The Last White Wolf, The Luna's Prophecy

The Pain Begins… "Astrid, will you please stay still?" Willow, her cousin and closest friend, asked, exasperation etched on her face. "I'm trying to make you beautiful, but it's impossible when you keep moving."

Astrid's eyes narrowed slightly. "Am I not beautiful, Willow?" she asked, a hint of vulnerability creeping into her voice. Willow's hands stilled, and she looked up at Astrid with a reassuring smile. "No, Astrid, that's not what I meant. I just want to make you extra beautiful for your mate ceremony. I want Thane to be tongue-tied when he sees you."

Astrid's face lit up with a radiant smile. "I like the way you say that, Willow." But as Willow continued to work on Astrid's hair and makeup, Astrid's excitement began to fade. Doubts crept in, and she felt a shiver run down her spine.

"Willow, do you think I'm making the right decision?" Astrid asked, her voice barely audible. "Maybe Thane and I are moving too fast."

Willow's hands stilled once more, and she looked at Astrid with a serious expression. "Astrid, it's normal to have cold feet on your mating ceremony day. I was nervous, excited, and frightened all at once when I mated with Kelvin. But look at us now we're inseparable."

Astrid's eyes searched Willow's face, seeking reassurance. "You think Thane will treat me well?" she asked, her voice laced with uncertainty.

Willow's face softened, and she smiled. "Thane is a good man, Astrid. I'm sure he'll treat you with kindness and respect. And even if he doesn't, you have me, and I'll always be here for you."

Astrid's eyes welled up with tears as she hugged Willow tightly. "Thank you, Willow. I love you."

"I love you too, Astrid," Willow replied, hugging her back. "Now, let's get you ready for your ceremony. You don't want to be late."

Later that day, the moon cast a silver glow over the Lupari pack's gathering place. The air was thick with tension as the pack waited for their alpha, Thane, to mate with the outcast, Astrid.

The murmurs and whispers of the pack members carried on the wind, their stern eyes fixed on Astrid with a mixture of disdain and curiosity. But Astrid's eyes shone with excitement and happiness as she gazed at Thane, her heart overflowing with love and admiration.

"So shall we begin?" Martha, the oldest she-wolf in the pack, asked, her voice low and husky.

Astrid's inner wolf, Aurora, stirred with excitement, eager to claim Thane as her mate. But as the ceremony began, a sense of unease crept over Astrid, like a shadow lurking just out of sight.

"Ok, this can't happen, this isn't going to work, Astrid!" Thane yelled, his voice echoing through the gathering place.

Everyone looked on in surprise at Alpha Thane's sudden reaction. Astrid blinked twice, confused by Thane's outburst.

"Thane, what are you doing?" Astrid asked, her voice trembling?. But Thane didn't seem to care about her pleas. He continued, his words cutting through the air like a knife.

"Please... don't..."

"I reject you, Astrid," he said, his voice cold and detached. "You're not worthy of being my mate."You are weak, flawed, and unworthy of the Lupari pack.”

The rejection was a brutal and public humiliation. Thane, the alpha of the Lupari pack, stood before Astrid, his eyes blazing with contempt.

Astrid felt as though she had been punched in the gut. She couldn't breathe, couldn't think. All she could do was stand there, frozen in shock, as Thane's words washed over her

The pack surrounded them, their eyes gleaming with a mixture of curiosity and contempt. Astrid felt like a specimen on display, a freak to be gawked at and ridiculed.

Everything was a blur to Astrid, and all of a sudden, everything went dark for her.

"Astrid, no! Oh, no!" Willow screamed, running towards her cousin, desperate to get her away from the chaos.

But it was too late. The guards, acting on Thane's orders, grabbed Willow and held her back.

"Let me go!" Willow struggled against their grip. "I have to help her!"

But everything was pointless. The guards took Astrid's lifeless body away, leaving Willow to watch in horror as her cousin was dragged away.

"No...no...no," Willow whispered, her eyes filling with tears as she realized she was powerless to stop it.

Thane's rejection was not just a personal blow; it was a public declaration of her unworthiness. Astrid knew that she would never be able to show her face in the Lupari pack again, that she would be forever ostracized and alone.

The rejection was just the beginning of Astrid's journey, a journey that would take her to the depths of despair and the heights of triumph. But for now, she was alone, lost, and forsaken.

After the rejection, Astrid thought she had hit rock bottom. But Thane's rejection was just the beginning, more pain was to come. ~ Astrid woke up, weak and disoriented, in a dark room. She tried to stand, but a wave of pain washed over her, forcing her back onto the cold, damp floor. As she lay there, she heard the sound of footsteps echoing outside the room. Her heart racing, she wondered who it could be. And then, he appeared. The devil who happens to be her mate. "Thane," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Thane's eyes gleamed with amusement as he looked at her. "Oh, I see my princess is awake," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Meanwhile, Astrid’s cousin… Willow was frantic with worry. "Kelvin, please, you have to find her," she begged, tears streaming down her face. "I didn't know your friend was a sick bastard. If he didn't want Astrid, why didn't he say so instead of giving her hope and destroying her like that?" Kelvin's eyes were filled with sadness as he looked at Willow. "I did warn you, Willow. Thane is unpredictable. But I'll find her, I promise. Don't worry." ~

Back in Thane's hideout, Astrid's anger was boiling over. "What did I do to you, Thane?" she spat. "Isn't it painful enough that you rejected me in front of everyone? You humiliated me, Thane. What did I ever do to you?"

Thane's expression was devoid of emotions as he looked at her. "You're so naive, Astrid. You think this is some fantasy romance? This is reality. I never had any intention of mating with someone like you."

Astrid's eyes flashed with anger, turning a deep shade of purple. "Why did you accept me, then?" she yelled. "Tell me, Thane!"

Thane's smile was cold and calculating. "Oh, Aurora, you wouldn't want to hurt your mate, would you? Bring back Astrid, because I didn't summon you."

Astrid's eyes returned to their normal blue, and she glared at Thane. "Now that's better," Thane said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "So, where were we? Ah yes, I was telling you how stupid and blinded you've been to think I was going to fall for you."

Astrid's anger was simmering just below the surface. "Why did you lock me up?" she demanded.

Thane's smile grew wider. "Good question, Astrid. You see, others may have considered you an outcast or barbaric because of the color of your wolf and the power you possess, but I see you as something unique. White wolves have been extinct for years, and I'm quite sure you're the only one. With your unique abilities, I will become the most powerful werewolf."

Astrid's eyes widened in shock. "You...you used me," she stammered.

“Yes , I did,” Thane replied, his voice showing no emotions.

“But why did you have to humiliate me like that?” Astrid asked.

A woman from behind chuckled as she walked straight to where Thane was. Oh Astrid, you're so slow. He did that because of me

"Thane will never be yours, sweetheart. You're just a means to an end.”

"You!" Astrid spoke, her voice barely audible. Her eyes widened in shock, her gaze fixed on the woman as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing.

Astrid's body seethed with anger, her muscles vibrating with tension. She was ready to attack, her eyes blazing with fury. This conspiracy was too much for her to bear. What wrong had she committed to deserve such betrayal?

Her mate, Thane, had cheated on her with her enemy, Mira - the same person who had bullied and belittled her at every turn. "Why, Thane?" Astrid spat, her voice venomous. "Why did you choose to betray me for her? One of my oppressors, how could you? All I did was love you. Curse the day I called you my mate, and agreed to get mated with you."

Thane's face twisted in anger, and he slapped Astrid across the face. "Know your place, Astrid," he sneered, wiping his face.

Astrid laughed hysterically, the sound sending shivers down Thane's spine. "What's so funny?" Mira asked, confusion etched on her face.

Astrid's laughter stopped abruptly, and she turned to Mira with a fierce glare. "You think you're so clever, don't