Seraphina Nightshade had known Orion Silverclaw all her life. They had grown up together in the Silver Claw Pack, always crossing paths. But while she admired him from a distance, he never seemed to notice her. Orion was destined for greatness, the future Alpha of the Pack, and Seraphina, like many others, couldn't help but be drawn to him. Orion was strong, confident, and already a natural leader, even before taking his father's place.
But for Seraphina, it was more than admiration- it was love.
For years, she prayed to the Moon Goddess, begging for one thing: to make Orion her mate. Every night, she whispered her prayers, hoping that when Orion's ceremony arrived, he would see her as the one fated to be his Luna. She couldn't imagine a future without him, and she was certain that when the bond revealed itself, they would be together. It had to be.
The night of the Coronation Ball had finally come. This was the moment Seraphina had been waiting for. Dressed in a simple yet elegant deep-blue gown, she stood nervously at the edge of the grand ballroom. The whole Pack had gathered to witness the crowning of their new Alpha, but Seraphina's mind was on one thing: Would Orion choose her? Would he feel the bond tonight?
Her heart beat fast as the ceremony began. The elders spoke, handing over the responsibilities of the Pack to Orion, and Seraphina could hardly breathe as the ritual continued. She watched Orion closely, his strong form standing tall in the middle of the room. His green eyes scanned the crowd, and for a brief moment, they met hers.
Her heart stopped. This was it. She could feel it- the bond. She was sure he could feel it too. She smiled, waiting for him to come to her, to claim her as his mate.
But then, his eyes moved past her, landing on Elara Blackstone.
Seraphina's stomach twisted as she watched Orion step forward, walking toward Elara with a steady, sure pace. Her heart sank, and she could feel the world around her starting to blur.
"I, Alpha Orion Silverclaw, reject Seraphina Nightshade as my mate and Luna. But choose Elara Blackstone as my Luna," he said, loud and clear, his voice carrying across the entire room.
Seraphina froze, disbelief flooding her system. No. This couldn't be happening. She had prayed for years. The Moon Goddess wouldn't be this cruel. Yet, here she was, watching the man she loved- her fated mate- choose someone else and reject her!!!
Applause filled the room as the Pack celebrated Orion's choice, but Seraphina could barely hear it. The pain hit her like a punch to the gut, and she struggled to hold back her tears. She couldn't cry, not here. Not in front of everyone. But as she looked around, she saw the smiles, the smirks, and the whispers.
"Did she think he would choose her?"
"She's not even in the same league as Elara."
"She must feel so stupid now."
The whispers were like knives cutting into her already broken heart. She had been made into a fool, rejected in front of the entire Pack. Her hands shook, and her breath came in shallow gasps. She couldn't stay there. Not for another second.
Turning, Seraphina hurried out of the ballroom, pushing past anyone in her way. She barely noticed the cold night air as she stumbled outside. Her chest felt tight like she couldn't breathe, and her vision blurred with tears she refused to let fall. She walked deeper into the night, her mind reeling.
Why? Why had the Moon Goddess abandoned her? All her prayers, her hopes- had they meant nothing? The bond she felt had been so real, but now it felt like a cruel joke. Orion had chosen Elara, and Seraphina was left with nothing but heartbreak.
She leaned against a tree, her body trembling. Everything she had dreamed of had shattered in a single moment. The man she loved had rejected her, and now the whole Pack knew it. She was nothing but a laughingstock, humiliated in front of everyone.
"Seraphina?"
A voice broke through the silence. She turned to see Mara, her closest friend, approaching cautiously.
"Are you okay?" Mara asked softly, her eyes full of concern.
Seraphina wanted to laugh at the question. Okay? How could she be okay? Her whole world had just crumbled.
"No," she whispered, her voice hoarse. "I'm not."
Mara stepped closer, her expression sad. "I'm so sorry, Sera. I can't believe he did this. After everything..."
"Don't," Seraphina cut her off, shaking her head. "Just... don't. I don't want to talk about it."
But even as she said the words, she knew she couldn't escape the pain. It was there, weighing on her, breaking her bit by bit. The rejection was more than just losing Orion- it was the public humiliation, the laughter, the feeling of being less than everyone else. She had believed she was meant for more, destined for something great, but now... now she was just a broken girl with shattered dreams.
The night air was cold, biting at her skin, but she didn't care. Seraphina stood there, trying to steady herself. The pain would fade, wouldn't it? It had to. But right now, it consumed her, leaving her raw and exposed.
"I need to be alone," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Mara hesitated, clearly wanting to stay, but she nodded. "Okay. But I'm here, Sera. If you need me."
With that, Mara turned and walked back toward the Pack house, leaving Seraphina alone in the darkness.
Seraphina took a deep breath, her heart still aching. She had been rejected. Thrown away. Made a fool of. But as she looked up at the cold, distant moon, a small spark of resolve ignited within her. She wouldn't be broken forever. No, she would rise from this. She would find a way to heal, to grow stronger.
Orion had made his choice, but Seraphina would make hers. And she would never be the same again.
