Chapter 2 His Announcement

Elena's POV

Soon, the courtyard was filled again, wolves gathering after hearing the Alpha had something important to say. I didn't want to go out there, not after last night. My neck still throbbed where Andrew had marked me, the skin hot and tender under the collar of my shirt. I'd spent the morning staring at it in the mirror in my room, a red bite that screamed everything I wanted to hide. But Clara wouldn't let me stay inside.

"Come on, Elena," she said, bursting into my room without knocking, her hair messy from running over. She grabbed my arm, her fingers digging in a little too hard. "You can't just hole up in here. It'll look suspicious if you don't show up."

I pulled away, rubbing my wrist. "Clara, please. I told you everything about the forest, the kiss, the mark. You promised you'd keep it to yourself and not overreact."

Her face softened, those eyes of hers full of worry and concern as she stood in front of me. "I know, and I will. But hiding? That's not nice. Plus, everyone's talking about this announcement. If you're not there, people might wonder why. They gossip a lot, you know."

I sighed, my stomach twisting into discomfort at the thought. She was right. Last night, after I'd stumbled back from the forest, I'd broken down and spilled it all to her, about the pull, the bite, Andrew's words claiming me as his mate. She'd hugged me tight, whispering that it was fate, that It was amazing to see me become a Luna. And now, I'm about to face that fate.

"Fine," I muttered, tugging my shirt higher to cover the mark. "But I won't stay for long."

We pushed through the crowd, the air filled with excitement. Wolves from every corner of the pack stood around, their voices buzzing as they spoke to themselves. I caught snippets of it as we walked through, girls giggling and preening, their dresses more beautiful than mine as they've worn their best outfits.

"Oh, it's gotta be me," one said, a tall brunette with beautiful eyes and body shape, flipping her hair. "I mean, Alpha Andrew looked at me twice last night. Twice! You know?"

Her friend mocked laughed at her, nudging her. "Dream on. Everyone knows it's Selene Blackthorn. She's from that allied pack, with a strong bloodline. And have you seen how she hangs on him? It's obvious."

My chest tightened at the name, like someone had punched me in the gut. Selene. I'd seen her plenty of times, always hovering near Andrew at pack events. She was everything I wasn't, high status, confident, the daughter of an Alpha. And yeah, she'd been there before me, kissing and having him without anyone's permission. The thought made my blood boil, even though I had no right to feel that way. Or did I? After last night... I shook my head, trying to shove it down. Maybe I was overreacting.

Clara squeezed my hand as we found a spot near the back. "Ignore them," she whispered. "They're just desperate idiots."

I nodded, but my eyes darted to the center where Andrew stood tall. His Beta, Marcus, flanked him on the right, arms crossed, his face emotionless like always. Andrew's mother was behind them, her graying hair pulled back, her expression proud too. And there was Selene, standing way too close to Andrew as usual, her hand brushing his sleeve as she leaned in to say something to his ear. She smiled up at him but he didn't return it.

The crowd was in hushed silence when Andrew raised his hand, the motion commanding. Everyone went dead silent, heads turning, bodies stilling as their eyes were all on him. His steel-grey eyes swept over us, cold as ever as my heart pounded, and I dropped my gaze to the ground, praying he wouldn't spot me.

"Northwest Pack," Andrew started, his voice booming across the courtyard, deep and unrelenting. "You've all gathered here because I've called you. There's been talk, pressure from elders, from allies, even from within our own ranks. As Alpha, I've led this pack through threats and triumphs. But an Alpha needs a Luna at his side. Someone strong, capable of leading with me, of standing against our enemies."

Selene's smile widened, her cheeks flushing as she straightened up, like his words were a spotlight just for her. She glanced around, soaking it in, her posture screaming confidence.

Andrew paused and then continued. "I've heard the rumors. The speculations and today, I'm making things clear."

My breath caught. For a split second, I thought he might say my name. Memories from last night flooded back, the way he'd pinned me against the tree, his breath hot on my neck, the sharp pain of his bite, the fierce kiss that had left me breathless. "You're mine now," he'd said. My heart hammered so loud I swore Clara could hear it. What if this was it? What if he announced me?

But then he continued, his tone hardening. "I will never allow weakness beside me as Luna. This pack deserves strength, not frailty. A weak werewolf is unworthy of leading us."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd, heads nodding in agreement. "That's right," someone near us muttered. "We need a strong Luna."

Andrew turned then, his eyes locking right on me. No one else seemed to notice, their attention on him, but I felt it like a spotlight. His gaze was piercing, unblinking, and my skin prickled uncontrollably. "The Moon Goddess must have made a mistake mating me to a low class mate," he said. "I want to openly reject this mate. I, Andrew Kane, Alpha of the Northwest Pack, reject Elena Torre as my Luna and my mate."

The words hit me, pain flaring in my chest. Laughter bubbled up from parts of the crowd, whispers slicing through the air. "She really thought Aloha would choose her?" someone asked. "She's of no class?"

"An omega," another snickered. "Can you imagine?"

Clara's hand grabbed mine, her grip tight, her face in fury. "Elena, no..." she says the moment she saw those tears forming in my eyes.

My legs went weak, knees buckling like they were about to give way. The mark on my neck burned fiercer than before, a throbbing reminder of his claim and now his rejection. Tears stung my eyes, hot and blurring everything.

I couldn't stay. Before anyone could see the tears spill, I yanked my hand free and ran, pushing through the crowd, our elbows jabbing, voices fading behind me. "Elena!" Clara called, but I didn't stop.

I burst into my small room of the pack house, slamming the door and locking it with shaking hands. The space was tiny, just a bed, a rickety table, and that little mirror on my wall I slid down against the door, my head spinning, breaths coming in gasps in sobs.

Why did he mark me if he knew he would reject me in the presence of everyone?

"Elena! Open up!" Clara's voice came through the door, followed by banging fists. "Please, talk to me. That was..., I'm so sorry. He can't do this!"

I stayed silent, pulling my knees to my chest, holding myself together by sheer will. More tears streamed down my face. How could he? Last night he'd kissed me like I was everything, and now... this?

Clara kept pounding. "Elena, come on! I know you're hurting. Let me in. We can figure this out. He's an idiot if he thinks..."

"Go away, Clara," I finally choked out, but it was too quiet for her to hear. I could still replay the whispers from the courtyard echoing in my head, their laughter, Selene's smug smile. Was she the one he'd choose now? The thought made my stomach churn.

Hours passed, or maybe minutes but I lost track. Clara eventually gave up, her footsteps fading out. I didn't move, just sat there, numb.

Then, later that night, a knock came soft. By the voice , I realised it wasn't Clara's. I froze, wiping my face again.

"Elena?" A deep voice called. "It's Elder Rowan. Open the door, child."

I hesitated, my heart skipping. Elder Rowan? What did he want?

Among all the elders, he's the only elder who really cared about me. He's a widower and an orphan too. The only child of his parents by history.

I stood, unlocking the door and pulled it open. He was there, glaring at me with his old wrinkled face.

"Father." I called. Yes, in the past years, he's always told me to call him that. Always reminding me to see him as a father. Ever since he'd taken me under his wing as an orphan.

He glanced around, then stepped closer, lowering his voice as he wiped my tears with the back of his palm. "I saw what happened last night between you and the Alpha." He says.