" You may now choose your mate" A middle-aged man who was balded on top swiveled his hand at Adam who was now the new Alpha king of the pack.

Silence embraced the hallway as this moment finally came - the long-awaited moment and also the most precious and cruel moment in the Red Moon pack - precious because of the bright outlook of who the next Luna would be and cruel because some postpubescent teens who think they would be chosen would be dispirited if they are not chosen. Moreover, I was sorry to say they would not even be chosen.

Who else could Adam choose as his Luna? Absolutely nobody except me. I had known him ever since forever and our friendship had developed into love and a one-night stand. I was sure he was going to choose me even as I knew that his father doesn't want an orphan like me for his son but still, I had this assurance that Adam could not point at any other girl except me in his coronation. This moment had been my long-awaited bullishness since I knew Adam and I couldn't wait to walk up the stage elegantly as the new Luna of the Red Moon pack.

Adam stood up from his golden chair, not sparing me a glimpse as his gaze danced around the ladies who were present at his coronation ceremony. I was sure he knew where I was but it seemed I was not what he was looking for as he continue moving his gaze around expectantly until it landed on a busty fair pretty lady who was seated on a single chair alone. Her eyes were flickering like fallen stars, she has a perfect oval facial shape, and her smile as Adam's gaze fell on her was a killer smile.

" No, it must not be what I am thinking," I said to myself amidst fear.

I watched Adam's lips as they parted for words until I heard a strange but familiar name escape his lips. "Maggie" Adam pronounced, wearing a facial expression I could not tell the meaning. I could say he was very happy and I could say he was very sad at the same time for calling out such a name instead of Imogen.

My heart thumped to race as if it would break out. I discovered as I raised my hand to my chest, that tears would not stop rushing out of my eyes like a busted pipe.

What the fuck was this? Did Adam just choose Maggie as his mate and Luna? Oh, my goodness. I am in the biggest trouble and right now I was just a few meters from death. I wish someone could just tap me quickly and tell me it was a dream and I will never go back to sleep but unfortunately, no one. A round of applause that blared through the microphones hung at the corners of the hall as Maggie walked up to the stage optimistically made me realize it was not a dream but a reality. Correction- a bad reality.

I know Maggie, the poorest student in our class as far as in high school days. She is the daughter of a Beta of another neighboring pack that sweeps just about 30 miles away from ours. She is pretty and I would not deny that even if I did envy her but one thing I failed to understand was the recent chemistry between him and Adam. Though I perceived something like this because the whole of last week was an endless drudge of gossip about Adam and Maggie's secret affairs which Adam had denied surreptitiously up to this time.

Maggie walked up to the altar where a middle-aged mistress welcomed her neck with a bronze chain - a first gift given to the new Luna. Her forehead was cleaned up by two maids in royal attires with a crystal liquid whose evocative scent osmosed through the entire hallway. This was the first ritual done for Maggie. She was given some food and some hard drinks - a culture that tells the new Luna that she is now a Luna and she is not supposed to eat or drink such a meal again after taking it for the last time. Meat like pork, reptiles, and some amphibians. Drinks like beer, tequila, and hot were all prohibited from that day. The ritual was simply saying that Luna of the pack should not drink or eat poisonous meats for pleasure.

After the rituals, amidst the ongoing celebration in the aura, Maggie walked up to Adam where Adam's hands were offered. Maggie elapsed the steps and rested her two hands on his hands. A blush flushed through Adam's face as he helped her to his bronze chair and sat her down. They looked so perfect but imperfect to me.

I stood right there, experiencing the poignant part of my life or was it a disgrace? I could say it was a big disgrace and desolation because most of the pack members knew how close we were so rumors had spread even before now that I would be his choice and this alone was a slap on my face anytime I remember he just chose Maggie over me.

Adam and Maggie were called upon for prayers. The previous Alpha prayed for them and they were dismissed and told to have their first kiss right before everyone. It began with a slight touch and eye contact before Adam drew Maggie into himself and locked lips.

My feet began to quiver in pain, my body hairs were all standing erect, and my body would not just pump more adrenaline rush into me as I faced the cruelty of love. I was so close to collapse but just before then, I managed to scream out his name.

Adam!!! How dare you? You will pay for this!!!

I screamed, drawing the attention of the people present at the Coronation ceremony. All faces were turned to me in amazement. Maybe they were so scared of me.

" Who dares interrupt this moment?" The former Alpha's voice howled louder to the sky as he jerked up to find me amidst crowds.

I knew my death was near if I didn't leave this place. My gaze fell on Adam's gaze for the last time before I jumped out of the congregation and shifted to my wolf.

" Catch her and make sure you bring her here dead or alive" Adam commanded.

I ran harder into the woods, weeping and feeling so rejected and desolate as mighty wolves were running harder after my life. I jumped into the big river border of our pack and that was the last time I heard my prey's paws running after me.