Nora's world shattered in front of five hundred witnesses.
The packhouse was decorated for what should have been the happiest night of her life. White roses everywhere. Candles flickering. The whole Silver Moon Pack gathered to celebrate the Alpha's mate ceremony. Her ceremony.
She stood at the altar in her mother's dress, hands shaking, waiting for Damien to say the words that would bind them forever.
But Damien wasn't looking at her.
He was looking past her. At Sienna. His ex-girlfriend. The daughter of the Beta who had just returned from Europe after three years away.
"I can't do this," Damien said suddenly.
The room went silent. Completely silent. Nora could hear her own heartbeat pounding in her ears.
"What?" she whispered.
Damien's jaw tightened. His green eyes, which used to look at her like she was everything, now looked cold. Empty. "I, Damien Cross, Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, reject you, Nora Rivers, as my mate and Luna."
The words hit her like a physical blow.
Pain exploded through her chest. The mate bond snapping felt like someone had reached into her ribs and ripped out her heart. She gasped, stumbling back, clutching her chest.
Around them, the pack gasped. Whispers erupted. Phones came out. People were recording her humiliation.
"Damien, please," Nora managed to choke out. Tears blurred her vision. "We've been together for four years. You promised me—"
"I made a mistake," he cut her off. His voice was loud enough for everyone to hear. "I thought you were my fated mate. But Sienna is back now. She's always been the one. I was just... confused."
Sienna walked up to the altar with a small, satisfied smile. She was beautiful, perfect, everything Nora wasn't. Tall, blonde, confident. She slipped her hand into Damien's, and he didn't pull away.
Nora wanted to scream. To fight. To ask him how he could do this to her in front of everyone. But her voice wouldn't work. The pain was too much.
"I accept your rejection," she finally whispered, because what else could she do?
The bond broke completely. Nora felt it snap, felt the emptiness rush in where love used to be. She fell to her knees right there on the altar, and no one helped her up.
Not her former best friend, Claire, who looked away.
Not Damien's Beta, who had known her since she was a child.
Not even the pack members who she'd helped, who she'd cared for, who she thought loved her.
Only one person moved.
A man she didn't recognize stepped out of the shadows at the back of the packhouse. He was tall, with dark hair and eyes like midnight. He walked straight through the crowd like he owned the place, and everyone moved aside for him.
He stopped in front of Nora and held out his hand.
"Get up," he said quietly. His voice was deep, commanding, but not unkind.
Nora looked up at him through her tears. "Who are you?"
"Someone who knows you're worth more than this." His eyes flicked to Damien with pure contempt. "Get up, Nora. Don't let them see you broken."
Something in his words made her move. She took his hand and he pulled her to her feet. His grip was steady, warm. Safe.
"Come with me," he said.
She didn't even hesitate. She let him lead her out of the packhouse while everyone stared. She didn't look back at Damien. Didn't look at anyone.
Outside, the stranger helped her into a black car.
"What's your name?" Nora asked as he started the engine.
"Kael," he said. "Kael Blackwood."
Her eyes widened. "The Alpha of the Blackwood Pack?"
He glanced at her, a small smile on his lips. "The one and only."
The Blackwood Pack was legendary. Powerful. Ruthless. They controlled the entire northern territory. And their Alpha was sitting next to her, driving her away from the worst night of her life.
"Why did you help me?" she asked.
Kael was quiet for a moment. Then he said, "Because three years ago, you helped me. You probably don't remember."
Nora frowned, trying to think back. Three years ago she'd been working at the pack hospital, training to be a healer.
"The rogue attack," Kael said quietly. "I was passing through Silver Moon territory when rogues attacked. You found me bleeding out in the woods. You saved my life."
The memory came back slowly. A man, badly wounded, barely conscious. She'd dragged him to the hospital, worked on him for hours. She'd never even learned his name.
"That was you?"
He nodded. "I owe you a life debt, Nora. And tonight, I'm starting to repay it."
She didn't know what to say. Her whole world had just fallen apart, and this stranger, this powerful Alpha, was telling her he owed her everything.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"Somewhere safe," Kael said. "Somewhere you can heal. And then, if you want, somewhere you can become stronger than you ever imagined."
Nora looked back one last time at the packhouse disappearing behind them. At the life she'd lost. At the mate who'd thrown her away like trash.
And she made a decision.
"I want to be stronger," she said.
Kael's smile widened. "Good. Because I have a feeling you're meant for something much greater than being that fool's Luna."
The car sped into the night, leaving Silver Moon territory behind. Nora's phone buzzed in her pocket. Texts from Damien.
Nora, wait. Let me explain.
This wasn't how I wanted to do this.
Please come back so we can talk.
She stared at the messages. Then she blocked his number and threw the phone out the window.
She was done being weak.
She was done being the girl who everyone could hurt.
As they crossed into Blackwood territory, Nora felt something stir inside her. Something she'd kept buried for years. A power she didn't understand. Her wolf, usually quiet and submissive, suddenly felt different. Stronger.
Wild.
"Kael," she said slowly. "What if I told you I think I'm more than just an ordinary wolf?"
He glanced at her, interest sparking in his dark eyes. "Then I'd say we're going to have a very interesting few months ahead of us."
Nora looked out at the dark forest rushing past. Somewhere behind them, Damien was probably celebrating with Sienna. They probably thought she'd crawl back, begging.
They had no idea what was coming.
Because Nora Rivers was done being rejected.
She was about to become someone they'd regret losing.