Chapter 1 The rejection

The Blackthorn Pack's held their ceremonies underneath an ancient oak tree, its branches reaching to the starless sky. Torches surrounded the ceremonial grounds, casting shadows across the ground that was already touched by frost. Anticipation surrounded the air, the scent of pine was heavy, woodsmoke, and the musky undertone of the restless pack. Lia Blackwood stood alone at one edge of the gathering, her heart was racing fast in her chest. The Moon Ceremony was about to begin, the sacred ritual where the Moon Goddess revealed fated mates.

At twenty-two, Lia had dreamed of this night since she was a pup, her wolf yearning for the one destined to complete her soul.Her simple gray dress clung to her frame, its hem frayed from years of wear. She ignored the sidelong glances and whispered sneers from the pack. "Half-witch," a beta's mate hissed to another. "She was tainted by her mother's blood." Lia's jaw tightened, her silver eyes narrowed. Her mother was a witch, a coven outcast who had died giving birth to her, leaving Lia to live with the burden of her hybrid nature. Half-werewolf, half-witch, she'd never fully belonged in Blackthorn. But the Moon Goddess didn't err. If she found a mate, he'd be her guide, see her strength, how loyal she is, maybe he would see her heart. The crowd parted, and Alpha Kael walked into the path that was being cleared. At twenty-six, he was already one of the strongest alpha, tall with broad shoulders, with black hair that fell in waves and amber eyes that burned like molten gold. His presence made the whole pack silent, he commanded both respect and fear in equally. Kael had been the alpha of Blackthorn since his father's death five years ago, his ruthless leadership transformed the pack into being a powerhouse. Lia's heart skipped a beat as his gaze paused on her while it was sweeping through the crowd.Her wolf surged, Mate was being roaref in her mind.The bond snapped into place, a golden thread connecting her soul to Kael's. Lia went weak on her knees from the weight of it, a warmth flooding her chest. The Alpha was her fated mate? She took a step forward instinctively, her silver eyes met with his. For a split, she saw something in his expression, hunger, perhaps, or was it finally recognition. Her lips parted, her inside filled with hope.Then his face turned into a snarl."You?" Kael's voice was a low growl, sharp enough to slice through the silence. The pack turned, their eyes pinning Lia like a deer in a hunter's sights. "A half-witch as my Luna?"Lia's stomach lurched, the warmth of the bond curdling into dread. She lifted her chin, forcing her voice steady. "The Moon Goddess chose me, Alpha. The bond doesn't lie.""Chose you?" Kael's laughter was a cruel blade, echoing in her head. He stepped closer to her. His scent, leather, cedar, and raw power, overwhelmed all her senses. "You are a mistake. Tainted. Unworthy of Blackthorn."The words struck deeper than claws. Lia's wolf wailed within her. She clenched her fists tightly nails were digging into her palms. "You feel it too, Kael. Deny it all you want, but the bond is real."His amber eyes flashed, and for a heartbeat, she thought he'd falter. Pain flickered in his gaze, quickly buried beneath cold resolve. "I don't need a witch's spawn at my side," he spat. He raised a hand,his claws extending and filled with dark and unnatural energy. Lia froze, her witch senses could feel danger. This wasn't wolf magic-it was something older,forbidden."I reject you, Lia Blackwood," Kael snarled. "You'll never be my mate."Agony exploded in her chest, the mate bond shattering like glass. Lia gasped, falling to the ground on her knees. But that wasn't all. Kael's darkened claws slashed across her collarbone, a small fire where they met her skin. She screamed, the sound raw as a cursed mark appeared into her flesh-a jagged crescent moon, pulsing with ominous energy. The pack shocked, then erupted into jeers. "Witch!" a warrior shouted. "Banish her!"Lia clutched the mark, her vision swimming. The curse went deep, bounding her wolf's strength, her magic also dwindling. Her silver eyes met Kael's, searching for a anything she could hold on to. She found none. His face was covered in disgust and anger."Get out, leave Blackthorn," he said, his voice low and final. "If you ever think of returning, I'll personally kill you."Tears filled Lia's eyes, but she didn't to let them fall. She staggered to her feet, the mark felt like it was online and in sync with every her every heartbeat. The pack's taunts surrounded her-"Freak!" "Cursed!"-but she tuned them out. "You will regret this," she whispered, trying to steady her voice despite the pain. "I swear it on the Moon Goddess."She turned, her legs trembling, and stumbled toward the forest. The pack's jeers followed, but Lia didn't look back. The cursed mark kept burning hotter. She placed her hand to her stomach, where a faint pulse of life had stirred days ago. Kael's child, a secret she hadn't dared voice. The realization steeled her resolve. She needed to survive, not for herself alone, but also for her baby growing inside her.Hours later, Lia collapsed by a frozen stream. The forest was silent, the moon covered by a veil of clouds. The cursed mark pulsed, draining her energy, but Lia's mind raced. She'd heard of rogue lands to the south, where outcasts carved out their own packs. Or perhaps a witch coven might take her in, if she could find one willing to defy Blackthorn. Her fingers brushed the mark, its heat a constant reminder of Kael's betrayal."I'll protect you," she murmured to her unborn child, her voice fierce. "No matter what."As dawn painted the sky in shades of gray, Lia stood, her silver eyes glinting with defiance. Kael thought he'd broken her. He thought the curse would bury her. He was wrong. She'd survive. She'd grow stronger. And one day, she'd return to make him pay.