Chapter 3

Selene

I opened my eyes when a strong odor flooded my nose.

Someone had brought a cotton ball with isopropyl alcohol to make me react, so I turned my head so that the smell wouldn't make me vomit. I tried to sit up, but I struggled to do so.

I was very weak and groggy.

“I think the breaking of the mate’s bond has affected her more than usual because she's a half-breed,” someone whispered behind me, and I cursed inside me.

I couldn't help but bring my hand to my neck and hiss from the burning on my skin.

The mark was going to hurt for days to come.

“Step away, please, Selene needs space,” Aria said, and I tried to sit on the floor.

Nick looked at me worriedly, and I realized that he was the one who had brought the cotton ball with isopropyl alcohol close to me. I pushed his hand away and took a deep breath to calm my nerves. It was Aria who helped hold me up.

“Are you okay, Selene?” Asked Aria, and I nodded. “Don't you need medical help?”

I shook my head and heard an annoying chuckle at the back of the room that made me turn my head. I immediately realized it was Clare, the redhead, who was making fun of my situation. She looked at Axel with a smirk, and he was scowling at me.

“That half-breed is just acting, honey,” Clare said, and I had a shiver. “That whole reaction is an act to make people, and especially you, feel sorry for her.”

Kate growled, and I sensed she was about to go out and confront the fucking bitch, but she controlled it, and I ignored the comment. Axel, on the other hand, didn't ignore her words.

“Stay out of this, Clare,” he told her seriously, and I was about to laugh, only I restrained myself smartly.

Aria helped me up, but my legs failed, and Nick sat me in a chair.

“I'll get a doctor,” Eugene said right away, but I was quick and grabbed his hand.

“No need, I just need some water, and I'll get out of here,” I said calmly.

Eugene's face was one of complete dismay.

He was getting what I was referring to; he was much more astute than Nick and Axel.

“Moon—”

“That half-breed is not the Moon of this pack,” Clare said sternly.

“Selene is still the Moon of this pack,” Aria said immediately. “The Alpha just broke the mating bond, but Selene is still married to Alpha Axel and is still the Moon of the pack. She must sign the official papers for the divorce to be approved, and she must sign a waiver of her position.”

I sighed at Aria's words.

“Give me the papers, Alpha. I know you must have the documents ready to be approved at this council meeting,” I said to Axel without looking at him.

There was a collective gasp as Axel approached with a folder, so I smiled cynically and took the pen he was offering me. I read the divorce document and crossed out the sum of money he was giving me; above the crossed-out line, I placed a big zero.

“What is it that you do, Selene?” Questioned Axel and I looked him seriously in the eyes.

“I don't want any of your money, much less do I want the pack's money. I don't need to be compensated for being with you and serving the people of my village; I find it an insult to my intelligence,” I said firmly, and Axel clenched his hands in anger. “About the document of resignation from my position as Moon of the pack, I need the main reason to be changed. I am resigning voluntarily; that is true, but I have been forced to do so. I want that document to state for the record that you have called me sterile and that that is the reason for throwing away our relationship.”

“What are you up to, Selene?” asked Axel indignantly. “I'm giving you your due.”

“I deserved respect, fidelity, and honesty; you didn't give me any of that, so I don't need your money. What I want is an accurate record of what happened here in my resignation document from the Moon. It's only fair for the pack's history,” I said firmly. “You exposed me to the council, so I want to expose everything to future generations. I want there to be a precedent for this so that in the future people will know the truth and not a distorted summary of this meeting. I deserve that respect.”

Axel growled angrily; Nick held him by the arm, and a counselor handed me the water I asked for. I drank as if thirsty, and to my surprise, Eugene pulled a folder out of his jacket and held it out to me.

“Is this document useful?” asked Eugene, and I read the paper.

There it spelled out the reasons why Axel wanted to separate, and it sat as the basis for my resignation. I looked at the Pack Gamma with respect and nodded.

“This document will do,” I said and signed the paper all around. “It has been a pleasure to be Moon of this pack. It was a pleasure, ladies and gentlemen.”

I stood up and bowed with a sign of respect.

I needed to leave this place immediately; I couldn't be around Axel. The mark of rejection stung from being near him, so I took a deep breath, stood up straight, and walked towards the door.

Everything was going well until Clare spoke.

“I don't understand what right this half-breed has to play the dignified one. If she hadn't been the Alpha's mate, she would have ended up prostituted in some sleazy brothel. That's what half-breeds are good for. Although, come to think of it, if she's sterile, she's the ideal whore,” Clare said, and there was a collective gasp.

Kate couldn't stand such an offense, so my she-wolf slipped under my skin.

I turned and approached Clare quickly.

“Shut your fucking mouth, you filthy bitch!” I said briskly. “Being a half-breed is no offense, but being the fucking mistress of an Alpha and duping him with a baby for power is not the most dignified thing to do. So don't you dare even utter my name, because it's clear here who's been the whore, and it wasn't me.”

Clare's eyes widened in surprise; Eugene grabbed my arms.

“Are you watching how he talks to me?” asked Clare to Axel with indignation, and I growled.

“I talk to you like you deserve. I don't understand why bitches like you think you have the right to belittle others. That man you just won over is a strong alpha in power, but he is a nefarious man, and if you don't see that, you deserve it,” I said firmly and turned around.

“This is inconceivable! Her parents must have been rude fuckers who left her without a good education and—”

I turned and snarled at Clare angrily.

So strong was my rage that I couldn't hold back my claws and bared my fangs at her. Eugene held me very tightly, but I still approached Clare, and at that moment, Nick grabbed me by another arm. Axel stepped between Clare and me.

“Don't talk about my parents, you fucking bitch!” I shouted angrily.

Axel bared his fangs at me and snarled.

“Get away from my baby's mother!” ordered Axel in his alpha tone, and my legs gave way. However, I kept neither my claws nor my canines.

“She has no right to talk about my parents; I won't let her, and I don't care who she is. If she says anything again, she'll deal with me,” I said in a rage.

“Then you can't stay in this pack,” Axel said, and I was shocked. “You pose a risk to my baby's mother and therefore to my baby.”

“You're kicking me out of the pack?” I asked in disbelief.

“You just threatened the mother of my baby; you pose a living danger to the future alpha of this pack,” Axel said firmly.

I denied and retracted my claws and fangs. I looked around at everyone and noticed that most of the counselors had a serious expression on their faces. Aria looked at me with pity, and Clare peeked out to smile at me.

I realized immediately that she had pushed all my buttons to get me off my rocker and achieve this result.

I had been a complete fool in this woman's hands.

“You all know my parents' story, how painful it is for me to talk about them,” I said calmly, but I noticed that neither Eugene nor Nick would let go of me. “I thought at least that aspect was going to remain within the bounds of respect. I can see now that no matter what happens, or the fact that your mistress is the one who annoys me even after you've managed to end our marriage, I no longer have a place in Crescent.”

“Selene—”

“I don't have to listen to an explanation, Aria,” I told the counselor respectfully. “I have come to understand that I am a threat to Crescent's future, so the healthiest thing for everyone is for the Alpha to exile me. I'd rather be a rogue than live in a place where I'm not respected.”

There was a collective gasp that I ignored.

Axel looked at me in dismay, and I arched my eyebrow derisively.

“You can live on the periphery of the pack and—”

“We both know that won't do, so do what you have to do, Alpha,” I said mockingly.

“Exile that half-breed for the sake of our baby,” Clare said in a mock sad tone of voice.

“I, Axel Dubois, Alpha of Crescent, exile you, Selene Belmont, from this pack.”

The bond that bound me to Axel as a member of his pack was broken, and, in that instant, I felt as if a great chain had been removed from my neck.

Let's get out of here; we have a baby boy to protect, Kate said proudly.

I turned and walked out of that basement with the conviction that I was doing what was best for my baby.