became as quiet as a graveyard. If there was a a pin drop on the ground you would have heard the sound.

“I came today for alliance, to get power but it seems like the moon goddess is playing a cruel joke on me.” He continued.

He stepped toward her, the crowd parting as he approached.

“You?” His voice deep sent shivers down her spine. She opened her mouth, but no words came out, instead something pulled her to move closer to him.

“I…i thought,” she finally managed to say but stopped midway as she stared back at him for the first time but she wasn't sure if it was a flicker of anger or disgust crossing his face.

The hall has become more quiet and you could see from across the hall, Selene crossed her arms in amusement, like she loves what is happening.

Then Kael straightened, his golden eyes hardening.

A wolfless girl, my mate?”he said,his voice dripping with all kinds of hate. “Is this suppose to be a joke

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Aria felt her last hope being crushed, her cheeks burned as whispers spread as wild fire.

“She's his mate? That can't be possible.”

A wolfless girl for an Alpha? How embarrassing.”

Aria’s knees trembled, her stomach knots as kael stepped closer, just an inch farther away from her. “I Kael Trevor Dominus, Alpha of Nightfang pack, rejects you, Aria, as my mate and Luna.”

The bond snapped immediately, the pain exploding through her chest, Aria gasped,clutching her heart as tears blurred her vision.

“I would have done so if I were him.” Someone from the crowd murmured but more audible to her hearing.

“What did she expect?” Another chipped in mockingly.

Aria felt her legs trembling, the rejection ripping through her soul.

Lina, immediately as though she just got herself, rushed to her side. “Ria, let's go,” she whispered, wrapping an arm around her but Aria shook her head. “He didn't mean it, I'm sure , " she said softly, her voice trembling. “He can't mean it Lina.”

“You don't have to stay here and take all these Aria,” Lina said firmly, her voice filled with anger. “Let's go.”

Kael turned his back on them, his posture rigid as he looked dismissive.

“This ceremony is over.” Alpha Magnus' voice sounded very loud. The pack dispersed, their excitement replaced with cruel smirks and whispered insults.

Only Kael, Alpha magnus, Luna Lydia, Selene and some elders remained in the hall as Lina left with Aria.

Chapter five: the meeting chamber

"This isn't finished," Alpha Magnus said quietly.

"The meeting chamber," “Now.” He commanded.

The remaining few fell into step behind him,Elder Aldric, his weathered face heavy with trouble; Elder Helena, sharp-eyed and watchful; Luna Lydia with her hand resting possessively on Selene's shoulder; Beta Morris, ever silent.

Kael did not move immediately. He stared at the doors a moment longer.

"Alpha?" Ethan's voice was low. "Let's get this over with," Kael said, and followed.

The meeting chamber lay deeper in the estate, a room built for secrets. A single long table of dark polished wood dominated the space.

Magnus took his seat at the head of the table. The elders arranged themselves along one side. Luna Lydia stood near Magnus, Selene positioned carefully in a chair along the wall, present but not quite at the table.

Kael sat opposite the elders. Ethan stood behind him. Beta Morris closed the door.

Elder Aldric spoke first, his gravel voice carrying decades of weight.

"The moon goddess chose Aria as your mate, Alpha Kael. You rejected her publicly. I ask you directly, why?"

Kael met his gaze without flinching. "Because a mate who cannot shift is no mate at all. She's a weakness. And weakness spreads."

"The bond is sacred. You felt it. We all saw your face."

"What I felt," Kael said, hardening, "was the moon's cruelty. My duty is to my people, not to a bond that would doom them."

Elder Marius grunted. "He's not wrong about the politics."

"Marius," Aldric warned.

"Aldric, you know it as well as I do. A Luna who can't shift invites challenge." Marius fixed his stare on Kael. "But the broken bond remains. It will fester. In you. In her. In both packs."

Selene shifted in her chair. In the candlelight, her features looked almost angelic. But her eyes held something older than innocence. "If I may," she said softly. "I believe there is a solution that benefits everyone."

She rose and moved toward the table. "Alpha Kael needs a strong alliance. My father needs our pack's future secured. And Aria..." she paused, letting the name hang. "Aria needs to heal. Away from here."

She stopped beside her mother, facing Kael directly. "I can give you what Aria never could. I can shift. My bloodline is pure, my wolf is strong. Our union would cement the alliance you came seeking."

"You're offering yourself," Kael said.

"I'm offering a solution." Selene tilted her head. "Take me as your Luna, and take Aria to Nightfang as an act of mercy. Your healers are the finest in the territories. She'll be cared for. Protected. And you'll have eyes on her, ensure the broken bond doesn't complicate things."

Elder Aldric's frown deepened. "You would send that girl into the home of the man who destroyed her? Make her live under his roof while he courts her own sister? That is cruelty I didn't think you capable of."

Selene turned to him, wounded innocence perfected. "What is the alternative? Aria stays here? Our father has already decreed she be moved to the omega quarters. She'll scrub floors while the pack mocks her daily. Is that more merciful?"

"Her own people…"

"Her own people?" Selene's voice sharpened before smoothing. "You heard them tonight. 'What did she expect?' 'Has no shame.' At least in Nightfang, no one knows her shame. She can start fresh."

Elder Helena, silent until now, finally spoke. Her voice was quiet but carried unmistakable weight. "We can argue intentions until the candles burn to stubs. But there is one person whose voice has not been heard tonight."

Selene's smile flickered. "Elder Helena.."

"The girl herself." Helena turned her sharp gaze to Magnus. "Aria is not furniture to be moved from room to room. She deserves to hear what is being proposed and make her own choice."

Elder Aldric nodded slowly. "Helena is right."

Magnus's expression didn't change. "And if she refuses?"

"Then she refuses," Helena said simply. "And we find another path."

Kael leaned back. "Bring her, then. Let her decide."

Magnus studied him for a long moment, then gestured to Beta Morris. "Fetch Aria." Morris bowed and exited.

When the door opened again, Aria stepped through with Lina at her side. Her silver eyes were still red rimmed, but the tears had dried, leaving behind something harder. Her frame looked even smaller in the candlelight, but her chin was lifted.

Lina's hand was locked in hers.

"You wished to see me," Aria said, her voice hollow but steady. She looked at no one directly, not her father, not the elders, and certainly not Kael.

Elder Helena answered, her tone gentler than anything spoken in that room all night. "Thank you for coming, child. Decisions are being made about your future, decisions we refused to finalize without your voice."

Aria's brow furrowed. "My voice? Since when does my voice matter to anyone here?"

Helena's lips pressed together in something close to regret. "It matters tonight. So listen carefully."

She gestured toward Selene. "Your sister has proposed a solution.”

“Step sister” Aria said softly Buh firm.

There was shock on the faces of everyone in chamber but Elder Helena continued.

“Alpha Kael seeks an alliance with this pack. Selene has offered herself as his Luna. Part of this arrangement includes sending you to the

Nightfang pack, where their healers would tend to you. Away from everything that has caused you pain."

Aria went still. The kind of still that preceded earthquakes.

"Take me to his pack," she said slowly. "The same man who just rejected me in front of everyone. The same man who called me a joke. You want me to live under his roof and accept his charity."

"It's not charity," Selene said smoothly. "It's an opportunity."

"An opportunity." Aria laughed, a jagged, broken sound. "An opportunity to watch from the servant's quarters as he courts my step sister? To be paraded around as the rejected mate graciously kept like a stray dog?"

"You're being dramatic."

"Am I?" Aria stepped forward, something dangerous flickering in her silver eyes. "You've wanted me gone since the day you stepped into this pack. Now you've found a way to exile me while looking merciful doing it."

"Aria…"

"No." Her voice cracked like a whip. "I would rather rot in the omega quarters. I would rather scrub floors until my hands bleed than accept anything from him, or from you." She turned to leave.

"Ria, wait." Lina grabbed her arm. "Please. Just give me a moment." Aria hesitated, her chest heaving. Elder Helena nodded once. "Take your moment, child."

Lina pulled her to the corner of the chamber. "What are you doing? Have you lost your mind?"

"Lina, you heard them. They want to send me away with him."

"I know what he did." Lina's voice was urgent. "If I could claw his eyes out, I would. But this isn't about him. This is about you." She gripped Aria's shoulders. "If you stay here, what happens? Say it out loud."

Aria's jaw tightened. "I go to the omega quarters."

"Yes. You become a servant. Damien will make every day misery. Your father will pretend you don't exist. The pack will never let you forget tonight."

"So I should go to Nightfang and then what?"

"You should go to Nightfang because no one there knows you. No one has spent years learning exactly how to hurt you. You can breathe there. Their healers really are the best." Lina's voice softened.

"He'll be there. And that will hurt. But being near him might be better than being near them. Here, you have enemies who know every wound. There, you have strangers. And right now, strangers are safer."

Aria stared at her friend. "You really believe this."

"I believe you deserve to survive. Not just endure. Survive. And I don't think you can do that here. Not anymore."

Aria closed her eyes. Behind her lids: Kael's face hardening. The crowd's whispers. The bond snapping like a tendon torn from bone.

But beneath the pain, survival. The stubborn refusal to let them win.

"Fine," she breathed. "I'll go."

Lina exhaled. "Okay. Good. Let's…"

"But." Aria opened her eyes, and there was steel in them now. "On one condition."They turned back to face the room together.

"I've made my decision," Aria announced. Her voice no longer trembled.

Selene's smile widened. "Wonderful. I knew..”Aria cut her short.

"I'll go to the Nightfang pack." Aria's gaze swept the room, landing on Kael. "But on one condition."

Kael raised an eyebrow. "Name it."

Aria tightened her grip on Lina's hand. "Lina comes with me." The words landed like stones in still water.

Selene's smile froze. "That's ridiculous. Lina has duties here. She can't simply…."

"Done."

Kael's voice cut through with the finality of a blade. He had not looked away from Aria.

"Kael…" Ethan started.

"I said it's done." Kael rose from his chair. "Both of you. Dawn. Be ready."

Aria searched his golden eyes for something, an explanation, a hint of the man who had looked at her across the grand hall before his voice turned cruel. She found nothing.

"Then we're done here," she said. She turned, still holding Lina's hand, and walked toward the door. No one stopped them.

Just before the door closed, Selene's voice cut through stripped of sweetness, cold with fury: "That girl…." The latch clicked.

In the corridor, Aria slumped against the stone wall, her body shaking. Lina caught her.

"What did I just agree to?" Lina didn't answer. She didn't have to.

But Aria knew it won't be easy.