The Rejected Luna Is A Phoenix Heir

Verya's POV

As I applied the final bandage, the smell of herbs and blood filled my nostrils, lingering after I placed the last strip on the side of the injured wolf. The wolf cried out, his reversion causing him to lie helpless and naked on the bed.

"It's okay," I whispered. "Your wound is healing. Tomorrow, you will walk around again."

The wolf nodded feebly but lacked energy to say anything. I straightened up and wiped my hands on my apron while Mira, another healer, entered the room with her arms folded.

"I'm still here," she remarked.

"Where could I go?"

"To the ceremony, Veyra. In several hours." Mira stepped closer and lowered her voice as if sharing a secret with me. "Elder Theron asked all the healers to attend the ceremony today. You know how it works; the wolves whose essence does not find its match may act erratically during the process. They might faint, suffer from the essence sickness, and even worse. We are expected to be nearby."

I focused on cleaning out the metal tray by the cot, making sure not to make eye contact. "I'm aware of the procedure, Mira. No reminders are necessary."

"You weren't sure I would show up," she said. "You only come if you have to."

That much was true. The whole idea of the mating ceremony made me sick. It always turned into a night of glares and gossip, all of the wolves nudging each other and snickering under their breaths as I passed by. I may have lost hope of ever being liked by any of the pack members, but it still didn't mean I liked being constantly reminded of that fact.

"I will attend. As a healer. Not anything else."

Mira offered me an apologetic smile, one of those smiles that she had perfected over the years, the one of pity disguised as understanding. "It is not expected of you, Veyra."

I did not respond. I simply nodded and returned to sorting my things, watching as Mira's footsteps faded out of the room.

It was just past noon when I slipped into my clean healer's coat and set out towards the grounds where the ceremony would take place. Wolves had formed groups, arraying themselves in their best attire and chatting happily and excitedly.

I stayed at the outskirts of the gathering, standing close to the tent that the healers had put up along with our supplies. Some of the wolves glanced at me as they walked past; I heard the same old whispered remark: *There goes the scarred one.* They giggled softly as I kept my eyes straight ahead and my hands folded in front of me as usual.

The Elder Theron Veyl mounted the platform as everyone hushed down. The silver wolf was an elderly one, his voice carrying clearly through the still clearing.

"This night," he started, "we all gather here to witness something that cannot be coerced, purchased, or refused – the union of true mates. A wolf's soul is never dishonest. It doesn't look up the status, the attractiveness, or the richness. It yearns for its equal only." His gaze ran over the assembly. "Let's begin."

One by one, the unmated wolves approached the center of the clearing and began to emit streams of glowing essence. The elders would guide them until they linked to the other wolves' essence with a flash of light. Cheers erupted when each new link was made. I remained where I was, uninvolved in what happened. No matter how much I tried to get into this place and its ways, there was no room for me.

Until Elder Theron announced another name, and the clearing fell silent.

"Alpha Kaizen Rourke."

As Kaizen walked up to the platform, the cheers were transformed into hushed respect. He was the type of Alpha that could inspire stories. Taller, broader than all the rest, with dark hair covering sharp gray eyes that seemed to see everything. He made every wolf in the clearing stand up straighter.

"Alpha Kaizen, release your essence," commanded Elder Theron.

Kaizen shut his eyes. Soon after, the stream of glowing essence emerged from him, far stronger than anything else I saw tonight.

No reaction.

Elders glanced at each other. Theron moved closer to the reading stones, frowning while examining them. "No reaction," he mumbled almost to himself.

Whispers started around the clearing.

"Might be because the reading isn't right," someone from the elders stated.

"Might be because the Alpha's mate isn't present this night," another elder suggested.

Kaizen clenched his teeth but remained silent.

Theron waved his hand, trying to keep everyone silent. "Alpha, if I might suggest – give more essence. A better reading will find what we're missing."

Kaizen let out a long breath. "Alright."

Kaizen gave more essence, and this time its power was enough to make some nearby wolves take a step backward. It spread into the air, much more powerful than before.

I watched it drift through the clearing, half from habit and half because I couldn't help but look. It passed from one couple to the next, past the elders, the unmated wolves ready and waiting up front.

And then it turned.

It drifted away from the crowd and made its way to the tent of the healers - *to me*.

"What-" I breathed, stepping backward.

But it did not stop there.

I heard a gasp from behind me. Mira put her hand to her mouth. Wolves closest to me scattered as the essence made its way to me, wrapping around my arm before I could move to stop it.

It entered my skin.

Warmth began to fill me, sudden and strong, like something finally fitting together after all this time. My legs were about to give out on me as I clutched the healer's table.

It was completely silent in the clearing.

All the wolves were staring at me.

The face of Elder Theron turned ghostly white. And Kaizen was standing motionless on the stage; the glow of his essence was faintly visible between us, his look of shock imprinted on every feature of his face.

I stared at my hand, the barely perceptible glow which had disappeared under my skin, and then at all the faces staring at me. My mouth had gone dry. There was no way for my mind to accept what my body already did.

"I am the Alpha's mate?!" I exclaimed.