The Rejected Mate at Magic Academy

　　Zara's POV

　　I don't know how long I've been in love with Darren, the son of the Alpha of Mooncroft pack. Maybe since the first time he stood up for me in the training yard. Or when he gave me his jacket after a storm soaked me through. Or maybe it was that time he told me I wasn't "just a wolfless Omega", that I mattered.

　　Lying beneath him now, with his body moving against mine, I felt like I was finally someone. His lips brushed against my neck, hot breath sending tiny shocks through my spine. His hands fondled my breasts gently, like I was a glass he didn't want to break.

　　"You're so sweet," he murmured, voice deep, "and so wet for me."

　　I bit my lip, trying not to moan too loudly. We were in the storage cabin near the river, our secret place. No one knew about us. No one would ever guess that the strong, fearless warrior who protected me from the bullies was also the man who touched me like this.

　　"You're the best, Darren," I whispered, my voice barely heard.

　　He smiled at me, that same smile that made my knees weak. His thrusts got deeper, slower, like he wanted me to remember him this way forever. And I would.

　　Afterward, we lay tangled together. His hand stroked my hair, and for a moment, I let myself believe this was real. Not just stolen moments or empty promises, but love from the bottom of our hearts.

　　"Darren," I said quietly, my head resting on his chest.

　　"Hm?"

　　"About the coming-of-age ceremony next week…" I hesitated, unsure how to say it. "We'll be eighteen. That's when mates are revealed."

　　He went silent.

　　I glanced up at him. "What if… what if we're mates?"

　　He didn't answer right away. My heart thudded loudly in my ears.

　　Then he tilted my chin up and said, "You'll be mine."

　　I smiled, felt relieved by his words to me.

　　"That day," he continued, "we stop hiding. I'll claim you in front of everyone. You'll be Luna of the Mooncroft pack, and I'll be Alpha. No more secrets. Just us."

　　My eyes burned with tears. I believed him. I truly believed him.

　　The day of the ceremony came too fast. The pack house was buzzing with excitement. Young wolves from different families were lined up, dressed in elegant clothes, all hoping to find their fated mate tonight.

　　I stood near the back, heart pounding. My dress was simple, borrowed from an older Omega. I had no wolf, no status, and no family, but I had Darren. That had to count for something.

　　I scanned the crowd, searching for him. And then I saw him standing tall near the front with the elders. He looked powerful and extremely confident. Every eye was on him.

　　He caught my gaze and smiled. My stomach flipped.

　　The pack elder raised his hand and began to speak. "Tonight, as tradition calls, any fated mates shall feel the pull of the bond. Hearts will recognize their other half."

　　A hush fell. Then, Darren stepped forward, and I held my breath as I saw his movement.

　　He turned to the crowd and said loudly, "The Moon Goddess has blessed me with my mate… Lily."

　　Lily.

　　The Beta's daughter.

　　There were gasps and cheers. Lily walked toward him gracefully, smiling like she had just won the lottery. Darren pulled her into a kiss as the crowd erupted in applause.

　　I froze. I couldn't breathe. Everything around me froze in that moment. No. No. This wasn't happening.

　　I took a step forward, then another. My head spun. "Darren!" I called out.

　　Heads turned to where I was. He looked at me. His face didn't change. "You told me….." My voice cracked. "You said I was yours. That we'd stop hiding!"

　　Ash, the Beta's son and Darren's best friend, stepped in front of me. "You need to leave, Zara."

　　I shook my head. "You don't understand. Darren and I..,"

　　"Now," Ash growled.

　　I flinched. No one stood up for me. No one even asked what I meant, I ran past different buildings before I stopped at the training ground.

　　With all the promises? So Darren was part of those who detest me?

　　I waited behind the training ground, heart shattered, until I saw Darren sneak away from the celebration.

　　"Why did you do that?" I demanded, stepping out from the shadows. "You said I was going to be your Luna!"

　　He looked irritated. "Keep your voice down."

　　"You lied to me."

　　He sighed. "Zara… I'm going to be Alpha. I can't mate with someone like you."

　　My chest tightened. "Someone like me?"

　　"You don't even have a wolf. You're half-human. An Omega with no bloodline. I need someone strong beside me."

　　My lip trembled. "So that was all fake? All those nights, the kisses, the promises…"

　　"No," he said. "Our connection is real. Our bodies… they work together. And I care about you, Zara. I do."

　　He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my cheek. "We can still see each other. In secret. I'll protect you. Like always."

　　I pulled away. "You just want to use me."

　　"That's not fair," he muttered.

　　"Is that all I am to you? A body to warm your bed?"

　　He didn't answer. And that silence said everything.

　　Tears streamed down my cheeks. "I won't do this. I'm not your toy."

　　He frowned. "You won't survive in this pack without me. They'll tear you apart."

　　"Then let them." I turned to walk away.

　　"You better watch your mouth," he snapped. "If you try to ruin my engagement, you'll regret it."

　　My heart pounded. "I'll tell everyone. I'll tell them what we did. That we weren't just friends, that we were lovers."

　　"You're making a big mistake, Zara."

　　"No," I said quietly. "Loving you was the mistake.".

　　The very next morning, Darren gathered the pack in the training field. I arrived late, still raw with pain from what happened the other day.

　　When I heard my name, I stopped in my tracks.

　　"Zara tried to seduce me," Darren announced, loud and clear. "She wanted to manipulate me into rejecting my true mate. She even followed me into my room last week."

　　Lies. He was twisting everything.

　　"She's a wolfless Omega," he continued. "She thought that throwing herself at me would earn her a title. But I rejected her. I am a man of honor. I would never betray my mate."

　　Murmurs spread through the crowd.

　　"She's shameless," someone muttered.

　　"Trying to climb above her place."

　　"What a joke."

　　I wanted to scream. To tell the truth. But no one would listen. No one cared. They never did. My fingers clenched into fists. I had trusted him. I had given him everything. And he destroyed me. Just like that.

　　I ran again. Not because I was weak. But if I stayed a second longer, I would burn the entire pack house down with my rage. I sat by the river until the sun set. My reflection stared back at me, hollow and tired.

　　How could I be so stupid?

　　How could I believe someone like Darren would ever love someone like me?

　　I was nothing. No wolf, I have no family, no future.

　　"Broken Doesn't Mean Defeated"

　　"You can't sleep at the stream."

　　"You have to go home," I whispered to myself, pulling my knees closer to my chest as the wind cut through my thin dress.

　　But where was home now?

　　Home used to feel like Darren's arms. His laugh, his promises. Even though we never had a house together, it still felt like I belonged somewhere, as long as he was by my side.

　　Now he was engaged to someone else, now I was just… me. I'm alone, wolfless, no one by my side now. No one to defend me. Just me.

　　I stood up slowly, my body aching from the cold rocks I'd sat on all day. My head spun a little from crying too much and sleeping too little. Still, I dusted off my dress and made my way back to the pack's quarters.