Chapter 1
Violet
The old willow tree by the creek shielded Violet from the hot August sun, nestled in its branches she sketched the people she watched pass below her. Up here she was invisible, no one noticed her watching them.
A couple walked by the water below, hand in hand. A melancholy feeling settled in her stomach as she watched the pair. She was a hopeless romantic, and yet sometimes she wondered if it was The Moon Goddess’s will for her to be alone.
She was already nineteen and had yet to meet her wolf. Her brothers had all met their wolves, Grayson was mated by the time he was her age. It was embarrassing to be wolfless in a family of some of the strongest wolves the Crescent Creek Pack had ever seen. Her family tried to make her feel less like a freak, but Violet couldn’t help but feel like the black sheep. Her oldest brother, Grayson was Beta And the twins were among the strongest warriors they had. Growing up her brothers protected her from the other pups, who bullied her for always being weaker and smaller than the rest of the pack. But, they couldn’t protect her forever.
Now that Grayson spent most of his time at the Pack House and the twins, Luca and Cane, were gone more often than they were home, it was just Violet. Despite having graduated from high school she remained the target of bullies. Her size and wolflessness made her an easy target. So when she could, she spent most of her time at home or in this willow tree where no one could hurt her. Up here she was safe.
A familiar voice broke Violet’s attention off of the young couple, Alpha Callon and her brother were walking past her tree. She sunk further into the branches hoping the scent of the willow leaves shielded hers enough to avoid being recognized by either. Alpha Callon had always been kind to her but he was known to be harsh in punishment, and eavesdropping on Alpha’s business was definitely against the laws.
“Cal, you’re my best friend. Which is why I came to you directly, if you could just give her a position in leadership the others wouldn’t be after as much.” Grayson said. Violet knew this conversation was about her. “She’s my baby sister.”
“She needs to learn how to fight her own battles, Grayson, you know she would hate us both if I offered her a position just to monitor her.” Callon sighed.
“Please, there are things you don’t know. About her, she needs to be protected. She’s not like the rest of us-”
Callon raised a hand silencing her brother, he stuck his nose in the air. So much for the tree shielding her scent. Cal’s eyes snapped up into the branches of the tree and their eyes met. Violet’s heart rate spiked and she felt an invisible string pulling her towards him, she climbed out of the tree as if she were entranced by him. His scent, his energy, him. He was her mate.
“How?” Was all Cal said as she stepped in front of him.
“I don’t know,” Violet answered, she couldn’t make herself look away from his eyes. His glorious blue eyes.
“What’s happening?” Grayson asked his eyes darting between the two.
“No,” Callon growled. “No this has to be a mistake, a trick of fate. There is no way the moon goddess would give me you as my mate.”
It felt like a punch to her gut, hearing the rejection in his voice. He didn’t want her.
“Way to make a girl feel special,” Violet said sarcastically, crossing her arms. “I understand I’m not the strongest-”
“Not the strongest? Vi you are the weakest member of this pack! You don’t have a wolf, you are smaller than every other she-wolf your age. You’ve never won a single fight in training.” Cal growled.
Grayson stepped slightly in front of Violet, protecting her from her own mate. “Cal, watch it.”
“No.” Callon snapped. “I Callon Thorne, Alpha of the Crescent Creek Pack reject Violet Miller as my fated mate and Luna.”
With that one sentence, Callon ripped Violet’s heart out of her chest. A pain unlike anything she had ever felt before shot through her body, but she would not crumble. Her vision went spotty and she knew she didn’t have much time before she would faint from the pain of the rejection. So, she did the only thing she knew how. She accepted the rejection, just as she had accepted the rejection of everyone in the Crescent Creek Pack.
“Violet!” Grayson called out, grabbing her elbow to help steady her.
“I Violet Miller accept your rejection.”
Callon gripped his own heart, but the pain for him was a fraction compared to the destruction his rejection was raging against Violet’s heart. Her soul tearing itself apart. She waited until he turned and walked down the path toward the pack house before she hunched over. Clutching her heart as if she could hold the pain back, she fell to her knees as the pain became excruciating. She was dying. She was dying and she was not afraid. She would never be afraid, never again.
“Are you okay?” Grayson cried reaching out for her as she collapsed to the ground. Violet didn’t have the strength to respond so she just closed her eyes and let the warm embrace of the darkness claim her.
Death was not how she had imagined it to be, there were no pearly white gates or blowing horns. No fire and pitchforks either. Just an endless black, and a mysterious beeping noise that was starting to get on Violet’s nerves. Violet walked towards the annoying sound hoping to find its source, the closer she got to the sound the brighter death became. It started as a little light and then grew until the black was replaced by bright white lights. Violet blinked.
“She’s awake!” Someone who sounded an awful lot like Luca shouted.
“Luca?” Violet asked her voice hoarse and foreign.
“It’s me, you’re okay. You’re in the infirmary, the others went to get food. They will be back soon.” Luca explained taking her hand in his and squeezing. “I’m sorry about-”
“Don’t.” Violet interrupted shaking her head, “Don’t say his name.”
“Got it.” Luca chuckled squeezing her hand again.
A few minutes later the rest of her family returned, and the sight of her mother made Violet feel guilty. She looked like she hadn’t slept in days, her hair was in a messy bun and she had dark circles under her eyes. Her dad hadn’t shaved. Cane looked like his normal obnoxious self except his hands were curled in fists at his sides. Grayson looked like he had been hit by a truck, he had a split lip and black eye. His arm was in a sling. Grayson’s mate Juliet stood protectively at his side.
“What happened to you?” Violet asked sitting up.
“It’s nothing.” Grayson shrugged. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“He challenged Alpha to a fight.” Cane frowned. “He lost.”
“You didn’t have to do that.” Violet chided. She didn’t like the idea of her brother falling out with his best friend because of Violet’s disappointing wolfless status. “He was right to reject me, I can’t be Luna. I’m not even a real wolf.”
“Don’t say that Violet.” Her mother argued. “You are just as much a wolf as the rest of us.”
No, she wasn’t. But the sentiment of her mother trying to comfort her eased the pain in her chest ever so slightly, she rubbed the spot over her heart as she looked at her family. She may not have a wolf or a mate but she had her family and for Violet that was enough.
“I will always fight for you Violet,” Grayson said coming to her bedside. “You are more important to me than any friendship or job.”
“You lost Beta?!” Violet yelled. “You shouldn’t have done that.”
“Too bad, it’s done.” He shrugged, “And I’d do it again.”
“Doesn’t matter now anyways.” Cane said looking pointedly at their parents.
“Tell her.” Luca urged. “Now’s as good of a time as any.”
“We have all severed our ties to the pack.” Her father said, “We have let them disrespect you and our family for too long.”
“My parents and their pack have already agreed to allow us to live in Moonshadow. If the new alpha accepts us we will be a part of the Harvest Moon Pack. My birthpack.” Her mother added.
“We’re leaving?” Violet asked.
“We can’t stay.” Grayson said, “It’s not safe for you here.”
“Especially now everyone knows you are the fated mate to the alpha and that he rejected you,” Cane said. “He’s already selected his chosen mate.”
Violet felt her heart shatter again, he had already found another mate. How long had it been since he had rejected her a day? Two? Grayson smacked Cane with his good hand.
“When do we leave?” Violet asked. If Callon had already moved on then so could she, maybe the Goddess would pity her and give her another mate.
“As soon as the doctor clears you, we will leave.” Her father said.
“I’m sorry.” Violet hung her head, if it wasn’t for her they wouldn’t have to move at all.
“Never apologize for who you are.” Her mom said grabbing her chin softly and lifting her chin. “You are perfect just the way the Moon Goddess made you to be.”
