"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.

Sebastian's perspective

"Okay, that's it," I said before ending the call with a sigh.

"What else do we have planned for today, Blake?" I asked my beta, Blake, who looked at me with a tired sigh.

Everything had become more exhausting since we became the largest group in the universe. Being at the top was always more dangerous.

I knew he needed rest, and I needed rest too, but I also knew that I needed to increase security tenfold because, along with fame, danger also increased.

I hate being feared by my people because they are my family. However, to outsiders, I have to live up to my name, Sinclair.

"Sebastian, today at the alpha meeting, a new issue came up," Blake said. I looked at him with raised eyebrows, signaling him to continue.

"It's about an outsider who stole food and left without a trace. This outsider killed anyone who crossed paths with her. It's not really something to worry about too much, but if an outsider can enter the group's territory and leave without a trace, it leaves a big question mark for the group's security forces," Blake said, making me frown.

"Do we have any more information about this outsider?" I asked, massaging the area between my eyebrows, fully aware that we had a new problem on our hands, one that could take days to resolve.

To be honest, I don't hate these outsiders. They don't bother me. The number of outsiders I've killed far exceeds the number of days I slept last year, making our group the most dangerous one that has ever existed.

"No. We don't have any information about this outsider," Blake said, making me sigh.

"Besides, one of the council members called today. He said he was afraid there were werewolves living among humans. If we can cover our scent well enough, it's possible, but he said he heard that werewolves also sleep and eat with humans. She even goes to the same university as them."

Hearing this, I threw my chair across the room.

"These outsiders! Why can't they follow the rules? Are the rules so difficult to obey? And who is this werewolf who dares to do this?" I shouted, gasping with anger.

"Let's settle this first," I said, with a strong desire to destroy some outsiders and kill again.

"Alpha, I'm worried that the outsider is studying at the same university you founded so that humans can interact well with both species and remain hidden," said Blake, making my eyes widen.

At the same university I founded? This must be a cruel joke. Living there and breaking the law without us knowing?

"You're joking, right? If she lives in the same area as us, why can't we track her down? Can't our wolves smell other wolves living among humans and breaking the law?" I asked, tapping the table, unable to contain my frustration.

"I'm sorry, Alpha. We'll resolve this issue immediately. Can I go now? Melinda has found her mate and wants me to meet her," Blake said before bowing his head and leaving my office as I waved goodbye.

Mate. A taboo topic for me.

Everyone had found their partner, and so had I.

But...

At that time, I was only eighteen years old and was on a business trip with my father.

After meeting Alpha Killian and discussing a new alliance, my father went with him to the office to sign some documents. Since I didn't need to accompany them, I chose to stay behind.

I turned around and decided to take a walk, trying to calm my nerves and the wolf inside me that was feeling stressed that day.

As soon as I left their house, I felt it.

My mate.

The wolf inside me let out a happy snort.

Smiling and calming my wolf, I began to sniff around, searching for my mate, and soon found her, leaning against a tree.

From her size and scent, I knew she was an omega. But that didn't matter to me. As long as she was my mate, that was enough. We weren't cowards. We loved our mates no matter what.

However, as I approached her, I caught another scent mixed with hers, the scent of an outsider.

It could only mean one thing.

She had slept with one of them.

The pain hit me brutally. My inner wolf felt it too, a deep sense of betrayal.

But I still held onto hope. Maybe she did it because she had to. Maybe she was forced. Or maybe she couldn't find me, and now, when I told her I was her mate, she would stay with me.

With a wave of hope and newfound confidence, I stepped closer to her. She must have sensed my presence because when I was still standing a little way off, her eyes widened before looking in my direction.

Her big blue eyes pierced my soul as I walked quickly closer.

"My mate!" I exclaimed loudly. "Hello, dear. My name is Sebastian. I am the future Alpha of the Blood Moon pack. What is your name?" I asked in such a soft voice that even I didn't know I was capable of speaking like that.

"Don't bother me! I don't want you! I don't want an Alpha as my partner! No! No!" the girl screamed. Every word cut deeper into me.

"Honey, I won't hurt you. I'm your partner. My job is to love you," I said as I let go of my embrace, afraid that my strength would hurt her.

"I don't want anything to do with you! I reject you! I don't want you as my partner!" she screamed right in my face before running away.

Her words were so cruel and painful that they paralyzed me.

How could a girl be so cruel? How could a wolf be so heartless to her partner? How could she reject me without even knowing me?

She didn't mention my name or hers when she rejected me, so the rejection process wasn't complete. To find the answers to the questions haunting me, I followed her.

For an omega, she was incredibly fast. However, when I finally found her, what I saw was something I never imagined, something that left a deep wound in my heart.

She was leaning against a tree, with another man's organ inside her, and they were exchanging pleasure.

I growled, ready to attack the stranger who was sleeping with my partner right in front of my eyes, but then the man slit her throat with a knife.

If the previous scene hadn't shaken me enough, that scene destroyed me completely.

I ran towards her and hugged her, crying because there was nothing I could do to save her. The silver knife coated with aconite would not allow her wounds to heal.

I watched her die in my arms.

I cried in silence for a few moments until my wolf forced me to stop and control myself. His calmness felt strange. Perhaps he was heartbroken and hated what our partners had done to us.

But I was different.

I wanted her. I wanted my love. I wanted the only person who should love me to stay alive.

From that day on, outsiders and omegas became species I could hate, especially outsiders.

I respected the omegas in my pack, but I would never forgive outsiders. One of them had stolen my only chance at love.

I was jolted back to the present when my phone rang.

"Hello? Alpha Sebastian? We have more information about the outsider hiding in the forest and stealing. They say she became an outsider after rejecting an Alpha," said the council chairman.

His words shook my mind, and my anger erupted.

It seems... today I have to go hunting.