Rejected Shadow Luna

Chapter One

EXECUTION AND REJECTION

*Sara's POV

"I, Ryker Voss, future Alpha of Blackthorn Pack, reject you, Sara Harlan, as my fated mate," Ryker declared.

The words sliced through me like a blade. Pain exploded in my chest, ripping the fresh mate bond apart. I dropped to my knees in the ceremonial circle, gasping as tears blurred my vision.

Just moments earlier, I had looked at him with pure joy and whispered, "Mate," as the golden bond formed between us. Now everything was destroyed.

"Father!" I screamed.

Only minutes before, Alpha Voss had roared, "Traitor!" and my father, Beta Harlan, was slammed to his knees by enforcers.

"I swear on the Moon Goddess, I am innocent," Beta Harlan pleaded. "I have never betrayed this pack."

Alpha Voss snarled. "We have proof, Harlan. Secret meetings. Messages to our enemies. You have been plotting against us."

The blade flashed under the moonlight. One brutal strike. My father's head hit the ground with a sickening thud, blood pooling into the dirt.

I screamed, but the sound died in my throat. The fresh mate bond twisted into pure agony. Ryker grabbed my arm, his grip bruising hard.

"Strip her of rank," Alpha Voss ordered coldly. "She is nothing but an Omega now. The daughter of a traitor has no place here."

Rough hands tore my ceremonial dress from my body, leaving me shivering in a thin shift. The pack laughed and spat at me. Ryker looked down at me with pure disgust.

"You have until dawn to leave our lands," Ryker said. "After that, we hunt you down and kill you. We cannot risk you digging into your father's secrets."

They dragged me to the border and threw me into rogue territory like garbage. I hit the forest floor hard, scraping my skin raw. For hours, I stumbled through the darkness, bleeding and broken. My wolf stayed silent.

Every painful step fueled my determination. My father was innocent. I knew it deep in my bones. Whatever proof they claimed to have was fake. I would find the real traitor. I would clear his name, even if it killed me.

I was too weak to keep running when the rogues found me.

Three of them emerged from the trees, eyes glowing with feral hunger. Their leader grinned as his gaze raked over my barely covered body, lingering in a way that made my skin crawl.

"Fresh little Omega," the rogue leader growled. "All alone and ripe for breaking."

I tried to fight. I slashed at the first one, drawing blood across his cheek. But they overpowered me quickly. One pinned my arms behind my back while another shoved his rough hand beneath my shift, tearing at the thin fabric.

"Hold her down," the rogue leader snarled, already loosening his pants. "I am going to take her first before we tear her apart."

They forced me onto the cold ground. Claws raked down my back. Blood poured from the gashes. I screamed and thrashed, but it was useless.

A thunderous growl ripped through the night.

The rogues froze. A massive figure burst from the trees, radiating overwhelming Alpha power. In seconds, he tore through all three with brutal efficiency. Claws slashed throats. Bones crunched. Blood sprayed across the leaves.

Strong arms scooped me up. A deep masculine scent of cedar and frost wrapped around me. My wolf stirred weakly, letting out a soft, needy whine.

I looked up through fading vision into stormy gray eyes and silver-streaked dark hair.

*Alpha Kael Draven.* The ruthless leader of the rival Silvermoon Pack.

The second-chance mate bond clicked into place - faint but undeniable, pulling at my shattered soul.

Kael Draven's jaw tightened as he took in my bloodied state. His expression remained cold.

"You are coming with me," Kael said, his voice flat.

He lifted me effortlessly and carried me through the trees. As darkness pulled me under, I felt his steady heartbeat against my cheek.

Part of me wanted to sink into that warmth and safety.

But another part whispered that this Alpha did not want me either.

In the distance, furious Blackthorn howls rose into the night. They were coming after me - determined to make sure I never got the chance to prove my father's innocence.