The party was now in full swing, but I was still forbidden to go upstairs lest I face the worst punishment by Keith and his buddies- though I did get a few kind words and a couple of sweets from some of the elders, a few female wolves, and a pup or two. And I was currently eating the party food that sweet Ciara gave me while listening to the loud camaraderie.

I needed to eat so I had enough energy for what could be the biggest moment of my life- my incoming rejection and banishment from the pack as well as performing the Soul Conversion.

You may be thinking, "What is the Soul Conversion?" Well, it's mainly a simple prayer- a spell, really- that allows the person to live the rest of his or her days as a human being. Granted, the spell was never performed by anyone since some believed that it's more than a myth. But it's real, all right. And it's more suited because if a supernatural being is rejected by their destined mate after suffering from abuse or bullying, the rejected might die from the heartbreak while the rejector just lives.

And I was dead set on performing the spell so I could live my life as a human being and find some happiness of my own. Of course, I would miss the kindhearted people who had offered me some comforts- the retiring Alpha and Luna alongside their daughter, the compassionate wolves who made sure that I had some fresh clothes and even food that wasn't moldy or poisonous water, the pups who brightened my day with their jokes and laughter, and even those who didn't know.

But as for Keith and his cronies, the ones who treated me like garbage, and those who supported their campaigns to have me killed? Well, I only had contempt and pity for them. They had their chance to make it right and they chose evil.

The clock struck midnight and the sound of footsteps made its way towards the basement as the door swung open- revealing a sight to behold: a young man who was athletic and dressed in all black. His face was the one that could get grandmas to pinch and for young women and girls to swoon over. Piercing blue eyes, tanned skin, dark-brown hair cut short.

He was not happy to see me. And I knew who he was: Regan Zallenda.

"Rise, omega," he said lowly.

I did so quickly as I saw the glaring faces of Keith, his dad, and the other Beta and warriors that were coming down the stairs.

"You must be the omega that Ciara told me about," he said.

I kept my head bowed. "Yes, sir," I said. "Happy birthday, sir."

"Thank you. And while I know that you are my destined mate..."

And here it comes, the long-awaited rejection that would set me free.

"I can't accept you, not when you're weak and pathetic. I need a hot female and you're an omega. I hate omegas, you know? So, I'm going to make this easy for you. I, Regan Zallenda, hereby reject you as my mate and Luna. I give you two hours after your beating to leave or you will be killed on site."

"I, Carson Hadley, accept your rejection. I also reject you as my mate and Alpha and will be out of this Four Aces Pack before the two-hour grace period. I also cut ties with the Four Aces Pack from this time and forevermore," I said sadly, not letting a tear fall for someone who doesn't deserve me.

"I accept your rejection," Regan said smugly. "Keith, make sure that this runt gets a reminder that he is never to be happy. Afterward, come back up and join me so we can sleep with every eligible female around."

The Betas cheered as they descended upon me like hungry wolves out to kill their prey.

************

"Man, they really did a number on you," Miles, one of the few noble warriors, commented as he helped me up the basement stairs while everyone else was in the backyard. "And that bastard rejected you as well as banished you?! That ain't right, man. You don't deserve this."

"Well, that's my life," I commented, wincing at the throbbing pain in my legs. "But I knew that it was coming- being rejected and banished."

We saw an elder woman with the skin of cocoa who looked like Miles' grandmother come with a small basket of food. "Oh, Goddess," she said, shedding a tear. "Here, child. You take this food and some money that my friends and I gathered up and you leave this place completely. May The Goddess herself bless you. And may She had mercy on these brutes."

"Thank you," I replied, handing her four envelopes. "Can you make sure that three of these envelopes go to the Zallenda family? The final one is for the pack to read."

"Of course," she said. "Miles, you take the boy to the pack barrier and let him do what he must."

Miles nodded, carrying me out of the house for the first and final time before we reached the entrance gates. "Man, I hope that Regan gets what he deserves," he said sadly as he set me down. "You don't deserve a bastard like him. I hope Harvey and Delia revoke his title as Alpha and I hope Ciara kicks his ass. You'd make a kick-ass Luna in my book."

"Thank you," I said, hugging him lightly. "May the Goddess bless you."

"Same, man." And just like that, Miles headed back to the manor.

I looked up at the rising full moon, the light making my copper eyes and chocolate skin glimmer. I felt the sadness from the Goddess rise in my blood as her lullaby rang in my ear. It would be the final time I would hear it as a werewolf.

Setting the basket of food down, I closed my eyes and raised my head, the wind starting to blow. It was time.

"Μητέρα της Σελήνης, άκου τις κραυγές μου.  Γιατί είμαι αναπόφευκτος και είμαι σπασμένος πέρα ​​από την πίστη.  Δώσε μου ειρήνη και άσε με να ζήσω τις μέρες μου ανάμεσα στους ανθρώπους.  Αυτή είναι η προσευχή μου.  Αυτή είναι η ευχή μου.  Έκανα την ειρήνη μου με την απόρριψή μου, οπότε τώρα πρέπει να προχωρήσω (Translation: Mother of the moon, hear my cries.  For I am undone and I am broken beyond belief.  Grant me peace and let me live out my days among the humans.  This is my prayer.  This is my wish.  I have made my peace with my rejection, so now I must move on.)," I said the prayer in my native tongue.

The last thing I heard was a howling wolf, the cheering from a now-unbonded werewolf, and a blaring horn before I felt my body being thrown in the air and onto the streets of Denver.

I was free, was my final thought before the darkness swallowed me whole.