*Music Recommendation* – "The Sound of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel; Piano cover: Ludovico Einaudi-esque.
The full moon had appeared, brighter than ever, redder than ever. She stood frozen, feeling the moon call to her, urging her to take a step. A step closer to it.
Her brain stuttered as her eyes couldn't move away from it. She had yet to close the window when a strong gust of wind rushed through, almost throwing her out this time. But surprisingly, she remained in the same spot.
She dropped her hand to her side as if in a daze, her mouth falling open. Her body shivered at the sight of the moon. It felt like a creature inside it was signaling her to come closer. This was her first blood moon — she had seen full moons before, but a blood moon happens once a decade. Luna's skin started burning, and she felt hot despite the cold wind. Her eyes took on another shape and glowed bright gold, her whole form shining radiantly in the dark. The next second, Luna was sprinting. She didn't know where she was running to, but the more she ran, the closer she got to the pack territory where the pack run was held.
She tried to turn around, to take a detour. Her body was primed for motion, but it felt like it no longer belonged to her. She was moving at a speed even a werewolf's eyes couldn't catch. A primal scream choked in her throat as she realized there was no backing down now — she was close, so close to the territory border.
She could see the huge podium at the center of the territory, and she saw the shaman standing on it. In the middle was an altar with fire crackling on top. The shaman was chanting and looked concentrated when his eyes snapped to Luna. They widened like saucers, then drifted to the Alpha standing beside him on the podium.
The shaman's sharp eyes immediately spotted something in Luna, and soon she became the center of attention of the pack members gathered for the run. All eyes were suddenly on her, but Luna's eyes were fixed on one person — a great longing in her gaze — and that person was none other than Alpha Magnus, whose eyes were also on her.
The crowd soon erupted with loud noise. "What is happening?" a curious omega asked the friend standing close to her. "Who is she, and why isn't she dressed properly?" The girl continued, though her friend didn't seem to know Luna and didn't speak.
Luna's attention was fixed on the podium as an incredible, intoxicating scent — earthy and musky, like damp soil mixed with dark chocolate — filled her nostrils. Luna couldn't understand it, wondering where the scent was coming from. Her curiosity spiked even as her mind told her to leave. Her legs were already walking closer to the crowd.
She pushed her way in and moved closer to the front. Surprisingly, the scent was coming from one of the people on the podium, so her feet started moving in that direction. She could hear snickers from the omegas but paid them no mind.
And then she started climbing the stairs leading to the podium. The whispers grew louder.
"WHAT DOES SHE THINK SHE IS DOING?!"
"HAS SHE FINALLY GONE MAD?"
"SOMEBODY NEEDS TO STOP HER — THE ALPHA WILL KILL HER."
"SHE WILL DESTROY THIS RUN. SO MUCH FOR NOT HAVING A WOLF; NOW SHE WANTS TO RUIN IT FOR EVERYBODY!"
The omegas and some ministers shouted, but Luna didn't mind. She needed to figure out who had this addictive scent. Surprisingly, the guards and knights didn't move to stop her, so she continued. She heard her aunt and sister telling her to come down at once through the pack mind-link, but Luna didn't heed their warnings.
And there she stood now in front of the Alpha who had been her friend all her life, the only man she had ever loved. Or so she thought. She realized the unique scent was coming from him. She felt him reach out and touch her face affectionately. Luna shivered from the spark when their skin came into contact, and now she knew why he always jolted anytime he touched her. He had known all along that she was his mate.
The whole pack soon erupted in louder noise as gasps flew around the people present, witnessing this beautiful scene. They couldn't believe that the wolf-less she-wolf was the mate of their Alpha — surely there was a mistake somewhere, some of them thought. Whispers broke out as people voiced their disbelief and grievances.
"Oh, my Moon Goddess! Don't tell me I'll be witnessing mates recognizing each other for the first time in my life," a sixteen-year-old girl whispered.
"How can the Moon Goddess pair our great Alpha with a wolf-less girl? It makes no sense."
"This can't be right. Let's not jump to conclusions. It's not yet certain she is Alpha Magnus's mate — this might be a ploy. Let's not fall for it, and wait for our Alpha's words."
A high-ranking minister with experience said this, and the people present nodded in agreement. They had to wait for their Alpha to say something.
Luna was struck in the spot as realization dawned on her — Alpha Magnus knew she was his mate all along and kept quiet. But why? He had always been the one to assure her he would make her his chosen mate even if she never awakened her wolf. So why now? Was he ashamed of her? Well, she was already ashamed of herself… but still. This didn't make any sense. And why was she suddenly able to identify her mate when she was supposed to have no wolf?
Only a werewolf who had awakened their wolf could identify their mate — as the wolf in them would speak to them on the day they found their mate. But she felt nothing except this unique scent and spark that confirmed he was truly her mate.
Luna was deep in her thoughts when she suddenly heard a deep, masculine, husky voice.
"I have been waiting for this moment almost all my life," Magnus whispered, for only her to hear. His sexy voice made Luna blush deeply — her whole face burned.
She smiled brightly at him, making her whole form shine, and then she heard it — the words no mate wanted their other half to say.
Magnus suddenly cleared his throat.
The fire on the altar cracked. And he spoke loudly, for every member of the pack to hear.
"I, Alpha Magnus, son of the Shadow Moon, reject you, Luna Harristone, daughter of the Harristone family, as my fated mate."
Right there in that moment and in front of the whole pack, Luna was rejected harshly, like a used toy that had fulfilled its purpose, cast away like unwanted goods. The heartbreak was vivid and intense, and the whole pack felt it.
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*Note:* As I said in the first chapter note, the updates for this book are from Monday to Sunday, depending on the Author's schedule.
[I heard from a little birdie on my way here _wink _wink. There is a milestone for every Power Stone — top 5, 10, and so on — that can earn readers a larger mass release from the author… hehe]
Lastly, this book is fictional. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is purely unintentional and is a work of the Author's imagination.