Love in the Time of Full Moon

Aria's pov.

The evening was supposed to be magical, I could see the moon hung high above the Moon shadow pack, bathing us with its silver glow.

Tonight was the mating ceremony; it was a night I had been dreaming of for years; my heart pounded in my chest as happiness flooded my smile. I stood in the clearing, surrounded by my pack mates.

The scent of pine and the hum of excitement filled the air. My gaze darted across the crowd until I saw the man had been crushing on.

Ryder is the future Alpha and my destined mate, my wolf stored within me, howling with joy. This was it. Our moment of celebration.

Ryder stepped forward with his unreadable expression; I nervously smiled, winking my eyes and waiting for him to claim me as his mate. But the word that came out of his mouth shattered my world.

“I Ryder Kane, reject you, Aria Hart as my mate”.

The crowd fell silent and astonished. Gasping, as it echoed around me but I could barely hear them over the sound of my heart breaking. I stood frozen, unable to process what had just happened.

“What have I done wrong, Ryder?” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Why?”.

He was never remorseful even after my plea. Instead, he looked away, his jaw tightening.

“You're weak, Aria. A mate like you will only be a shame to an Alpha”.

“How am I weak? In what aspect?” I asked, my voice crackling with tears rolling down my eyes which I strongly held. “Where am I lagging?”.

“I don't have time for unnecessary questions, sort yourself and figure it out”. He said, his tone sharp and aggressive.

The humiliation burned hotter than the pain of rejection. My wolf whimpered, retreating deep into my mind as if trying to shield me from the agony.

The pain kept piercing through my mind. I couldn't stay there not even bearing their pitying stares or the cruel smirks of those who relished my downfall.

I turned and ran into the woods without uttering any word, my vision blurred by tears.

The dark forest became quiet with a stark contrast to the chaos inside me. I stumbled over roots and branches, finally collapsing beneath the glow of the moonlight.

“Why me?” I whispered, my voice breaking. “Why am I treated like nothing? What have I done to deserve this?”.

My sobs echoed in the silence until a strange sensation washed over me. It was as if the wind carried a voice, soft yet commanding.

"Your destiny isn’t what it seems."

I froze, my tears forgotten. "Who's there?" I called out, my voice shaking.

The forest remained still, but the voice came again, clearer this time. "You are more than what they see, Aria. Trust the moon. Your journey is just beginning."

I sat up, my heart racing. "What journey? What does that mean?"

The voice didn’t answer, but the air seemed to hum with energy. My wolf stirred, her curiosity piqued despite the pain.

I spun around, scanning the shadows, but before I could dwell on the cryptic message, a rustling sound behind me made me jump.

“Who's there? Reveal yourself”. I demanded my voice to be firmer this time.

A figure stepped out from the darkness, his silver eyes glinting in the moonlight. He was tall, with a commanding presence that made my wolf perk up despite herself.

“You're not safe here, and you need to do something about it,” he said, his voice deep and smooth.

I narrowed my eyes, taking a step back. “Who are you? And what do you expect me to do?”.

He smirked, his gaze never leaving mine. “Let's just say I've been watching over you from a distance, Aria. And I believe we have a lot to talk about”.

I crossed my arms trying to mask my fear. “We've nothing to talk about, don't even think I am interested because I'm not going anywhere with you; who knows if you're the next person to hurt me.”

He profusely faltered and smirked which was replaced by something softer—maybe sympathy. “I know what happened tonight,” he said. “Ryder is just a fool for rejecting you. But his loss might just be my gain”.

I blinked, caught off guard. “What do you mean?”.

He stepped closer and I could feel the warmth radiating from him. My wolf stirred again, intrigued by this stranger.

“Trust me, I can help you Aria,” he said, his voice low and soft. “You don't even know you've some potential. I can help you discover your strength. Ryder may have rejected you for some reasons but you can prove him wrong”.

My mind raced. Could I trust him? He was a stranger yet something about him felt familiar, like an unspoken connection I couldn't explain.

“What's your name?” I cautiously asked.

He hesitated for a moment before answering. “I'm Liam”.

“So Liam, why would you help me?’ I repeated, testing the name on my tongue.

“I believe you're destined for something far better than you can imagine”. His silver eyes darkened, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of pain In them.

“And so?” I curiously asked.

“I know what it's like to be cast aside; nobody wishes for that. This is the time to embrace your inner strength; that's why I'm here to help,” he said.

The wind rustled through the trees carrying his words like a promise. My heart wavered. Could I trust him? Should I?

But before I could respond, another voice cut through the night, it was sharp and commanding.

“Aria!”.

To my surprise, I turned to see Ryder standing at the edge of the clearing, his eyes blazing with an emotion I couldn't place—it was anger, regret, or probably both.

“What are you even doing here?” Ryder demanded, his gaze flickering to Liam. “And who the hell is he?”.

Liam didn't flinch under Ryder's glare. Instead, he crossed his arms and smirked.

“Who the hell I'm?” you know what, I should ask you the same thing, Alpha. Haven't you done enough damage for one night?”.

Ryder growled his fists clenching. “Stay out of this. Aria is my pack member and she belongs to us”.

Liam's eyes flashed dangerously. “Funny but not enough. I thought you made it clear she didn't belong to anyone. You rejected her, or have you forgotten?”.

The word silenced his voice, making my heart pound, but I stood still, unsure of what to do. Their words hung in the air like a challenge, the tension between them palpable.

“The both of you should stop!” I said my voice firm despite my nerves. “I don't belong to anyone so I'll decide what happens next”.

Ryder's gaze softened, and for a moment I thought I saw regret in his eyes. “Aria you need to come back to the pack. We can fix this”.

“I shook my head, my heart tightening. “You rejected me, Ryder. Why are you expecting me to come back? I can't even trust you now.”

Liam stepped closer, his presence grounding me. "You don’t owe him anything, Aria. You have a choice."

The weight of their words pressed down on me. Two men, both holding pieces of a future I couldn’t yet see. The voice from earlier echoed in my mind: "Your destiny isn’t what it seems."

I took a shaky breath, my heart torn. What was my next move? Should I trust Liam and his promise of strength, or should I return to Ryder and demand the answers I deserve?

What should I do?