I shot a playful glare. "Who says I'm wild, do I look like one?"
Lily raised her eyebrows, crossing her arms. "Oh, I know you too well, little sister, always sneaking out and dreaming about what's beyond our borders".
I shrugged, feeling a pang of longing that I tried to ignore. "Well, maybe those dreams are nightmares; dreams don't go away just because I found a mate."
Lily's expression softened. "I know, Kae. But you needed to be careful. It's dangerous out there, and not everyone outside the BloodMoon pack is.....kind".
I nodded, though my heart raced with the possibilities that lay beyond the forest's edge. "I know. But tonight isn't about that. Tonight's about finding him, my mate to be precise".
We both fell silent for a moment, the weight of the night pressing down.
There is something I know about the pack about their birthdays, every werewolf dreams of their 21st birthday–that's the age we'd finally feel the mate pull, the unbreakable bond that would lead us to our fated partner. And everyone expected mine to be Lucas Rose, the Alpha heir.
Lily nudged me with her elbow. "Alrighty we don't have much time, let's go. Everyone is waiting".
As we walked down to the gathering, my nerves bubbled beneath my skin. The moon was high, casting a soft glow over the BloodMoon pack. Wolves of all ages mingled, their voices carrying a hum of excitement. All eyes turned toward me as we entered, and I felt their anticipation as much as my own.
Just then, I saw him-Lucas. His commanding presence and demeanor were hard to resist; he was tall, with an air of confidence that only the next Alpha could carry. His gaze met mine, and for a brief, electrifying moment, I felt something shift within me. Was this it? The Mate Pull?
Lucas approached, his footsteps steady, his face unreadable. My heart raced as he stopped in front of me, his gaze intense. "Kae," he said, his voice low and steady.
I smiled, searching his eyes. "Lucas."
But instead of warmth, there was something cold in his stare. He took a breath, then spoke words that shattered my heart.
"Kae...I'm sorry, but I can't accept you as my mate."
The world seemed to tilt, his words cutting through the air like a blade. I felt every eye in the pack on me, their silent gasps rippling through the crowd. "What...what do you mean?" I stammered, barely able to process the rejection.
Lucas's face remained impassive. "We aren't meant to be, Kae. To be honest I've no feelings for you because I had felt it for a while now."
I felt the ground sway beneath me as the whispers around us grew louder. "But...I thought..."
"I know what you thought, Kae. And I'm sorry. But you deserve a mate who can fully bond with you. And that isn't me."
My world seemed to be crumbling. I Couldn't breathe. My mind raced with a thousand questions, a thousand doubts. How could he do this? How could he humiliate me in front of everyone?
I wanted to scream, to run but my feet stayed rooted to the spot. Lucas turned and walked away leaving me standing there, shattered and alone.
Lily, who was beside me, came near, resting his hand on my arm. "Kae.....I'm sorry".
I forced myself to keep it together swallowing the lump in my throat. "It's fine, no problem about that I will be fine".
But deep inside me, I felt the pain piercing my heart and tearing me apart. Everything I had imagined and hoped for-it was gone in an instant.
The night dragged on, with the park member trying words of comfort, but none of their words erased my pain and granted me comfort; I nodded, pretending to smile.
I couldn't take it anymore, so I finally slipped away from the gathering, running into the forest, my sanctuary, away from prying eyes and pitying glances.
The cool night air hit my skin as I ran pushing deeper into the forest. I felt tears streaming down my face, but I didn't wipe them away. I let myself feel the pain making it sink in.
"Why would he do this to me, causing me to go through this pain?" I choked with emotions as I whispered to the night.
I sat down on a fallen log, staring up at the full moon. All of my life, I have dreamed of this moment, and I was fully prepared, believing it would work out for me; it was a moment I finally felt complete knowing my path. And now everything was taken away from me leaving me broken and lost.
The sound of footsteps made me tense. I looked up expecting Lily, but instead, I saw a strange figure I didn't recognize. He had a strong dark presence, his eyes gleaming with an intensity that made my skin unease.
"Who...who are you?" I managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
He gazed at me with his tilted head, his gaze piercing. "You're Kae Thompson right?".
I nodded, feeling a strange pull towards this stranger; something about him was mysteriously different.
He took a step closer with a faint smile playing on his lips. "Let's just say someone who knows what it is to be rejected".
"Someone who knows what it is to be rejected?" I narrowed my eyes trying to make sense of him. "What Do you mean? And what do you know about rejection?"
"That's a story for another time," he replied smoothly, his voice calm yet unsettling. "For now, let's just say...fate has a funny way of bringing people together."
I felt a shiver run down my spine, the night suddenly feeling colder. "What do you want?"
He glanced at the moon, then back at me. "I've come to offer you a choice, Kae. You can either let the pain consume you or...discover a new path, one that goes beyond the limits of this pack."
The words hung in the air, tempting and dangerous. A new path? Beyond the BloodMoon pack?
I looked up at him, my mind racing with questions.
Who is this mysterious stranger? Can I even trust him and let go of everything I had once held dearly, and decided to walk on this new path?