9. The Rejection of The Alpha

“Stop what you’re doing right now, Lance!”

I took a step forward, my legs still shaky from the duel I had earlier with Dominic. My body screamed for rest, but I ignored the pain. I didn’t care. Not anymore. I had to face him, now!

I walked toward him with heavy steps. He stood tall and unfazed, even as I positioned myself between him and Dominic.

He didn’t flinch.

Instead, he smiled—smug, confident, and cruel. That same smile that used to make my heart race now only fueled the anger burning inside me. I clenched my fists so tightly my nails dug into my skin.

I thought about the child growing inside me. A child that shouldn’t have to be born into this twisted world. I once believed Lance and I would have time—that we had a future. That maybe we could fix things between us.

But I was wrong.

Everything was falling apart.

And I wasn’t going to let him get what he wanted. Not this time.

“So, you finally showed yourself,” he said.

“Everyone lied. They said you weren’t here. That they didn’t know where you were. But I knew. I knew your brother Adrian was here. And if he’s here, you’re not far behind.”

I stared at Adrian as he growled.

“And you knew my brother was alive,” I whispered angrily, “You knew where to find me the moment you found out I’d left your pack.”

His eyes narrowed, anger flashing behind them.

“You have no right to talk to me like this,” he snapped.

“Let’s go,” he added as he reached for my hand.

But I slapped his hand away without hesitation.

“No!” I said firmly. “I’m not going anywhere with you. I’m staying here. In this pack.”

His eyes widened in disbelief.

“What are you saying?” he whispered. “You’re staying here? You’re rejecting me? I’m your mate, Cassie. You can’t do that. You can’t reject an Alpha!”

I lifted my chin and looked him dead in the eyes.

“Yes, I can. And I just did. You already made your choice, Lance.”

I didn’t know where I was getting this courage from. Maybe it was the pain. Maybe it was the anger. Or maybe it was just the fact that I’d had enough. I was done being the weak one. Done being the woman he tossed aside whenever it suited him.

“I’m tired of living in your shadow,” I said. “You humiliated me in front of your pack. You chose Arielle over me. And now she’s carrying your pup.”

“What else is left for me in your life, Lance? What am I supposed to come back to? More betrayal? More pain?”

He tried to speak, but I growled. Deep, loud, and full of power.

Something surged inside me. An energy I couldn’t explain. It ran through my veins like fire, like my wolf was finally waking up. Stronger than before. And angry.

But she was still healing.

‘Finish this already,’ she growled inside me. ‘There’s nothing left for you with him. He’ll only keep hurting you. He’ll use you. Leave. Let him go.’

I felt the truth in her words. I had clung to the hope that Lance would choose me, that he would fight for me. But he never did. He fought for power, for status, for everything else but me.

“You don’t have the right to make this kind of decision, Cassie!” Lance growled, his voice rising with rage. “You are mine, and there’s nothing you can do about it!”

I stood my ground even as his voice echoed around the clearing. The warriors nearby turned to look, but I didn’t care.

Let them see.

“Maybe you’ve forgotten,” he continued, stepping closer to me. “What your father did to my family. Do you even remember that betrayal?”

That’s when something inside me snapped.

“Enough!” I shouted.

My voice shook the air around us. It wasn’t just a scream—it was deeper, stronger. My chest tightened as something unfamiliar surged within me. A power I couldn’t name. It growled through my throat and rattled in my bones.

And then I felt it.

My wolf.

She was rising—slowly, but with force. My vision blurred as heat burned behind my eyes. I could feel them change. The color. The shape. I didn’t need a mirror to know that everyone around me could see it. They were staring now, whispering in hushed voices. Shocked. Frozen.

No one had ever seen this side of me before.

Not even me.

But I wasn’t scared.

I was angry.

I turned to Lance, my voice cold and full of fire. “I already know the truth about my family. You think throwing that at me will change anything? It won’t. My father doesn’t deserve the blame you keep throwing at him!”

I stepped even closer to him. “You better think carefully about what you say next. Because no matter what you say or do now, you will never control me again.”

His jaw clenched.

“You stripped me of my pride. You made me look like nothing but your toy in front of your whole pack.”

I could feel the disgust rising in my throat.

“You used my body, Lance,” I spat. “And don’t you dare try to deny it. You never cared about me—you only cared about having me when it was convenient for you. I was good enough to keep in the dark, to touch when no one was watching—but never good enough to stand beside you.”

His expression twisted, but I didn’t stop.

“If I go back with you, I know exactly what you’ll do. You’ll use me all over again.”

I lifted my chin, glaring at him with everything I had.

“My father doesn’t deserve what happened to him. He was loyal. He was strong. He fought for justice. And what did he get in return? Lies. Betrayal. A ruined name.”

My hands balled into fists as my voice cracked—not from weakness, but from pain. “He deserved justice. Not disgrace!”

Then I pointed straight at Lance, my heart pounding in my chest.

“Now, leave!”

Gasps filled the air.

Lance stepped back slightly.

That was when Adrian stepped forward, alarmed. “Cassie, that’s enough,” he said urgently. “You’re losing control.”

But I didn’t listen.

Because he was right—I was losing control.

But for the first time, I didn’t want to stop it.

I wanted Lance to feel what I felt. To taste even a drop of the torment he put me through. I wanted him to know that I wasn’t afraid of him anymore. That I wasn’t going to be silent. Or obedient. Or weak.

My wolf growled from within, louder now, clearer.

‘Let it go,’ she urged. ‘Let them see who you really are.’