“I'm here to announce to everyone that your Alpha has found a mate. She's Alexa, from a pack that was once our rivals, but will now be joined together in this beautiful alliance."

I was frozen into place, for over five minutes. I couldn't move, I couldn't speak, I couldn't think.

I couldn't breathe.

My eyes met his, and for a second, it felt like I had been restored, but only for a second. When I saw that same unusual far-fetched gaze settle in his eyes, I knew it was all over.

“Thane…” How could you do this to me?

He tore his eyes away from me, and it felt like a part of me was being torn apart. 

I'm dreaming, right? This isn't real.

It can't be!

I swallowed, finally finding my feet. Whispers were beginning to rise from every corner of the huge hall, everyone had something to say—their Alpha had found a mate afterall.

If I stood there for one more second, I would probably lose my mind, so I turned and walked away. A part of me wished he would stop me, and tell me all of this was just some prank. It didn't happen, I was just being delusional. I found my way to the library, releasing a heavy breath I didn't know I was holding.

I couldn't cry, even though my chest felt unbelievably heavy. But I couldn't also breathe, my heart wasn't doing much work at the moment.

“Mira!”

I turned. There he was, staring at me with this distant look in his eyes, like he didn't just kiss me last night and tell me I'm the only wolf he'll ever love.

“Thane," his name rolled off my tongue in a broken whisper.

I saw the regret flash through his eyes, as he took a step forward. “Mira, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to…”

I took a step back, gripping something for support. He stopped, his fists falling to his side. "Mira, I'm sorry.”

The tears finally came. "Thane, what's going on?” I mumbled.

He looked away. "I have to do this. The council thinks it's the only way, I couldn't refuse them. Mira, you have to understand.” He was pleading, but it did little to pacify my wounded heart.

"So what? I'm just supposed to watch you get married to the daughter of a rival pack? I'm your mate, Thane. You're hurting me.” I cried.

He ran his hand through his hair. "They don't know that, Mira. No one knows you're my mate, and we have to keep it that way. It's something we both decided, Mira.”

Oh! “We didn't decide that you'll get married to someone else, did we?" I retorted.

“Mira…" I heard the strain in his voice, and my heart broke even more.

I bit my lips, trying to hold back the tears. “Why didn't you tell me?" I mumbled.

"I… I tried.”

Loud footsteps echoed, and the door made way at that point. I quickly turned away, wiping my tears away.

"Thane, there you are! I've been looking everywhere for you.” A shrill voice broke the silence of the room.

I didn't need to be told to know who it was.

“Who is she? Gonna introduce us?" She asked.

There was silence for a while, then, “Mira!" Thane called.

I blinked repeatedly, hoping to keep the tears in. Taking a deep breath, I faced him. My eyes fell on their interlocked hands first. My heart shattered.

His hand is supposed to fit in only mine.

“Alexa, Mira is the pack's library keeper.” Thane said. I'm just the library keeper, moon goddess, please save me from this pain!

“Mira, this is Alexa, my…” he trailed off unexpectedly.

She didn't wait to ask why he stopped, she finished off for him. "His Luna-to-be. I am so excited already, aren't you?”

I swallowed, finally finding my voice. "Welcome to our pack, I hope you like it here.” I said.

She smiled at me, "Oh, I will. I know it." I saw mischief flash in her eyes, and my heart sank.

This is not going to be good.

She took Thane's hand, half-dragging him away. I watched them, my heart in my hands. So this was it!

My legs failed me, and I crumbled to the floor, finally letting the tears fall freely. This is what I get, I loved him shamelessly, with every thing I had, and this is what I get.

Who knew rejection hurts so bad!

The next few days of my life was torture. They were everywhere I went, I hated it. I hated the way she ran her eyes over him, the way she touched him, the way she intentionally kissed him anytime she knew I was in the room. I hated her.

To keep myself from having murderous thoughts, I buried myself in the library. It was my only source of comfort, the only way to stop myself from going insane.

Today however, I was going insane nevertheless.

The door made way, and she strode in, her shoulders raised like she owned the world. My fingers wrapped around the book I was holding subconsciously, as she approached me.

Fake a smile. “Luna-to-be, do you need anything?" The words fell off my mouth, leaving a lingering aftermath.

She grinned. "I hear this library has a lot of ancient books.” She said.

I nodded. "Yes.”

She looked around, then back at me. "And you take care of it all by yourself?”

I bit my lips. “Yes."

She was silent for a while, looking around again. “You’re doing a very good job, I must say.”

I parted my lips to respond, but her next words made me freeze. "But we'll have to find someone else for the job.”

"What?” I snapped.

She gave me a perplexed stare. “I'm very sure you heard me, Mira." Her tone was lowered, far from calm.

I swallowed. “I don't… I don't understand what you mean."

That same mischievous grin spread out on her face as she said, "It's quite easy to understand. We need to find someone else for the job, because I'm giving you a promotion.”

I hesitated, knowing fully well that the words she was going to spill wouldn't be any good.

She, however, didn't want for me to ask. “I like you, and I want you to serve me directly. This shabby library will do you no good, there will be a lot of benefits, however, from being beside me.”

What the…?

My lips parted in shock. How dare she? “Are you asking me to be your personal servant?"

She shrugged carelessly. “That's one way to see it, love. I just want you to be around me."

This lady must think that I'm a fool. "Well, I'm sorry, Luna-to-be, but I am not taking that offer.” I said, as politely as I could.

I must not have been polite enough, because her face twisted into an ugly frown. "You don't really have a choice, darling.”

What? “I do. You can't just come in here, and start making decisions for me. I had a life before you, and you have already taken enough from me. I'm sorry, but I won't put my life on hold to serve you."

I didn't mean to say so much, but the words came spilling.

Her eyes darkened, as she glared at me. “You… how dare you talk to me like that? I'm your Luna.”

I was fuming already. "Not yet, you aren't. And before you came in, I was there. He was mine.”

I realized my words too late. Way too late. And I also realized someone else had walked into the room, and my hands flew to my mouth.

“Mira, what nonsense are you saying?"

It was the Head Chief.

The crackling sound of fire was the first thing I heard, the scent of herbs and charred wood heavy in the air.

The room was dim, the flickering orange light casting shifting shadows along stone walls carved with symbols — ancient ones, some I recognized from the very book I’d risked my life to steal.

I bolted upright, pain lancing through my shoulder.

“You’re awake.”

The voice was deep, but not unkind. A man stepped from the shadows, his face partially obscured by a hood. His scent was unfamiliar — neither part of Thane’s pack nor any of the neighboring clans. Rogue, maybe?

“Who are you?” My voice came out hoarse, raw from breathing in too much smoke.

He crossed his arms above the other. “Your saviour?"

My eyes narrowed in confusion. “Those guys didn't seem willing to take it easy on you. A thank you would be nice at this point." He said.

The air seemed to hum between us. “I know you saved me, thank you. But that won't stop me from asking who the hell are you?" I said, my voice coming out harsher than I intended it to.

“Luca," another voice echoed in the room. “I'll take it from here."

My head snapped towards the direction of the door, and my eyes fell on a woman. She had a hood on too, and it only raised my warning instincts even more.

“Yes mother," the man, named Luca, said. He cast me a calm glance, before striding out of the room.

The door closing behind him reminded me that I was alone in a room with a stranger, two actually. And they may be after my life for all I know, or the book.

The book!

"Where's the book?” I blurted out, ignoring the pain that soared through my lower stomach. "Did you take the book? Who are you? What do you want from me?” I asked all at once.

“Relax, Mira. Your wounds are not fully healed, yet." She said calmly.

My eyes widened. “How do you know my name? Who are you?" I snarled.

The pain was beginning to be unbearable, but I wasn't about to show weakness in front of this stranger. “Who are you?" I questioned yet again. I needed an answer.

“Mira, listen to me. You haven't healed, you're going to make yourself bleed to death." She said again, her voice strained but firm.

It was then my eyes fell on my stomach. My shirt was stained. I pulled it up, a gasp escaping my lips as I saw the wound.

“Shit!" The gash was bleeding profusely, the bandage totally ruined. I recognized it as the slash I had gotten from Derek.

“You can't heal because you don't have access to your wolf at the moment," the strange woman said. “Lie back, and let me take care of it."

I hesitated, a thousand thoughts racing through my mind. If they are going to kill me, they wouldn't take care of me.

With a low groan, I laid back as she said, watching as the wooden ceiling spinned. “Who are you? And him too?" I asked yet again.

I expected her to pull out a first aid box or something, but instead, she began rubbing her palms together. I watched, my confusion heightening as she placed her palms a little above the injury. The concentration on her face was intense.

A blue glowing light shone from her hands, sending a cold sensation through me. What the… ?

“Stay still," she commanded.

I was already too stunned to move. Her glowing seized, but so did the pain. Without waiting for her, I ripped the bandage off, gasping in shock as I saw my body closed up.

The wound was gone.

“I would have done that earlier, but the spell needed you to be awake." She said.

My eyes darted from her to my stomach, my mind a jumbled mess. “Was… was that magic?”

"Wolves and Sorceresses aren't much different, don't you think?” At this point, she took off the hood over her head.

She looked young, but there was this elderly gaze resting in her eyes—one that told me she had seen a lot. “My name is Della," she began. “And the guy that was here is my son, Luca. I'm a sorceress, and he is a sorceror. They're many others like us here, and many others that aren't like us. We create a safe space for hybrids, accepting the rejected.”

My heart churned at the mention of the word,"rejected”. I swallowed, pulling my mind back to the situation on ground. "But I'm not a hybrid,” I said.

She smiled, one that didn't reach her eyes. "Come with me, Mira.” She said, calmly.

She began walking out of the room, and I immediately followed her, taking hurried steps to meet up with her pace. “Where are we going?"

She ignored that question as we walked through a dim lit corridor. “Why were you being chased by your pack warriors?" She asked instead.

I didn't expect the question, but it reminded me of something else. “Where's the book?" I asked, panic settling into my voice.

She seemed to notice it, casting me a glance just as similar to that of her sons. “The book is safe, Mira. I'll give it to you as soon as we get your wolf back." She explained.

My eyes lit up. “Really? Is that where we're going?"

Again, she ignored the question. “Did you steal the book?"

I clenched my fists subconsciously. “Yes!"

I expected her to ask why, but she didn't. She said nothing else. We finally reached door which she pushed open to reveal an open yard.

“Wow!" I mouthed, taking it all in.

“Stay close, Mira." Della said, as she took another turn.

We walked past the probing eyes of several people. I couldn't recognize what they were, but I noticed a vampire amongst. This place indeed has every species.

We finally came to a stop. “This is Cara. She's a hybrid wolf and witch, she'll break the spell holding back your wolf." Della said.

My eyes met the girl. She looked young, probably fifteen. I turned to Della who gave me a reassuring look.

“Why are you helping me?" I suddenly asked.

“You ask a lot of questions," was all she said.

She was trying to avoid the question, but I wasn't about to let it just go. “I need to know. That's the only way I'll be able to trust you."

“I don't really need you to trust me, Mirabel. All you need to do is trust yourself, that's more than enough." She began walking away.

How? How did she know my full name? No one knew that.

Her next words made my heart stand still.

“And as for why I'm helping you," she stopped walking and looked at me, “it's what your mother would have wanted."

“...”

"Alpha Thane,” the Head Chief's voice echoed in the huge meeting room which suddenly seemed too small. "Our librarian here, Ms Mira, claims that you are her mate— that you have been all along— and you two had a secret relationship going on already. By any chance, is any of this true?"

I stood in the center of the room, my palms clammy at my sides, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure everyone could hear it. The council, ten in total, sat in a semi-circle, their faces expectant, their eyes shifting between me and the man I thought was mine.

Thane sat directly across from me, his broad shoulders hunched slightly, fingers digging into the armrest of his chair. Beside him, too close for comfort, sat her — Alexa, the witch with the serpent’s smile.

I raised my chin, just a little. My eyes found Thane’s, and for a fleeting moment, I saw it — hesitation, doubt, and underneath all of it, guilt. The silence stretched too long, and each second felt like a knife carving into my chest.

The Head Chief cleared his throat, his brows furrowing. "Alpha, we need a response."

Thane’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his gaze flicking from one elder to the next, searching for something — a way out. Finally, his golden eyes met mine, and I silently begged him. Please. Just tell the truth. Please.

"Alpha Thane?" another elder prompted, their patience stretching thin.

My heart ached so fiercely I could barely stand upright.

I was desperately waiting to hear Thane's response, but when it came, I wished I could unhear it.

"No," Thane said, his voice low, but each syllable might as well have been a blade to my gut. "I don’t know why she’s making these claims, but there was never anything between us."

The room spun. I must have misheard.

"What?" My voice was barely above a whisper.

Thane didn’t look at me this time. "She’s lying."

The ground beneath me vanished. My chest hollowed out, leaving nothing but raw, trembling emptiness.

"She’s obsessed with me," Thane added, each word like a hammer to my ribs. "I don’t know why, but I have never… she was just a librarian."

I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t see. The man I had given my heart to, the man who whispered promises in the dark — he denied it all.

"You’re lying!" My voice cracked with disbelief, but the moment I spoke, Alexa stood, her dark curls cascading down her back like black ink.

"Enough of this madness," Alexa said smoothly, her voice laced with mock pity.

The words clung to me like tar.

The Head Chief exchanged glances with the others, some of them whispering to each other. "This is a serious accusation, Alpha Thane. If she’s making false claims—"

"She should be punished," Alexa said, her gaze sharp with triumph. "Lying about the Alpha, disrupting the peace… it’s treasonous."

Treason. My knees nearly buckled.

"We could exile her," Alexa added, and I saw it then — the glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes. This was what she wanted all along.

"No, please…" I stepped forward, but Thane didn’t stop her. He didn’t even look at me.

“Stand back!" One of the elders shot at me, his voice stern.

The Head Chief sighed. "If the Alpha denies it, and if the council agrees, then exile may be the only appropriate response."

I searched Thane’s face one last time, desperately hoping for something — even a flicker of hesitation, a sign he’d fight for me.

But there was nothing.

With a final snap of the gavel, my fate was sealed.

Banished.

Rejected!

I didn’t cry. Not when they stripped me of my rank. Not when they escorted me to the edge of the territory like some criminal. Not when they warned me that if I ever returned, I’d be hunted like a rogue.

However, the moment I was left alone in the middle of nowhere, with no one to comfort me under the freezing cold and the clawing hands of darkness, it was then I realized that I was truly alone.

I had been rejected.

My legs failed me and I collapsed beside the nearest tree, leaning into it as tears fell off my eyes.

“So this is how it ends?” I mumbled to myself, shutting my eyes.

I'd heard stories of wolves whose mates had rejected them, turned away without even bothering to explore the bond and what it brought. I never really understood their pain.

Now? Now, I understand what it feels like. Even more, because my mate had been cruel enough to explore the bond with me, made me love him in ways I couldn't explain, only to cut me off like I was just a leech on his precious skin.

So this is what it feels like?

I tried to hold back the tears, but it was useless. They streamed down my face like a waterfall, my body shaking lightly with silent sobs.

I had nowhere to go, no one to turn to. Wasn't it enough that he rejected me? Did I have to be exiled too? Thane, you son of a bitch. To think I loved you with my whole heart.

I was furious, yet my heart was breaking into a million pieces. Eventually, the former won.

I can't just leave like that. Thane and Alexa has to pay.

I waited until thick nightfall, until the scent of the forest was thick with damp earth and secrets. I knew what I was after—the book.

It was an ancient tome that had been locked away in the Alpha’s private archives. I wasn’t supposed to know about it—but I’d spent years in the library, learning, watching, uncovering. And I knew it held something Thane and Alexa wanted hidden.

Something incredibly powerful. Yet no one could even open the book, or understand what was needed to do so. If I could do that, then I might become the most powerful person in the world.

And then, I can take my revenge. Make him pay for rejecting me!

Slipping past the patrols was easy. They underestimated me—the quiet little librarian with no wolf and no spine. I was nothing to them, a ghost they banished without a second thought.

But ghosts know how to haunt.

It wasn't easy getting access to the chamber that held the book—so many locks, and traps—but one of the benefits I got from being with Thane—even though it was only temporary and ended with nothing but pain—was that I knew a few things others didn't. My hands trembled as I lifted the book, its cover worn, symbols etched deep into the leather.

It thrummed beneath my fingertips—alive.

I barely made it past the border before they caught me. Thane’s warriors.

They chased me through the forest, their snarls filling the night. My heart pounded, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t.

I wasn’t running to escape.

I was running to survive.

*BACK TO THE PRESENT*

The weight of the memory settled over me like a cold shroud.

I stared at Della, my throat tight. "How do you know my mother?" My voice was softer now, fragile in a way I hated.

Della’s eyes flickered, her expression briefly unreadable. "That’s a story for another day, child."

"No." My fists clenched. "You don’t get to just drop that and walk away. Who was she? Why does she matter to you? And how do you know her?"

Della’s lips pressed into a thin line. "Your mother was a dear friend. She was… special, like you."

"Special? What do you mean?"

Della hesitated before answering. "She carried blood that was more than wolf. More than human."

"What does that mean?" My voice trembled slightly.

"You’ll understand soon," Della said gently. "But first, let’s get your wolf back."

She led me to Cara, the young hybrid girl waiting patiently in the clearing. The girl’s hands glowed faintly, silver runes dancing along her fingertips.

"Sit," Cara said, her voice sweet but firm.

I sat cross-legged on the grass, closing my eyes as instructed. Cara’s hands hovered near my temples, the air vibrating with a soft hum.

I felt it almost immediately—the sensation of a locked door creaking open somewhere inside me. A weight lifted from my chest, and then, I felt her.

My wolf.

‘Nia!’

She surged forward, her presence fierce and protective. I gasped, doubling over as her strength flooded my limbs, our bond restoring.

"I feel her," I whispered, tears springing to my eyes.

Della nodded at Cara, and the girl left us. Della knelt in front of me, reaching out for my hand. “How does it feel?" She asked.

How did it feel?

The energy still hummed beneath my skin long after Cara’s hands fell away. My wolf wasn’t just awake — she was brimming, her presence sharper, clearer than I’d ever known. Every sound in the clearing seemed magnified, from the crackling torches to the rustling leaves above. I could hear the heartbeat of everyone around me, including Della’s — steady, but layered with something beneath it.

Anticipation? Or was it fear?

I stood slowly, flexing my fingers, watching the way my nails gleamed in the low light — darker, almost metallic. My senses stretched farther than they ever had before, I felt foreign.

This wasn’t normal.

"What did you do to me?" My voice was hoarse, though not with fear — with suspicion.

Della exchanged a glance with Cara before stepping forward. "I didn’t do anything, Mira. This—" she gestured to me, to the faint shimmer around my skin, "—this was always inside you."

"No." I shook my head. "I know my wolf. I know what I am. I’m just…"

"A wolf?" Della’s brow lifted slightly. "Are you sure?"

I opened my mouth to argue, but the words wouldn’t come.

Della took advantage. “You underestimate yourself too much, Mirabel. You have no idea the power you hold within you, the greatness residing in the legacy your mother left you. You—” she took a step closer, “you are much more stronger than you can ever imagine."

“Now take a deep breath and tell me, how does it actually feel?" Her voice was subtle, probing.

I inhaled, then let it out, alongside all the fear and doubt. It was then the feeling soared through my body. “It feels so good to have her back. I can't explain." I mumbled.

“Good!" Della squeezed my hand. “Now, it's time to unlock the other side of you."