Chapter 1 The Ceremony of the Moon

The moon was up already in the sky, generously glowing over our pack and the surrounding forest. I could feel how uneasy everyone was, as we made our entrance to where tonight's mating will take place. It's supposed to be a joyful gathering, but it's still in a gathering like this that the fate of many is changed and destroyed forever. Only a few get lucky to have their heart desires.

The Moon Ceremony is big. It is worthy to note that it's in a gathering like this, that the Moon goddess, rightly reveals the fated mates in our midst. I noticed that people around me waited patiently for the full moon to appear, but not so with me today, I appeared a little bit off, and a knot formed in my belly all of a sudden.

I stylishly entered the crowd, doing my best to blend in and go unnoticed, but all I could get from people were discriminating stares. I knew exactly what was in their minds; Liora Nightingale, a weak and poor Omega with no good family status, why did she even bother coming here to disgrace herself by showing up?

I had always dreamed of witnessing this great ceremony of mating, but my status and background didn't allow me to participate, and today, I decided to show up against all odds, just to witness those being mated. I clenched my fists so hard, giving deaf ears to their murmurs and focusing on what brought me here tonight.

"Come to think of it, why am I here tonight in the first place? Maybe they are right, I don't have a place here" I asked myself in a whisper, as I held tightly to the small silver pendant, which was a gift from my mother. It has the shape of a crescent moon, and can also be described as a family heirloom, but holding it tonight didn't give me the excitement I always have holding it, rather, it felt heavier than I can remember. “Nothing ever goes in my favor, not even my mother's gift to bring me luck.”

My best friend,  who has been more than a friend and a confidant, Mira, noticed my damp mood and encouraged me to cheer up. “Come on bestie, oh Liora dear,  don’t allow their stares to intimate you, this damp mood does not go well with your pretty face. Tonight could, you know, be your favorite night ever. You might be lucky to be mated to someone today!”

I playfully rolled my eyes dramatically at her. “Yeah, you are very right. And maybe, to break the great record, pigs could also fly even without wings.” I tried my best to concentrate on my best friend's jokes, but they were not helping matters. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to even be with someone as their fate mate.

Not me believing in fairy tales only to witness another thing in real life. I couldn't forge ahead after seeing and witnessing how cruel people were being treated and how callous fated mate could be sometimes. I also have the experience of how messy things could be if one is rejected. … Something that the likes of Alpha Jaxon Blackthorn derive joy.

Just having Jaxon in my thoughts was able to ruin my night. Talk of the devil and he would appear with extra wings, just as I turned to face the crowd once more, there stood before me, Jaxon. For some moment, I sheepishly gushed at his beauty, those broad shoulders, those piercing blue but charming eyes.

As the Alpha, many wished and longed to become his Luna. On standing up, I noticed him towering over everyone around, well-built and masculine. He is known to be a good leader, even though he tries to portray a mean and stern appearance sometimes, maybe that's what leadership is all about, you can be kind and mean at the same time.

But tonight, I noticed his face was without an expression, having a cold and distant appearance. "I pity his mate tonight," I said to myself while beholding his countenance. In a blink, his intense gaze locked with mine, and I could shamelessly feel my cheeks burning, but I had no reason why I felt like that. I looked away quickly, embarrassed for holding a gaze with him, and I cursed myself silently for allowing his thoughts to occupy my head.

All of a sudden, Elder Marcus stood up and signaled everyone to keep quiet with his hands. The crowd wasted no time in focusing their gaze on him, everywhere dead as the graveyard, but the sound of the gentle breeze of the night was still heard.

“Tonight, a beautiful night, under the coverage of the merciful and watchful eyes of the Moon Goddess, we shall learn who is destined to be mated,” he said as he addressed the crowd, his voice commanding like his age.

The elders, as was the tradition, moved forward and began their ancient chant, this has been from time past. For me, this is the best part of the ceremony, because the spirit of the Moon goddess will be summoned, and people can seize that opportunity to make wishes. As the elders chanted, their voices kept rising and falling, but in a harmonious rhythm.

I suddenly felt a strange but strong and usual pull in my chest, something I never witnessed since my existence. My heartbeat not only quickened but doubled its pace. I also noticed something strange on my pendant, I looked, and behold, it was a faint glow.

“What in the world… what could this be?” I asked no one but myself, making sure to grip the pendant tightly to my chest.

Elder Marcus and the rest of the elders stopped mid-chant, his eyes full of surprise as he announced his findings. Moving his eyes from me to the moon, he continued, “The Moon Goddess has made her selection, she has finally spoken,” he announced again, but this time, he was smiling. “The great Alpha Jaxon Blackthorn… the Moon goddess has found your mate, your fated... mate is…”

Everywhere became silent, as everyone anticipated the big announcement while they were breathing.  My heart was normal responding to my body, as it was pounding beyond my control. l could bait that everyone noticed my tension and the beating of my heart. All of a sudden, I wanted to be everywhere but the gathering I am right now. I wish I could disappear, or melt into the air, blending in without a trace.

“Your fa..ted mate is... is Liora Nightingale.”

For a second, everywhere went dead, not even the breeze dared to interrupt the moment. Every pair of eyes present, turned in my direction, as I stood frozen to death. My mouth refused to close in disbelief. All of a sudden, people started getting their voices, everyone seemed to have gotten their breath, and the murmurs returned again but in a hushed tone. "How, an Omega? His mate?" "How could that be possible?"

I looked up in time to meet Jaxon's emotionless gaze. My heart cut into different pieces, his eyes void of any expression. As he made to take a few steps forward, his mother and cabinet members rushed to him and whispered something to him. From his expression, while he spoke with them, one could deduce he was unhappy. He finally stepped forward to make a speech, and my heart cut even before he started.

“I, the great Alpha of Silver Pack, Jaxon Blackthorn, hereby reject Liora Nightingale as my fated mate.”

His words, though few, pierced through my heart and sliced it into pieces. The earth at that moment, stopped moving, everything seemed to act in synarchy with the Alpha against me. I stood speechless, expecting to collapse at any moment. The humiliation, the emotional torture, and the tag as a weak and rejected wolf were too much.

Jaxon quietly turned around, and without saying another word varnished in a blink. And right there in the clearing, I was left on my own. At the same time, the moon seemed to increase its intensity in shining, I was at the mercy of every eye present.

All of a sudden, I felt a familiar hand on my tender shoulder, it was my best friend, Mira, her face was the only one with a different expression - sympathy. But I quickly pulled away from her grip, distancing myself immediately from both her and the crowd.

“Never,” I muttered to myself, “I won’t allow this to break me down. The Alpha doesn't deserve my tears, no one does.”

At this point, whatever awaited me at the front was uncertain, but I was determined not to let it end my story. I will bounce back someday, greater and stronger.

The days after the Moon Ceremony came out boring and plain. Even as I went about my daily activities, people kept staring. Their eyes never left me as if they had one thing to say or the other. The worst was not those mocking me, but those with pitiful eyes. Some were curious to know if I was cursed, others said it was a punishment for my sins.

Not quite long after, I got a new name in the pack, and people kept whispering as I went, "Almost Luna, but rejected by the Alpha," they would say. "What a poor Omega. What is she going to do now to clean her name?"