Chapter 1 PROLOGUE— THE BEGINING AS MUCH AS THE END

— Beware... For happiness does not last for eternity. It comes, but when it goes, sadness descends with severity. — Celeste blew out a breath of adoration, eyes trained on the handsome boy standing with a tall masculinity on the podium. His lips were drawn into a thin line, his expression as blank as a sheet of paper and yet his beauty outranked every werewolf standing on the meeting grounds; both men and women. Celeste wasn't sure how he did it, but every single thing he did made her heart flutter and her legs weak. He was the centre of her attention despite the many other people scattered around the vicinity. His eyes... His lips... His body... Every single aspect of him called out to her, but in what way could she respond? Certainly not by confessing that she had many times drooled while watching him and certainly not by hunting him a darn rabbit! But either way she chose to respond, it was no secret that he was out of her league; for one, he was the future alpha of this pack and added to that ball of misfortune, was the fact that he was her sister's boyfriend. Tonight, twelve o'clock on the dock, would be the day they officially became mates. You see, tomorrow was his 21st birthday, the day he'd be able to scent his true mate and the celebration was on the brink of starting. The yard was full of mated and unmated wolves and women from the Forester pack as well as other packs stood in deep anticipation, praying to the heavens that they'd be the one. Celeste stood in that deep anticipation too. Though her sister was ninety nine percent his mate, she couldn't help but hope to be the remaining one percent. At least then she'd have a teeny weeny chance to steal him from her b*tch of a sister. Her sister... It's a hassle to even call her that. She didn't act like a big sister much less a distant family member. At school, Celeste was a victim to verbal abuse. The kids there always taunted her and instead of taking her side, her sister would always take theirs. 'Why is Celeste so ugly when Celia is sooo pretty?' 'Aren't they suppose to be twins?' 'Why is one hot and the other is not?' It was a struggle to go to school everyday. She was the nobody, the odd one out and Celia was the one on top. She got everything she wanted, even mom and dad favoured her, leaving Celeste with no one, absolutely no one to turn to. Sad isn't it? But Celeste was use to it by now. With a sigh, she glanced at the woman next to her who kept whispering... "One minute left, one minute left, one minute left." It was annoying, but it made Celeste's anticipation rise to a higher heights. In one minute, her world would turn upside down and she knew it. The guy she had a crush on for years was about to fall in the hands of another. She didn't want to see that happen, especially when her sister's palm was stretched right open. Swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat, she took a shaky step back, eyes glancing at her life long crush one last time before turning her back. Her steps took her down the dark path of the pack lands, her hands buried in her pockets and her heart buried in sadness. If not Zillon Macre, then who would be her mate? Nobody else made her feel the way he did, he was like an angel to her. Everything about him was perfect, even when he was glaring or pouting. But he wasn't hers and she had to live with tha— With a certain suddenness, a hand grabbed onto hers, squeezing her wrist in a vice grip. A frightened gasp left Celeste's lips and without much thought, she turned to look at the perpetrator. It was him, Zillon Macre, her angel. His eyes were a blazing orange, signalling that his wolf had completely taken over and his blood red lips were drawn back in a sneer even as he pulled her against his thick and muscular chest. "Mine." He grunted, arms encasing her in a very tight embrace. "Mate." Those two words caused both Celeste's heart and body to freeze. Mine...? Mate...? What was he talking about? Did he think she was Celia? Ignoring the denseness of her heart and the pleasurable sparks that seeped out of his touch, she pushed away from him. "Celia is somewhere in the dispersing crowd, I'm not yours, I'm not your mate." Zillon's head tilted to the side, jaws clenching, grip tightening. "Mine...Mate...Mine!" He pulled her back against him, nose latching onto the very crook of her neck where he proceeded to deeply inhale her scent. "Mark mate." And without her consent, he did just that. His teeth had extracted and into the soft skin of her neck was where they intrusively sank. A cry of pain and pleasure had descended from her lips and like a dead man, she fell against his chest, lips ajar as she panted to catch her breath. She tried to steady herself, but when the strong scent of the man who held her swept across her nose, her weak knees buckled and against his chest she fell again. She was just 19, she wasn't at the age to scent out her mate as yet, but now that she carried his mark...his scent was rather strong, comforting and arousing. Lotus flowers and freshly chopped wood. It calmed her heart and inside her head, her wolf consistently whispered... "Mate...mate...mate..." Pride from her wolf filled her chest and amongst it was a flourishing happiness. After all, the moon goddess had granted her her wish. She was mated to Zillon Macre, and on her neck was where his mark of eternity laid. Nothing could tear them apart when this mark bonded them together, but only minutes later, she found that there was indeed something or rather someone who could tear them apart. Not her sister or her parents, but Zillon, her own mate...

Chapter 2 CHAPTER ONE— HARSH REJECTION

— Beware of this tricky thing called happiness, for it is the gateway to sadness. — The world before Celeste's eyes had turned upside down. Her life... Her choices... Everything had tilted to the left and Celeste was not grateful to the moon goddess for that. She got her wish, but the odds weren't at all in her favor. Her mate; Zillon Macre wasn't as angelic as he seemed. He was a beast, a man with no conscience, a man without a heart. He treated her as if she was a toilet, but even so, her heart still beated for him. Whenever he was around, her lungs felt as light as a puff of cloud and his scent; it's uniqueness as well as it's sweetness calmed her diligently.The matebond was quite prominent between them, but for the two days that Celeste knew him as her mate, all he kept mentioning was her sister. He didn't see her as his mate, he made that very clear the night he marked her. That night when the orange colour in his eyes had dispersed to obsidian, he had shoved her away from him as if she was a contagious virus. He had regarded her with a glare and the words he had uttered later could've killed her on spot. 'Pitiful...you're my mate? It's a struggle to even look at you, how in heaven's name would I live with you? That mark on your neck, forget about it, my wolf marked you, not me...my mark belongs to Celia.' Celeste's heart had almost collapsed. It had been hard for her to breathe, more so when he had spat repulsively on the ground then continued to hurt her with his harsh words. 'The only reason I won't reject you is because omegas die in the process and as future alpha protecting my pack is my main priority, not killing them. Move in in two days, I can't have the pack members thinking that I'm in anyway a bad mate.' And then he had left Celeste on the pack grounds with a shattered heart. Her eyes had followed him until he was out of view and her wolf kept howling in her head. It was painful; to be mated to someone who didn't want you, but even after he shunned her with those words, she believed that the matebond would help him realize that the moon goddess did not make mistakes. If they were mated, then they must've been mated for a reason. With a sad sigh, Celeste shoved her last piece of clothing in her suitcase. It was time to face him now, the two days which she had been so anxious through had passed and now it was time to move into Zillon's house. She wanted to go, dwelling close to her crush was a dream come through, but there was this doubt within her. What if he still proceeded to treat her bad? To harshly remind her that she wasn't who he really wanted? That would break her; physically and mentally. It would make her feel insufficient and unwanted. It would make her feel even more lonely than she had been. All her life, Celeste walked alone, her parents didn't pay her much attention because they gave it all to Celia and at school, she had no friends. Previously she had prayed for a mate, one she could freely talk to and one who'd...just always be there. Zillon was number one on her list, but it seems he wasn't capable of being the mate she always wanted. Zipping her suitcase closed, she hauled it to the rectangular board hinged onto thick concrete. She twisted the knob situated on it and with a frustrated breath, she pulled the door open, not hesitating to step through. Her steps took her down the creaky, wooden stairs and as soon as she stepped down the last one, she was bombarded by her parents. "Celeste, are you sure you want to move in so soon?" Celeste looked over at her mom with nonchalant eyes. She sounded worried didn't she? Well the factuality of it all was that she was only worried about Celia. "Yes mom, he told me to move in, remember?""Yes but...b-" she cleared her throat and looked over at her mate; Williams. "Honey, tell her." Williams; Celeste's father as well as the pack's beta sighed. "Why is it that I'm the one who always explains?""Because honey, you're very good at speaking your mind, especially when it comes to things that normal people might find it hard to say.""So I'm not normal?""Not in the slightest bit, so tell her." With another sigh, the beta looked over at his daughter. "Look Celeste, we think this; you moving in with your mate won't work. We believe it will only proceed to pull you and your sister apart. Zillon is your sister's boyfriend and furthermore, your mate. It will be impossible to share." Celeste squinted her eyes as she blankly stared at him. "Why would we have to share?" She shrugged. "He's my mate, according to the pack's tradition, it's mandatory that he chooses me.""But will he choose you?" That question stabbed Celeste right in the heart and the feigned strength that had resided around her, quickly faded. Would he choose her? They were mates, but he didn't necessarily have to choose her. It's rare but sometimes mates rejected each other. The procedure was painful, so much so that omegas like celeste cannot live through it, but Celeste wouldn't get rejected, would she? She wouldn't die all because she was unwanted by not just her mate but everyone, right? Nothing of that sorts will happen to her...right? Right. Because Celeste wouldn't let it. She'd give him her all and in the end, he wouldn't have a choice but to choose her. Nodding confidently to herself, she walked between her parents, hauling the suitcase behind her. "I'm not sure, I guess I'll just have to move in to find out.""Celest..." Celeste fanned her mother off and continued on her way, meeting the last resident in the house by the doorway, her big sister. She smiled faintly, the crook of her lips obviously fake. "I guess I'll see you soon.""You will be seeing me soon," Celia replied. "When my Zillon kicks you out." With a lack of energy, of battle strength..."Ye, well I guess you're right Celia." Celeste replied. "He should just reject you, at least then I'd get rid of my repetition." A repetition? Celeste's heartbeat quickened, her eyes darting over to the dull, white walls. "Is that what I was? It's funny how I'm just finding out." She chuckled, fingers clenching tight around the handle of her suitcase. "You should've told me sooner.""I should've, I don't know what stopped me from making it known how unwanted you are. You're just an extra to mom and dad, and someone easily replaceable by their own mate. But go now, you'll find out on your journey, how insignificant you can be." Celeste's eyes almost watered as she made her way outside. She knew her sister was right, no matter how much she tried to deny it, she really was insignificant. Nobody wanted her... But it was okay...as long as she wanted herself. A/N// Meet Zillon in the next chapter.

Chapter 3 CHAPTER TWO— NOT ENOUGH

— Beware ... They're like two face coins. Not because they smile they're on your side. — Celeste stepped shakily up the stairs. She had long passed her boundaries, and now she resided on Zillon's; on his land, on his porch. She couldn't deny the nervousness that ran through her, she could feel as her heart pumped heavily in her chest, she could even hear it; the quick and dense beats that sounded like fast fleeting footsteps. In deep anxiety, her eyes drifted to the door that stood tall in front of her. Should she knock? She should, shouldn't she? But she couldn't. His scent was as strong as it had been the night he had marked her. The potent scent of lotus flowers and chopped wood. It was maddening, it invoked in her a sense of need; one that had her craving him, his arms that provided security, and his lips that 'should' be able to provide her with words of encouragement, especially after what she withstood on her way here. Her sister's words had grown like a vine within her head, though her neck had already been claimed by Zillon, Celeste couldn't help but fear the act of him putting her sister above her. That's one of the reasons why she couldn't bring herself to knock on the door. Zillon would probably remind her again that him marking her was a mistake, he'd probably even tell her that her sister was who he craved, who he'd eventually mate...and that would tear Celeste right open. Taking a shaky step back, Celeste's eyes darted down to her feet or rather to the old sneakers that covered them. A mate, how she had longed to have one, but sadly, her mate wasn't wholly hers. Tears, the ones she had been holding back pricked her eyes, even more so when his scent got stronger, engulfing her in its warmth. Approaching footsteps from beyond the door greeted her sensitive ears and in panic, she took another step back. He had probably caught a whiff of her scent, he had probably heard her anxious steps, he had probabl— Celeste's heart jumped when the brown board was pulled open, and in front of her, her crush, her mate, her everything stood. His eyes traveled up her legs until they stared straight into hers, and somehow the eye contact had her legs threatening to leave her unsteady. It was the matebond she knew, she could feel the pull, an invisible string that kept forcing her to move closer, but with all her heart, she ignored it and wiped at her teary eyes. "I-I came." She shakily smiled. Zillon nodded, eyes summing her up with malice. "Right, come on in." He opened up the door wider, stepping aside so she could pass by him. "Your room is the one furthest away from mine. Everything about you is filthy, your scent makes my mouth taste bitter, please stay out of my way. Don't talk to me, don't look at me, just stay in your room." He closed the door the moment her suitcase breached inside. "You may eat, there's food in the fridge and on Fridays, I will hunt you meat as your mate, but you are nothing beyond that; a mate that is unwanted." Celeste's heart tore into two, no three, or perhaps it was now shattered into many pieces. His words were as sharp as a knife, cutting their way into her chest. Her wolf howled like a wounded dog in her head, and pain scourged her as if she had been whipped. "I-I..." Tears fell down her cheeks, her knees weak enough for her to have to hold onto the walls to keep steady. "I...I'm sorry..." Zillon glared at her. "For what?""For...for not being enough.""You don't have to apologize, it's not your fault, it's the moon goddess's for even thinking of making you." With that, he trudged pass her, hands in his pockets. "And let me be more specific." He stopped by the corner. "Your room is the last room on the right upstairs, mine is the first one, come nowhere near it." And then he disappeared. Celeste collapsed against the wall, hand clenched against her chest. The mate bond was still strong, but the pain was stronger. It ran through her body as if it was the blood in her veins. It felt like fire, burning inccessantly, but she'd pull through, for Zillon, she could do anything. She'd show him, she'd make sure he sees her efforts, she'd display just how strong her love for him was, how abundant. Surely it would change the way he thought of her, it would undoubtedly make him feel the same. Easing up from the wall, she wiped her eyes once more and stumbled further into the house. Zillon's scent was embedded inside, it was so strong that it felt as though it was clogging her nostrils. It was suppose to be a sign of reassurance, he was her mate after all, but all she felt was nervousness and the lingering pain in her chest. But it would subside, and one day not far away, she'd feel safe in a room that only withheld his aroma. Stepping around the corner, her eyes wandered around what she knew was the living room. It consisted of couches, a glass table, a television, and thick mats were sprawled out on the floor. Looking away from them, her eyes greeted the stairs, traveling up to the room Zillon resided in. She could hear him, his steps, his unsteady breaths...she could feel him too, the matebond made that more than just possible, but despite the fact that it was pulling her towards him, she walked pass his room and to the one he had directed her to. In there, she unpacked her stuff in the empty closet she found, and then she laid rather tiredly on the bed inside. She'd wait, one day he would come to want her, and it'd would be the happiest day of her life. It'd make up for the pain in her chest, for the disrespectful words he told her, and for the harsh way he looked at her... And that day, her Zillon would be happy too.

Chapter 4 CHAPTER THREE— REJECTED ONCE— REJECTEE TWICE

Celeste shuffled off of the mattress when she became tired of the hungry howls of her stomach. Night had already dusk and she hadn't eaten anything since she woke up this morning. Her throat was dry, her body empty, even her wolf felt weak, but even still, she was scared of stepping foot down those stairs just so Zillon could degrade her again. She knew that she'd eventually have to, especially if she wanted him to get use to her, to come to love her, but she feare— Celeste shook her head. She couldn't fear the words of her own mate or the the look in his eyes. She had to withstand it, she had to see pass it with a flourishing smile. She was hungry, she'd go down and cook for herself, and cook him something as well. She hadn't heard his room door open since it closed. He was perhaps asleep, but even still, he must be hungry too. Taking a step forward, Celeste sighed. She had to be braver, he was hers, she was his. Despite all the things he said to her, they were mated, she had to take care of him, even if he didn't take care of her. So she'd cook him her best, she'd wish him well, she'd love him, just until he learned to love her. Garnering all the courage she could, she finally stepped out of her room and walked down the hall. As she walked, his scent got stronger, encompassing her with the warmth it brought with it. She could hear every breath of air that left his lips as she passed his room, she could even hear as he tapped his desk, his dresser, his table, or anything with a hard surface that resided in his room. He wasn't asleep, she knew that now, and that fact made her heart pump a little faster. She didn't stop walking though, instead, her steps took her down the stairs and her sensitive sense of smell brought her to the kitchen. There, she did what she had promised to, she cooked up some meat, some spaghetti, and some rice, just incase he had a big appetite. And when she was done, she shared herself a plate, and shared him one as well. Hers was placed on the table, while his was placed on a tray along with a cup of water and his eating utensils. He told her not to go near his room, but she had to be brave, didn't she? Walking out of the kitchen, she walked her way back up the stairs and stood nervously in front of his room. She could hear her heart beat even louder than the constant shuffling on the inside. He could probably hear it too, but putting that aside, she shakily reached forward, knocking only once. Every footstep he took forward frightened her, but she held her ground, despite how shaky the tray in her hand seemed. The door opened, and slowly, shyly Celeste looked up into the eyes of her mate. He was glaring at her again, this time even deeper than the first. "What are you doing here Celes...Cele—?""C-Celeste... That's... That's my name.""I didn't ask for your name, what the f*ck are you doing here? I told you to not come here, and yet you had the audacity to knock. What do you want?""I-I was hungry, so I cooked. I thought you'd be hungry too, so I brought y—" The tray was shoved straight out of Celeste's hand and onto the floor. She looked down at it, dirty and scattered, then back at him. "Why d—""Feed that to the dogs. I'm not hungry, and even if I was, I want nothing from the likes of you. It probably tastes as filthy as you smell. Leave me alone, don't try to sway me with food, I do not want you." Tears filled Celeste's eyes, and pain scourged her heart. Why did he have to remind her of that fact everytime he spoke, why did he have to hurt her, her wolf, why did he...? Turning away from him, Celeste held onto her chest as if that would cease the relentless pain on the inside. "There's more in the kitchen if you change your mind. I'll clean this up, and I'm sorry, this time, it's for bothering you.""I will not change my mind, not about the food, and not about you. You should be ashamed, I'm your sister's boyfriend, and yet you're trying to sneak your way into my room with food." Celeste didn't respond, his words were painful enough, answering him would only encourage him to say more. So she instead staggered her way back downstairs in search of a broom. It took her a while, but at least she found one, and with it, she cleaned up his floor, then made her way straight through his front door. She wasn't in the mood to eat anymore, she wasn't in the mood to do a thing but cry. He didn't have to be so harsh, he didn't have to treat her that bad. She was just trying to be nice, trying to be a good mate, and yet, he took it the wrong way. Stooping on his porch, she called forth the wild part of her, the inner beast that was even weaker than her. An omega, a wolf too weak to withstand physical pain and emotional ones. One by one, her bones cracked as she transformed. Hair grew from her pores, her arms turned into feet, her clothes turned into shreds and her face turned into that of a wolf. Fully sheathed by the skin of her beast, she ran off into the woods beside his house, determined to forget the words he told her, and the look that had been in his eyes, but could she ever forget being unwanted?

Chapter 5 CHAPTER FOUR— DETERMINED TO HAVE WHATS HERS

Celeste skated breathlessly into Zillon's front yard, still wearing the clothing of her wolf's skin. The night had gotten darker, the sun had gone down, and though she had ran to her heart's full content, she still felt like she hadn't done enough. Zillon's words were still engraved in her head. They for one made it hard for her to cut her run short, but sadly, she had to, not because of the matebond, but because of what the elders had once taught her and the other young she-wolves of the pack. No matter what, a newly mated female should return to their mate before 7:00pm. It is said that werewolves were very possessive of their mates, especially the high ranking ones. The elders didn't go in depth as to 'why' as well as 'what' would happen, but she didn't really want to know, because nothing would happen, especially if it concerned her mate. He had said it before, he wanted nothing to do with her, so why would he act out or become possessive when she neglects to come in on time? Right, he wouldn't. Taking in a deep breath, Celeste crouched in front of the porch, starting the transition from wolf to human. Her ears were the first thing that miniatured, and then the hair that had covered her skin. Soon, she stood naked in the darkness that surrounded her. The wind she had previously enjoyed in wolf form now licked at her skin with a newfound potency, cruelly urging her to head inside. The moon above shone bright, lighting her path as she stepped up to the stairs that lead to the door. She only made it up the first one before the door in front of her swang open, revealing Zillon. Just like the night he had marked her, his eyes were a bright orange, staring straight into her soul. He exhaled, the fog it formed making his breath almost visible. "Where were you?" His voice was deep... heavily raspy, making the thought that his wolf was in control a fact and not just an assumption. "I-I...I went out for a run." She responded to him. "Come here." His words were drawled in a command, leaving Celeste no option but to obey. Her movements were slow and reluctant, but she didn't stop until she stood in front of him. Being naked was a usual thing for werewolves, so despite being nervous, despite being self-conscious, she held her ground and shyly peeked up at the beast she was mated to. "I...what do y—?""Shhh..." Celeste's lips smacked shut immediately, quietly watching as he leaned in, resting his head against her neck. He inhaled, taking in her scent. "Lavender and freshly picked mint leaves, only tainted by the scent of the forest...nothing else or rather, nobody else." His arms wrapped around her naked body, pulling her against his chest. "Mine..." His deep voice chanted. "I can't wait until you're in heat. I'll wholly claim you, take you, mark you, love you..." A fire Celeste did not summon rose between her legs as she listened to his words. Hearing him say she was his, feeling his touch against her skin...she felt as though she was living in bliss. His hands were cold and yet they brought her warmth, so soft, so gentle, making the matebond, the once distinct pull now stronger. It was magnetic between them, the connection was so intense that Celeste's legs shook when his hands caressed the small of her back, then slowly slid down to grab the bare globes of her ass. She moaned almost breathlessly against him, burying her head against his chest as pleasure scourged her. "I...please..." She wasn't even sure what she was begging for, but she wanted something. Him maybe, just him... Zillon, or rather his wolf smirked, cruelly letting her loose. "It's not time yet my love, on the day of your heat which is not far from now, I'll take you, I'll give you what you want." He stepped back, robbing her of the safety she felt in his arms. "Your scent calms me, your presence as well, please do not leave without my permission.""But I—" The orange colour in his eyes slowly dulled to obsidian, and the calmness that had laid across his face turned to one of anger. "Oh god no..." Celeste embraced herself, now feeling the urge to hide what little she could from him. This wasn't the wolf that had marked and promised to claim her, this was the Zillon who wholly hated her. "I...I'm sorry...""And let me guess, this time you're sorry for acting like a whore?""I..." Celeste shook her head. "I'm just...""Go inside and get some clothes. Stop sicking my stomach with your presence, your nakedness." He stepped aside, leaving the doorway open. "My wolf was in control just now, I'm sure you knew. This was yet again a mistake, one that I regret making." Celeste stepped pass him with another hole in her heart. Her chest felt heavy again, her eyes got teary, she felt pathetic. Was she a mistake too, one that even her parents regretted. Celia was born a beta and even as her twin, Celeste was born an omega. It wasn't fair, the moon goddess kept cheating her, she kept giving Celia everything she wanted. The blood of a beta... The love of her parents.. The popularity... And even her own god damn mate... What else would Celia steal? Her life? Tears pooled down her cheeks as she trotted up the stairs feeling just as dejected as she felt when she had left. If only she was prettier, sexier, higher ranked...maybe then, Zillon would see her as his mate. But was there any way to attain the beauty and the power? Was there anyway to attain his love? Perhaps not, but how would she know without trying? It has just been a day, surely she couldn't achieve such in this short span of time. Tomorrow she'd try harder, and the next day, she'd try her best too. She wouldn't let Celia steal from her anymore, Zillon was hers.