Rejected by my Alpha chosen by the dragon prince

The full moon rose over Silverclaw Pack's ceremonial grounds, casting a mystical glow on the stone circle where all the pack members had gathered for the most anticipated event of the year-the Mating Ceremony. It was a sacred rite, where the bond between a werewolf and their fated mate was sealed under the moon's blessing. Tonight, Ariana Moon would join the ranks of the pack's most esteemed, for she had always known that Alpha Kade, the most powerful and feared of their kind, would choose her as his mate.

Ariana stood at the edge of the circle, her heart pounding in her chest, her breath shallow. She clutched the silk fabric of her gown tightly, a stark contrast to the wild energy coursing through her veins. Her wolf, Nyra, was restless, eager to complete the bond. The bond that would make her Alpha Kade's.

She glanced over at him-Alpha Kade, standing tall and regal, the leader of the Silverclaw Pack. His dark hair swept over his forehead, and his golden eyes glimmered in the moonlight. He was everything she had ever dreamed of. Strong, commanding, and with a presence that made her heart skip with longing.

But as the ceremony began, something shifted. Ariana felt it first-a coldness that crept into the air. The crowd's murmurs faded as Kade stepped forward to announce his choice. Her heart raced in anticipation, her entire being waiting for him to call her name.

"I, Alpha Kade of the Silverclaw Pack, reject Ariana Moon as my mate."

Her world collapsed around her. The words pierced her like a dagger, cold and final. Ariana stood frozen, unable to comprehend what she had just heard. Her knees buckled beneath her, and she barely heard the sounds of gasps and whispers that filled the air.

"No..." she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Kade's eye s did not soften. His gaze remained firm as he turned to face her half-sister, Liana-beautiful, with perfect blonde curls and an innocent smile. Ariana had always felt like an afterthought next to Liana, but she had never imagined Kade would choose her sister over her.

"The Moon Goddess made a mistake," Kade continued, his voice laced with authority. "I choose Liana as my mate."

Liana's lips curled into a victorious smile, and the crowd erupted in applause.

Ariana's knees gave out completely, and she fell to the ground. The bond between them snapped violently, sending a searing pain through her chest. The world around her blurred as tears welled in her eyes. Her heart shattered into a thousand pieces.

No one moved to help her. No one cared. In that moment, Ariana understood that she was nothing. A discarded piece, thrown away without a second thought.

As she was helped to her feet by a servant, Ariana caught one last glimpse of Kade, kissing her sister with passion, while the crowd cheered. A cold emptiness filled her, a void she could n't escape.

The days that followed were a blur of humiliation and sorrow. Ariana kept to herself, unable to face anyone. Her room became her refuge, the only place where she could hide from the world. But even in the safety of her room, she felt the weight of the rejection bearing down on her like a suffocating cloud.

Her wolf, Nyra, was silent, distant. She, too, was grieving the loss of their mate. The rejection had broken them both. Ariana could barely summon the strength to leave her bed, let alone face her father-the Beta of the pack-who had never been particularly kind to her. She could feel his disappointment, even though he never voiced it.

In the quiet of the night, as the moonlight filtered through her window, Ariana made a decision. She could not stay here. Not after what had happened. She couldn't bear to live in the pack that had witnessed her disgrace, the pack that had watched her mate choose her sister over her.

Packing a small satchel with whatever belongings she could carry, Ariana slipped out of her room, careful not to make a sound. The walls of the Silverclaw Packhouse felt like they were closing in on her, suffocating her with the weight of shame and failure.

She made her way to the edge of the pack territory, where the woods began, and where the legends spoke of the Forest of No Return. It was a cursed place, a forest where creatures of darkness roamed, and those who entered never came back. But Ariana didn't care. She wasn't afraid of death anymore.

She was already broken. What more could the world take from her?

With one last glance over her shoulder, Ariana stepped into the shadows of the cursed forest, her heart heavy but determined.

The deeper Ariana ventured into the forest, the more the air seemed to thicken, as if the trees themselves were watching her. The forest felt alive, a dark, sentient presence that seemed to whisper her name with every rustle of the leaves. It wasn't just the eerie silence that unnerved her-it was the feeling that something was watching her, waiting.

Her legs were growing tired, her feet sore from the rough terrain. She had never been this far into the forest before, and now she realized how foolish she had been to come here alone. But it was too late to turn back. Her heart longed for release, for an end to the torment she had endured at the pack.

The wind picked up, howling through the trees. Ariana shivered, wrapping her arms around herself for warmth, but the cold that gripped her bones was more than just the weather. It was a deep, empty cold that had nothing to do with the environment. It was the cold of a broken soul.

She stumbled over a thick root and fell hard onto the ground. Her palm scraped against the rough bark of a tree, blood welling up from the wound. She didn't care. She was too far gone to feel pain

As she tried to push herself up, she froze

A flash of silver flickered between the trees, followed by the unmistakable sound of wings. Ariana's heart hammered in her chest, but she couldn't move. Something was coming toward her-something powerful.

A creature emerged from the shadows, and her breath caught in her throat. It wasn't a wolf. It wasn't even human.

A dragon. A man, but with the unmistakable aura of a dragon. His eyes were a glowing crimson, and his silver hair cascaded down his broad shoulders. His presence radiated power, the kind of power that could crush her with a single glance.

"You shouldn't be here," the man said, his voice a deep, rumbling growl.

Ariana's heart pounded. "I didn't know anyone lived here."

The dragon-man stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "They don't. Only death lives here."

She stood up, wiping the blood from her palm, meeting his gaze. "Then maybe I came to find it."

His expression shifted, something ancient flickering in his eyes. "Or maybe you came to find me."

The dragon-man led Ariana to a hidden glade, where an ethereal fire danced in the air, floating like lanterns. The flames glowed with an unnatural light, and the heat from them felt different-ancient, primal. Ariana stood in awe as she took in the sight.

"My name is Drayce," the man said, his tone softer now. "I am the last of the dragon-shifter princes."

Ariana blinked, unsure whether she should believe him. Dragons had been nothing more than myths, stories told around campfires. But the energy in the air, the power that emanated from him, told her otherwise.

Drayce's gaze softened as he looked at her. "The forest is a place of death, but it also has its secrets. Secrets that have been waiting for you."

Ariana frowned. "What do you mean?"

He smiled faintly. "Your scent is different from the others. Part wolf. Part human. And something else."

"Something else?" she asked, confused.

He nodded. "Something older. Something powerful. The bond you once had with that Alpha... it was never meant to be. You are more than a rejected mate."

She took a step back, feeling a surge of confusion and fear. "What are you talking about?"

Drayce stepped closer, his eyes locking onto hers. "You are the one who will unite our world, Ariana Moon. The prophecy speaks of you."

Ariana's breath caught in her throat. "Prophecy?"

He nodded. "You're not just a wolf. You're the key to unlocking the old magic. And I will help you find it."

Drayce took Ariana deeper into the heart of the forest, to a hidden cavern filled with ancient stone tablets covered in glowing runes. The air hummed with the power of ages long past, and Ariana couldn't help but feel both awed and terrified by the sheer magnitude of the place.

Drayce led her to a wall where a massive mural had been carved. It depicted a woman with silver hair and golden eyes, standing between a wolf and a dragon, her hands raised to the heavens.

"The one who is broken will become whole, and her fire shall awaken the realm."

Ariana's heart pounded in her chest as she read the words aloud. "What does this mean?"

Drayce's voice was heavy with reverence. "It means you, Ariana. You are the prophecy reborn. The one who will reunite the wolf and dragon realms."