Rejected No More: A Luna’s Vow

On the day of my mate ceremony, my brother, Lucian Jenkins, future Gamma of the Blue Moon Pack, splashed red wine all over my ceremonial gown.

"Zendaya, you know Amina has feelings for Beta Kyler. Why are you making such a fuss about this ceremony?"

My intended mate, Kyler Jordan, Beta of the Silver Fang Pack, stood there nonchalantly, leaning against the door frame, his voice calm and composed:

"I'll give you two options: first, wear this stained gown and proceed with the ceremony."

"Second, apologize to Amina, cheer her up, and then I’ll announce the ceremony is postponed."

But I chose a different path. I stood before our pack members and allies in my ceremonial gown and declared that I was rejecting the mate bond with Kyler Jordan.

Brother, mate, sister... I decided I didn’t need any of them.

But as soon as I left, I heard that the two most influential packs in the region had gone into a frenzy.

They sought out the world’s top designers in a futile attempt to salvage a gown stained with red wine.

Just as I was changing into a ceremonial gown I had cherished for ten years, Lucian barged into the dressing room.

Before I could admire myself in the mirror, the young man who bore a striking resemblance to me kicked open the dressing room door.

"Zendaya! Have you lost your mind? I warned you so many times, yet you insisted on going through with this ridiculous ceremony!"

"You know Amina has feelings for Beta Kyler. Are you doing this to intentionally hurt her? Do you have any idea how upset she is at home?"

He shouted at me, completely unaware of how the spark of joy in my eyes quickly faded.

So it was about Amina again...

Feeling defeated and burdened by the lavish gown, I reminded myself that today was not a day for arguments.

I sighed softly, choosing not to retort as I usually would. Instead, I raised my head and spoke calmly:

"Lucian, can we not argue? At least not today... It’s my mate ceremony, and I want to be happy."

Lucian's expression grew darker, and he stepped closer, scoffing.

"Zendaya, can you stop being so selfish? It’s just a ceremony. Is it really more important than Amina’s feelings?"

"She’s so understanding and gentle, enduring the pain to give you and Beta Kyler her blessings. All she asked was for the ceremony not to be so extravagant. A simple pack gathering would’ve sufficed. Why do you have to be so stubborn?"

His self-righteous tone made my hands tremble with anger, and I couldn’t care less about it being a "special day." I retorted immediately:

"I’m the one forming the mate bond. What’s wrong with wanting a ceremony for myself? Why should I be responsible for Amina’s feelings?"

"Shut up! Amina is your sister. You have a duty to care for her and accommodate her!"

My vision went dark momentarily, and I almost shouted, "Sister? She’s your sister, not mine! My mother had only one daughter, and that’s me!"

"Shut up!"

Cold red wine dripped down my hair, staining the pristine ceremonial gown I wore.

At that moment, both Lucian and I were stunned.

He seemed to regain his senses, the hand holding the wine glass trembling.

"Zendaya, I didn’t—"

He hastily grabbed tissues from the table, awkwardly trying to wipe my face, but I dodged him.

Feeling like the life had been drained from me, I looked down at the dark red stain over my heart, lost in silence.

Wine continued to drip from my hair, and perhaps finding the scene too grotesque, Lucian pressed a tissue to my forehead.

"Hah—Lucian, why do you even bother with her!"

"We said no ceremony. She still dragged me and my parents here, making Amina cry all this time! Let her remember this!"

Both Lucian and I turned to see Kyler Jordan, standing leisurely at the door, a cigarette in his mouth and a smirk on his face.

That’s when I noticed he wasn’t even wearing his ceremonial attire.

Instead, he wore a white jacket adorned with a crudely drawn bear across the chest.

A birthday gift from Amina last year...

Kyler tilted his head, laughing lightly at my disheveled appearance.

"Zendaya, do you think appeasing the Alpha means you can control my life? Dream on! I’m telling you, no matter how many schemes you pull, you’re not even close to Amina!"

Watching the disdain in his eyes, I found it laughable...

Our mate bond was arranged when we were children by both packs.

He never, not once, protested. Even when he seemed more attentive to Amina than me, he never brought up rejecting the bond.

The ceremony was pushed by the Silver Fang Pack.

When Amina found out, she cried and refused to eat, causing distress to both Lucian and Kyler.

Both avoided me to console her.

In my last mind link to Kyler, I asked, "Beta Kyler, do you even want to form this bond?"

He remained silent until Amina’s tearful voice came through: "Beta Kyler, who are you talking to? Is it my sister?"

Only then did he speak hurriedly, "Stop this nonsense. The pack’s already decided. Stop bothering me!"

Alpha Jordan assured me I had nothing to worry about; he’d handle the ceremony, and Kyler... he’d make him come around.

But seeing Kyler now, it’s clear he must’ve been reprimanded by Alpha Jordan and was venting his frustration on me...

I chuckled softly, taking the tissue from Lucian’s hand to gently wipe away the wine on my face.

"Sloane, is your mate here yet? The officiant is arranging for you two to go on stage! Oh—your gown!"

My maid of honor, Sloane Thompson, a Delta in the Silver Fang Pack, rushed in, nearly fainting at the scene before her.

Her almond eyes widened in disbelief as she looked between me and the two men, immediately grasping the situation.

"You two jerks, bullying Zendaya again, aren’t you!"

Before she could claw at Kyler’s face, I quickly grabbed her arm.

Sloane’s father serves as a healer for the Silver Fang Pack.

It wasn’t worth it, not at all...

But Kyler seemed to misinterpret something. Seeing me step in, his eyes flickered for a moment.

Then, he lowered his voice:

"I’ll give you two options: wear this stained gown to complete the ceremony, or apologize to Amina, and I’ll publicly announce the ceremony’s postponed. We can have a new gown made for you, your choice."

His words were framed as if offering choices, but his expression was taunting, waiting for me to argue...

Sloane, on the verge of tears, looked at him as if she wanted to tear him apart.

But as for me... I hadn’t been angry from the start.

I lifted my gaze, staring directly into his eyes.

"No need, Beta Kyler. This gown—my mother made it for me before she passed. I doubt you could find a designer more brilliant than her."

Thud—

Behind me, Lucian stumbled back into the vanity. I turned around and met his shocked eyes.

He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Ignoring him, I continued with Kyler, "So, neither of your options—I’m taking neither!"