CHAPTER 4

It is a lie,” I repeated.

Every pair of eyes turned toward me, as though trying to bore holes straight through my soul. The Alpha slowly turned to face me, and whispers erupted around the crowd, instantly making me regret speaking up.

I should have listened to the warning bells ringing in my head and stayed out of it.

“Could you repeat that?” he asked.

I shuddered at the change in his voice. It was firmer now, laced with a quiet warning—as if I would be severely punished if my accusation proved false.

The courage I had managed to gather quickly dissolved like smoke in the wind. My eyes dropped to the ground, unable to meet his piercing gaze.

“She lies, Your Majesty,” I whispered.

My eyes remained fixed on the ground, but I noticed his boots move away from me. Slowly, I lifted my head and watched him walk back to Valeria, taking her hand in his.

His jaw tightened as he looked at me, his silver eyes narrowing while I stood there fidgeting, silently wishing the ground would open and swallow me whole.

“But she bears my mark,” he said coldly. “How do you explain that? In fact, who do you think you are, telling me I cannot recognize my own mark?”

My lips parted, but no words came out. The whispers around me grew louder, spreading like wildfire.

“She has some nerve trying to ruin her sister’s happiness after ruining her own life.”

I glanced at Valeria, my blood boiling when I saw the faint smile playing on her lips.

She was enjoying this.

“I asked you a question!” the Alpha thundered.

His silver eyes burned with intensity, and fear flooded my chest so fiercely that I thought my heart might stop.

Just then, James stepped out from the crowd gathered to witness the Alpha King choose his bride.

My fists clenched at the sight of him. Memories of the passionate scene I had witnessed between him and Valeria flashed through my mind.

“Please do not concern yourself with that whore,” he said, spitting the words with disgust.

The insult instantly drew everyone's attention—including the Alpha King’s.

My blood boiled as James stepped closer to him.

“She’s only trying to destroy her sister’s life the same way she destroyed hers,” he announced loudly so the entire pack could hear.

“You see, Your Majesty, I was betrothed to her. I was ready to make her my wife as soon as possible. But guess what?”

He paused, squeezing his eyes shut as if struggling to contain his emotions.

What a cunning bastard.

“I caught her cheating on me… with a filthy omega.”

Gasps erupted around the crowd as if they were hearing the scandal for the first time.

Why were they all so eager to turn against me? Were they trying to recruit the Alpha King to their little party of hatred?

My eyes drifted back to the Alpha.

Disgust was clearly etched across his perfect features.

“I had no idea the Bloodfang Pack harbored such disgraceful individuals,” he said, his tone dripping with contempt as his gaze shifted from me to Valeria, who stood behind him like a fragile swan in the rain.

If only he knew the monster she truly was.

“Is this true?” he asked her.

Valeria immediately burst into tears.

Loud, exaggerated sobs.

I stared at her in disbelief, too stunned to react. I knew she hated me—but what had I done to deserve this?

“Yes… yes, it is true,” she cried.

Without hesitation, the Alpha King pulled her into his arms.

Fuck.

Anger surged through me like molten lava rushing through a volcano. Before I could stop myself, the words exploded out of me.

“That is not true! She’s a bloody liar!” I shouted.

My voice echoed across the clearing.

The next moment, Valeria was standing in front of me.

Her hand came flying toward my face.

“How dare you,” she whispered.

The slap rang out sharply.

Pain exploded across my cheek as I stumbled backward. My skin burned where her hand had struck me.

When our eyes met, I saw nothing but venom in hers.

She wanted me to understand something.

I was too weak to fight her.

And deep down…

She was right.

“Enough!”

The Alpha’s voice sliced through the chaos like a blade.

He stepped forward, his expression dark with warning.

The crowd immediately fell silent.

Valeria returned to his side, and James wasted no time seizing the moment.

“Andrea has brought nothing but shame to our pack!” he declared loudly. “She has ruined our reputation—even in front of the Alpha King of the Thornhaven Pack. I say we banish her!”

The wolves immediately echoed his words.

“Banish her!”

“Banish her!”

The chant thundered through the air.

My world shattered.

It felt like I was drowning.

Desperate, I searched the crowd for someone—anyone—who might save me.

That was when I saw her.

Lilian.

My stepmother.

Maybe… just maybe… her hatred for me wasn't strong enough to let them banish the daughter of the man she once loved.

At least, that was what I hoped.

But instead of helping me, she glared coldly.

Then she joined the others.

“Banish her!”

My heart sank.

“You can’t do this!” I cried.

But my voice was nothing more than a weak whisper against the roaring chants. My knees buckled, and I collapsed to the ground, finally accepting my fate.

Suddenly, a familiar scent surrounded me.

Warm.

Comforting.

Clover.

She knelt beside me, her voice soft with concern.

“Stay calm. I’ll make sure they don’t banish you, okay?” she whispered.

But I knew she was lying.

There was no way she could stop this.

No one could.

Especially not a mere Gamma like her.

The Alpha’s decision was final.

And the pack would always stand behind him.

I forced a weak smile, trying to hold back my tears.

But just as I feared, two powerful Betas grabbed me.

Their claws dug painfully into my arms as they dragged me across the dirt.

“No! Andrea!” Clover cried, her voice breaking.

I forced myself to smile at her.

Unable to look into her eyes, I silently mouthed the words:

“I’ll be fine.”

And finally…

I let the tears fall.