Chasing Back His Rejected Mate

Every breath I took was heavy with the weight of what was about to happen, and the night air was thick with expectancy. The gathering below was gilded by the full, bright moon that hung low in the sky. Everything would change tonight, including my future, my fate, and my relationship with Alpha Zane.

As they awaited the start of the Mating Ceremony, I could hear the distant murmur of voices from the pack members. Their enthusiasm was evident. However, I was standing there, concealed in the huge oak tree's shadow, my heart racing, doubting what I had assumed.

I had spent months getting ready for this evening and the day I would finally take Zane's place. as his Luna. His equal. His partner. It was both exciting and terrible to think of, and it sent chills down my spine.

However, I couldn't quite place it, but something seemed off tonight. Perhaps it was because Zane had been so aloof in the days before the ceremony, his vivid blue eyes constantly guarded, as if he had something to hide from me. Or perhaps it was the rumours about Zane's secret history that had circulated among the Crescent Moon pack.

Despite our connection, I knew very little about their background.

I took a step forward, looking down at the sea of faces, and there he was.

"Zane Alpha".

The dominant leader of the Crescent Moon pack, tall and strong. His lips were set in a hard line, and his dark hair was swept back to show the sharp lines of his jawline. He was confident and authoritative. However, there was a glimmer of something unsaid in his gaze that caused the hair on the back of my neck to stand up.

"Nixie."

The sound of my name stunned me, and I turned to see Lia, my best friend, standing next to me. She had excitement in her eyes, but I could also see that she was anxious.

"Now is the moment. The pack is ready.

I tried to ignore my uneasiness by nodding. I had been waiting for this time. Becoming Luna the Alpha of the strongest pack in the area was the moment that all she-wolves had dreamed of.

With each step, my legs felt heavier as I walked down the little slope. I saw the darkness that gnawed at me, a warning I couldn't ignore, in Zane's eyes as I walked up to him.

But the world appeared to close in on us as he held out his hand before I could comprehend it. "Nixie," he said in a silky voice. "Are you prepared?"I stared into his eyes for any indication that what I was experiencing was genuine and that the uncertainties gnawing at me weren't only mental. However, Zane's expression was unreadable-a cool mask that revealed nothing.

My voice was firm as I murmured, "Yes," but my heart was anything, he grabbed my hand and dragged me to the middle of the pack, where the other wolves had formed a large circle. Now, the full moon was straight overhead, casting a spooky glow across the clearing with its silvery light. Every pack member was watching me, waiting for the ceremony to start, and I could feel their eyes on me.

The pack's eldest member, Elder Marcus, stood in front of us, his silver hair gleaming in the moonlight. "We witness the union of our Alpha, Zane, and Nixie, our future Luna," he said, his voice deep and resonant. They will guide the Crescent Moon pack into a new era together.

Elder Marcus was still talking, and I couldn't help but feel his words bearing down on me, in the lead among the Crescent Moon group. Defending them, directing them, even though it was all I could have ever wanted, something didn't feel quite right as I stood here.

With the ceremonial sword raised, Marcus turned to face us, and Zane's hand closed around mine. The weapon that would unite us and determine our destiny as Alpha and Luna.

With a serious stare, Marcus gave Zane the sword, causing my breath to catch in my throat. With his eyes fixed firmly on me, Zane raised the blade to his hand. It felt like time was holding its breath as the moment drew out, prolonged and tense.

The blood began to collect in his palm as he quickly slashed the blade across his hand. With a motion like a challenge, he extended it towards me.

However, a voice that I hadn't expected to hear tonight emerged from the throng as I was about to make the cut that would bind us together forever.

I saw someone I hadn't seen in a long time when the throng separated. I felt a flood of astonishment wash over me, causing my heart to falter in my chest. "No, it's not possible." It was "Tristan". My initial romantic interest. My real partner.

We assumed he was dead. He was mourned by the pack. I had lamented his passing. And yet, here he was, in front of me, breathing and living. With his desperate gaze fixed on mine, Tristan yelled.

"Nixie."

"Avoid doing this". Keep yourself apart from him. The sword slipped out of my grasp and hit the ground with a dull thud as I froze. The pack fell silent, their gazes flitting between Tristan, myself, and Zane.

"What on earth is this? With a roar, Zane took a step forward, his body tensed and filled with anger. "You think you can stop the mating ceremony?"

Tristan murmured, his eyes burning with emotion but his voice steady. "I'm not interrupting." "My goal is to prevent you from committing the greatest error of your life." I was unable to comprehend what was happening as my mind raced. How on earth is Tristan here? Living? And why had he returned on this particular night?

With his jaw clenched, Zane's eyes shifted to me. "Nixie, disregard his advice. I own you. This was always intended to happen.

With my heart racing in my chest, I glanced between them. The boy I had once loved with all of my heart was Tristan. And Zane, the Alpha who had promised me strength and power in the future and who had claimed me as his own.

"I-" I tried to speak, but I couldn't. Stepping closer, Tristan never took his eyes off mine. "Nixie, my love for you never faded." Before you make this choice, you must be aware of Zane's true nature.

Between Zane and Tristan, there was intense tension that was brimming with vitality. In startled quiet, the group waited, waiting to see what would come next.

"Enough!"

With a menacing growl, Zane advanced on Tristan, his eyes glimmering with peril. You're not welcome here. Before I make you regret it, Go!

Tristan, though, didn't recoil. "I will remain here. Not until she's aware of your actions. With my heart pounding in my chest, I turned to face Zane. "What does he mean by that? How did you get here?

Zane's lips curled into a scowl as his eyes grew gloomy. Nixie, don't pay attention to him. He is dishonest. He's attempting to split us apart. However, I could see the reality in Zane's gaze. He was withholding something from me. Something Tristan was aware of and that had the power to alter everything.

"I must be informed," I said, my voice hardly audible.

Zane's hand reached out to me as his gaze briefly softened. "You're my Luna, Nixie. You should be at my side.

However, Tristan moved forward, his voice like a razor slicing through the darkness. "He has been collaborating with an enemy pack. "Nixie" Something that could wipe us all out.

The words hung there, menacing and weighty. I stepped back, my head spinning with the realization that had hit me. "Zane, is that true?"

All I could see was Zane's quietness.

And just like that, everything I had believed to be true fell apart.