The moment Elena Veyra stepped into the Moon Hall, every voice around her suddenly went silent.
Hundreds of wolves were gathered beneath the silver banners of the Black Moon Pack. Their eyes followed her as she walked toward the center of the hall.
Tonight was supposed to be the happiest night of her life.
The night she would meet her mate.
Elena's heart pounded against her chest.
For twenty-two years, she had been the weakest wolf in her pack.
An Omega.
A girl without impressive strength, without a powerful family, and without anyone willing to defend her.
She had spent most of her life being ignored.
But tonight could change everything.
Her wolf, Luna, had been restless since sunset.
He's here.
Elena swallowed nervously.
Our mate is here.
She could feel it too.
A strange warmth spread through her body as soon as she entered the hall.
Then she saw him.
Alpha Kael Draven.
He stood on the raised platform at the end of the hall, surrounded by his warriors.
He was taller than everyone around him, dressed completely in black. His dark hair was neatly swept back, revealing sharp features and cold gray eyes.
He was the Alpha King.
The strongest Alpha in the northern territories.
And the man every unmated wolf feared.
Elena's breathing stopped when their eyes met.
A powerful pull struck her chest.
Her wolf cried out inside her.
Mate!
Elena almost smiled.
After years of feeling unwanted, she had finally found the person destined for her.
She took one step forward.
Then another.
Kael's expression did not change.
But his eyes narrowed.
Elena stopped in front of him.
The entire hall was watching.
She could barely hear anything except the beating of her heart.
Kael walked down from the platform.
He stopped only a few steps away from her.
For one brief second, Elena thought he would smile.
Instead, his face became colder.
“Elena Veyra.”
Her heart jumped at the sound of her name.
“You know who I am?”
Kael's jaw tightened.
“I know exactly who you are.”
Elena's fingers trembled.
“Then you know why I'm here.”
Silence filled the hall.
Kael stared at her.
His wolf was fighting violently inside him.
He could feel the mate bond.
He could smell her blood.
He knew she was his.
But there was something else.
Something about Elena frightened him.
A strange scent.
Ancient.
Powerful.
Dangerous.
He had never felt anything like it before.
Elena waited for him to say the words she had dreamed about.
Instead, Kael took a slow breath.
Then he said the words that shattered her world.
“I reject you as my mate.”
The hall exploded with whispers.
Elena froze.
For a moment, she thought she had heard him wrong.
“What?”
Kael's eyes remained cold.
“I said I reject you.”
Her wolf screamed inside her.
Pain tore through Elena's chest.
She stumbled backward, pressing a hand against her heart.
“No…”
Someone laughed from the crowd.
Another voice whispered, “The Alpha King rejected an Omega?”
Elena's face burned.
She looked at Kael again.
“Why?”
Kael said nothing.
“Please,” she whispered. “At least tell me why.”
His expression hardened.
“You are not worthy of standing beside me.”
The words cut deeper than the rejection itself.
Elena felt something inside her break.
She had spent her entire life being called weak.
But hearing those words from her mate was different.
It destroyed the last piece of hope she had.
She lowered her eyes.
“Then I understand.”
Kael's fingers curled into fists.
He wanted to take the words back.
His wolf was furious.
Take her.
She is ours.
But Kael forced himself to remain still.
He could not accept her.
Not yet.
Not when the strange blood inside her might destroy everything he had spent his life protecting.
Elena turned around.
She walked toward the exit while hundreds of eyes followed her.
Nobody stopped her.
Nobody cared.
But just before she reached the doors, a sharp pain suddenly exploded through her body.
Elena gasped.
She fell to her knees.
A silver crescent-shaped mark appeared on her neck.
The entire hall went silent.
Kael's eyes widened.
His wolf suddenly went wild.
Blood Moon.
Those two words echoed inside his mind.
Something ancient had awakened.
And for the first time in his life, the Alpha King felt fear.
Because he suddenly realized one terrible truth.
He had not rejected a weak Omega.
He had rejected the woman who might one day rule over every wolf kingdom.
And she might never forgive him.