Chapter 6

_Alina's POV_

Alaric's gaze hardened. "I am deadly serious, Caleb," he declared, his voice firm. "And no one, not even you, can stop me from taking her with me."

Caleb's smirk faltered, replaced by a look of disbelief mingled with anger. "You're making a grave mistake, Prince Alaric," he warned. "She is a member of my pack. You have no right to interfere."

But Alaric remained steadfast. "She belongs with me," he countered. "And I will protect her, no matter the cost."

Caleb's face twisted with rage, his eyes blazing with fury. "You dare to defy me, Prince Alaric?" he spat. "You think you can waltz in here and take what's mine? She's my fiancée, bound to me by the moon goddess herself. You have no right to interfere, royal or not."

Alaric's expression remained impassive. "I don't care what claims you believe you have over her," he stated firmly. "Alina's safety and well-being are my priority. And I will not stand idly by while she suffers at your hands."

Fiancée? Bound by the moon goddess? None of it made sense. I was not Caleb's chosen mate; I was merely a pawn in his twisted game, a replacement for his deceased wife, Tanya.

I couldn't stay silent any longer, not while Caleb continued to spout his lies and false claims. With a surge of courage, I stepped forward. "Stop lying, Caleb. You are not my fiance. In fact, you've been keeping me here against my will. You only want to torture me."

Caleb's eyes narrowed, his features contorted with anger at my defiance. "How dare you speak to me like that? You will show me the respect I deserve, Alina. I am your Alpha, your mate."

But I refused to back down. "You may be the Alpha, but you are not my mate," I retorted. "You've abused your power, manipulated me, and inflicted pain upon me. I will not allow you to continue to control me."

Caleb's eyes bore into mine. "You dare to accuse me of such atrocities?" he growled. "I have never laid a hand on you, Alina. I have treated you with nothing but kindness and care, providing for your every need."

His words were like a slap in the face. How could he stand there and deny the pain he had inflicted upon me? But Caleb was a master of deception, skilled in twisting the truth to suit his own narrative. And as he gestured for some guards to step forward and testify on his behalf, I felt a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.

The guards stepped forward obediently, their expressions impassive as they prepared to speak. "Everything that Alpha Caleb has said is true," one of them declared, his voice devoid of emotion. "He has always treated Alina with kindness and respect, providing for her every need."

Gesturing to the cuts and bruises marring my arms and face, I spoke up, my voice trembling with emotion. "This is the proof, Caleb. You have hurt me, and these wounds bear witness to your cruelty."

I saw Alaric's expression shift with concern as he glanced at the injuries that I had sustained. "Caleb," he began, "you must explain how Alina has gotten these deep cuts and bruises. Some of her wounds are festering, and they would have healed quickly under normal circumstances."

As Caleb remained silent, unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for my injuries, the weight of his guilt hung heavy in the air. Alaric's expression hardened as he turned to address the guards who had testified on Caleb's behalf.

"Your actions are disgusting," Alaric declared, his voice ringing with authority. "You have inflicted harm upon one of your own pack members. Such behavior will not be tolerated under my watch."

Turning his attention back to Caleb, he said. "As for you, Caleb, your actions will not go unpunished. I will report your misconduct to the werewolf court, and you will answer for your crimes."

Caleb's face paled at the threat. Though he attempted to mask his fear, his voice trembled and it was clear that he was uneasy. "You have no proof of my wrongdoing. You cannot touch me, Prince Alaric. I am the Alpha of this pack."

"The truth will come to light, Caleb," Alaric stated firmly. "And when it does, you will face the consequences of your actions. I will ensure that justice is served."

With a final glance at Caleb, Alaric turned to me, his expression softening with concern. "Come, Alina," he said gently, extending his hand to me. "It's time to leave this place."

Caleb's face darkened with fury, his fists clenching at his sides as he struggled to maintain his composure. "You will regret this, Alina," he growled, his voice low and menacing. "I will make you pay for your disobedience."

But I refused to cower before him any longer. With Alaric by my side, I knew that I was no longer alone. "I will not be intimidated by you any longer, Caleb. I am leaving this place, and there is nothing you can do to stop me."

Caleb's voice dripped with malice as he spoke. "Do you truly believe that leaving will solve everything, Alina?" he sneered. "You seem to have forgotten about poor Juliet. If you abandon me, she will bear the brunt of your mistakes. But if you stay, I can promise that I will be lenient with both of you. It's your choice."

I couldn't bear the thought of Juliet suffering because of me. I feared what Caleb might do to her if I left. With a heavy sigh, I made a decision.

"Alaric," I whispered. "Please... leave. I can't go with you."

Alaric's expression shifted from concern to confusion, his brows furrowing in disbelief. "But Alina, why?" he asked.

I mustered a miserable smile, my heart heavy with sorrow. "I just can't, Alaric. Please, just go."

As Alaric's gaze softened with sadness, I couldn't bear to meet his eyes. My heart ached with the weight of my decision, but deep down, I knew it was the right one.

Amidst the turmoil of emotions swirling within me, a seed of doubt took root. What if Alaric was just like Caleb? What if his kindness and care were merely a facade, a mask to conceal his true intentions? Perhaps, this was meant to happen. Maybe the moon goddess had made a mistake in pairing me with Alaric, a werewolf prince, when I was a nobody. He would have surely rejected me once he grew bored of me.

I knew that I had to sever the mate bond that held us together. It was the only way for both of us to move forward. Summoning every ounce of courage within me, I took a deep breath and recited the rejection words, the weight of each syllable hanging heavily in the air.

"I, Alina of the Moonshadow pack, reject you, the Werewolf Prince, Alaric."