Chapter 1

Chapter 1 Nelly’s POV “Y-you can’t do this to me, Astel,” | stuttered, my heart racing as we stood in the middle of the crowd.

Tonight was the mating ball, the grand hall filled with pack members. Electrifying music and laughter resonated in the air, and the ambiance was lively.

| just found out that Astel was my mate; he’s the Alpha of the Bluemoon stone pack.

I'd hope Astel accepts me as his mate. But instead of the words | yearned for, Astel’s gaze shifted to my cousin, Shantel.

My heart skipped a beat, and his next words shattered my heart.

“Nelly, you are not what | want,” he declared, his voice harsh and unkind. “You are not worthy of being my mate. | choose Shantel, your cousin, as my mate instead.”

My knees shook, and it felt like my heart had been torn from my chest. Fresh tears welled up in my eyes, and my palms grew clammy.

“W-what did you just... say?” | stammered, my voice quivering. | couldn’t believe Astel had chosen Shantel over me.

“You heard me, Nelly! | won’t repeat my words,” Astel retorted firmly at me. “Shantel will be my mate, and Luna of my pack, she’s the one I've chosen.”

No!

Desperation surged within me immensely; my hands balled into fists. | couldn't let Shantel win again. Ever since we were children, she’d always taken what was rightfully mine.

“Please, Astel, you must be mistaken. You can’t reject me. We're bound together by the moon goddess!” | pleaded with him.

| couldn't accept this rejection; | just can’t!

Shantel stood next to Astel, she sweetly held his hand with her triumphant gaze fixed on me. She couldn’t resist adding her hurtful words.

“You're a worthless piece of trash, Nelly,” Shantel spat, her face twisted with hatred. “You're not fit to be anyone’s mate; you're just a burden.”

My teeth gritted in anger, but my pain intensified as it drowned me when | noticed how possessively Astel embraced Shantel.

“Sweetheart,” Shantel purred to Astel, “Why don’t we sell my nasty cousin to Alpha Kex as his s*x slave, hm? I’m sure he’d be delighted to take her off our hands.”

| seethed resentfully at Shantel; that woman! | felt fear immediately run through my veins.

Why would she suggest that!!

Alpha Kex was a force to be reckoned with. His name struck fear into the hearts of those who heard it, and his reign of terror was legendary.

His lands were vast, and his power was absolute. People whispered about him in hushed tones, and many prayed they would never cross his path.

His pack was known for its ruthlessness and savagery, and no one had ever dared to challenge him. The very mention of his name sent a chill down the spines of those who heard it.

And | couldn’t help but worry about the possibility that Astel might consider it. Alpha Kex was known for his fearsome reputation, and Shantel’s idea was cruel.

“That’s a good plan,” Astel smirked.

“Astel!” | exclaimed, shocked and taking a step back. How could he even entertain such a thought?

Feeling sick and heartbroken, | hurriedly left the grand hall not turning back to look at those | once thought were my friends deciding my fate like it was a piece of documents they could easily manipulate.

Within a few minutes, | found myself on the balcony, tears flowing down my cheeks. At this point, various things skipped through my mind and questions | didn’t have answers too wondered all over my head.

“Why did the moon goddess fate me to him?” | was in despair, my hands gripping the balcony railing.

This was that one question that successfully repeated itself continuously. | didn’t have anyone to ask this question so | just directed them back to the moon goddess because she did all this to me.

Amidst my sorrow, | heard footsteps approaching from behind. | quickly turned, and surprisingly it was Astel.

“Nelly, are you alright?” he frowned slightly.

| shook my head, unable to hide my tears. “Thanks to you, I’m far from alright,” | retorted, feeling a mixture of anger and despair.

Looking at him now, his facial expression looked different from what it had a few minutes ago and that shocked me.

Astel stepped closer, attempting to place a hand on my shoulder, but | shifted away. “Don’t touch me, Astel,” | muttered, clearly upset with him. “What do you want?”

| met his eyes again, and | thought | saw a flicker of hurt in them. But it couldn’t be true, his behavior a few minutes ago was extremely different from the Astel | knew or did | never know the real Astel? Was he a lie?

Astel had just declared his love for Shantel in front of everyone and right in front of me like | was a piece of trash. Like | was nothing.

“What do you want?” | asked again, my voice trembling.

“Nelly, | want to you,” Astel replied, his tone gentle. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. But my luna should be a strong she-wolf like Shantel..” | immediately unconsciously rolled my eyes and scuffed at his attempt to fake sympathy because something deep inside me told me he was pretending.

“You want me?” | chuckled in self-mockery. He had just professed his love for Shantel in front of everyone. What exactly was he up to now?

“Yes, Nelly,” Astel nodded, his eyes serious. “Be my mistress, so you can stay by my side.”

My smile faded, replaced by emptiness. “Didn't you say that...” | started, | tried to stop my voice from cracking hence | couldn’t continue.

This was the height of pain and betrayal. | should have known what type of person he was after confessing to Shantel but |

wanted to give him the benefit of doubt.

“| can’t accept that,” | said, my voice firm, my eyes sadly lowered but | immediately raised it back up.

“| deserve more than being someone’s mistress.” | tried to sound strong because | didn’t want him to see how hurt | was.

Astel looked up, and his eyes darkened. “You're ungrateful, Nelly!” he growled. “I’m offering you a way out of this mess, and you're refusing it?”

My heart sank, but my words remained resolute as | retorted, “I... | want more than that, Astel! | deserve respect and dignity, not to be treated as someone’s plaything.”

“Fine!” Astel snapped, his tone cold.

| involuntarily trembled, and his next words hit me like cold ice.

“|, Alpha Astel, reject you, Nelly Armstrong, as my mate and Luna!”

Asearing pain tore through my chest, a pain so intense that it felt physical. Gasping for breath, | couldn’t believe Astel was rejecting me a second time, and this was more painful than before.

“A-Astel,” | gasped, reaching for him as my chest tightened.

My knees buckled, and | collapsed to the floor, the world spinning, my vision fading to black.