Obsidian claw pack ; three years ago

The wind was soft that night ,moving calmly against the trees like it was trying to tell me something or warn me rather ,the forest whispered along the leaves rustling in a language I didn’t understand yet. If I had, I would have turned back , instead I walked right into my misery.

That night I had just turned eighteen years old , it’s the age where wolves were acclaimed to their mates and that very night was the event of the moon rite where wolves were meant to find their mate.

The happiness that surged through me knew no bounds because for others when they turned eighteen they had to wait till the moon rituals but for me it happened on my eighteenth birthday ,it was as if I had found favor with the moon goddess .

Other wolves always told me that girls like me would never have a fairytale but I would never give into those cruel words ,I wasn’t no healer or warrior , I didn’t come from family of Lycans or alphas I was just a weak soft spoken omega the lowest in the rank but tonight I was going to let no one talk down on me cause I too deserved a chance at love .

I smoothed my sweaty palms down the front of my lavender dress for the fourth time in last five minutes , it wasn't beautiful or elegant like the dresses that the alpha’s daughters wore - no silk ,no satin no embroidered beadwork, no shimmering shine just normal cotton hand- stitched with care sewn by Aunt Mira ,and she whispered while tying the final rope of the corset “ Lyra you don't need magic the moon goddess has chosen you already”. With certainty , I stepped into the clearing where other wolves were , there was so much excitement in the air ,lanterns were hung on trees and smoke coming from the fire pit , everyone was happy and anxious, so was I …

Alpha Magnus , Ronan’s father, stepped to the ceremonial platform - a wide tall obsidian stone that had existed before I was born .His voice echoed into the trees . “ Tonight we gather under the eyes of the moon goddess as our moon goddess and tradition demands . Tonight new bonds will be forged and new lines drawn , may those chosen remain strong,loyal, chaste and true to their mates. A chorus of howls answered him . I tilted my head back to absorbs the echos in my ribs, just in the moment everything changed when the bond of the pack pulsed around me but I couldn’t hear any of it all I could hear was the sound of my unhopeful and uneven heart beat , My wolf was awaken and she was saying was mate …a shift in the atmosphere drew my attention to where he was .. my mate … Ronan Blackthorne ,future Alpha ,six foot six of icy detachment and raw Dominance , our eyes locked across the crowd and I instantly felt a knot in my stomach and the pull between snapped tight that feeling was undeniable ,he was definitely the one I could feel it in my body bone and soul . I was living in my fantasy until I came to my realization and found him looking back but he wasn't as happy as I was , his expression was cold ..he was flat, disgusted, cold and so disappointed like the moon goddess had handed him a broken worthless toy . He stalked forward ,every step he took made an impact eyes so sharpen it could cut you if you dared to look , people made way for him as he walked towards me , he stopped in front of me , so intimidating I could pee on myself but I had to show courage so I looked back at him ……..”Lyra” he called my name ….voice quiet but not gentle , but the way he said my name made my wolf jump in excitement so I began to say “you are my” but he didn’t let me finish when he said those words “ I reject you “ it was whisper meant but everyone heard it loud and clear , my body froze in place my limbs went pale ,everyone shocked and amused some with lingering mockery on their lips ,my wolf curled back in shame “what “ was all I could echo . People stared at me, some with pity , some with shame and some with mockery lingering on their lips that I was even good enough to begin with ,but I couldn’t let those tears fall not in front of them.

My brain didn’t remember walking away , neither did it remember running away or leaving the clearing , the music buzzing , the lantern lights, the words that clawed at my back . I couldn’t tell how long I had wandered - only the wind that seeped into my skin through my light cotton lavender dress and how quieter the world became did it dawn on me that I had gone far.

The trees closed around me , tall and ancient as if the trees felt my shame and were trying to hide me , that would be good - let it hide me , bury me cause I had no soul left in me it was all gone . I sat at the base of this ancient oak tree , its roots gnarled and exposed like veins beneath the skin , I curled into myself without any thoughts , my braids had become loose . The ribbon my aunt Mira had carefully placed in my hair was now dangling in the dirt like a lie that I was made to be .

My chest hurt , it ached not like a heartbreak , something worse it was nothing like the heartbreak I had read in fantasy stories , this was more brutal and heart shattering like my heart had been torn apart without warning and the bleeding was within where no one could see …….. My wolf ? It was silent. I was scared at first but I didn’t blame her cause she was as pained as I was , she screamed the first time he spoke those words “ I reject you” , when the bond shattered she disappeared .

I rested my head against the bark and let the quietness eat away all the hours , the moon moved ahead it wasn’t a full moon anymore …… Time passed .I didn’t cry , I didn't sleep. I was just …….. a hollow thing, a shadow of myself , at some point I heard footsteps, lights , careful , it was Mellissa. She didn’t speak at first, just sat beside me against the bark , her blue dress crumpling against the dirt ,her eyes wide with pain she reached for my hand …..” you don’t have to say anything” she whispered “ I wasn’t going to” I whispered right back . We sat a while longer. I wanted to ask if she knew I would be rejected but I kept my silence because I knew the answer .

My rejection from Ronan travelled throughout the pack like wildfire , the story had gotten to the Luna council , the warriors and the elders . I was tagged names …. “ The omega that wasn’t enough” . “The alpha who rejected his mate” . You should come home Mellissa said “ Aunt Mira is worried”

“I can’t”

“You can”

I shook my head. I didn’t want to go back to that quiet house without his hole within me. She reached into her pocket, brought out something and placed in my palm a ribbon still damp and dew with twigs. She said “ whenever you are ready” then she walked away.

I stayed another hour .

Then I stood up but something was different about me , not lighter , not healed But sharper , I know longer felt like was drowning anymore it felt sharp like a blade I could use to learn , let him walk away I thought bitterly , let him turn his back I will survive this , I will learn this i dont need him anyways .i said to myself “ I am weak” “ I am unbreakable”. And one the moon goddess will make him regret so bitterly what he had done to me and I would be there with no emotions whatsoever .

The pack didn't speak to me for days , but they indeed looked , they stared at me when I walked past whispering into each other's ears but loud enough for me to hear , but they dared not speak aloud not for the fear of me but for the fear of Ronan Blackthorne .

I’d been chosen

And I’d been rejected by the Alpha

Rejected in front of an entire pack

Even Aunt Mira wouldn’t talk to me , we just moved in the house with silence, she tried to act like everything was normal and was okay , offering me warm meals and combing my hair in silence , but she wasn’t good at pretending because I could see her red eyes and tell she has been crying anytime I fell asleep , but things had changed even my own reflection look as pale as a ghost , my eyes more pronounced like I was dealing with some ailment , I skipped trainings , stopped attending council meetings my world have gone down to one single word

“ Endure” The rumors I dreaded so much had started ,

“maybe she wasn’t good enough”

“I heard the bond wasn’t real”

“I heard she tried to trick him”

“Maybe she isn’t fully a wolf”

I didn't defend myself. I had no strength and courage to begin with , I let them talk , underestimating me , I let them think I was weak ,that would make my revenge even more worthwhile .