Alexis's point of view.

As soon as I got out of the car, I hurried into school with my head down, as usual.

"Hey, look, Omega's here."

"Wow! Look how red her cheeks are."

"I don't know what she's done."

"Haha... Maybe she's trying to steal someone's partner to improve her position in the group."

"What a slut!"

"She looks like a tomato."

"I think Brittany wants to have fun with her today."

"She doesn't want to. She's busy with Brandon in that empty classroom."

I heard some whispers around me, but the last one caught my attention.

And it hurt. I don't know why, but ever since Brandon defended me in front of the whole gang, it's as if my feelings for him have resurfaced.

Every time I think of him with another woman, all I feel is heartache and betrayal, even though I know it's a silly thought. What I hate the most is him being with Brittany.

Brittany, my sister, wasn't any better. That day, a year ago, on Brandon's birthday, when he asked me out, she was angry, it was clear in her eyes.

And because she liked to meddle in my life, she decided to start getting close to Brandon. Even after finding out that I had a crush on Brandon. Yes, that's how her evil mind worked. Her goal was to leave me completely without any hope of happiness.

However, I think it's wrong to think of Brandon that way. I have a partner out there who might be waiting for me, and here I am, falling in love with another wolf.

At the end of class, after spending the day sitting in the farthest corner of the room, I left in a daze, anxiously waiting for the school day to end. It was like a daily routine for me.

Going to school, spending the whole day hoping the day would end soon, and enduring bullying from anyone who wanted to have fun.

After eight hours of waiting, the bell signaling the end of the school day finally rang, and I was so happy.

It was already 3 p.m. And to make that day special, I had already decided on the place.

I have spent my last three birthdays locked up in my room, but not this one. This birthday will be special.

This is my 18th birthday, a special age for all wolves.

The moment to find my mate. My mate, the person who should love and care for me, regardless of my flaws.

This is also the reason I want to stay alive. I want to live because I know that when I meet my mate, everything will change. My life will be filled with happiness, love, and attention.

After arriving home, I went straight to my room to prepare myself to meet my mate.

I wasn't sure if I would meet my mate that day. After all, when you're an adult, you can meet your mate anytime. However, the chances of meeting your mate today are the highest.

I wore an elegant champagne-colored dress and let my long, light brown hair flow freely, completing the look with my favorite earrings and nude sandals.

Seeing the gift from Mark, I was tempted to open it, but knowing that the gift might have some side effects, as Mark had warned, I decided not to check it at that moment.

Checking my reflection in the mirror one last time, I left the room to enter the forest, where I planned to spend my birthday.

Only one hour left until my 18th birthday. Smiling with excitement growing inside me, I ran down the stairs, bumping into a few men who stared at me with astonished looks.

"Wow."

"I can't believe it. Such a beautiful Omega."

"Alexis? Is that Alexis?" I heard Brandon's breathless voice as I left the house.

I would talk to him later. Right now, all I wanted was to go to the place where I wanted to spend my birthday.

After crossing the lake and entering the cave on the other side of the mountain, I ran towards that place. My secret place. No one knew about it because it was hidden by rocks and bushes.

Sitting on the edge of the lake, I stared at the medal my grandmother had given me. The medal had blue and green crystals with a hint of yellow. No one knew the medal was with me, and my grandmother had asked me to keep it a secret, even from our family. She gave me this antique when she took her last breath, six years ago. I sneaked into the hospital to see her, and there she gave me the necklace.

It was already 6:55 p.m., and I was very excited. I felt as if joy had taken over me. What would he be like? Questions swirled around in my mind like a whirlwind.

To be honest, I didn't care what he looked like. I knew I would give him all the love he needed. And I would cherish his feelings for me and never betray him.

When the clock struck 7:01 p.m., I immediately closed my eyes to try to smell the pleasant scents around me.

After what felt like a very long time, even though it was only ten minutes, I suddenly opened my eyes and felt nothing.

It seemed that my partner was not in this group, at least not at that moment.

I sighed in despair. I had been so impatient to meet my partner tonight. Since there was no sign of him, I finally ate the food I had prepared for him.

Celebrating my own birthday.

After finishing my meal, I packed my things and got up to go home.

"Maybe I can't smell it because I'm just a lantern," I muttered softly.

"Who are you going to smell this far from civilization? You're hiding in a place no one has ever been to, and you expect to smell your mate here?" My conscience commented, making me roll my eyes at myself. This time, she was right.

Leaving the cave and crossing the lake, I began to leave the deep forest. At that moment, I caught a whiff of something. A pleasant aroma, like chocolate mixed with wood and cinnamon.

I was happy that my mate was at the group's house, which meant he was part of them, so I immediately ran into the house.

The scent was coming from somewhere inside.

Looking up, I squinted my eyes, trying to distinguish the scent and letting my feet follow my senses.

As I left the room, I opened my eyes and furrowed my brow when I realized whose room it was.

Brandon?

Could my partner be Brandon? Or maybe one of Brandon's friends?

"Or maybe you're just stupid." My conscience chimed in again, even though I knew she was just as eager as I was to find out the truth.

Rolling my eyes and ignoring it as usual, I pushed open the door to find my partner, but what my eyes saw not only shocked me, but left me paralyzed for a few seconds.

There I saw him having sex with another woman.

"My mate!"

I don't know what hurts me more. The fact that my mate had sex with my sister right in front of me, or the fact that he probably knew I was his mate for a year.

As far as I remember, he was 18 last year, which means he knew I was his mate, but he still decided to ignore that bond and pursue my sister.

Thinking about it, all his possessive, protective, and attentive behavior towards me suddenly made sense. It was as if all the pieces of the puzzle had finally fallen into place.

I thought it was just guilt.

And now he's rejecting me? Why? Because I'm an omega, or because of my sister? I couldn't help but shudder at the thought.

I was the most hated wolf in the pack. No one likes me because I'm a lantern. And now, without a mate, rejected by a potential alpha, I'm sure everyone will hate me more than ever.

And I know my father will kill me. Even the council leader wouldn't mind if my pack said I was killed in a vicious attack because I'm a female wolf without a mate.

They always call me weak, and maybe they're right.

"Can you stop feeling sorry for yourself and get it over with? I'm also grieving the loss of my partner. With your sad attitude like this, what should I do? Mourn my own loss or comfort you?" My conscience screamed. However, for the first time, I didn't feel disturbed, I actually felt comforted.

My conscience was right. Now is not the time to mourn and hate myself for what I don't have. It's time to take action.

As if they sensed me from inside the room, the door opened, and did I mention that I was leaning against the door? Yes, that's right. And sadly, it made my situation worse by almost falling flat on the floor, if not for the door handle I grabbed at the last second.

"What are you doing here, bitch?" my sister asked.

But this time I wouldn't take her insults. That was the last straw with that group. The place was full of them all, and most importantly, their dirty alpha.

I don't know if it was a response to the heartache of feeling rejected, or because I felt betrayed on a deep level, but I was hit by a surge of energy throughout my body. A rage I had never felt before.

"I didn't come here to talk to you, bitch. So get out of my way, because if I have to get rid of you myself, it's going to hurt." I responded to my sister for the first time, and the shock was evident.

Well, even I was impressed with what I had just said.

My moment of happiness was interrupted when I saw her hand about to slap me. But before she could reach me, I kicked her in the stomach. And I have to say, from the way his face contorted, it must have been very painful.

Add to that how much pain she was in after having such hot sex with Brandon, and she must have been in terrible shape. It reminded me of Brandon.

Then my eyes met my partner's, looking at me with an apologetic gaze. I wanted to smash his face, but I chose not to because I didn't want to dirty my hands.

It was clear from his expression that he understood I knew he was my partner and had been cheating for some time.

"How could you?" I asked the question that had been stuck in my throat since I saw him having sex with my sister.

"Alexis, you..." Brittany started again. But I had no patience for her chatter at that moment.

"Shut up!" I yelled back, cutting him off as his eyes filled with horror.

I turned my gaze back to Brandon. His eyes were as big as soccer balls. Maybe because this was the first time he had seen me respond to him like that. Did he really think I would take this betrayal calmly?

"For a year now, you've known that I'm your partner, right? But you went after my sister and slept with her even though you knew I was here?" I yelled.

"Wow, you're talking like you want him to have sex with you!" My conscience screamed, making me roll my eyes.

"Is he your partner?" My sister asked in horror, questioning Brandon with disbelief.

"Alexis, I can explain. Calm down. This isn't what I want, but I'm the future alpha of this pack and I need a strong Luna, not..."

"Not a lantern like me who can't even turn into a wolf and is just a weakling. Right? So, that's what this is all about." I added.

"Listen, this doesn't mean I'm rejecting you or kicking you out of the group. You can still stay with us, and I'll treat you as my partner. I'll fulfill all my responsibilities, but you have to understand that, as the alpha, I need a strong luna." Brandon said, as I stared at him with wide eyes.

Is he really the man I fell in love with all those years ago?

How could he think in such a twisted way? So he needed a strong luna for his pack and his mate, and that must be my sister. Then what would I be?

Just a friend for sex? A baby-making machine, a wish-granting machine?

"Wow, you're really a demanding male, Brandon," I commented, unable to believe this was the same man I had fallen in love with. The man I'd loved for years and wanted to marry.

It's true that knowing what someone really thinks can turn you from love to hate.

"He's insulting both of us, and you're just going to stand there and take it? If it were me, I'd kill him right now." My conscience said, making me sigh again.

As if that were possible. Could I really kill someone who was still alive? Especially an alpha?

Mocking my thoughts, I looked at Brittany with a smug smile on my face and then at Brandon, who seemed to be waiting for my answer with a weak smile.

He expected me to humble myself, just as he accepted every violation from the group and this humiliating proposal simply because I was a Lantern.

"All right, I'm on your side." My conscience decided.

"You know, your offer is tempting..." I began, making Brandon smile even wider while Brittany's smile grew even more smug.

"However, the fact that you expect your partner to accept everyone's intimidation, as well as become your baby-making machine, is enough to disgust me. Guess what? I may be a Lantern, but I'm not a slut like my sister. Even though I'm not a beta, I still have my dignity." I shouted, staring at Brandon.

His face paled and his smile faded instantly. Brittany was also shocked by my words, but that wasn't the most important part yet.

"I..." I continued in a firm voice. "I, Alexis, daughter of the moon goddess, reject Brandon Sterling as my lawful partner because I cannot live with someone who wants nothing but my body, someone who wants nothing from me except my body. I declare my soul free, and I reject the bond of partnership with the alpha of the Black Mist group, and with this, I reject my position as the luna of the Black Mist group and as Brandon Sterling's partner."

I took a breath before continuing. "I, Alexis, also reject my bond with the Black Mist group from this day forward, and will live my life as a free soul until I decide otherwise." In the end, my eyes widened as I felt excruciating pain throughout my body as the group bond began to break, but the shock in Brandon's eyes acted like a painkiller, easing my suffering.

I'm sure, even in his worst dreams, Brandon never imagined he'd be rejected like this.

Then he clenched his jaw and fists, clearly feeling the pain of the broken bond.

I also suffer, the pain of seeing all my fantasies about finding a partner shattered. However, the pain of rejecting the bond with my partner and my group is nothing compared to the pain I have endured all this time. Today, I not only reject that bond, but also all those relationships.

Today, I promise myself not to let others influence me in the future.

I went up to my room, packed my things, and put Mark's gift in my pocket before heading downstairs.

Most of the group members were in the corridor, perhaps having heard and sensed my rejection of the group and Brandon through their mental connection.

I turned to my family, including my tearful mother, my father staring at me with a hostile expression, and my sister looking defiant.

I smiled before saying, "I am not a disgrace to our pack or family. You are all a disgrace to the werewolf species. You can't even appreciate the pack's only lantern, while out there they are treated like children of the moon goddess. You are a disgrace to humanity, and the worst of all is your alpha, who, even though he knew I was his mate a year ago, still had sex with another female wolf. The sacred bond created by the moon goddess was meant to help us find true love, but our alpha doesn't think that way. An alpha who can't even accept his mate, how will he know how to lead this pack?" I scoffed before leaving the house.

Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably as all the pain began to pour out of me.

"Shh... don't cry. I'm still here." My conscience said, and I couldn't help but laugh at her fake attempt to comfort me.

Now we'll see how I can survive in the real world alone.

"Wait, I smell someone's blood here. An outsider, hiding in the bushes," I heard the patrol group say. They were looking for me as I tried to cross the border again.

Now I know one thing for sure, I can't stay here any longer. I have to find a new place to live.

Only if I can hide from them this time.

I sighed and leaned against a large tree, trying to cover my bleeding wound with a piece of cloth.

As I wondered how to get out of there, a voice was heard.

"Captain, there's nothing suspicious here."

"All right, let's go back." As I listened to the captain's voice, the footsteps slowly faded away.

I didn't dare stay any longer, so I immediately left the place and ran into the dense forest. I didn't stop until I felt I was no longer being chased.

Looking at the fruit I had, I rolled my eyes when I realized it was only enough for two days. This time, I had very little food, and to get it, I was almost found by the pack and died in the forest.

I had been an outsider for three months, and I was wandering around. To say that this life was almost like hell would be an understatement. I refused to join the group of outsiders because it would only make me sadder.

I ate an apple after washing it in the lake, removed the bandage from my foot, and realized the wound was almost healed. I washed the cloth in a small hole I had dug with my hands and left it to dry on a tree trunk.

Yes, I lived like a wanderer.

"If you're willing to listen to me, you don't have to live like this anymore. I'm telling you, contact Mark. He'll help us. He's part of the council, he's obligated to help us," my conscience, which I've told you all about, reappeared. She hates this nomadic life even more than I do. She's used to a life of luxury, believe me.

My conscience is called Ariana. She claims to be my inner wolf, but I don't believe it. If I had a wolf's soul, I would transform, and I wouldn't be the lantern that everyone hates. I wouldn't suffer so much.

"Have you forgotten that I haven't recharged my phone since... I don't even remember when it was last. I don't have any money, I don't want to go to the city. I would be ashamed to know that they would see me as a different person," I replied before collapsing onto the ground.

Honestly, the idea was very tempting, but I was afraid. I was afraid the council wouldn't want to deal with a lantern that rejected its partner.

"I know you're scared, Lexi, but to live a better life, you have to take risks. Don't you understand that? It won't get any easier as time goes by. If anything, it will get harder every day. You've found your mate. And remember, you're the one who rejected him, not the other way around. In a few months, you'll be in your first heat. It would have happened if it weren't for your light. But remember, after your first period, you'll have your period every month, so what are you going to do about that?" asked Ariana.

"I'll handle everything, no problem. I know what it feels like to be in heat. To speed up the mating process, a female in heat becomes overly excited, feeling a strong sexual desire for her partner, and her partner is attracted to her, and they mate, leading to pregnancy." I rolled my eyes after saying that.

"No, dear, that's where you're wrong. When a female is in heat, her partner and all the single male wolves will be attracted to her. You are a lone wolf in the forest. What do you think will happen when you are in heat? You will not only attract all the outsiders in the area, but also the males in the pack. The pack."

I hate to admit it, but her words got to me.

"I don't know, do you understand? For now, I have to move before they find my trail and follow me," I said before grabbing the bag and fruit I had stolen.

As I walked along the riverbank, I sang a song so I wouldn't feel lonely, because I was bored.

I used to think that traveling was fun and I always wanted to do it alone, but now I don't think so. Traveling is only fun if you have food and shelter. Otherwise, the forest can be your worst nightmare.

After walking for several hours, I opened the group map I had made in geography class. The map was now my greatest help, allowing me to know which group was closest to me.

"This is the Manhattan group. I don't think they ever said they were a dangerous group," I said loudly as I looked east, which would take me to the border.

I set up camp on the riverbank because this was unclaimed land, where no group could claim ownership. I bathed in the river, trying to wash away the dirt and sweat from my body.

I changed my clothes and combed my hair. I was about to eat some stolen fruit when I heard a tree branch break nearby.

I quickly hid behind a tree. I grabbed my knife, ready to attack whoever it was.

"Come on, come out. I see you, pretty girl. Surrender to us or this won't end well for you if we decide to use our strength," I heard one of the three men say.

From their foul smell, I knew they were outsiders. They smelled bad because most outsiders didn't bother to bathe and clean themselves.

"We're asking you nicely, dear. Come out while you still can," I heard a man say.

"What should I do? Should I go or not?" I thought, weighing the consequences. But knowing that being raped was not part of my plan, I came out of hiding.

"Wow, she's hot," said the blond-haired man, making my stomach churn.

"I don't want to hurt you or get in your way. I take care of my life and you take care of yours," I said indifferently.

"That's not what we want, sweetheart. We want you to come with us. Let's have some fun. After that, we'll decide what happens to you," said the brown-haired man, making me look at them with disgust.

"I've been nice to you guys," I said, rolling my eyes before grabbing the dagger and throwing it at the three of them. I was going to stab them right in the heart.

"As if this dagger could hurt us," said the man before pulling the dagger with his hand, making me tilt my head and stare at them with the most serious expression on my face. I tilted my head and stared at them with the most innocent look I could muster.

"I know, but the aconite on that dagger will definitely kill you," I said as one of them started coughing.

"That was pretty quick," I said, taking my dagger and wiping it on their clothes.

While I was cleaning my third dagger, the person in front of me was dying restlessly. I heard another branch break behind me, but before I could turn around and check what it was, I felt something sharp on my neck, making my eyes widen.

"Turn around, stranger," I heard a deep voice that sounded very familiar.

I turned and saw the man holding a large dagger to my neck, and inevitably, I fell silent.