Chapter 1 THE REJECTION

ROSELINE'S POV

When I recovered consciousness, I found myself on the bed, my eyes staring at the white ceiling, my entire body sour, and Cassie beside me. As I laid there, recollections of the previous day's events flooded back. I remembered the uneasiness that had crept in after eating the cake Scarlett had offered me, and how I felt like puking.

It dawned on me that Scarlett might have poisoned the cake, driven by her clear dislike of my presence, especially around Logan. I remembered the time Logan visited me, and Scarlett lied about my absence, only to fall silent when I appeared. Her actions now seemed sinister, and I wondered what she was capable of.

As I continued to ponder Scarlett's intentions, I couldn't shake off the feeling that she was hiding something. Her actions appeared driven by a desire to keep Logan and I apart. She had always desired to be with Logan and was envious when he fell for me instead.

Cassie's worried voice pierced through my foggy thoughts. "Finally, you're awake."

I groaned, slowly regaining consciousness. As I struggled to sit up, a wave of dizziness washed over me. My head spun like a merry-go-round, making it hard to focus. Gritting my teeth, I squinted at the wall clock,desperate for a clear view. The numbers blurred together, but eventually, they came into focus.

My eyes widened in horror. "What?!" I shrieked, my heart skipping a beat. "How long have I been out?" I demanded, fearing the worst.

My birthday, the day of my transformation, was supposed to be a public spectacle. Had I missed it? The thought sent a chill down my spine.

Cassie's soothing voice calmed me down. "Just take it easy, you've been asleep throughout the day." she advised, gently patting my back to comfort my throbbing headache.

I couldn't miss my transformation ceremony, the most important day of my life. The thought of facing my pack's disappointment at me missing the event, the shame was unbearable, knowing everyone was waiting for me.

I leapt out of bed, despite my pounding headache, and stumbled towards the window. Throwing it open, I gazed out at the moon, feeling a deep connection to its power. But something felt off.

I rushed to the gathering, anxious to join the ceremony. To my relief, I arrived just in time, it wasn't my turn yet.

As I took my place in line, my gaze swept across the crowd. My eyes met Logan's, and his warm smile filled me with encouragement.

Nearby, Mr. Tristan and Mrs. Linda stood together, accompanied by Scarlett, whose expression seemed guarded.

What's going on, it was my turn to transform into my werewolf form, but when I closed and opened my eyes everything still seemed the same way it was, it was already a full moon and it was exactly 12am.

I was supposed to have transformed into my wolf by now, and the mating ceremony with Alpha Logan was supposed to have started.

My heart began to race by the intimidating faces of the members of the pack, like I had just gone on a battle. My heart plummeted to my stomach, and I couldn't hear my heartbeat because it was thumping so fast out of fear.

"Roseline is without a wolf " I can hear the whispers in the crowd, "Oh, moon goddess, this can't be happening. I really didn't want to go back to that hell of a house", I cried.

As my eyes searched the crowd and there fell on Cassie, it was then the gravity of what was happening registered with me.

I recalled that my father was an alpha king, so I was supposed to be a beta female. It was already past midnight and everyone had transformed. I was the only one left behind.

I was meant to be the Luna of the pack, after these transformations.

"This can't be true, nooo, wait one more try" I said with my eyes closed focusing my mind on the lessons coach Felix had taught us, but nothing was working.

I could see the evil smile on Scarlett's face. It was then I realised, they were right, I was actually wolf less, the crowd began leaving and some were filled with discouragement, I fell to the ground as my whole life flashed before me, my eyes filled with tears.

"Hey, this is not the time to cry" I felt Cassie hand around me. "Cass, tell me it's a lie? Just tell me all this is a dream" I sober with tears all over my face."Tell me I can still become Alpha Logan's Luna right?" I yelled at Cassie.

The Blood Moon Pack had a long-standing custom that by the age of 20, every pack member was expected to have changed into their wolf form for the first time. Those who did not do so by 20 would be in limbo, known as "wolf-less," until they were 25. However, it was unusual for a pack member's wolf to appear at 25. Typically, only the strongest and most powerful wolves appeared at this age. The bulk of the Blood Moon Pack's wolves emerged on time, at the age of 20.

Cassie knelt forward giving me a tight hug of reassurance."I need to speak to Logan" I stood up only to see Scarlett standing close beside him,

"Logan, I know you will understand right? You can be patient with me right? Let's wait together so that I can finally become your Luna" I uttered with the sense of fear sounding in my tone.

"What?!" I exclaimed, my voice trembling with shock. "Wait another five years? I'm sorry, I just can't," Logan said, his voice icy and detached.

My heart was racing like a jackrabbit, pounding in my chest like I'd just sprinted a marathon. Logan's words felt like a physical blow, a sharp stab to the heart that left me breathless and reeling.

"I need a Luna and not just any Luna but a Luna who has her complete wolf, and I don't think you fit in that space" he said as his gaze lingered on me for a moment, before he turned away, his voice dripping with disdain. "Roseline, I reject you as my mate. You do not possess the qualities I seek in a Luna." The crowd gasped, and I felt a stinging sensation, as if I'd been slapped. Logan's voice continued, his words slicing through my heart. "By the power vested in me as Alpha, I hereby announce Scarlett Tristan as my new marked Luna."

The gathering grounds erupted into chaos, with the pack's members buzzing with excitement and shock. Logan's voice rose above the din, his words sealing my fate. "The Luna ceremony will take place in three days' time. Let the preparations begin!"

I felt like I'd been smashed into a million pieces, and my entire world was falling around me. My life had been a never-ending cycle of pain since I was a youngster, and I had hoped that being the Luna of the pack would help me escape it all. But now that dream has been ruthlessly dashed. Logan's rejection was terrible, but what made it much worse was that he had chosen my own sister, Scarlett, as his mate. The anguish of being replaced with my sister.

I stood there, paralyzed in disbelief, unable to move or absorb the emotional upheaval that was raging in my heart. I felt devastated, shattered into a thousand pieces, and my heart lay in shreds on the ground. The weight of my sadness was crushing me, and I didn't know how I'd ever pick up the pieces and move forward.