r the forgotten shelves of the laundry. I ate in the kitchen when no one was around, I took the long way through the laundry

ty. I wanted none of it. It wasn't hard. People already didn't see

ttage looking at the simple plai

g strung through the courtyard and the heavy scent

was supposed to be a night of promise but every year since th

bled, they said the Moon Goddess had turned her face away from us. Others whispered that the witch h

ee years of emptiness. Three years of us lining up like ca

ar of humiliation. My second year hoping that mayb

different. But my wrist had staye

remony. I'm attending just to fulfil all obligations because I

t birth mark on my stomach hidden beneath my

t ready for the

**

usual,as I walked down the path, my steps became

fferent from the last two years. It was brighter

ere neatly polished and set out for the she-wolves together o

red faces made them almost uncanny to look at. Both of them were tall and muscular, they both had piercing dark

the pack spread out across the field. I scanned the crowd for a moment because I had arrived there a bi

at me, but I immediatel

on my lap. The seat was good for me, far enough not to be noticed and f

hority, he stood tall and stoic. His long grey robe brushed against the floor,

ompanion, but the soul intertwined as one. A mate is not just chosen, it is recognized. And yet each wolf may choose to acc

s settling inside me,

ron said. " And f

s and he-wolves stood up to line in a

ves stood to the right facing each other, eyes sc

an chanting. I had expected Kai to step into the field as he di

settled in my chest, and without thinking I pressed my hand to m

lifted, chanting in waves that washed across the field. One by one the wolves were matched, a spark flared betwe

escent mark on my stomach bu

e sparks thinned, and the

g to ignore. It was like an invisible thread pulling me forwa

that was when my eyes found his, he stood t

elt the world go silent. The wings fell silent, the lantern

oice, low and urgent,

e is yours.

startled glances, but he didn't falter as he walked towards me. He looked at me like

ce shook, low and s

us kindled into a pulse that the whole field seemed to fee

s with mine. It felt beautiful, I could feel the warmth of belonging

e getting my mate was deafe

s his

Ome

id, "I reject you."

Silver Moon park reject you, L

oud, but it

lt the bond snap, it felt li

ing to her mouth, eyes wid

my head echoe

... wrong p

sil

spers, and the sting of laughter hidden behind palms. Some w

Alpha." I spoke quietly, but ev

eased, like she'd planned all of

tter. But I saw his hand curl into a fist, a tiny pause i

ood there