Chapter Six

KNEEL OR BE CAST OUT

Logan could not tear his eyes away. He stared at her, unblinking, as if his mind refused to believe what he saw. She was real. Not a memory. Not a ghost.

He couldn't speak. He couldn't breathe.

Behind him, Natalie stumbled to a halt. Her brows drew together, her pupils shrinking with disbelief.

Rhea….? She was alive?

Her heart skipped wildly. It couldn’t be.

Eight months ago, Rhea was exiled out of the pack and given to the wild rogues. Those rogues should have devoured her.

By now, her bones and skin was supposed to have decayed in the cold earth. How did she end up here at the Golden Claw Pack, even dressed as a royalty, looking like a real beauty goddess?!

Even if she had survived the rogues, her life should have been misery. She was born by the richest and influential parents in their pack but they disowned her!! So how could she be standing like this?

Natalie's heart began pounding faster so that she could hear the rhythm beat harder. With a surge of hatred of and jealousy, she advanced toward her.

“Who allowed this whore sneak here?! You filthy bitch! Who allowed you?!” Natalie asked, her voice laced with venom, pointing her finger at Rhea.

Guards, Alphas, Lunas, Alpha princes , Betas, ushers froze.

Had she just called Rhea... a bitch?

Rhea’s face stayed calm. She tilted her head slightly, her voice almost playful. "Bitch? Who?" Her eyes scanned the room, pretending to look around. "Who is the bitch here?"

“You!!” Natalie shrieked.

SLAP!!

A loud crack filled the air.

Rhea's palm struck Natalie’s face with sharp force. The sound echoed. Natalie crashed to the ground, her hand on her cheek, crying out in pain.

Gasps rippled through the hall.

Logan's brows snapped up, his eyes etched in shock. He couldn't utter a word. Rhea was a frail lady while she was at the Crescent Fur Pack. She had never replied back strongly let alone retaliating with a slap. What had she become these eight months?

“You asshole!! You slapped me ?” Natalie exploded, her hand still clenched on her face, enduring the hard hit of Rhea's hand. “Guards, drag out the bitch here! She is not supposed to be here. She is a commoner!!”

Rhea leaned closer to her, a smile arched on her face. She didn't flinch. “If there's anybody to be dragged out it is you,” she whispered, her voice sharp and deliberate.

She paused, letting her words sink in.“Next time you utter such a word to me,you will have your head rolling,”

Then she turned to the guards. “Guards, does she even has an invitation?” She added.

“No, but she came with Alpha Logan who has an invitation,” one of the guards answered, bowing his head, almost touching the ground, respect evident.

Rhea raised her chin slightly. "The invitation is for each guest, not for tag-alongs. She is not on the list. Drag her out. Now!!”

Without warning, huge hands grabbed Natalie's arms and lifted her off the floor. “Leave me! Let go of me! Do you know whom you are trifling with? I'm the future Luna of the Crescent Fur Pack!!”

"Enough!" Logan finally shouted, stepping forward.

Just minutes ago, he had been trapped in thought, staring at the version of Rhea that stood before him. She had changed. She wasn’t the weak girl he used to control. She wasn’t his Luna anymore. The guards of the Golden Claw Pack, the most powerful and ruthless pack in the world now obeyed her command, making obeisance to her.

“Rhea, let her go. Now. And I will overlook this…..”

Will overlook this? Who did he think he is? Did he think she's still his weak and feeble Luna who would get scared or freaked by words from anyone?

Rhea's lips curled into a small, mocking smile. That was when dread clawed Logan.

Natalie still couldn’t believe it. She had thought the rogues had torn Rhea apart, ended her forever. But here she stood, dressed like royalty, glowing with a presence that made even the Golden Claw soldiers obey her.

She didn't get it! How did she get much influence on them?

“If I can't be here……” Natalie held out a loud sharp cry in anger and terror as the grip of the guards on her fragile arms tightened, "Who are you to be here?”

“If I don't have an invitation, then who the hell are you to have one…..” she added.

“She doesn't need an invitation!!” A loud voice rang out.

BANG!!!

The door burst open, revealing the presence of a handsome towering figure. Broad shoulders. Strong jaw. Black suit that hugged his powerful frame.

There he was.

Alpha Xerxes.

The Alphas, the Betas,the Gammas, the Lunas, the guards , soldiers , servants and the ushers in the hall bowed to him in unison.

He launched a cold glare at Logan and Natalie. He clenched his hands into fists, wanting to bury his fists into their faces for what they did to Rhea but he didn't want to spoil the convergence with his fury.

He paced forward, straightened his tie, wagging his head right and left, and said “Your lady disrespected Rhea. She deserves an apology. She will have to kneel three times and apologize at Rhea's feet or else Crescent Fur Pack is out of the convergence.”

The hall erupted into gasps. Murmurs broke out.

Alpha Xerxes was now chasing Alpha Logan out of the convergence if his mistress did not apologize to Rhea, groveling at her feet.

Exile from the Convergence was no light matter. It meant disgrace. Vulnerability to economic collapse. Rogue attacks.

“Kneel? Apologize?” Alpha Logan snapped, gritting his teeth,fury etched on his face. “It was Rhea who slapped my mistress in the first place. If there's anyone who should apologize, it is Rhea, whereas Natalie is a member of the royal family and she is my mistress but Rhea is just a nobody.”

“What did you just call her? A nobody?!” Alpha Xerxes exploded out in laughter.

Alpha Xerxes drew Rhea closer, and kissed her forehead.”Everybody, meets my long lost sister, the princess of the prestigious Golden Claw Pack…..Rhea Ashwood!!”