Chapter 1: Painful Betrayal

"Let me in!" I yelled, my tone sharpened with annoyance as I stood seething in front of the guards standing like statues in front of the gate. "I'm the Alpha's mate, for goodness' sake! I've been here since noon, and now it's almost dark."

My legs hurt from standing for so long, and fatigue held me back. I had to go see Cole. I had to make things right between us, but these guards were immovable.

"Who ordered you to do this?" I demanded, glowering at them. "Surely not the Alpha. I'm his mate!"

The lead guard looked over at his partner, who shifted uneasily before responding. "Miss Georgina requested keeping you out, and the Alpha agreed to it."

Georgina. Naturally, it was her. That scheming female. What had she done this time?

I balled my fists, anger building. "What does she want this time? And why should you be obeying her commands? She's not the Luna; I am!"

The guards gave each other nervous glances but remained silent. The sun went down, and they still didn't open the gate. I was tired, leaned against the cold fence, and rested my head against it, closing my eyes as the night engulfed me.

When morning came, the cold of the night still remained in my bones. The footsteps coming towards the gate jolted me awake. A pack member was coming in, and I took advantage.

"Let me in!" I insisted, my voice firm.

The guards paused as they opened the gate for the pack member. Without waiting for them to give me permission, I pushed past them, squeezing through the narrow gap before they could stop me.

"Hey!" one of them yelled, but I did not slow down.

I entered the pack house, my heart thudding, hellbent on finding Cole. I went up the stairs to the second floor, straight to his bedroom. My hand floated over the doorknob, and then the voices from inside stopped me.

"Are you sure of what you're saying, George?" Cole's voice was uncertain but gravely serious. "This is a serious accusation."

"Believe me," Georgina said, her voice insincere. "I did see it with my own eyes. Do I have a motive to lie to you, Cole?"

"I don't want to believe you," he admitted, his voice laden with skepticism.

She continued, her tone gentle and compelling. "I've been your best friend since childhood, Cole. I'd never lie to you. You need to know what I know. Bella isn't who you believe her to be."

I reeled backward, my heart plummeting. Were they discussing me? What had I done this time, according to Georgina?

I could not react in time; the doorknob had turned and the door creaked open. Cole walked out, his eyes meeting mine. I scoured his face for some spark of warmth, but there was only disgust.

He said nothing, giving me no chance to speak. He passed by me as if I did not exist.

Inside, Georgina was standing, a smug grin on her lips. "What did you say to him this time?" I asked, my voice shaking with rage.

She didn't reply but just smiled mockingly. My fists curled into themselves, but I turned away, knowing now wasn't the moment.

A moment later, a knock at my door. It was the Beta, his face unreadable. "The Alpha has called you to the courtroom," he stated curtly.

The courtroom? My gut was queasy. What was happening?

As I entered, the space was chill and foreboding, with a high ceiling graced by an elegant chandelier that reflected severe light off the council members assembled around a large table. Cole stood at its head, his eyes cold and unyielding.

"What is this?" I demanded, my voice trembling as I absorbed the hostile glances of the council.

Cole didn't respond, nor did he glance at me.

One of the council members, a middle-aged man named Thomas, stood to speak. "Miss Bella, you are here to account for your behavior. Surely you understand why."

"No," I said sharply, my voice increasing. "I don't."

Thomas arched a dubious brow. "You were found in a position unbefitting a Luna; several witnesses saw you with another man."

My breath caught in my throat. "Are you accusing me of cheating on Cole?"

"That's Alpha Cole to you," Thomas snarled.

I looked at Cole, hoping he would listen to me. "Cole, you know me. I would never."

"You will not speak unless spoken to," he cut in icily.

Thomas went on, "Miss Georgina says she saw you in a compromising position with another man."

I shook my head, tears welling in my eyes. "That's a lie! Cole, please."

"You should have thought of that before you betrayed me," Cole replied, his voice as cold as ice.

"I didn't do anything!" I begged. "You're my mate, my only one. Please, don't do this!"

But he held up his hand to stop me.

"I, Alpha Cole, reject you, Bella, as my mate, and I hereby banish you from this pack."

The words struck me like a body blow, stealing the air from my lungs. His eyes were cold, unmoving, as if I meant nothing to him. I collapsed to my knees, the load of his words suffocating me more than the chill ground beneath. My chest strained as the connection unwound, unraveled like strings of a one-time valued tapestry.

"I, Bella Reid," my voice broke, heavy with grief, "accept your rejection."

The words tumbled from my lips, every syllable a knife that cut through the connection holding us together. A flash of pain crossed his eyes, so brief I wondered if I imagined it. But he stood still, unmoving, his stance as hard as stone.

The pain in my chest became too much, and for an instant, I felt like I would break into a million pieces. My wolf whined in protest, the connection crying out for survival.

Tears poured down my cheeks as I staggered out of the room. When I arrived at my bedroom, the guards stood in my way.

"You can't take anything," one of them told me bluntly.

I dropped to my knees and wept. My world had collapsed in a moment.

As I ran from the pack house, I could hear Georgina's voice, venomous and triumphant.

"Kill her," she commanded the two men standing by her side, her smile growing wider as they moved toward me.