Ella's POV.

"I, Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack, Kevin Allen, reject you, Ella Moore, as my mate."

His voice was icy, and my heart shattered instantly. Tears streamed down my face in large drops. I could only clumsily gesture with my hands. Unable to speak, my mouth only produced choked sobs.

"I'm sorry, Ella. I'm only 19, we're still young, and I'm not ready to bond with you. Besides, you... are not suitable to be the Luna of the Blood Moon Pack."

He stared at me with a helpless expression. Seeing my helpless look, he remained expressionless, making me feel estranged.

Shaking my head in disbelief, I couldn't fathom that Kevin Allen, my best friend, would reject me today, at my 18th coming-of-age ceremony, in front of all the werewolves of the Blood Moon Pack.

"Hey, Ella, you mute girl, get off the stage from the testing. Alpha Kevin has rejected you. Don't stand there foolishly, there are other mates waiting for the test!" a male wolf below urged, followed by waves of mocking laughter.

"So shameless, a mute Omega still deluding herself to be an Alpha's mate. It's like a toad wanting to eat swan meat."

"Huh, she thinks being Alpha Kevin's follower since childhood would make the Alpha accept her. Ridiculous. Even though her mother was the former Alpha's beta, she's just the lowest omega, worthless, how could she be worthy of an Alpha."

I chose to ignore these taunts, as I'd done for the past 18 years. However, Kevin was different for me. He was the most precious person after my mother. The rejection by Kevin at that moment caused immense pain to my body and soul, yet I held onto a glimmer of hope.

I struggled to compose myself, holding back tears, continuing to communicate silently with gestures.

Why? Do you see me the same way they do?

Do you agree with them?

My panic made me look clumsy, and I hate that, but I wanted to confirm Kevin's true thoughts. I knew he was not that kind of wolf. He once told me that I was the strongest female warrior. Although I knew he was encouraging me, I had imagined that in his heart, I was not a worthless wolf.

The helplessness in Kevin's eyes grew deeper. He sighed, shifting his gaze away from me, seeming unwilling to face this situation.

"Ella, you've always been a clever and obedient she-wolf. You know I've just ascended as an alpha, I still need to grow. What I seek in a mate is a female warrior like your mother, not... not someone like you."

Not someone like me, a mute, an omega with no fighting capability.

I understood the latter part of his sentence. It felt as if all my strength had been drained, every sincere feeling shattered, just like these 18 years of companionship.

Kevin and I grew up together, I couldn't believe he didn't know how the werewolves looked down on me, yet he chose to reject me outright in front of their scrutinizing eyes.

"Ella, even if we can't be mates, I still regard you as a sister..." Kevin continued, but was interrupted.

"Kevin, shut your mouth!" My mother, Ariana Moore, jumped onto the stage, embracing me, and shouted at all the werewolves, "My daughter is the most precious treasure in the world. Stop mocking her right now, or I won't be lenient with any of you!"

The warm embrace of my mother made me feel even more aggrieved. Her armor was tough against my back, yet it gave me strength. "Ella, remember what I taught you? Stop crying, don't show your weakness in front of anyone, don't give anyone the chance to hurt you."

I nodded, wiping away the tears from the corners of my eyes. What my mother said was true, tears of the weak are worthless.

"Kevin, my daughter is not worthless. She also has her strengths. Don't forget, from childhood to now, every time you got injured during training, it was she who healed you and stayed up late making medicines for you." Anger burned in my mother's eyes as she confronted Kevin, not mincing words. "And now, here you are humiliating her in front of everyone."

"Beta Ariana, I never intended to humiliate Ella," finally, a hint of regret appeared on Kevin's handsome face. It seemed at this moment he realized the pain in my heart. "Ella, I'm sorry. I never meant to truly hurt you, I just..."

Just what? I gestured again using sign language.

However, Kevin just sighed, refusing to continue. I understood him, he was always like this. When he didn't want to argue further, he'd remain silent. His last words were his true feelings.

He never really thought enough of me as a trustworthy partner.

I locked eyes with him and nodded.

Alpha Kevin, I accept your rejection, but from now on, we have nothing between us.

After completing my hand gestures, I caught a momentary surprise in Kevin's eyes. Clearly, he hadn't expected me to be so resolute.

Ignoring him, I stood up from my mother's embrace, wiped away all my tears, and descended from the testing stage under the gaze of all the werewolves.

After a brief silence, a new round of ceremony began on the testing stage.

Every year during the Blood Moon Pack's coming-of-age ceremony, young werewolves awaken their inner wolves on this day. The lucky ones also find their mates.

And I, I was the unfortunate one. Not only was I told that I was the lowest-ranking Omega, but I was also rejected on the spot as a mate.

Ella's POV.

My mother was Kevin's father's beta. Last year, when 18-year-old Kevin took over, my mother became his beta. She's a fierce warrior, achieving feats in multiple battles and earning respect among the wolves in the Pack. I, on the other hand, am the opposite—an Omega who is mute. I often wonder why there's such a vast difference between us.

Would Kevin reject me if I were also a female warrior?

I huddle in the corner of my room, alone and heartbroken, shedding tears.

"Don't cry, my sweetheart. Get up now; I'll take you to train in the forest." My mother barges into my room, lifting me out from under the pillow with one hand.

Mom, can't you let me be alone?! I angrily gesture in sign language.

"No, what you need now is to connect with nature, my little wolf. Come, channel your sorrow and anger into strength, make yourself stronger, and Kevin will regret it." Her tone is slightly indulgent, but she firmly escorts me out of the room.

Several minutes later, I reluctantly find myself sprawled on the back of a large brown wolf, traversing through the woods in the moonlight while the wind howls in my ears. I reach out and feel the cool breeze, and the sadness in my heart diminishes slightly.

"See, child, I was right, wasn't I?" the large brown wolf says triumphantly.

I nod in agreement, patting my mother's shoulder. Even though I lost Kevin, I still have my beloved mother. In my life, she has not only played the role of a mother but also that of a father. I shouldn't disappoint her.

Then, she stops in front of a massive waterfall and drops me onto the ground. "Ella, now, try to transform into a wolf."

Rubbing my bottom, I stand up, looking bewildered.

Seeing my dazed expression, her wolf front paw impatiently taps the ground. "Focus your mind, seek another voice within. You're 18 now, you can transform into a wolf."

I nod and attempt to do as my mother says. Suddenly, a surge of warmth spreads from my heart to my entire body, and my bones seem to elongate as if mutating. Before I can exclaim, I transform into a wolf!

Astonished, I lift my front paw but fail to maintain balance and tumble to the ground.

"Haha, oh, my little wolf is adorable in her clumsiness." The large brown wolf laughs heartily, completely disregarding my wounded pride.

Mom!

I growl, glaring at her, clumsily getting back up from the ground.

"Don't worry, with me around, you'll become a formidable she-wolf."

We continue training until the sun rises the next day, returning to the tribe. Exhausted, I collapse on my bed and fall asleep.

When I wake up again, my mother is no longer there. By now, she's already at the Blood Moon tribe Alpha's office, busy with her duties as a Beta. Two months ago, news arrived of the destruction of the Northern Black Moon tribe, causing unrest in the Blood Moon tribe. As the newly appointed alpha, Kevin also needs to learn more.

After a simple wash-up, I glance at the mirror and almost get frightened by my pale and weary appearance. I examine my face, messy black long hair, brown eyes—a very ordinary look. I sigh, I haven't inherited my mother's beauty, her blonde hair, and hazel eyes.

I enter my laboratory where various herbs are cultivated—or more accurately, poisonous herbs. I open a ceramic jar on the table, containing ten centipedes. Unfortunately, only four of them are alive. They're my precious ones, and I carefully feed them with some herbs I collected yesterday.

Once they're fed, these centipedes will engage in another round of battles. The survivors will eventually become my weapons.

Yes, I am a poisoner and also an apothecary. Despite being a werewolf with no combat abilities, I am deeply fascinated by various herbs and poisons. My mother once said that when she was pregnant with me, she mistakenly ingested an herb, which resulted in me being unable to be like other healthy werewolves and becoming mute.

When I was young, she took me to visit various renowned healers in the tribe. Although we gained nothing, it was through this that I formed a bond with herbs. They accompanied me during my lonely childhood.

Counting the scarce leaves, I had no choice but to go out to gather herbs. Despite my reluctance to leave after yesterday's coming-of-age ceremony, as I would encounter some unpleasant individuals, I sighed and decided to face my fears, carrying a bamboo basket and heading up the mountain to collect herbs.

Leaving my wooden hut, I could feel the prying eyes. Without my mother's company, those werewolves always found ways to bully me, but I ignored their whispers.

"Look at that poor creature, always carrying a bamboo basket and spending time with some leaves. She's so peculiar. No wonder Alpha Kevin refuses her."

Just the mention of Kevin irritated me. I glared at the woman who spoke and she huffed before leaving with firewood.

As I was about to pass through the Pack's gate, four young she-wolves blocked my path. One of the women I recognized, was Maya, my former good friend and also the daughter of one of the Blood Moon tribe elders, destined to be a future female warrior.

When I was 16, I once saved her on a night when she was with a young man in the bushes, engaged in intimacy, and got bitten by a snake. I happened to come back with the antidote midway and cured her. However, she accused me to the elders of poisoning her, aiming to cover up the fact that I had caught her with that man. Later, I found out that the man wasn't a member of the Blood Moon tribe. I still don't know the true identity of that mysterious man, the one that made Maya slander me in such a way. It must be an unspeakable secret.

"Hey, long time no see, Ella," Maya approached me with an air of disdain. "Heard you got rejected by Kevin?"

Ignoring her, I tried to bypass them, but another she-wolf grabbed my hair.

"How dare you glare at me, you wretch! I'll teach you a lesson!" The woman attempted to strike but was stopped by Maya. "Emma, don't use force. Ella's mother is the Alpha's beta."

"Hmph, what does being the Alpha's beta matter? With your intimacy with Alpha Kevin, we don't need to fear Beta Ariana," Emma, the she-wolf, said with emphasis on 'intimacy,' her tone suggestive.

My mood began to turn restless. I freed my wrists from their grasp.

"Don't rush to leave, Ella. Aren't you curious about Alpha Kevin's relationship with Maya?" The other two she-wolves blocked my path.

I don’t care. I gestured in sign language.

"Haha, what is she saying? Do you understand?" Maya laughed, covering her mouth. "This little mute one, does she really think Kevin rejected her just because she's an Omega?"

After Maya finished speaking, the other three she-wolves surrounded me, snatching my bamboo basket and trampling its contents. I was furious, about to draw out the poison needles hidden in my sleeves, but I remembered my mother's advice against rash actions. I halted my thoughts of poisoning them.

"Ella, I slept with Kevin, just a day before your 18th birthday. Did you know? Your mate, Alpha Kevin, performs exceptionally well in bed. I am quite satisfied," Maya boasted softly, leaning in close to my ear.

"Kevin rejected you because you have no feminine charm."

I instantly stopped breathing. It felt like my blood had turned to ice, a wave of defeat washing over my heart.

Kevin had rejected me because I lack feminine charm.

My mind was momentarily thrown off by that statement. I forcefully pushed Maya away, staring at her with rage. However, Maya casually examined my defeated expression, as if observing an ant.

She drew close to me, arrogantly straightening my disheveled hair. "Stay away from Kevin, or I will make it impossible for you and your mother to stay in the Blood Moon Pack."