REJECTED BY THE ALPHA CHOSEN BY HIS TWIN

Selene’s Pov

“You want the pack’s black sheep to mate with you?” Keal licked his lips.

That's a fine way to replace the word monster they're calling him.

“Yes, this time I want to choose. For myself and for my future.” I said, stepping back. His dark metallic eyes digging holes into my heart.

Why was he looking at me like that though.

“You don't mind that I have a kid? You've surely heard that I'm destructive.” He smirked.

This guy is a complete psycho. He wants to scare me off?

Not a chance. If he doesn't mate with me, my life in the academy will be a complete chaos.

“You won't destroy your mate, you didn't touch your son with destructive hands.” I said.

“What makes you think I'll mate with you?” He brought his hands out of his pocket.

“Leave. Orion needs to rest.” His tone was laced with finality.

I turned and left the room. I strolled the academy corridor heading to the Moonstone Testing Grounds where the test would be taking place.

Another humiliating scenario. Not having a transformation is my living nightmare.

Absorbed in my thoughts I bumped into someone.

A familiar scent.

“Watch your step, careful not to fall.” Lucien's voice filled my eardrum.

I finally looked at his face. His face was soft, his expression almost deceiving.

‘He is so down to earth, even after he broke up with her, he still cares about her.’ one of the students passing commented.

‘Aww, Seraphina is so lucky.” Another gushed while passing.

Another political act?

If I didn't know any better, I might have believed him. The evil scheming alpha.

Actually, Keal is better than this piece of trash. At least he doesn't pretend to be what he is not.

I refused to speak to him, so I made to walk past him. He grabbed my hand, halting me.

“Of what help can I be to you Alpha Lucien?” I asked, trying to keep the anger and bitterness in my voice away.

“I apologized already, I'll find you a good man to mate with today, okay? Or you prefer staying as my mistress?” His gaze was compelling.

He's insulting me to my face? I can't afford to go against him now.

“Please do not bother yourself with my affairs.” I said, trying to shake my hands off his grip.

“He's only trying to help, don't be an ingrate.” Seraphina’s voice came from behind.

She heard what her mate said to me.

“It's up to me if I want to accept his offer or decline. I would rather you mind your business Beta Seraphina.” I spat. I was unable to hide the anger in my voice this time.

“You still plan to go after my mate? Don't think about it poor Selene, besides he's only helping you. Who would want to mate with you?” She snickered.

I wriggle my hand away from Lucien's grip.

“Just you wait!” I stormed off.

“You're invited to our mating ceremony tomorrow.” Seraphina yelled after me laughing.

Of course the full moon is gon’ come out tomorrow.

They deserve an Oscar for an outstanding performance. They almost fooled me too.

I needed Keal to agree, else my future here is doomed. Tomorrow is Keal's birthday.

They said they're twins, so why is their birthday two days apart?

I got to The Moonstone Testing Grounds where the students were waiting. The test hasn't begun yet.

Great.

I hope I discover my hidden abilities today.

“Today, we aren't testing your strength.”

The professor's voice carried across the training grounds.

The students quieted immediately. “Neither are we testing how fast you can run, how hard you can hit, or how powerful your wolf is.” He gestured toward the enormous circular stone embedded in the centre of the grounds.

The Moonstone.

“Every wolf is born with abilities that you already know. What we're testing today are the abilities hidden beneath them. Abilities your wolf may possess but have never had the opportunity to awaken.”

A murmur passed through the crowd.

“Each of you will stand on the Moonstone individually, Close your eyes, empty your mind. Don't force anything.” He pointed toward the glowing stone.

“If you see something, say it. If you hear something unusual, say it. If you feel something you've never felt before, say it.”

He paused.

“And if nothing happens, don't lie.” A few students laughed nervously.

The professor looked down at his list. “Aria.”

Aria's shoulders straightened. “Good luck,” I whispered.

She gave me a nervous smile before stepping onto the Moonstone.

The moment her bare feet touched its surface, the silver markings beneath her began to glow.

“Close your eyes.” She obeyed, a few seconds passed.

Then Aria frowned. “I smell something.”

The professor looked up. “What?”

“Rain.”

Several students exchanged confused glances. “It's not raining,” someone muttered.

Aria's eyebrows furrowed. “No. Not here.”

The professor nodded slowly writing in his notepad. “Describe it.”

“Wet soil. Pine trees. The scent is old... but I can remember it.”

The professor's eyes sharpened. “Memory Scent.”

The students murmured.

Aria opened her eyes. “What's that?”

“You can retain and identify scents long after they've disappeared. Even years later, your wolf should be capable of recognizing them.” The professor answered.

Aria's mouth dropped open. “Seriously?”

The professor nodded. “Step down.”

Aria practically skipped back to us happily.

“I have an ability!”

“You're insufferable already,” Bella teased.

“Bella.” The professor called.

Bella stopped laughing. “Your turn.”

She walked onto the Moonstone, the markings glowed again. Bella closed her eyes, nothing happened for several seconds. Then her head tilted. “Chocolate.”

Everyone burst out laughing.

Bella opened her eyes. “What?”

The professor didn't laugh. “Where?”

“Behind me.” Bella answered.

He looked toward the crowd. “Who has chocolate?”

A boy near the back reluctantly raised his hand.

Bella pointed directly at him. “That's him.”

The professor smiled. “Again.”

Bella closed her eyes.

The professor gestured for one of the assistants to walk around the training grounds. “Follow the scent.”

Bella inhaled.

“Left.” The assistant turned.

“Right.” He changed direction.

“Behind the professor.” The professor's eyebrows lifted.

“Excellent. Scent Tracking.” The crowd erupted into impressed murmurs.

Bella stepped off the Moonstone looking entirely too pleased with herself.

“Don't start,” Aria warned.

“I haven't said anything.” She laughed.

“Your face is saying everything.” Aria nudged her playfully. I was too scared or nervous to even joke or to be relaxed.

The professor looked at his list again. “Charis.”

Charis stepped forward confidently.

Unlike Aria and Bella, she didn't look nervous. She climbed onto the Moonstone and closed her eyes. A few minutes passed and nothing happened.

Her expression changed. “Nothing.”

The professor waited. “Try again.”

Charis concentrated harder.

Still nothing. A few students snickered.

“Nothing manifested,” the professor announced.

Charis stepped down, visibly irritated. “That's unfortunate,” someone whispered.

“Seraphina.” The professor called.

The murmuring changed immediately.

Seraphina walked toward the Moonstone. She looked calm, too calm.

She stepped on it, The silver markings brightened.

Her eyes closed. “I can feel something.”

“What?” The professor asked, facing his notepad.

“Wind.” The professor nodded writing.

“From where?” He asked.

“North.”

A student laughed. “There isn't even a breeze.”

Seraphina's eyes remained closed. “Not here.” The professor waited.

“There's a storm approaching.”

Silence.

He looked toward the sky. “Interesting.”

Seraphina opened her eyes.

“How far?” He asked again.

“Several miles.” She smiled. The professor nodded.

“Weather Sense.” Whispers immediately spread through the crowd.

“That one's rare.”

The professor raised a hand. “Continue.”

“She has two?” Whispers filled the hall.

Seraphina closed her eyes again. Her expression changed. “It's dark.” she muttered after a few minutes.

The professor frowned. “Open your eyes.”

She did.

“Can you see?” He asked studying her.

“Everything.” she confirmed.

He pointed toward a section of the academy grounds shaded by several enormous trees.

“What do you see?” He asked again.

“Six students.” Seraphina answered confidently.

The professor looked at the students.

“They're barely visible from here.” Seraphina smiled.

“Extreme Night Vision.” The professor smiled. The crowd erupted again.

Seraphina stepped down walking back to Lucien's side who had a proud smile on his lips.

“And Keal is next.” The professor announced.

That started another round of murmuring.

I glanced toward the empty space beside the students.

Keal isn't here. Of course he wasn't.

The professor called the next two students, but their abilities were ordinary enough that the crowd quickly lost interest.

Then…

“Lucien Blackthorn.”

The atmosphere changed. Lucien walked forward.

Everyone watched him with interest.He stepped onto the Moonstone.

The markings beneath his feet illuminated almost instantly. His eyes closed.

“Tell us what you see.” Lucien remained silent.

Then his lips curved. “The eastern mountains.” The professor frowned.

“You can see them?” He asked as if unsure he could actually see it.

“Yes.”

“How far?” Lucien opened his eyes.

“Approximately ten thousand miles.” He smiled.

The entire field went silent. “That's impossible,” someone whispered.

Lucien looked amused.

“I can see the mountain range.”

The professor's expression became serious.“What else?”

“Three wolves.” He paused.

“Two warriors.” Another pause, “One of them is injured.” He continued. The professor stared at him.

Then he turned toward one of the academy's assistants. “Verify it.”

The assistant hurried away.

The students erupted into whispers.

Lucien stepped down from the Moonstone smiling already walking towards Seraphina.

But the professor wasn't finished. “Lucien. One more.”

He looked back. “Use your command voice.”

Lucien's expression shifted. He turned toward the students.

“Silence.”

The single word rolled across the field.

Every conversation stopped instantly.

For several seconds, the entire training ground was completely silent.

Lucien looked at the professor. “Command Voice.”

The professor nodded. “Correct.”

Someone behind me whispered, “They're perfect together.”

“Who?” Another voice asked.

“Lucien and Seraphina.” “They both have multiple rare abilities.”

“Imagine having a Luna with Weather Sense and Night Vision and an Alpha with Far Sight and Command Voice.”

I looked away. It was clearly mockery, they knew I was right there.

I hated that it bothered me.

The professor continued calling names.

One after another, students stepped onto the Moonstone.

I watched them discover abilities I'd never even heard of.

Then finally….

“Selene Ashcroft.” My heart dropped.

I stepped forward.

The whispers started immediately. “The wolf-less gamma?”

“She's actually taking the test?” I ignored them.

I stepped onto the Moonstone, coldness traveled beneath my feet.

“Close your eyes,” the professor instructed.

I did.

“Empty your mind.”

I tried… I felt nothing, saw nothing.

“Tell us what you feel.” The professor asked.

I swallowed...almost shamefully. “Nothing.”

“Try again.” The professor urged.

I closed my eyes tighter. Come on, Crystal.

The Moonstone remained completely still beneath my feet. It was the same thing.

I opened my eyes.

The professor stared at me for a moment before looking down at his records.

“No manifestation.” He said. His voice was somewhat laced with pity.

A few students laughed.

I stepped off the Moonstone.

Nothing, not even a flicker.

I had spent years waiting for my wolf to show me what made me special. And apparently, there was nothing to show.

I ran off from the field, I ran straight to Keal’s room.

“Please mate with me, I beg of you. I might die if I don't please Keal.” I sobbed the moment I saw him. The heartbreak and humiliation all gnawed at me at once.

“Give me two reasons why I should consider it.” He lowered himself on his couch.

“I'll live on your terms I promise, I'll take care of Orion as my own.” My voice quivered.

“What if I say No?” He stood up.