Chapter 3 CHAPTER 3

For a heartbeat, the festival green froze. The only sound was the crackle of the bonfire, sparks spiraling into the silent night sky.

Then the whispers began.

“She’s wol-fless…”

“The Goddess must have made a mistake.”

“Sebastian, are you joking? She doesn’t even have a wolf at nineteen!”

The words cut through the crowd, sharp and rising, until the murmurs swelled into a tide of disbelief. Faces turned toward Cindy, eyes narrowing, mouths curling with disdain. She felt their stares scorch her skin like open flame.

Sara was the first to laugh. The sound rang out bright and cruel, slicing through the tension. “Oh, this is priceless.” She clutched Sebastian’s arm and tilted her head toward Cindy. “Of all the girls in the pack, the Goddess gives you… her?” She laughed again, pressing herself closer to him. “It almost feels like a joke. Perhaps the Goddess thought it would be merciful, giving you someone so easy to reject.”

Gasps rippled, but Sara only smiled, stroking Sebastian’s hand possessively as though sealing her claim. She leaned up and brushed a kiss against his cheek, her eyes locked on Cindy’s. “Don’t worry, darling,” she cooed, “you’ll always have me.”

The cruelty of it pierced deeper than any scorn. Cindy’s chest ached as though Sara’s hand had closed around her heart and squeezed.

Mrs. Hale’s voice cracked across the clearing next. “No.” She shoved her way forward, her face pale with fury. “This is not possible. The Goddess would never curse this pack by tying our future Alpha to a worthless servant!” She jabbed a trembling finger at Cindy, as though her mere presence was an insult.

Anna’s eyes brimmed with disbelief and humiliation. She stumbled back, her lips trembling soundlessly, until her mother’s hand steadied her shoulder. But Mrs. Hale’s gaze was fixed on Cindy, blazing with hatred sharper than ever before.

Mr. Hale stood stiff at the edge of the crowd, jaw tight, but said nothing. His silence was its own kind of condemnation.

Alpha Richard rose slowly, his presence commanding. “Enough,” he thundered, his voice silencing the crowd. His golden eyes swept the pack. “The will of the Moon Goddess is not to be mocked.”

But even his authority could not cool the unease. Elders exchanged uneasy glances, whispers stubborn beneath their breath.

And then Cindy saw her.

Lydia Moore, the Luna who had always smiled at her, now sat like a statue of stone. Her face was unreadable, her gaze cold as her eyes passed over Cindy without a flicker of recognition. The kindness was gone, buried beneath duty and the fear of what this meant for her son. To Cindy, that distant look cut deeper than all the jeers.

Alpha Richard’s voice dropped, heavy with gravity. “The Goddess is never wrong. But there are things to consider in a Luna. This girl’s background is unknown - she was found in the woods with no lineage to speak of. Her wolf has not shown, even at her age. She does not possess the strength to lead this pack. She is not even educated; how can she lead the pack?”

He turned toward the elders. “Cedric,” he said, his tone measured, “you have raised her under your roof. You are also an elder of this pack. What say you?”

All eyes shifted to Mr. Hale. He hesitated, his face grim, then stepped forward. His voice was steady, carrying across the clearing.

“The Alpha speaks truth,” he said. “A Luna must be strong enough to support her Alpha in battle and in peace. She must be wise, educated, able to give counsel when the pack falters. She must be a shield as well as a guide.” He shook his head slowly. “None of these describe my daughter. I know her. She is obedient, yes - but she is weak. We do not know her bloodline, only that we found her abandoned in the forest. To this day, her origins remain a mystery. And her wolf…” His mouth tightened. “Perhaps she does not even have one. We cannot entrust the pack to a wolf-less Luna.”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Cedric lifted a hand, silencing them. “Yet the bond cannot be denied. If Sebastian Moore wishes her to be his Luna, then by the Goddess’s decree, she shall be. We may not like it, but we cannot stand against it. However…” His gaze swept between Sebastian and Cindy, his words cutting. “If he does not want her, then the choice is his to reject her. And she has a choice too, whether to accept that rejection and sever the bond, or to cling to it. The power lies between them alone. I can only hope they will both be wise in their decision.”

The weight of his words hung heavy in the clearing. Richard Moore turned then, his eyes settling on his son. “Sebastian?”

Sebastian’s jaw clenched, anguish flickering in his amber eyes before he forced the words out. “I already promised Sara I would stay with her, even if the Goddess didn’t choose her. It’s not because the goddess chose Cindy, I made a promise and I intend to keep, regardless of whom the goddess chose as my mate.” His voice broke. “I reject you, Cindy Hale, as my mate.”

The bond ripped like glass through her chest. Cindy staggered, breath stolen, pain flooding every vein. Across from her, Sebastian’s face twisted with agony before he collapsed, Sara and Lydia rushing to his side. The rejection tore at him as well, but their arms caught him, shielding him from the worst.

No one came for Cindy.

She clutched her ribs, her body trembling as though her bones were splintering apart. The ache was unbearable, every heartbeat a scream. When she finally caught her breath, shame and grief surged together, driving her feet to move. She turned and ran.

By the time she reached the Hale cottage, the pain had dulled to a heavy, throbbing weight inside her. She barely crossed the threshold before the door slammed open again.

Mrs. Hale stormed in, Anna and Mr. Hale close behind. Fury burned on her face. “What the hell was that?” she demanded, her voice sharp enough to cut glass. “Who gave you the idea, the audacity, that you could ever be the next Luna?”

Cindy barely had time to answer before a slap landed on her cheek, the crack of it loud in the small room.