Chapter 4: You Do Not Deserve To Have A Mate

Beads of perspiration trickled down Menroe's forehead, his nervousness growing with every passing moment as he felt suffocated by the oppressive atmosphere in the room.

His hands moved urgently over various parts of Freya's body, desperately attempting to invoke his healing magic, just as it usually worked when he tended to the pack members. Yet, despite his best efforts, everything he did seemed futile. Freya remained unresponsive, her temperature rising as her complexion turned even paler.

The only thing preventing Menroe's throat from being torn out and flung across the room was the stark realization that he was the sole healer in their vicinity.

The Alphas had initially contemplated bringing in their own healers, but they quickly dismissed the idea due to the considerable time it would take for them to arrive.

"Why is she running a fever? Why isn't she healing? Goddammit, where's your damn Alpha?" Steele seethed with frustration, his eyes glaring daggers at Menroe.

"Mariah was severely injured and is contemplating how to apologize to you. He's with her at the moment. Is there anything I can do to assist?" Will asked as he appeared in the doorway.

Knight placed one hand on his hip while using the other to gesture towards Will and then towards the unconscious Freya. "Why isn't the treatment working on her? Is this the first time she's sought treatment from the pack's healer?"

Will, with both hands clasped behind his back, nervously clenched his fists as he entered the room.

"Pack members receive treatment from the healer regularly, and as the Beta, I have other responsibilities beyond monitoring who receives treatment. Hence, I'm not aware of her specific case," Will replied with a neutral tone.

Knight's eyes darkened as he advanced towards Will. "The lives of everyone in this pack, including your Alpha's, hold no significance to me. You should pray to the moon goddess that nothing happens to her."

Will tried to voice a protest but whimpered when he saw Knight's eyes gleam red.

"Go ahead, tell me why the treatment isn't working on her," Steele instructed Menroe, who was trembling in fear.

Seconds passed in agonizing silence as Menroe struggled to find his words. Steele rubbed his forehead in frustration and moved closer to Menroe.

"Is this not the first time you've treated her, by any chance?" Steele inquired.

"Her injuries are typically minor since she undertakes menial tasks within the pack. Consequently, I've let her tend to herself while I attend to those with more critical needs," Menroe stammered, his fear palpable.

Steele hummed in response before reaching for Menroe's neck, choking him without a hint of remorse.

Hunter turned his attention to Freya, carefully cradling her delicate hands within his own. One of his large hands enveloped both of hers.

"She's an omega, which means she lacks the healing abilities of other wolves. Her body takes three times longer to heal than that of an ordinary wolf. Are you aware of this, Beta?" Hunter inquired, tilting his head in Will's direction.

With Will being firmly held by Knight, the excruciating pain he felt from Knight's grip left him unable to think clearly. In response to Hunter's question, he nodded vigorously to convey his understanding.

Hunter continued his questioning, his gaze unrelenting. "Then why did you stand by and watch her get neglected by the pack's healer?"

Alexander appeared at the door just then, his eyes flashing with a mix of fear and anger as he witnessed the sorry state of his pack's healer and Beta.

"Alphas, I think we can get to the bottom of this once Freya wakes up," he pleaded, clenching his right hand into a tight fist.

A sinister smile curled across Hunter's lips, and he let out a low, chilling chuckle.

"Alphas are meant to protect those in their packs. In fact, that's the most important role of an alpha," Hunter mused as he turned his attention to Alexander. He placed a hand beneath his chin and inquired, "Do you remember what happens if you're incapable of carrying out that task?"

Alexander stared at Hunter for a moment, but before he could respond, Hunter waved him off and directed his attention to Menroe.

"Pack healer, would you be so kind as to tell us what happens to such an alpha?" Hunter inquired.

As Steele released his grip on Menroe, the pack healer massaged his neck, still reeling from the encounter. However, he realized he had no choice but to respond; betraying his Alpha was not an option.

"I think I should check up on her again," Menroe suggested nervously.

"Of course, you can," Hunter agreed, a sly grin on his face, "but you might be walking away from the opportunity to become the next Alpha of this pack."

Menroe's heart skipped a beat, and he glanced around, avoiding Alexander's eyes as he grappled with the difficult decision before him.

"They'll be deemed incompetent of leading a pack and will be stripped of their position as an Alpha," Menroe finally replied.

"Excellent," Hunter chuckled, turning his attention back to Alexander. He stepped closer, his face mere inches from the Alpha's. "The Council has sent us to inspect your pack. They're considering dissolving your pack."

Just as tension filled the room, a weak voice spoke up, pleading, "I'm sorry for being here, Alexander. I have no idea how I got here. I'm so sorry, please don't punish me!"

Hunter and the others swiftly turned their attention to Freya, who had awakened at some point, her pillow dampened by her tears as she believed herself to be in trouble.

Hunter's cold demeanor softened, and he approached her gently. "Every pack member has the privilege of being treated by the pack healer, so you don't have to apologize for anything," he reassured her.

However, Freya shook her head, tears still streaming down her face onto her pillow. "You don't understand. I'm not supposed to be here. I shouldn't be here."

Steele's whose eyes was clouded with anger and turmoil, turned and left the room.

Hunter approached Alexander and remarked before leaving, "It's almost time for breakfast."

Hunter, the Alpha who had silenced Freya earlier, also left the room after a careful look on Alexander. Clearly, Freya wasn't comfortable with them being in the room and showing that they understood her, they thought it was best to give her her space.

After they departed, the room fell into complete silence, and Alexander approached Freya. He loomed over her, his expression filled with contempt.

"Stop acting weak. Whatever you did to the Alphas seems to be working," He sneered at her.

Freya nervously gulped but remained silent.

Alexander continued to scrutinize her, his lips twitching in suppressed rage.

"You've implicated Mariah in trouble. Be a good sister and clear her name during breakfast by telling the Alphas that Mariah didn't intend to harm you in any way. How could she have known you skipped dinner because you were occupied with something?" he instructed, growing increasingly irritated when Freya remained silent, her tears falling once more.

"Do you really not love me as your mate, Alexander?" Freya found herself asking.

"Are you surprised that whatever you used on them doesn't work on me? I will never love a despicable and low omega like you. Never!" he growled before storming out of the room, closely followed by Will, who regarded Freya with clear hatred in his eyes.

Now, she was left alone with Menroe.

A day ago, Menroe might have forcibly expelled her from his presence in anger, but today, he couldn't afford to. Doing so would not only endanger him but also put the entire pack at risk.

When he saw Freya attempting to rise, he hurried toward her. "You shouldn't do that. If you collapse again, you might not survive."

"Why are you treating me?" Freya asked in surprise.

"You're the Alphas' mate. That makes you a Luna, a Luna who... should be treated like a person," he replied, hesitating for a moment but finishing his sentence nonetheless.

Freya gazed up at him and let out a bitter chuckle. She couldn't help but recall the scene when the Alphas had introduced themselves earlier.

She had rushed away from them because she had assumed that, in her usual fashion, she had caused trouble for Alexander and the pack.

If she hadn't woken up and overheard the discussion about her being mated to all three Alphas, no amount of explanations would have convinced her that they weren't searching for a reason to punish her for something she couldn't even remember.

"I'm afraid I can't allow you to leave this room until I'm certain you'll be okay," Menroe stated, blocking her path as he realized she was attempting to exit.

"Do you also think I did something to the Alphas? Is that why they believe they are mated to me, or rather, why they think they are mated to me?" Freya inquired, coming to a halt in front of him.

Menroe initially hesitated, avoiding her gaze.

"Come on, Menroe. Stop pretending to respect me. I bet deep down, you're hoping the Alphas are just putting on an act to humiliate me further. Tell me what you truly think. I promise I won't share it with them," Freya pressed, seeking his honest opinion.

Menroe finally met her gaze and spoke, his words biting with disdain. "You don't deserve to have a mate, let alone be mated to not one but three Alphas. It's unprecedented, and it speaks volumes about your wretchedness."

A lump formed in Freya's throat, and her chest tightened. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she hastily wiped them away from the corners.

Menroe grew nervous when he realized that this was not the same Freya who could be bullied by everyone without anyone standing up for her.

In fact, with her current status, she didn't need anyone to stand up for her. She could easily handle people like him with ease and no one would question her.

"Given that I merely did what you asked, I think it's only right that you don't divulge what I just said to the Alphas before they get me killed!" he quickly added in a shaky voice.

"I know that, Menroe. And I'm feeling much better now. I should leave your office now," Freya declared. Without waiting for his acknowledgment, she walked past him and out of the room.

From all indications, they were only afraid of her newly elevated status but not her.

"Where do you think you are you going?" Freya who was walking back to the shack at the back of the house where she stayed halted, hearing Will's angry voice.

"My bin." She responded aptly, looking down at her feet.

"You're pathetic." He spat, walking closer to her, "i don't know how you did it, but as a future Luna, you're to have breakfast with the rest of the pack."