Prologue
One Year Ago…
“I, Jason Anderson, future Alpha of the Moonlight Pack, reject you, Jodie Smith, as my mate and future Luna.”
My heart stopped.
The words echoed in my ears, each one carrying the authority of the future Alpha. There wasn’t a trace of hesitation in his voice. No guilt. No regret.
Only certainty.
Just this morning, I had turned eighteen. The Moon Goddess had blessed me with my mate, and for a brief moment, I thought my future had finally begun. His scent—cinnamon and hazelnut—still lingered in the air around me.
Now it made me sick.
My chest tightened until it hurt to breathe. My wolf whimpered inside my mind, confused and terrified by the pain tearing through our mate bond.
I swallowed hard, refusing to let anyone see me fall apart.
“I… Jodie Smith… accept your rejection.”
Silence followed.
I lifted my chin, turned around, and walked away.
I could feel every pair of eyes on my back.
No one stopped me.
No one defended me.
Only after I reached my family’s house did I allow myself to run.
The moment my bedroom door shut behind me, every wall I’d built around my emotions crumbled. I slid down the door and buried my face in my hands as silent sobs shook my body.
“Why?” my wolf cried.
I had no answer. Because I was doing the same asking the Moon Goddess why.
We grew up together with my dad being the Beta of the pack. And today he had destroyed our future.
I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to comfort both of us.
“It’ll get better,” I whispered.
But even I didn’t believe the lie. Every day I’d have to watch him, watch him become Alpha, watch him lead the pack. Eventually… Watch him find another chosen mate.
The thought shattered what little strength I had left.
I slowly slid onto my side, clutching my chest as if I could somehow stop the pain.
Eventually, exhaustion claimed me, and I cried myself to sleep.
When I opened my eyes again, darkness filled my room.
12:45 a.m.
The entire pack house was silent.
“Can we leave?” my wolf whispered.
“Please… I can’t stay here anymore.”
I nodded.
“We’re leaving.”
The decision hurt… But staying would hurt even more.
I grabbed my duffel bag and packed only the essentials—clothes, toiletries, my phone charger, and a few personal belongings.
My stomach growled.
I hadn’t eaten since lunch.
Quietly, I slipped downstairs and filled a grocery bag with canned food, fruit, bottled water, and snacks.
Just as I tied the bag shut…
I caught two familiar scents.
Lavender.
Vanilla.
Mom.
Jamie.
I slowly turned around.
Both of them stood in the doorway with tears in their eyes.
“Jodie…” Jamie whispered.
Before I could speak, she wrapped me in the tightest hug she’d ever given me.
The tears I’d been trying so hard to hold back returned.
“I need to leave,” I whispered. “If I stay here… this pain is going to destroy me.”
Jamie nodded against my shoulder.
“I know.”
Her voice trembled.
“I wanted to punch Jason the second he rejected you.” She gave a watery laugh. “I actually had to stop Adam from doing it.”
Adam is Jamie's mate they met almost a year ago in her first semester in college. He was an exchange student from Alaska and was staying at his uncle's pack till he was finished with college but decided to become one of the members of our pack.
Despite everything, I couldn’t help but smile.
Mom stepped forward and pulled me into her arms.
She held me so tightly that, for just a moment, I felt safe again.
“I already called your Uncle Rick.”
I looked up.
“What?”
“He’s coming to get you.”
Tears filled her gray eyes.
“I don’t want you leaving alone in the middle of the night.”
My lip trembled.
“You can stay with him as long as you need.”
“Thank you…”
“He’ll be here in thirty minutes,” she continued softly. “That way no one in the pack has to watch you leave.”
She gently brushed my hair behind my ear.
“And before you ask… your father knows.”
“He does?”
She smiled sadly.
“He loves you more than anything.”
“How long are you going to be gone?” Jamie asked quietly.
I looked down at the floor.
“I don’t know.”
It was the truth.
“I just know I can’t stay here anymore.”
Mom reached into her pocket and pulled out a jewelry box
“I was saving this for your birthday.”
She opened it.
Inside was a silver locket, when opened it had tiny pictures of all four of us.
Mom, dad, Jamie, me
“When you miss us…” she whispered, placing it gently in my hand, “…just open it. Also just know we are one call away”
Fresh tears blurred my vision.
“I’ll treasure it forever. Thank you mom”
We all hugged one last time.
“I love you, little sis.”
“I love you too.”
Fifteen minutes later, I stood in my room one last time.
Every wall held a memory. Posters of my favorite boy bands, photos with friends
A gentle hand rested on my shoulder.
Dad.
I turned around.
His eyes were red.
“I love you, Sweet Pea.”
“I love you too, Dad.”
He pulled me into a hug.
“I’m sorry Jason did this to you.” His voice cracked. “But listen to me.” He rested his hands on my shoulders and looked me straight in the eyes. “One foolish boy doesn’t get to decide your worth.”
A tear rolled down my cheek.
“He rejected the mate bond.”
Dad gave me a sad smile.
“He didn’t reject the incredible woman you’ve become.”
I couldn’t stop crying.
“One day he’ll realize what he threw away.” He gently wiped away one of my tears. “And by then” He smiled. “ I hope you’ve already found someone worthy of you.”
A knock echoed through the house.
Mom opened the front door.
Standing there was my uncle Rick.
The resemblance between us had always been impossible to miss. We shared the same brown hair and striking blue eyes we’d inherited from my grandmother.
His gaze immediately found me.
He took one look at my swollen eyes and tear-stained cheeks before opening his arms.
“You don’t have to say anything,” he said softly. “You’ve been through enough.”
I walked over and hugged him.
He held me like I’d always been one of his own.
“You ready to go, kiddo?”
I took a slow breath and looked around the only home I’d ever known.
The house where I’d laughed. Where I’d grown up, my first shift into my wolf, my first steps as a pup.
“No,” I admitted honestly.
I wiped away my tears, squared my shoulders, and picked up my duffel bag.
“But I’m going anyway.”
Together, we walked out the front door.
Behind me I left my first love. Ahead of me… Destiny was waiting.
