A LUNA’S REJECTION

Chapter 2

The Glaze

Finals suck. No one enjoys them. But the real relief comes when they're finally over. Our professor doesn’t waste time grading; with the ceremony just days away, he has no choice but to rush it. For some of us, it's about moving on—transfers to other packs or new roles within our own. We need those results to be out as soon as possible.

Two days later, they’re out.

Clara and I both passed, but I got a nearly perfect score. Everyone was surprised, myself included. I studied, sure, but this? I didn’t expect it. The professor mentioned I’d graduate with honors and even get the chance to give the valedictorian speech at the ceremony. I'd be speaking right after the fight results, where the last girl standing is crowned the strongest. No way that’s me though. I’ll be lucky if I even survive the first round.

Clara and I are in our workout gear. Off to the side, past the tree line, campfires and torches burning brightly in the distance. It’s dark, but the full moon makes everything clearer.

We start walking towards the ceremony, just like we'd rehearsed a couple days back. Alpha Bren was to greet each of us, and we’d pick numbers from a hat to determine who fights who.

Then, the games began.

The closer we got to the campfires, the more my nerves intensified. There was something off about tonight. The air was heavy, charged with energy. My wolf was uneasy, and a sick feeling settled in my gut.

Clara squeezed my hand, as if she could feel it too. We marched in sync, eyes locked ahead at the ceremony where the entire pack had gathered. I always knew we had a big pack, but seeing everyone gathered around the fighting ring—it was quite overwhelming. Men, women, children. Everybody was here to watch us fight, bleed, and maybe even die.

“It’s okay,” Clara whispered. “You’re going to do great.”

I nodded, trying to hold on to her words from earlier. It’s been years since a male died in these fights, and even longer for a female. *Don’t worry, you’ll live. It’ll hurt like hell, but you’ll make it.*

She was right. Tonight would be painful, but it wasn't something I couldn't handle.

“Let’s get the living s**t beat out of us,” I whispered back, forcing a grin. Clara’s eyes lit up, and we pushed forward, the heat from the fires growing closer.

When we reached the ring, we lined up side by side. Our instructor gave a brief introduction, listing our names and ages.

“Clara Garve, twenty-one!” The crowd cheered as Clara stepped forward.

“Mia Holm, twenty-two!” My name echoed as I stepped up next.

When all the names were read, we turned to face Alpha Bren. He walked down the line, handing out numbers from a bag.

Something was different about him tonight. His face was harder, more serious—like a businessman rather than the carefree guy we once knew. He was bigger now, more imposing. He had a battle scar on his jawline, the source of which no one wasa sure of. Some said it was from a rebellion fight; others said it was from a Royal Guard during his trip to the Royal Capital. But no one knew for sure.

He stopped in front of Clara, nodded politely, then his eyes shifted to me. His lip curled up slightly. “Well, if it isn’t my favourite tutor.”

I smiled softly, dipping my hand into the bag. “You mean your only tutor.”

He laughed, low and rumbling. “Don’t get your ass kicked too hard.”

He moved on, but my gaze lingered on him. There was something different about him, something I couldn't quite place. It wasn't his appearance. It was deeper. Something... unsettling that made the pit in my stomach twist.

My thoughts were interrupted when our Beta called for us to find our opponents. I breathed a small sigh of relief when Clara and I weren't paired together. But then my heart sank—Olive. She was one of the strongest girls in our class. I wouldn't last long. At least it’d be quick.

“Olive and Mia,” the instructor announced. “You drew number one. You’re up.”

Right. Such luck.

Olive and I stepped into the ring, eyeing each other. She gave me a small, knowing smile. She was confident she’d win. But I wasn't just going to roll over. I couldn't. Not with the whole pack watching.

The air cracked with the sound of the starting shot. Olive charged at me, and I immediately fell into defense mode. She was fast, throwing punches and kicks, but I dodged and deflected as much as I could. She landed a few soft hits, but I fought back with some quick jabs of my own.

The crowd roared as they watched us, but I kept my focus on Olive, trying to weather her storm. For a second, I heard Clara’s voice cutting through the noise. “You’ve got this, Mia! Keep going!”

Olive’s movements were slow. I could see my chance. But I misread her exhaustion. She grabbed me, twisting around my body like a snake, and my legs got swept out from under me. My face slammed into the ground, and I lost my breath.

My wolf growled, frustrated. The power surged through me, desperate to get out, but I fought to suppress it. I focused on her arm around my neck and forced my wolf back.

But I wasn't going to play fair. I bit into Olive’s arm, sinking my fangs deep. She didn't flinch at first, but when the pain hit her, she cried out, pulling her arm away.

I used the opening to flip us over. My fist met her face again and again, each blow landing with more and more force. The blood, the sweat—it filled my senses, and I felt myself slipping into a darker place. I can win this. I can actually do it.

But then, everything changed.

The anger drains from my wolf, and a strange, warm sensation flooded me. Suddenly, I wasn't fighting anymore. I didn't care about winning or losing. All I could think about was him.

I swung my arm toward Olive, but it felt like I was trying to hit her through water. My punches were slow. Olive was spitting blood, her face a mess of cuts. I looked up, and my breath caught in my throat.

Bren’s eyes—his eyes were glowing silver.

It lasted for only a moment, a flash of something beautiful, like moonlight on water. Then it was gone. I froze, staring at him, my heart pounding.

Oh, my Moongoddess. HE IS MY MATE!

I’ve heard the stories. Sometimes, mates know each other before the Glaze. Friends who have known each other for years suddenly realize they’re destined to be together. But I never thought it would happen like this. Not to me.

A rush of warmth flooded me, like hot chocolate on a cold day. My wolf was no longer concerned with the fight. She just wanted to be with him. To touch him, to feel his skin against mine. This was it. This is the moment I’d waited for.

“Mia!” Clara’s voice snapped me out of my daze.

Olive took advantage of my distraction, striking me pretty hard in the stomach. The air rushed out of me, and I staggered back, gasping for breath.

Olive spat blood on the ground and locked eyes with me. “Sorry, Mia. Nothing personal.”

Then, with one swift motion, she drove her foot into my face. And the world went black.