Chapter 5: The Alpha's rejection

"Expelled? On what grounds?"

The words felt like a death sentence. I stood there, shaking, my mind racing through everything we had given up. I've done so much for this pack day after day. My mother had literally sold her body to the pack’s Betas, letting them use her like a toy just so we could stay. And now, with one sentence, they were turning us into Rogues—meat for the wolves outside the gates.

Vera stood next to Catherine, wearing a smile so smug I wanted to rip it off her face. This was her plan all along. She was the one who had been sneaking into Alpha Kane’s bed, the one who spent her nights dreaming of being his Luna. She wanted me gone so there would be no one left to remember who she really was.

What I didn't understand was, we were best friends before! Why would she treat me like this?

"Princess Catherine, banishing a pack requires Alpha Kane’s permission," Vera reminded her, her voice high and fake. She looked at me with eyes full of excitement. She wasn't helping; she was rubbing it in, seemingly trying to help me out, but her expression betrayed her. She couldn't wait to see me kicked into the dirt the next second. Her hypocrisy made me want to vomit right there on the expensive carpet.

"Vera, just kick this disgusting trash out," Catherine snapped, her green eyes filled with resentment and disgust. "I know my brother will forgive my recklessness, after all, I cleaned up the trash for the Pack."

”

"Yes, my Princess Catherine! I’ll get rid of this disgusting trash right away!" Vera bowed and scraped like a servant before excitedly turning to run for the door, her heels clicking fast to summon the guards outside to kick me out.

"Princess Catherine, you’ve been deceived by Vera! She’s lying to you!" I shouted, dragging myself up despite the stabbing pain in my ribs. I sat up, wincing in pain, and pointed a shaking finger at Vera. "The one who truly seduced Alpha Kane is her! She’s the one in his bed!"

Vera stopped dead. She turned around, her face twisting into something demonic. Her high heels clicked as she charged at me. Before I could say another word, she lunged. The hard point of her high heel slammed into my chest, kicking me down. I heard a sickening thud as the air was knocked out of me, and I went sprawling back onto the floor.

"You’re talking utter nonsense!" Vera screamed, her face turning bright red. She turned to Catherine, sweat dripping down her forehead. "Princess Catherine, he’s slandering me! I’m so loyal to you, how could I possibly covet your brother?" Vera was sweating profusely, desperately trying to defend herself.

"Cough, cough, cough..." I coughed violently, the taste of warm metal filling my mouth. Blood trickled down the corner of my mouth. I nonchalantly wiped the blood away with my sleeve, looking her right in the eye. "Vera, don't you find this ridiculous? Everyone knows you’re Alpha Kane's mistress."

The room went dead quiet. The maids nearby who had been watching the spectacle all lowered their heads to the floor, too scared to even breathe. Princess Catherine frowned her delicate brows.

"Princess Catherine, he's framing me! He’s the one who wanted to sleep with Kane! I... I have witnesses!" Vera fell to her knees, facing Catherine's gaze. "Agnes—tell her! You heard him!" Cold sweat beaded on her forehead. Catherine hated nothing more than being lied to by those around her. If Catherine discovered she was lying, she would surely be demoted to an Omega. She looked at my bruised body and shook her head. She absolutely didn't want that to happen.

Catherine shouted, "Agnes, come here! Tell me, did he try to seduce Alpha Kane and become his luna?"

The maid who had betrayed me that morning knelt down, trembling. Completely unlike her previous arrogance, her head touched the floor. She stammered, "Yes... it was this despicable Omega who said it himself. He wanted to seduce the Alpha and be the Luna."

"You damned accomplice!" I yelled, my voice raw. "Don't you know I'm a man? Why would a man want to be fucked by another man?! Use your brain!" My words were somewhat crude, but these women really angered me. I pointed at Vera. "Look at her! She’s got a voluptuous figure. Kane wouldn't even look at a skinny guy like me!"

Catherine immediately looked at both of them. "That’s right. This Omega is a man, and you, Vera, have a voluptuous figure. My brother probably prefers your type; he wouldn't be interested in a skinny man!"

As Catherine finished speaking, she raised her hand high. I thought she was finally going to hit the liars.

Slap!  

The blow caught me across the face so loud and hard my vision went black for a second. Her sharp nails dug into my skin, leaving bloody marks down my cheek. I stared at Catherine in shock. I didn't expect that I was the one being hit. Why me? I was the one telling the truth.

The answer appeared the next second. Catherine rubbed her wrist with disdain. "It’s not up to you, a lowly Omega, to spout nonsense here," she whispered, her voice full of hate. "Don't forget what your damned father did to us!"

Vera initially thought she was being hit, but when she realized it was me, she became excited. She stood up and said ingratiatingly, "Princess Catherine, you’re so clever. And that vile mother of hers... she clings to the beta every day, begging for men to fuck her like a bitch in heat—"

I didn't think. I just moved.

Like a mad dog, I tackled Vera to the ground. I didn't care about the guards or the Princess. I just started punching her, hitting her repeatedly. I wouldn't allow her to insult my mother like that. My mother was noble; everything she did was for her children, to save us, and this bitch was laughing about it.

Catherine was shocked by the sudden turn of events and screamed. She instinctively tried to leave, but in the struggle, Vera suddenly grabbed Catherine’s ankle, tripping her. Catherine hit the floor hard. The whole room turned into pure chaos.

。

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!"  “

A majestic voice like thunder shook the walls. It was Alpha Kane.

"We're saved!" I heard someone whisper.

I stopped punching, panting heavily, gasping for air. Just standing up had exhausted all my strength. I hadn't really hit her; I just wanted to teach Vera a lesson. I looked toward the banquet entrance. Kane looked incredible today, very handsome, wearing a well-tailored velvet tuxedo with a black robe symbolizing his Alpha status.

Catherine scrambled up; her expensive dress was torn, her hair was a mess, and she looked somewhat disheveled. Seeing Kane, she threw herself into his arms, feeling wronged and crying her eyes out. "Brother! This Omega is the one who made me like this! He attacked me! I want you to kick him out of the pack!"

I hadn't expected Catherine to still remember these things. Alpha Kane looked at me coldly. I wanted to explain, but the helplessness I felt earlier had drained my strength. I guessed Kane would believe me—hoping, praying that the bond would mean something. After all, I was still his mate.

Kane simply patted Catherine’s head and comforted her. "Catherine, go change your clothes. The Lycan King... Lyall's coming. Don't forget, you're about to become his Luna. Don't let this trash ruin your day."

Hearing the Lycan King's name, Catherine's eyes lit up. She was eager to change, but before leaving, she glared at me fiercely and hissed, "I'm going to change now, brother. You have to teach this foolish Omega a lesson."

Kane nodded and then gave the order. "Guards," he said, his voice flat and cruel. "Give this Omega who defied the princess 100 lashes!"

I stared in disbelief. I knew Alpha Kane would protect his sister, but I never expected him to order me 100 lashes without even asking a reason.

One hundred lashes might save the life of an average male werewolf, but my werewolf instincts are suppressed. I'm just an ordinary human now, not even as good as a cub. One hundred lashes would kill me! It was a death sentence.

"No, I… I am..." I whispered, backing away. I wondered if he would let me go if I said I was his mate.

Alpha Kane, who had just walked up to me, suddenly stopped just inches away. He looked at me coldly, leaned down, and said in a low, terrifying growl in my ear.

"You want to say you’re my mate? How ridiculous! Do you think a man can be my partner? Besides, you’re the son of a murderer! Your father killed my father! You don’t deserve it!"

He stepped back, his face full of pure disgust.

"I, Kane Valerius, reject you, Ren Sinclair, from being my mate and Luna."

I stood there, stunned, as if struck by something. The rejection felt like a physical blade cutting through my chest. Inside my head, Fenris let out a soft, pathetic whimper and then went silent. The bond snapped, leaving a cold, empty hole where my soul used to be.

Until the Beta next to Alpha Kane grabbed my arms and dragged me away toward the courtyard. I didn't even fight them. The man I was supposed to belong to had just sentenced me to die.