Aria's POV

The feast swirled around me, lively and loud with plates clattering and wolves sharing laughs, while the fire crackled warmly in the stone hearth. Yet, somehow, none of it truly reached me...no warmth from the fire, no sound from the crowd. The only thing I noticed was his gaze, burning deeply into mine, anchoring me in that moment.

I could feel my wolf's voice gently pressing against my chest, starting softly. He's on his way.

I froze, my fingers clutching the edge of the table so tightly that my knuckles turned white. I didn't need to look up to know he was there. I could feel him ... Damon's presence was like a storm approaching, impossible to ignore.

My pulse jumped. A wild mix of dread and hope filled me. Why now? I asked my wolf. Why look at me now?

Because the bond will not be silenced, she said.

Her voice was steady, but a sadness lingered in it. It pulls at him the same as it does at us. Even if he denies it, he feels it.

My throat tightened with emotion. A part of me secretly wished to slip out the back door to escape before he could reach me. Yet, another part stayed rooted to the stool, longing for even a little acknowledgement.

The sound of his boots scraping softly on the wooden floor grew nearer, gently quieting the lively chatter around us. Wolves noticed the change, and whispers began to cut through the air like sharp blades, adding a tense, almost electric atmosphere to the room.

I looked up.

Damon stood before me.

Tall and broad-shouldered, with dark hair that gently falls into piercing green eyes, he looked at me with a gaze that felt both intense and curious, like he was sizing me up. His scent was a comforting blend of pine and iron, reminiscent of a warrior's strength, combined with the faint, bitter aroma of ale that added a touch of rugged charm.

For a single heartbeat, he didn't sneer. His eyes searched mine, and my wolf gasped inside me. He sees us. The truth is right there. Don't you feel it?

I did. The bond between us vibrated like a taut string, on the verge of snapping. My chest felt heavy with the emotion, and my heart desperately wanted to believe.

"Damon," I whispered. My voice was barely audible, but his ears caught it.

His lips twisted, not in warmth or recognition, but in something crueller. The hope that had dared to rise inside me faltered.

"You," he said, his voice low enough for only nearby tables to hear, but sharp enough to cut. "Of course it would be you."

The words made me flinch.

Stay steady, my wolf urged. Don't bow your head. Not to him.

"I..." My voice cracked, but I forced the words out. "You feel it too. The bond."

For a moment, his jaw tightened. I saw it...the flicker of truth he couldn't hide. My wolf pushed hard. Claim us. Claim what the Moon has given.

But Damon leaned in a little closer, his breath warm and tinged with wine as it brushed my cheek. "Do you realise what this would do to me?"

Confusion tangled in me. "What...?"

He laughed softly under his breath, a gentle sound that sent a shiver down my arms. "A Beta. Second only to the Alpha. Mated to an omega. Do you realise how weak that makes me seem?"

The words hit hard, feeling crushing. Silence grew thicker around us. Wolves inched closer, acting casual, but I could feel all their eyes on me. My stomach tightened with nerves.

My wolf snarled inside me. Weak? The bond is sacred. There is no weakness in us.

But Damon didn't hear her. He didn't want to.

"Damon, please," I whispered, though I hated how small my voice sounded. "We didn't choose this. The Moon did. You can't just..."

"I can," he snapped. His eyes narrowed, blazing with pride and disgust. "I won't be shackled to you. I deserve more than an orphan omega who spends her life cleaning scraps off the floor."

Gasps rippled through the hall. My cheeks burned. My chest squeezed so tight I could barely breathe.

Do not let him crush you, my wolf urged. Her voice shook with both rage and pain. You are worth more than this.

But Damon was unstoppable, standing tall with confidence. He made sure his words echoed through the hall, capturing everyone's attention. His smile was sly and daring, just perfect for making a statement.

"I reject you, omega."

The words thundered through me.

Something inside my chest suddenly tore open, and the bond that had been singing happily since my eighteenth birthday twisted painfully like a blade before snapping. It was a through-and-through, brutal feeling. I gasped sharply, my breath leaving me in a cry. I clutched my chest, trying to hold the pieces together, but they just scattered and slipped right through my fingers.

Pain ripped through me, deeper than bone. My wolf howled inside me, raw and broken. No!

She clawed at the edges of my soul, fighting the tearing sensation, but even she couldn't stop it. The bond is real, it's sacred, he can't...

But he had.

He stood there, tall and proud, watching me break down. The silence in the hall was almost overwhelming, filled with judgment, whispers, and the cruel satisfaction of those who often looked down on omegas.

I trembled. My vision blurred. My wolf whimpered like a wounded creature, pressed against me, trying to shield me from the worst of it.

We are not nothing, she whispered through her tears even if he casts us aside. Even if they all do.

I couldn't speak. My lips moved, but no sound came. My whole body felt hollow, scraped clean of hope.

Damon's sneer deepened. He turned his back on me, slow and deliberate, as if to show the pack that I meant so little, I wasn't worth another glance. Laughter sparked from some of the warriors at his table, cruel and cutting.

My hands trembled uncontrollably. I gently placed them flat on the table, hoping to steady the shakes. Yet, inside, my whole being was trembling with emotion. My wolf, overwhelmed by everything, whimpered again...its sound full of both fury and despair.

Get up, she begged. Get up and leave before they catch sight of you.

But I couldn't move. My legs refused me. My heart lay shattered in the open for everyone to see.

Around me, the whispers grew, voices hissing like snakes. "Omega." "Pathetic." "No wonder."

I wanted the ground to swallow me whole.

And then, beneath the shame, beneath the pain, something else stirred. Quiet. Small. But there.

A spark.

My wolf's voice steadied, though weak. This is not our end. One day, Aria, you will rise, and they will see.

I closed my eyes, holding onto her voice as the only anchor in the storm.

But Damon's words...his rejection...echoed louder than anything else.

"I reject you, omega."

And with that, my world ended.

ARIA'S POV

The courtyard was lively, filled with the sounds of voices blending. Laughter echoed joyfully, echoing off the old stone walls and across the large training area.

Everywhere, members of the Silvermoon Pack had gathered...wolves of all ages and sizes filling the benches and spilling onto the steps, their combined energy forming a lively sea of noise and camaraderie. 

The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation as the pack gathered for the annual sparring trials, a cherished tradition that celebrated strength and skill.

My heart pounded...not only from excitement but also from a growing certainty that I was more than just a spectator in this vibrant gathering.

The uneasy feeling in my stomach told me I was destined to be the focus, to become the spectacle that would draw their eyes and earn their admiration. This sensation was both thrilling and frightening.

I stood near the edge of the dirt ring, fingers gripping the hem of my tunic. The air was thick with the scent of dust, sweat, and the sharp, coppery smell of blood from earlier fights.

My throat was parched, and every whisper reached me, despite my efforts to ignore them.

"She thinks she's someone now."

 "An omega pretending to matter."

 "Pathetic."

Every word struck me like a blade against my skin. I told myself to remain strong, breathe deeply, and hide how much it affected me.

Still, my heart remained empty, and my hands trembled despite trying to grip them tightly.

Damon stepped into the circle confidently, as if it were his rightful spot. He kept that stance, shoulders back and chin slightly up, to signal his Beta status.

His green eyes moved across the crowd until they settled on mine.

The bond between us snapped taut. My heart slammed against my ribs. Every part of me pulled toward him, desperate and foolish.

He smirked. "Come here, omega."

The command struck me deeply, causing my feet to move involuntarily. The dirt crunched beneath my boots as heat warmed my cheeks...not from the sun but from all the eyes on me.

When I finally reached him, Damon didn't reach out. Instead, he examined me as if I were something caught on his boot.

"You really thought fate would tie me to you?" His voice carried, pitched so the entire courtyard could hear. "An omega? Weak, useless, bottom of the pack. You'd drag me down."

Laughter spread through the crowd, sharp and cruel, gripping my chest. I wished to shrink into the dirt and vanish into unseen cracks.

I whispered, "You're my mate." My voice cracked, but I couldn't stop the words. They felt like the last fragile thread holding me together.

Damon leaned in close enough for only me to see the intensity in his eyes. "Not anymore," he said, then straightened and raised his voice. "I reject you, Aria Whitlock."

The words hit me hard. I felt a deep pain inside, mixing hot and cold feelings. My knees gave way, and I stumbled back, holding my chest.

The hurt was more intense than any physical injury. It felt like my heart had been ripped open. 

People in the crowd gasped and whispered. Some looked surprised, while others seemed entertained.

"Did you see that? She actually thought..."

 "He's too good for her. Always was."

 "She'll never live this down."

I couldn't breathe. My vision blurred, and I tasted salt. My body wanted to coil into the ground, to make myself small and unseen. But Damon's voice kept pulling me upright, every word forcing me down further.

"Look at her," he said, gesturing to me as if I were nothing more than a broken prop. "She can't even stand under the weight of rejection. That's how weak she is. A Luna should lift a pack, not shame it."

Laughter grew louder, and my stomach clenched. Heat burned in my eyes, but I held back the tears so he wouldn't see them.

My wolf whimpered in my chest, a sound only I could feel. The bond still tugged, desperate to cling even as it shredded apart. It was agony, raw and tearing, and it would not stop.

I forced myself to stand straight. My legs shook, but I remained upright. My hazel eyes locked onto his, despite the burning sensation it felt like staring into fire. "You may mock me," I said, voice trembling, "but you can't alter destiny. You were mine."

The words only seemed to amuse him. He laughed, a low, cruel sound. "Was, omega. Past tense. Don't forget it."

The crowd howled with him, their mirth rolling like thunder.

A profound sense of loss overwhelmed me, as if something crucial had shattered. The shame was more intense than physical pain or the feeling that my bonds were breaking apart.

I surveyed my surroundings and faced the harsh truth: I lacked family here to support me or shield me from the brutal reality. Every wolf I had known from childhood, every familiar face that once brought comfort, now watched silently as I collapsed.

Their eyes, once friendly and warm, now felt like daggers, as a crowd observed my vulnerable breakdown.

Despite my efforts to maintain composure, their stares pressed down on me, deepening my sense of isolation in that moment of weakness.

I turned, my body moving automatically. I had to leave and escape their gazes before tears spilt over. My feet hurried across the dirt, each step dragging the pain further into my chest.

Behind me, Damon called out, "Run, Aria. That's all you're good at."

The words followed me long after the courtyard faded, long after the laughter dulled.

I reached the forest's edge just as tears started. I leaned against a tree, gripping the bark so tightly that it scraped my palm. The remnants of the bond still haunted me, jagged and painful, as if my soul couldn't imagine life without him.

I descended toward the roots, overwhelmed by uncontrollable sobs. My mouth tasted like ash. The companionship I longed for, the future I had hoped to build...vanished before it could even start.

And worse than gone. It was torn apart in front of the entire pack.

Every face would remember. Every whisper would linger. I would never outrun this shame.

The last of the bond ripped inside me, a searing snap that left me gasping. My wolf howled in grief, the sound echoing in my skull until it blurred with my own cries.

Beneath the towering trees, I stood alone in silence, surrounded by darkness. The lively laughter of my friends echoed through the woods, reminding me of the happiness I had just experienced, now overshadowed by a profound loneliness.

I placed my trembling hands on my chest, feeling my heartbeat mirror my deep sadness.

I closed my eyes and surrendered to the heaviness around me, silently wishing for the intense pain to ease.

Despite my desperate pleas, the pain persisted within me, an unwelcome presence in my solitude that only grew stronger.

And I knew, with terrible clarity, that my life in Silvermoon had ended in that courtyard.

Aria's Pov

The night air felt quite heavy, pressing down on my shoulders as I hurried out of the hall. My legs moved aimlessly, and my breath was sharp and irregular, as if I'd been running even though I hadn't.

I just wanted to escape the noise, the laughter, and the way everyone's eyes had quickly turned toward me after Damon's cruel rejection.

I pushed open the doors and stepped into the welcoming courtyard. The chilly breeze gently brushed my cheeks, offering a brief moment of fresh air that didn't quite ease the ache in my chest.

My wolf was quiet at first, her silence feeling more unsettling than her usual growls, leaving me feeling a bit more alone.

Say something, I begged her.

Her reply came soft and trembling. I don't know what to say. My heart hurts too, Aria.

That truly overwhelmed me. I gently leaned against the cool stone wall, resting my forehead on its rough surface. Tears started to fall before I even noticed, hot and stinging in the chilly night breeze.

I whispered softly, "He didn't even think twice," feeling the ache in my voice. "He looked at me like I was dirt, like I was something stuck to his boot."

My wolf whimpered, the sound low in my mind. He was supposed to be ours. The bond doesn't lie.

"Then why did he throw me away?" My voice cracked. "Why didn't he feel what I felt?"

He did, she said firmly, though there was sorrow in her tone. He's just too proud to admit it. His pride is stronger than his heart.

I closed my eyes, trying to breathe, but every inhale made my chest hurt even more. "So that's it? Fate gives me a mate, and he rejects me in front of the whole pack? That's my gift?"

She didn't answer right away. For a moment, there was only the sound of my breath and the distant hum of voices still echoing from inside. Then she whispered, We aren't nothing, Aria. Don't let him make you believe that.

I wanted to believe her. I did. But at this moment, my heart felt as if it had been ground into powder, scattered at Damon's feet for him to trample on.

I heard gentle footsteps approaching from behind, hesitant and soft. I turned around, bracing myself for another sneer or maybe a cruel laugh, but instead, I saw Nina. Her hair was softly brown and loose around her shoulders, and she was nervously wringing her hands as if she was unsure about coming any closer.

"Aria," she said gently, "are you alright?"

A harsh laugh slipped out before I could stop it. "Do I look alright?"

Her eyes filled with pity, and for a moment, I felt a surge of dislike towards it. I didn't want to be seen as someone in need of pity. What I truly longed for was for someone to stand up and shout at Damon for his actions.

But Nina wasn't that kind of wolf. She was small and quiet like me. She didn't fight loudly. Instead, she endured and survived.

She gently reached out, hesitating for a moment before softly touching my arm. "I'm sorry. I saw what happened, and I know it was cruel. He didn't need to do it that way."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "He made sure everyone heard. That was the point."

Her touch tightened on my arm. "Then forget him. He's not worth it."

But he is, my wolf whispered inside me, pained. He's ours. The bond doesn't care about worth.

I really wanted to shout at her, at Nina, even at myself. But the words just wouldn't come out. I could only shake my head and gently pull my arm away. "You should go back inside; you don't want to be seen with me," I said softly.

"That's not true." Her voice cracked. "You're my friend."

The word "cut deep." Friend. Nina was the only one who had ever used it for me. And still, I couldn't meet her gaze. I couldn't allow her to carry my shame with me.

"I just need to be alone," I whispered.

Her lips parted as if she was about to argue, but she chose to stay silent. She gave me a final look and gently slipped back inside, the door closing with a soft thud that resonated warmly in my chest.

A hush fell around me, with only the gentle sounds of night insects and the breeze to keep me company. I eased down the wall, finding a spot on the chilly stone, with my knees tucked close to my chest, feeling a bit more at peace.

My wolf stirred again, restless. Don't let him destroy us, she pleaded. We are more than this. We have to be.

"I feel empty," I admitted in a broken voice. "Like something was ripped out of me and nothing's left."

She whimpered, curling close inside me as if to fill the hole. I'm still here. You're not alone, Aria. Not really.

I pressed my face into my knees. For a while, I stayed that way, silent tears soaking into my dress, letting her warmth keep me from shattering completely.

Then the door to the hall opened again. Loud voices spilt into the courtyard. I looked up, wiping my face with the back of my hand.

Damon stepped out.

Seeing him was an overwhelming moment for me. He always looked amazing...tall, strong, with his dark hair shimmering in the torchlight. He wasn't by himself; a girl was happily holding onto his arm, her golden hair shining brightly as if she belonged on stage, her laughter filling the air.

My breath froze in my chest.

My wolf went rigid. No...

They strolled down the steps, Damon leaning in to softly whisper something in her ear. She giggled happily, tilting her face toward his. I already had a feeling about what was coming, but my heart still longed for it not to happen.

Please, no...

And then he kissed her.

It was more than just a quick kiss or something casual. It was deep and passionate, with his hand gently holding her waist as if she was the one destiny had brought him to.

The hollow inside me widened even further, engulfing everything around me. My wolf let out a ragged howl in my thoughts, filled with grief so deep that I felt like I couldn't catch my breath.

I pressed my fist to my chest, hoping I could hold the pieces together, but it felt hopeless. The bond burned fiercely like fire, twisting painfully as he kissed someone else openly in front of me.

My wolf whimpered over and over. He was ours. Ours. How can he do this to us?

I was completely stunned and couldn't respond. I just watched silently as Damon gently pulled away from the kiss, gave a sly smirk to the girl, and then comfortably led her off into the night, feeling a mix of emotions.

The door closed quietly behind them, leaving me all alone in the dark. My heart felt heavy, like it had been taken out, squeezed tightly, and then gently scattered to the wind.

And for the first time, I wasn't sure if I would ever get it back.