Chapter 2
When I saw Alpha Derrick hoist Mona's hand into the air, everything stopped.
For a split second, my mind froze. I blinked, taking in more light than I expected. Everything came to a standstill as my thoughts caught up with my actions.
My body went numb, and an overwhelming pain invaded my soul. My chest tightened so hard like it might burst.
I stared blankly at Alpha Derrick's warm smile as he hailed Mona as his "Future Luna!" The joy on his face left me dumbfounded.
A rush of panic flooded me, like I'd had too much coffee. But then, it sank deeper. What I feared most had shown itself—REJECTION.
It wasn't the rejection itself that hurt the most; it was the consequences. I wanted to run, hide, and disappear at that moment.
It reminded me of when I was a child, terrified of being rejected by my mate once I turned eighteen.
Time seemed irrelevant. The fear felt as fresh as it did then. I thought adults had everything figured out, but standing here, I realized that wasn't true.
I was still the same person, just older.
My anxiety spiked as I stared at him, wondering what would happen next.
In Moon Stone Pack, an Alpha must never reject a she-wolf from the pack. If it happens, the rejected wolf is forced to leave and become a slave to the Alpha that rejected her.