"I reject you, Diana Stone, as my mate and Luna."
Alpha Elijah Thorn's deep voice cracked like a whip, echoing through the hall.
"You are far too weak. You cannot be the Luna I need, you cannot even fight when the pack is in danger."
The words slammed into me, sharper than claws to the chest. My heart splintered as gasps rose around me, followed by cruel whispers and muffled laughter.
I froze. My ceremonial white dress clung heavy to my skin, my hazel eyes widening in disbelief. Elijah—the boy I had grown up with, the one I had trusted—looked at me with nothing but disdain. His ocean-blue gaze was as cold as ice, as if I were nothing.
"Didn't I say it? She's too weak."
"Pathetic. She thought she could be our Luna."
"The girl never learn.. a weak omega like her, one whose wolf is dormant? Oh please"
The crowd's mocking whispers burned into my skin, but none cut as deep as his. Elijah stood tall, eyes narrowed, not a flicker of regret in them. He had said the words as if I were nothing—like I had never mattered.
I wanted to scream, to beg, to demand why. But pride sealed my throat. All I could do was part my lips soundlessly, my hazel eyes widening in silent pain.
"Poor girl…" My stepmother, Georgina's, sharp voice slithered through the hall. "Did you truly think a fragile little omega like you could rule beside an alpha?"
My stepmother had never liked me, so it was no surprise she wasn't on my side now.
As if the goddess herself wanted me to bleed more, my stepsister Mariah slipped forward from the crowd. She was the daughter my father loved more than me, the one who always got everything I never did.
Her pale skin gleamed under the chandelier, her blonde hair curled perfectly. Dressed in scarlet that hung her hour glass figure, she looked every bit the temptress. And when she turned those honey-gold eyes on Elijah, she smiled sweetly.
"Don't worry, Alpha," she said sweetly, though her eyes cut into me. "You deserve someone strong, someone worthy, and not… her."
My gaze locked on her golden eyes, burning with sharp anger, but she only stared back, daring me to speak. I bit my tongue and swallowed the pain instead.
Mariah reached Elijah and rubbed his arm. He didn't push her away. He let her touch him.
A knife of pain cut through me. She wasn't just a sister who despised me—she was ashamed of me. Curtis Stone, our father, had been a beta to the former Alpha. With that position, everyone expected his family to be strong. But my mother had been a servant, weak in their eyes, and when I was born, I carried her weakness. At first I was treated like any other child in the pack, but after she died, everything changed.
I looked at Elijah. He said nothing. He did nothing. Not a single move to spare me from this humiliation. Was I really nothing to him? And the way Mariah clung to his arm… did they already have something between them? Is that why he was rejecting me?
The tears I had fought spilled down my cheek. Still, I lifted my chin. I would not beg for someone who didn't want me. My lips trembled, but I forced them into something like a smile.
"So be it," I whispered, my voice unsteady. "May the moon goddess bless your choice."
Elijah's eyes burned into mine, cold and merciless. "The moon goddess gave me you so I could reject you."
My legs wobbled, but I refused to fall. I would not look weak before him.
Beside Elijah, Mariah smirked. "Darling sister, you shouldn't stand here any longer in shame."
The crowd burst into laughter. Heat of humiliation burned through me as I turned, seeing every familiar face twisted in mockery. Even the elders, seated in their places of honor, did not look away.
My father's head was raised, his cold eyes fixed on me, I expected him to say something, to save me from this shame. I remember his words days ago that I should not come back to the house if I don't find myself a mate, just like me he had also assumed the mate bond will awaken my wolf. But now, I have only made him detest me more.
From her seat, my stepmother watched with her legs crossed, a smirk tugging at her lips and laughter dancing in her eyes.
A shiver ran through me as I looked back at Elijah, hoping for anything, hoping he would change his mind, but only those cold eyes met mine.
Mariah stepped closer, pretending to comfort him, her fingers continue sliding over his hands like she owned them.
"I'm here for you, Alpha… if you need comfort."
I gasped. Elijah didn't push her away, how could he? They weren't even friends from the start, he was my friend and it was through me she even dared to know him. But now? She was holding him like .. I shut my eyes, that was more than I could bear.
I had clung to the hope that tonight's mating ceremony would free me from the cruelty at home. I'd known Elijah was my mate days ago, and I knew he had felt it too. We had been friends once, and I let myself believe. But not this. Not like this.
My shoulders trembled as I turned to leave. The crowd watched as if I were a spectacle, laughter ringing, eyes mocking, and I walked through it all.
I swore to myself then, through the ache in my chest and the weight of shame crushing me:
Never again. I'll never crawl back to you.
But before I reached the door, a sound froze me in place, it was a low, possessive growl.
It came from behind me. Elijah's lips never moved, yet his wolf's voice thundered through the bond we shared.
Mine.