Chapter 1
Talia
Chilly evening air licked my arms through the plain robe I slipped over my head. The full moon peeked over the horizon, marking the winter solstice mating ceremony. I could hear the hustle and bustle of the rest of the pack in the next clearing over, but none of them cared if I showed up or not.
Tonight, though, things would change. I just knew it. I may not be sporting the colorful silk robes of the higher ranked females in the pack, but my mate wouldn’t care. I may be an Omega, but I could defeat any of those pampered puppies in combat with only three paws.
My wolf stirred in agreement. I smiled and straightened my spine, my long black hair cascading down my back. My green eyes reflected in a nearby puddle, flecked with glowing gold. They complimented my sharp features, already worn and scarred from a rough upbringing.
But what if your mate doesn’t exist?
My smile melted into a familiar scowl. The voice lingered in the back of my mind, whispering negativity. Doubt was hard to scrub away entirely, and its presence left a sour taste in my mouth.
Howls began filling the air. I snapped to attention and followed the path to the main clearing, my stomach swirling with a sickening mixture of hope and fear. As I entered, my eyes were drawn to Alpha Tobias. He stood at the top of the ridge overlooking the clearing, his massive white wolf seeming to glitter in the rising moonlight.
A shiver raced down my spine. It was partially awe, and partially fear of the unknown. My wolf stirred restlessly, like she was pulling me forward toward my destiny. That had to be a good sign, right? She was hungry and raring to burst out the moment I gave the word.
I joined the rest of the pack, who stepped away from me when I got too close. Their whispers didn’t escape my sensitive ears, despite my best efforts to ignore them. The highest-ranked, unmated female in the pack, Lizbeth, made no attempt to hide her disdain.
“You bothered to show up, Omega? I don’t see why. The moon isn’t going to waste a bond on a mutt like you.” She sneered at me, and turned back to laugh with her friends.
“My name is Talia! And the only wasted bond would be on a spoiled, tender-pawed little pup like you.” I spat in her direction and turned my gaze back to the bonfire in the center of the clearing. My fingers went to the little pack talisman around my neck my father had carved, tracing the ridges. I’d had it since I was a pup and only took it off to bathe.
The elders had formed a ring around the fire, each in their wolf forms and sitting at attention. Their eyes focused intently on Alpha Tobias, waiting for the signal to begin. They were large, scarred, and intimidating. My father and grandfather were among them, not that I expected any kind of acknowledgement from them.
Silence filled the space as the moon began its final ascent. As soon as the entire thing rose above the horizon, my Alpha raised his muzzle into the air and began to howl. One by one the elders joined in order of rank, until their cries echoed from the surrounding mountains.
The fire flashed, its tendrils reaching high into the sky as the bonding magic flared to life. Flame-wolves began dancing in the circle, our ancestors returning to guide and supervise the future of the pack.
My heart began to pound in anticipation. This was it. This was the year! My hands clenched into fists and I shoved down the voice whispering that I might as well just go home. That was when I spotted him: Rian, Alpha Tobias’s oldest son, and heir to our pack.
He stood a full head higher than the other young males, with dark eyes and a smile that could cut glass. He had dark hair like his mother, and a muscular physique that he loved showing off. Like the rest of the eligible males, he was bare-chested and barefoot, ready to shift when the bond formed.
My wolf whined when I looked at him, and I shook my head slightly at her. Yes, mating with the future alpha would definitely pull me out of omega status and cement my proper place in the pack. But I didn’t see that happening. I’d be happy with any of the males jostling and joking with each other on the other side of the bonfire.
Tonight, I find my mate. Tonight, I belong.
When the fire settled, the first male stepped into the circle. Scott was big and bulky, captain of the high school football team before he graduated. His musclebound frame moved surprisingly lithely, though his flexing made my eyes roll. Showoff.
One by one the females stepped into the circle with him, eyes shining with excitement as they waited for the ancestors to confirm a bond. Nothing happened with the first three, and his smile began to shrink. This was already his fourth bonding ceremony. As son of Beta Thomas, three had been an embarrassment. Four would be social murder.
From atop the rise, Alpha Tobias called out the next name. “Lizbeth!”
Lizbeth sighed, hesitating before she stepped into the circle. Everyone knew she had her eye on Rian; they’d been high school sweethearts, after all. It was only natural that the pair of them would be mated. But she wasn’t allowed to sit out the older males, so she stepped into the circle with her jaw tight.
The fire blazed brightly and the flame-wolves returned. I could see the despair in her eyes as the wolves leapt from the fire and began circling the pair. Golden strands grew thicker with each pass until they formed a solid rope between Scott and Lizbeth.
The elders let out a howl as the pair’s hands met, and the rest of the pack broke out into cheers and shouting. No one celebrated louder than Beta Thomas, his face thick with relief. The golden rope faded away from sight and the new mates rejoined the pack. The men pounded Scott’s back, and the women hugged Lizbeth tight. She was crying. I could see the tears reflecting the firelight as they rolled down her face. While I should have felt bad for her, all I felt was satisfaction at her instant karma.
My attention shifted to the next guy stepping into the circle, though it didn’t stay there for long. He bonded with the first girl to enter and both of them left with broad grins. While the new couple mingled with the crowd, Rian stalked into place for his turn.
Everyone went quiet, excitement sizzling in the air. One by one Alpha Tobias called the unmated females, who each stepped forward with bated breath. However, after a few seconds of nothing happening, their shoulders dropped and they slinked back out.
There were eight of us this year, and I was last on the list. I watched shewolf after shewolf present herself, only to be disappointed. With each failed bonding, my heart rate increased. My wolf pulled at me, desperate to get inside the circle. How dumb, right?
But then Marie exited the firelight, and all the energy dissipated from the crowd. From on the hill, I heard my name. “Talia!”
Snickers began breaking the silence. My palms went sweaty and I rubbed them repeatedly on my robe as I urged my feet to move. This was my chance! Even if I didn’t end up bonding with Rian, at least I got to try.
It felt like time stood still. I walked through air made of syrup and paused with my foot lingering over the edge of the circle. Go. I took a breath, crossed the line, and closed my eyes.
My eyelids couldn’t fully block out the blinding flash of light and heat that hit me. My wolf began to howl inside as the bond sizzled like lightning through my blood. It pounded in my ears like the ocean. My eyes flickered open, a grin spread across my face, and I looked at my mate standing on the other side of the fire.
Our eyes locked, and I saw him flinch. The golden threads began wrapping around us as our ancestral spirits joined our wolves together. My breath hitched in my chest as it entered my nostrils laden with wolf scent. His scent.
My heart soared. My mate was strong. Powerful. The future alpha. I felt ten feet tall and ran my fingers along the strands, reveling in the strength racing through them. The rope solidified and I took a hesitant step forward. Rian did as well, but then he stopped.
The pack watched us, caught in a stunned silence. Not so much as a whisper crossed anyone’s lips. Only the crackling of the fire and chirping of crickets joined the pounding in my ears. I smiled and held out my hand, but Rian remained frozen.
“No.” His voice was flat. Emotionless.
My face fell. “But the bond-”
“The moon made a mistake.”
Gasps erupted from the crowd, accompanied by a few scattered laughs. I couldn’t do anything but stare at him, my blood still running with the electricity of our bond. “Rian, I-”
He held up a hand, anger burning in his eyes. “I reject you, Omega.” My knees buckled, but I remained standing by sheer force of will. He stepped back, lip curled up in disgust. Louder, so the whole pack could hear, he said it again. “Our pack will not have an Omega as Luna. I reject you.”
Then he turned and walked away. When he reached the edge of the circle, the tether between us visibly snapped. His scent and power disappeared from my senses and my wolf let out a mournful, pained cry.
I couldn’t move. My brain refused to process what had just happened, as if it had all been just a terrible dream. From the crowd, someone shouted, “Get out of the circle, Omega! Did you really think the Alpha’s son would mate with someone like you?”
Up on the rise, Alpha Jebron turned his back on me. The elders forming the circle ignored me. They did nothing, including my father and grandfather. My chest ached where the momentary bond had rested, and I filled the void with burning fury. “You’ll regret this, Rian!”
He turned back for a moment and his expression flickered, but it was too late. The strands of our bond lay on the ground, their light slowly fading away into nothingness. I gathered myself and shot a glare at everyone around me. If they were okay with this rejection, fine. I didn’t need this useless pack anyway. Stiff and proud, I walked out of the circle and into the trees without looking back.
In the sky above, the moon watched quietly.
