Emily stand in front of the bonfire with her heart beating a little faster than it usual.
The smile light up in her eyes when Aiden Woods, the Alpha and her proclaimed mate walks into the circle.
She move close to hold him but then he pull away fast and a look of disdain settle on his face much to Emily's dismay.
Finally, she notice the looks on everyone standing outside the circle. Rather than the elated faces she expected, there are only looks of scorn and the countenance on Aiden is no different.
"What is going on?" she asked
It was supposed to be the ceremony of her becoming the Luna, or was it not? The moon goddess has just declared that she is the Alpha's mate.
Though she has thought countless time before now about being with him, she has never thought the goddess would grant her desire and name her as his mate.
"It's a rejection ceremony" he said his voice sternly.
"What?" Emily's expression wipe off and her face become pale.
"You, Emily, is not fit to be my Luna" he declare loud enough for everyone to hear and there is immediate agreement.
Emily look at the crowd and not a single one seem to want this relationship, they may hate her but it is the goddess choosing.
"Why are you rejecting me? How am I not fit to be your Luna?" she turn to Aiden and asked stuttering.
"Are you kidding?" he sneered
"You are weak and poor, how can I make a nobody like you my Luna?"
Emily's eyes welled up hearing how he view her, she has spent a year thinking of him as a really good man unlike any others she might have met that her distorted memories could not remember.
He has shown her care and affection for the past year that she has thought him as a noble man.
Weak? She hasn't even been given the opportunity to prove herself as a worthy Luna.
"You have no background or power, what benefits will you bring to the pack if you become the Luna" Aiden continues, hurting her more with his words.
There are murmurs immediately and everyone nod their heads in affirmative to his words, their eyes filled with despise for her.
Tears fell freely from Emily's eyes and she wipe it away with the back of her hands, her hurt settling in.
They have already settled in their heart not to accept her, no matter what she says, nothing would change their minds.
She has already being judged by her social status which is nothing, she has been deemed useless and unworthy.
Just a poor wolf girl who found her way to the woods a year ago, with no memory of the past or who she is.
The gentle brightness of the moon hits her sight and she look up to see the moon at his highest peak.
So it is a rejection ceremony. She has dressed up for nothing.
"I, Alpha Aiden Woods, reject you Emily as my mate".
Emily try not to whimper as she let out her own words holding tight to her skirt, once the bond is broken, she feel a sudden seizure in her chest and grab tight on it.
Suddenly, she felt better again but the pain in her heart did not leave just like the bond.
Now she has nothing to do with the Woods pack, she might as well leave to find an acceptable place for herself.
As she pack her few things, Gladys walk into the room with a mocking giggle and sit on the bed.
"It's a pity Emily, who would have thought that you would be thrown out?" she said in a jest.
"I am not thrown out Gladys, I am leaving on my own" Emily resorted
"oh please, you are just saying that to save yourself the shame" Gladys said again enjoying her misery.
"You are rejected" she chuckles
"I told you I was going to be the Luna, you were just a mere distraction for him and now he is done with you" she said getting up and stare with maliciously at her.
Emily did not bother to look back as she walk out the door, dragging the small bag which the only thing she owns and leave the woods for good.
She always thought there to be her place of comfort. But now, she can't help feeling despair and all alone.
As Emily walk through the lone path the memories of the good times she has spent with Aiden makes her heart ache more.
But remembering again, the look in his eyes when he rejected her, she can't help but feel angry.
From now on, she is going to seek another path and let herself forget about mate or love.
The long night road makes her feel so tired and somewhat scared, with no destination in mind, she felt even worst.
She has been walking for twenty minutes without any help in sight until a car light suddenly brightens the path and she stop to see if she could get a lift.
However before she could stop the car, it pull up in front of her and three men alight simultaneously from it.
Emily move back in fear that they might mean to harm her and clutch to her bag ready for any attack but they approach her carefully seeing she is frightened by their appearance.
The men seem to want to say something but they all take a pause and stare at her in awe instead, not sure what it is about she hold her breathe and wait.
"Miss. Wilson?" they chorused.
"Who? I am not Wilson, my name is Emily" she told them.
"Miss. Emily Wilson" they nod in affirmation and Emily's face turn into a worried frown.
They know who she is? She thought
"My name is Wilson?" she asked and saying the name feel about right.
The men quickly bow their heads respectfully and Emily is force to move back again feeling perplex.
"We have been searching a long time for you Mistress" one of the men said.
"You have?" she asked
They look at each other and exchange glances Emily could not interpret.
"You are the only daughter of Alpha Wilson and Luna Grace, Mistress and we have been searching for you for a year now" he explained and the others nod.
Emily try to understand what the men are talking about, she has heard Aiden mention a powerful Alpha from a very mighty pack once.
She is from that powerful pack? It is unbelievable.
"Please come with us Mistress, the pack has been waiting earnestly for your return" they urged.
Emily feel a slight sharp pain in her head and it become stronger in few seconds, she grab her head hoping the pain would subdue and in that moment, her lost memories come flashing back.
The car drive inside the main quarters of the Nightshade pack and Emily try to catch a glimpse of familiarity from the closed window of the car.
This is her home! her memory was coming back bit by bit and she could remember quite a few things.
The car stops and the door is quickly opened before she even have the chance to grasp it, she get down and the familiar air hits her body, it really feel like home.
"The Alpha and Luna are waiting you Mistress" they told her.
Emily nod her head and followed after the one who had open the car door for her, she walk into the main house and observed it carefully to see if she would remember it.
"Oh my lovely wolf"
Emily was caught off guard as she was grabbed into a tight hug and given a kiss on the forehead.
"Father?" she called recognizing the one holding her.
She quickly return the hug and her eyes welled up recognizing him now, how could she have forgotten her own father
"Emily!" her mother, Grace called and Emily quickly disengage to hug her too.
She could remember everything now, she is Emily Wilson, the most precious daughter of the Nightshade's pack and the heir to the throne of the Alpha.
It's irony that just an hour ago, she was a nobody and now she is the daughter of the most powerful and wealthy wolf pack.
"Where have you been?"
"we have searched everywhere for you"
They rain her with questions as she smile delightful to see them again.
"I will tell you every thing later" she said calming them down and they exhale out in relief.
"She is back now, we should allow her a rest" Alpha Wilson nod in agreement
Emily help herself further into the house and find her way to her room, she open the door to the well-lighted room filled with good scent and a comfortable bedding.
She walk up to take a seat on her bed loving the fact that nothing has been touched since she went missing for a year, everything was in place.
Except the low grade outfit she is putting on, without hesitating, she start to pull it off her body and stand up to head to the bathroom but a knock come on the door halting her action
"Who is there?" she asked.
"It's your cousin Zack" the voice from outside said and Emily quickly recognize his voice.
"I want to be alone, let's talk later" she said dismissively.
She walk into the shower and let the water cool her body and wash away all of the dirt of the past year.
After spending minutes washing and cleaning up, Emily walk out to meet a welcome party downstairs.
All the pack members have gathered to welcome her back home and see their lost princess, she walk down in the long spaghetti straps dress that has been picked up for her and tread careless on the shoes heels.
Someone walk up to her immediately she reaches down and hold out a glass of wine to her with a smile.
"It's so good to see you cousin"
"Zack" she called recognizing his face at the sound of his voice.
Strangely, his voice seem to be ringing a memory in her head but she can not quite place what it is yet.
"Thank you" she said as she took the glass and walk away to meet her parents waiting eagerly for her.
From the crowd as her father adorn her with praises, she could see some familiar faces and a relaxing smile settled on her face.
She was crowded with people pouring praises on her look and giving their sincere congratulation on her being back home.
As much as Emily would love to take a long rest that night, she could not help but tell her parents the tale of her wandering for the past year.
The spite in her voice grow at every mention of Aiden Woods' name and her fist clenched harder each time.
"I want to pay him back" Emily grab her father's hands.
Now that she is all that Aiden thought she would never be and more, she might as well show him who is superior and unworthy.
Even an Alpha like himself holds no candle to her, the heiress of Nightshade pack.
He had rejected her because he thought her poor and of no status, now she want to make him regret that decision and have him begging to have her back and he will be crushed just like she was when he realize that he would never be able to have her again.
"Honey, I can punish the Woods pack however you want me to, just tell me how exactly you want them punished" her father replied without hesitation.
"No father, then he wouldn't know what he has done wrong and Nightshade would be seen as a bully" she shake her head to refute.
Besides, she would like to punish Aiden herself and watch as he cry and beg for her to take him back.
"I have a good plan in mind father, all I need is your permission"
"It is granted" Alpha Wilson said immediately and Emily smile widely before embracing her together with Grace.
"Just be careful"
"I will mother" she nod.
Without wasting any time, Emily have the message sent to the Woods pack the next day and make preparation.
Aiden receive the message with a mix of gratitude and worry, the Nightshade pack has finally given him an answer to his request for partnership.
The Woods pack has been struggling lately and he was starting to get worried that they might not be able to pull through it.
But the request of the Alpha to have his heir come to Woods pack in two months time for training make him feel a little unease.
There are surely good warriors in the Nightshade Pack that could teach the heir whatever he needs to know, why would Alpha Wilson want the Woods pack to train him?
But this opportunity to incur favor with the powerful pack cannot slip off his hands so without much choice, he send words back quickly agreeing to it.
Emily receive Alpha Aiden's response with enthusiasm and smile with satisfaction, it is just the first phase of her revenge on him.
"Let's try again"
Emily nod her head and get up holding her broken ribs, she let out her claws again and charge towards Mozart, her trainer only to be catch with one grip and slam to the ground.
"You are still slow Mistress" he told her in a fierce voice and Emily get up again not giving up.
She is the heiress and need to be strong more than anyone in the pack if she is to be a great leader.
The past year that she has lost seem to have taken a bad effect on her skills and the fact that she can't seem to remember how good she was make her feel weaker than a teenager who had just meet her wolf for the first time.
She is hurt by Aiden's rejection but her wolf, Marissa must have been more hurt by the rejection than ever. She has always look forward to the day they would meet their mate and all their hope was shattered by his brutal rejection.
"Let's do this again" she said and Mozart groan as his back grow huge out of his body.
Just as Emily made to call out her wolf, a warrior came to her and inform her that her parents request her urgent presence.
She walk to the throne room to see them looking troubling worried and they both rushed to her at once frightening her a little.
"What's going on Mother?" she asked
Emily notice the pack physician standing a distance away and realize that the tests that she had taken must have brought bad news which has made her parents panicked in the manner.
"Who could have such horrible intent towards my lovely wolf?" Alpha Wilson turn to the physician to ask after a moment of calmness.
"I am yet to find that out sir"
"Well find out fast"
Someone must really want her gone to have used magic to make her lose her memories and harm her with it.
That was why she was unable to remember a thing about herself but weirdly remember her name.
Emily watch her body heal before changing into a new shirt and trousers that she feels comfortable with unlike the pretend dresses she has had to wear back at Woods just to impress Aiden.
A hard knock came on her door again the second she was done and the door crack open to reveal Zack.
"I just came to check if you are okay cousin" he said as he step into the quite spacious room.
"Thank you, I'm fine" she replied.
Admist, the many things that she remembers, she did not remember Zack and her being close enough for him to worry constantly about her.
"Why do you keep calling me cousin?" She suddenly burst out, it felt wrong any time she hears it.
"I don't think we are close enough for you to call me that, just address me as you usually would"
"Yes Heiress"
Zack obey without any argument and Emily nods before walking out of the room to continue her training even though her parents would frown against it.
As they have asked her to take a rest for the evening just like the physician has suggested.
But she could not avoid a rest now. Not only because of getting back at Aiden but for the sake of her family and her duty as the next Alpha.
Someone has attacked her tears ago with magic and she could not even remember it. Until she regains all her memories and find out who is responsible, she needs to keep her guards up.
After two months of vigour training by Mozart and even her father which she managed to convinced, Emily was all set to go down to Woods pack.
The thought of returning to the Wood pack and facing Aiden sent a thrill through her veins. She was ready to show them the true extent of her power and worth.
Taking with her four cars and as many warrior wolves as she could, she arrive at the Woods pack at sunset.
Just like she wanted, a respectable welcome was waiting to receive her and as she step out in the short black gown with a beautiful black diamond necklace, she turn heads and have eyes widens in shock.
Not because, they immediately recognize her as Emily the rejected Luna but because they see that the heiress of the Nightshade pack is a woman and a gorgeous one at that.
Emily walk with her chin up and Alpha Aiden quicken his steps to meet her half way with a delightful smile.
"Your heiress, on behalf of the Woods pack, I welcome you" he said and take her hand for a kiss.
The feel on his lips on her skin sent a bit of shiver down her spines. She shook it off and allow him walk her to a beautiful seat prepared for her.
Emily turn to Aiden with a satisfied smirk as he wait for her to sit down before he sits.
"It's really a pleasure meeting you again Alpha Aiden" she said staring at him and waiting for him to recognize her voice.
It took seconds and the look on his face was just the satisfaction Emily has worked for by spending hours having her make-up done.
"You...?" He said with a horrifying shocking expression.
Aiden blinks his eyes trying to process if it is indeed real or his brain was playing tricks on him like it has been doing the past weeks.
Now, he could understand why the heir wants to visit the Woods pack, it was all written on her face, revenge.
Aiden try to keep his face calm as he take his seat after her but he could not help the feelings he was getting especially from his wolf who seem particularly excited to set eyes on her again.
Just as the party kicks in, Emily could feel few people staring at her and trying to catch a closer glimpse of her face.
They must have recognized her by now and she is enjoying the show quite well.
Not minding the crowd, she got up to let them have the glance they've been stretching necks to see and pretend to have a need to visit the bathroom.
She step outside a bit away from the bright light with the glass of red wine she hasn't sip all night and take a breather.
"You are the heiress" a voice asked suddenly startling Emily.
She turn to the deeper dark where the voice came from and noticed the mysterious figure coming out from it.
His figure seem to resemble that if Aiden but the aura oozed from him was quite overwhelming and irresistible.
Emily's eyes flickered as she stares at him finally in the light, it was not Aiden but someone who has the same face as him
Aiden's twin brother, the one who is always said to be in the hid not showing his face ever.