Astrid's POV:
Ever since I was born into this world, I had only been treated as nothing but trash. Being the illegitimate daughter of Alpha Levi, a respected elder in the pack, I had to fight for everything in my life.
In the world of werewolves, where Alphas are the most respected beings, Betas and Omegas are considered less worthy. Because my mother was an Omega, I, tragically, turned out to be an Omega to an Alpha father and above all else, I was wolfless. Another reason that only added misery to my life.
But I was lucky in finding a mate, an Alpha by blood and born to lead the future pack: Damien Morozov.
I didn't find my mate right after turning eighteen, but in the days of my internship at the company Damien's father owned. For the last two years, we had been secretly seeing each other, and the only thing left was being announced as his Luna to the entire pack. Those who had looked down on me, their mouths would be shut once I reached that top place.
I was deathly afraid that if anyone knew Damien was my mate, they would do everything to throw me out of his life, so I made him promise that he wouldn't tell anyone about it until he would officially take the role of the next Alpha.
And now, that most anticipated moment had arrived: Alpha Damien's coronation.
Ever since he turned twenty-three and acquired his father's company, everyone was anticipating him to be the next Alpha of the pack.
I was also eagerly excited for the moment when he would finally declare me as his Luna.
"I would like to thank my father, mother, and of course, the pack elders who always guided me. Without their support, I don't think I would be this capable to be the next Alpha."
I smiled at him with a proud gaze. Indeed, Damien had always been an obedient guy who would listen to his elders. And when it came to love, none could beat him in romance. While thinking about it, my cheeks flushed red as I could feel the heat rising in them.
"It's time to announce your Luna as well, Damien," his father reminded him, which brought an instant smile on my lips.
"Astrid, who do you think will be his mate?" My half-sister, Lisa, the legitimate daughter of the Clifford family, asked, leaning close with a malicious smile. "Why do I think he will choose me? Don't you think I'm best fitted for this role? I'll look wonderful standing beside Damien, won't I?"
The smile instantly vanished from my lips the moment she made that blatant, arrogant remark.
'Has she lost her mind?' I thought. But I didn't say it aloud. I had to bite this humiliation just for a few more seconds. Then, I would leave this family forever. I would have my own family with Damien.
"I know ever since I turned 18, many were curious to know who my mate was. I swear I was also excited to introduce her for such a long time. Finally, the day has come today."
Damien's eyes met mine and I stood up, ready to go to his side.
"Lisa Clifford is the woman I love and will be my Luna," Damien announced.
What?
Did I just hear him right? Why did he call Lisa? I saw the people begin applauding for being chosen as the next Luna. I was unable to bear this betrayal. And why was Damien not looking at me? He was smiling at Lisa.
"Why are you standing, Astrid? Take a seat?" I heard my father's deep, commanding voice.
I sat down in fear while still trying to process what just happened. It couldn't be true. I pinched myself while my inner voice screamed at me to stop this from happening. I looked up and saw Lisa was now standing too close to Damien. And both of them smiled at each other as if they loved each other too deeply.
Lisa then flashed a smile at me, clearly mocking me for taking the last person I had. I couldn't let her take my mate away.
"Damien, how could you do this to me?" I demanded and finally rose to my feet. "I am your mate, not Lisa. We have been seeing each other for two years and you promised me that you would declare me as your Luna!"
I couldn't contain the truth inside me, nor can I let anyone ruin my happiness. I knew it was Lisa who schemed behind my back.
"Did someone force you to call Lisa your next Luna?" I glared at Lisa briefly before again meeting Damien's eyes.
"What the hell is wrong with you, Astrid?" Lisa's mother intervened as she stood up from her place. "Forgive my younger daughter, Alpha Damien. I will take her out."
"I'm not going anywhere. Damien, say something! Tell them that you're my mate," I almost pleaded.
"Is this true, Damien?" His mother asked. "A wolf-less omega is claiming you to be her mate! Is this possible?"
"Of course, I am—" I couldn't finish off as Damien finally spoke up.
"I don't have a mate, Mom. I have no idea why this woman is claiming me to be her mate."
Damien's cold eyes flashed into mine and I felt my heart breaking into pieces. My eyes brimmed with tears and all I could was why?
I heard the gossip of the people that were present in the coronation ceremony, targeting how bad I was for ruining my sister's day.
"Why don't you leave, Astrid?" Damien's mother finally said. "Because you're the daughter of Alpha Levi, I want to let this matter go. Clearly, you tried to ruin the special day of our pack's alpha."
My tears were on the verge of falling down. I glanced at my father, whose hands had clenched tightly and I knew what was going to happen. No one was ready to believe me.
"Sit down, Astrid!" My father commanded and obediently I took my seat.
My heart was trembling with the fear that my father was going to beat me but more than that it was crushing with the pain of betrayal.
Damien and I didn't mark each other, but we-we had the matebond between us. I didn't realize how that ceremony ended and before I could disappear Damien caught my wrist. Without getting noticed, he dragged me somewhere within the mansion, where no one could see or hear us.
"Let me go!" I thrashed at him, my other free hand slamming at his chest. "How could you do this to me? You promised that you would protect me! You declared Lisa as your Luna. Are you even in your right mind? What about the bong that we shared?" I yelled at him as soon as we were inside an empty room.
"Shut your fucking mouth, Astrid!" Damien growled at me, his eyes gleaming red as if his wolf was commanding me to stay in my limits. I lowered my eyes immediately, of course, the mate bond was working on me. And the strange part was, he looked completely different, even his tone had changed.
"I am going to reject you. So, you better accept my rejection," Damien said before shoving me away. I tripped and fell to the cold floor.
"What? No! Don't reject me, Damien. I only have you. You're my only hope. Please don't do this to me."
All my life I have done begging. First from my father, not to abandon me after my mother died, then I begged the kids of my age to not hit me, then the people not to look down on me.
And now, I have to beg the man who once vowed to protect me, to love me till his last breath. I was so happy thinking once I would be with Damien no one would ever make me feel low.
"Don't do this, Damien. Please."
Tears freely flowed from my eyes when those frightful words fell out of his mouth.
"I, Damien Morzov, reject you, Astrid Clifford, the illegitimate daughter of Alpha Levi as my mate. Accept my rejection. Now."
I placed my hand on my heart as something started breaking inside me. It felt like the veins of my heart were popping and I would die anytime. I didn't want to accept it, I didn't want this matebond to disappear, but his eyes made me. The command was clear and lips trembled before I said,
"I, Astrid Clifford, accept your rejection, Alpha Damien."
I saw a muscle in his jaw twitch. He was feeling this pain too, but unlike me he wasn't affected at all. "Leave my sight and never come in front of me! If you do, I'll punish you to death."