Selene walked into the grand hall with determination burning in her chest.
She had to find him.
Her body still felt hot, her mind clouded with overwhelming need. The pull of the mate bond was wrapped around her ribs, pushing her forward. She sniffed the air, trying to trace the scent that had nearly driven her mad outside.
And then she saw him. Her heart nearly burst from her chest.
Damian. It was Damian!! Her mate was Damian!!!
She stopped moving. She blinked, her breath hitching.
The realization slammed into her like a tidal wave, drowning her in pure joy. The Moon Goddess had heard her prayers! She had always admired Damian from afar, always felt something strong the few times she had seen him. And now… he was hers.
She whispered it before she could stop herself.
"Mate."
The hall went silent.
Heads turned. All eyes locked onto her.
Damian?
Her stepmother, Miriam, was the first to break the tension. She grabbed Selene's arm, nails digging into her skin as she hissed, "Shut your mouth."
Snickers erupted from the crowd.
Selene barely noticed them. She only had eyes for Damian.
But Damian…
He stood beside Alpha Castor, his usual cold, unreadable expression in place. But his eyes,those stormy cold eyes, were different.
They were filled with pain. Regret. And worst of all… a battle.
Selene could see him struggling, his wolf fighting within him. His hands were clenched into fists, his jaw was tight, and his breathing was shallow. His eyes flickered between his human form and his wolf, like he was on the verge of shifting.
Miriam stared, dumbfounded. Lyra, on the other hand, simply watched with mild interest.
Gamma Lawrence was the only one who reacted with joy. He was shocked at first then he was joyous and he left Miriam's side without hesitation, moving to stand beside Selene. His hand gripped her shoulder, his chest puffed with pride.
His expression seemed to say "Yeah, that's my daughter"
Selene was thrilled. Her father was proud of her. Damian was her mate. Everything was finally perfect.
But then she looked at Damian again. And something was wrong.
Why wasn't he coming to her? Why wasn't he moving? Why did he look like he was about to break apart?
Selene's smile wavered.
Damian was cheeky and playful on the inside, but to the world, he had always been cold, untouchable.
Now, that cold exterior was cracking.
His eyes were wet.
He looked helpless.
His emotions were raw and unguarded, something no one had ever seen before.
Selene's heart squeezed.
Damian knew wasn't just drawn to her because she was his mate. He was attracted to her. Deeply. Genuinely.
But something, something, was holding him back.
Damian's mind was in chaos. His wolf was howling inside him, ripping through his insides, demanding to go to her.
Take her. Hold her. She is ours.
But his father's shadow loomed over him.
He needed approval. Although Damian was a bastard, he had plans to be the next Alpha. A worthy mate would give him that. He needed to prove himself first.
Maybe if he went with Lyra now… maybe after he became Alpha… he could go back for Selene.
Maybe.
The hall was painfully silent. Then Alpha Castor broke the silence.
"Who knew the Moon Goddess also makes jokes?"
It started with a dry chuckle. Then another. Then another.
And then the entire hall erupted into laughter.
Selene stiffened.
Damian's breathing turned ragged.
They were laughing.
Alpha Castor's smirk widened as he turned to Damian.
"You have a mate but you haven't marked her, Damian." He gestured towards Selene like she was a piece of meat. "Go on. Take her. Go on. Mark. Your. Mate."
Selene flinched.
The way he said it… like it was a challenge.
Like he was daring Damian. Mocking him.
It was as if he was saying "You wouldn't dare do it."
Axel tugged at Damian's sleeve, reminding him of the plan.
Damian clenched his jaw.
He looked at Selene.
Her face was full of hope. Expectation. But also confusion.
Why wasn't he moving? Why wasn't he holding her?
He couldn't bear to look at her anymore.
His throat felt like it was closing.
His hands trembled at his sides.
His wolf was screaming, tearing at the walls of his mind, howling in agony.
But he had to do it.
He had to.
So he forced the words out.
"I, Damian of the Shadowfang Pack, reject you as my mate."
The words were a bang in Selene's ears.
Her entire world shattered.
The mate bond snapped violently inside her chest, like someone had reached in and ripped her heart out.
Her wolf whimpered, crying, thrashing inside her. No! No! No!
Pain.
It was raw. Burning. Unbearable.
Her knees almost gave out, but she forced herself to stand.
Damian's wolf roared, raged, rioted.
Inside his mind, his beast was going insane.
It smashed against his skull, slashing, tearing, snarling in fury.
How dare you?!!! She is ours! Ours!
Damian clenched his fists until his nails pierced his palms. His own rejection had physically hurt.
His wolf was dying.
Selene stared at him, her lips slightly parted.
She was broken.
Completely.
Damian… wouldn't even look at her.
His eyes were wet with unshed tears.
Why?
If it hurt him, why?
Why not just accept her? Was she so low? So little? So unworthy?
The hall was silent again.
Then whispers started.
"Yeah."
"I thought as much."
Selene's stomach twisted. She looked around.
Everyone… everyone was looking at her with disgust.
Like she was a fool. Like she should've known better.
Like… What did you expect?
She couldn't take it. She turned and ran outside.