Vanessa’s POV
"Why is she here?"
"She is embarrassing the pack by standing there. What if the neighboring alphas see her?"
"Her dress... oh my God, is that a hole on the back?"
I bit my lips, my hand shaking, sweating and clammy from anxiety.
I shouldn’t be here.
I should have stayed ho where I belonged, like the oga bastard I am.
What was I thinking? Coming to the Full Moon Festival when I knew how it would end, whispers behind my back, scornful looks, and my sister, Mara, basking in the attention that was never ant for .
"Vanessa," Mara’s voice rang out like a dagger slicing through the crowd’s idle chatter. I froze, her honey-sweet tone laced with venom. Her beautiful blue eyes stared at with disdain,. "What are you doing all the way back here? Shouldn’t you be fetching drinks or hiding in a corner where you’re less... noticeable?"
The laughter from her friends hit like a slap.
My nails dug into my palms, the sting grounding as I forced a neutral expression onto my face.
"I didn’t realize my presence needed your approval, Mara. Like all the girls here, I am here to find my mate."
That earned another laughter.
"Mate? Coming from her, feels like shit."
Mara’s lips curled into a smirk as she stepped closer, her golden gown shimring under the soft glow of the torches.
She was radiant, flawless, everything a legitimate daughter should be.
"Approval? Oh, Vanessa. You don’t need my approval to embarrass yourself. But maybe you should consider doing it sowhere less... public."
"I—"
"Look at her shoes," one of Mara’s friends interjected, pointing as though I were so amusing sideshow. "Are those... hand--downs?"
The sharp sting of humiliation crawled up my neck, settling in my chest.
My gaze fell to the ground, and I tried to step back, away from their sneers, but Mara grabbed my wrist.
"Don’t disappear off now," she whispered, her voice low enough for only to hear. "Father will want to see how well you represent our family tonight. After all, your existence is such a gift to the Ashbourne na."
My stomach churned.
My father, Beta Donovan Ashbourne, the assistant leader of the Crescent Moon Pack and a renowned negotiator among the werewolf realms
He had made sure I remained at the kitchens working so I don’t get seen by others.
If he sees , oh no...he might whip and I might have to sleep with the dogs again.
No. No.
I tried to remove my hands from Mara, but her alpha strength was way much than what a weak person like I would have.
"Leave her alone, Mara," ca a quiet voice from the edge of the group. I glanced up to see Jonas, one of the pack’s young warriors, shifting uncomfortably. His gaze didn’t et mine, but his words, soft as they were, felt like a lifeline.
"Oh, Jonas." Mara’s laughter was light, airy. "You’re such a sweetheart. But trust , she can handle this. Can’t you, Vanessa?"
I bit the inside of my cheek to stop the words that threatened to spill out.
"Just let go, I promise to do all the extra laundry, just...don’t let dad see , I beg you."
The tears were already flowing, she didn’t let go.
At that mont, the drums began to beat, signaling the start of the announcent ceremony.
Mara released my wrist with a flourish, smoothing out her gown as she stepped forward. "I don’t care what you have to do Vanessa. You disobeyed orders, so it’s best you beco punished for it. Now co Vanessa. Let’s see what the crown prince has to say. Who knows? Maybe he’ll surprise us all and pick you as his luna."
Her words were t with giggles from her entourage, but my legs carried forward regardless.
The crowd parted as we approached the ceremonial stage, the energy around us crackling with anticipation.
The crown prince, Caleb Drakon, stood tall and commanding on the raised platform, his piercing green eyes scanning the crowd.
His dark hair well smoothed with gel under the moonlight, and a sharp smile played at the corners of his lips.
He was everything a future alpha should be: strong, confident, and utterly untouchable.
A crush of many girls, including , but his eyes was on one person, Mara.
His girlfriend.
My heart thudded in my chest as his gaze landed on briefly before moving on. I felt like I was suffocating under the weight of his scrutiny, even if it lasted only a second.
The elder stepped forward, his voice carrying across the clearing. "Tonight, under the light of the full moon, our crown prince shall reveal his destined mate, chosen by the goddess herself."
The crowd fell silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a blade. Caleb took a step forward, his eyes scanning the crowd once more. Ti seed to stretch infinitely, every second dragging on as though the moon itself were holding its breath.
Finally, his lips parted, and his voice rang out, clear and commanding. "My mate is—"
The silence shattered as his gaze locked onto mine.
"You."
The single word hung in the air, slicing through my confusion and the gasps of the crowd.
?
"No!" Mara’s voice rang out, sharp and panicked. She pushed forward, her perfectly curled hair bouncing with the force of her movent. "That’s not possible! She’s... she’s nothing! Just an oga!"
Caleb’s jaw tightened, his expression unreadable. "She is my mate," he said again, his eyes darkened.
The crowd erupted, whispers turning into roars as Mara turned on , her face twisted with anger.
"What did you do, Vanessa? Did you cast so spell? Did you trick him?!"
"I... I didn’t do anything," I stamred. My heart pounded in my chest.
This wasn’t happening.
It couldn’t be happening.
"Enough," Caleb said, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade. The crowd fell silent as his gaze swept over them. Then he turned to , his expression hardening. "This has to be a mistake."
A mistake.
My stomach dropped, the weight of his words hitting like a physical blow.
"I, Caleb Drakon, reject you, Vanessa Ashbourne, as my mate," he said coldly, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear.
Gasps rippled through the crowd. My legs trembled as I struggled to stay upright.
"You can’t!" I scread. As I felt a sharp pain pierce into my heart. "The Moon Goddess wouldn’t..." I trailed off.
What was the use? He wasn’t listening to
"I choose Mara," Caleb continued, ignoring . "She is the one fit to stand by my side. Not..." He glanced at with disdain. "...this."
My vision blurred with unshed tears, my ears ringing from the humiliation.
"She’s just a bastard," soone muttered.
"A useless oga," another chid in.
My knees buckled, but I forced myself to stay upright. I wouldn’t fall. Not here. Not now.
"Caleb!" Mara’s face lit up with triumph, her earlier panic forgotten. She stepped forward, her hand reaching for his arm, but he brushed past her, walking back toward the ceremonial stage without another glance in my direction.
"Pathetic," Mara spat as she turned to . "You should have known better than to show your face here, Vanessa. You’ve embarrassed yourself and the pack enough for one lifeti."
Her words were like knives, each one cutting deeper than the last. I couldn’t stay. Not here, surrounded by people who looked at as though I were dirt beneath their feet. My vision tunneled as I turned and ran, pushing through the crowd.
The laughter followed , echoing in my ears long after I left the clearing.
I didn’t know where I was going. My legs carried blindly through the forest, the cool night air biting at my skin. The tears I had fought so hard to hold back stread freely now, hot and stinging as they blurred my vision.
How could the Moon Goddess do this to ? How could she pair with soone who despised so completely?
"Vanessa!"
My father’s voice sliced through the silence, freezing in place. Slowly, I turned to see him stepping out from the shadows, his expression a mask of fury.
"Crying like the disgrace you are," he sneered. Before I could react, his hand shot out, grabbing a fistful of my hair and yanking it hard. Pain shot through my scalp, and I scread, stumbling forward as he pulled closer.
"Didn’t I tell you to remain ho?" His voice was low, dangerous, each word laced with venom. "You dare disobey and disgrace in front of the whole pack?"
"I—I’m sorry," I choked out.
"Sorry?" He laughed, the sound hollow and cruel. "Sorry doesn’t fix the humiliation you’ve brought upon tonight."
His grip on my hair tightened, and I whimpered, my body trembling with fear and pain. "You’re nothing, Vanessa. Nothing but a mistake. I should have left you to rot the day you were born."
"Father, please," I begged, my voice breaking.
"Do you know what sha you are?" he snarled, his breath hot against my face. Before I could answer, his foot slamd into my stomach. The impact sent sprawling to the ground, the air leaving my lungs in a painful rush.
I coughed, the tallic taste of blood filling my mouth. Weak. Pathetic.
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