Chapter 730 Accept the rejection, or die with the pain
This was the first time all the Alphas agreed on the same thing. Their voices rose together, a clear chorus of judgment that echoed across the pack grounds.
“Yes.”
Alpha Dean’s eyes filled with tears as the weight of his actions finally crashed down on him. No Alpha stood by his side. No one spoke in his defense. It was a silent, unanimous verdict that left no room for doubt. There would be no trial. The Alpha King was free to pass any judgment he saw fit.
“No, you cannot do this, King Voren. My grandfather founded the Western Tribe.”
Voren scoffed, the sound sharp and dismissive. He ordered the warriors with a wave of his hand. “Take him to the dungeon. We will decide his fate after this matter is investigated properly, but for now, he does not need his manhood.”
Vladimir smiled darkly, his eyes glinting with anticipation. Voren quickly added, “Not here, Dad. Please do it in the dungeon.”
Alpha Dean was screaming as the warriors dragged him away, his voice rising higher and cracking with desperation. “No, I want to see my wife, my mate, my Luna.”
Most of the middle-aged Alphas followed, eager to rid the vile Alpha of his manhood. Their footsteps echoed across the pack grounds like a procession of vengeance.
“He deserves more punches too,” Vladimir said as they walked. The other middle-aged Alphas agreed in a low rumble of approval. They beat Alpha Dean to a pulp before the warriors took him to the dungeon, fists slamming into him again and again until he was barely conscious. They were going to make sure he never had a manhood to call his own.
Off to the side, Alpha Cage shook his head, his expression grim. He was the only one who truly knew how painful it was to live without manhood.
Seeing that attention had moved, Cleopatra smiled and knelt before Voren. Her movements were graceful and practiced, the performance of a woman who had spent years learning how to survive.
“King Voren, thank you for giving me and the she-wolves of my pack justice. We were just victims. I will be faithful to my fated mate, Beta Kael, from now on.”
Voren’s gaze darkened, his eyes narrowed. He knew the girl was not as innocent as she looked, but how could he prove it? For some reason, he felt sorry for Kael, wondering why the Moon Goddess had paired him with someone like this. The unfairness of it burned in his chest.
“Your Alpha was my call to deal with, but your bond is beyond me. Only Kael has the right to decide whether or not you are worthy of him.”
Cleopatra smiled bitterly, the expression twisted and hollow. She crawled on her knees to Kael, hands reaching for him, eyes wide and pleading. “Kael, I am sorry, but it was not entirely my fault.”
Kael took a step back, his face hard and unyielding. “At fifteen, you were a victim. In fact, you were a victim until we got bonded. I know what I saw. You were not forced, Cleo. You were enjoying it.”
The corner of Voren’s lips twitched with a quiet sigh of relief. Kael was mature enough to handle his mate after all. The boy had grown into a man.
“No, Beta Kael, you have to believe me.”
This time, her own pack members stood against her. A she-wolf stepped forward, her voice shaking with years of held-back rage. “You told me the day you locked me inside the storeroom for a week without food that the Luna would soon be dead, and you would take her place.”
Cleopatra felt the ground move under her as the foundation of her lies began to crumble.
“Why are you lying?” she cried, her voice rising in desperation. She couldn’t lose her chance with Beta Kael, not when Dean had been taken away. “I took care of you.”
“You are the liar, mistress,” Bella said, her voice steady and cold. Seraphine had brought her back to consciousness, and she wanted justice. “Luna Cassandra would have been dead if I had given her the tea you always handed me to give her. I knew you wanted to poison her and pin it on me, so I never gave her any of it. You are just a power-hungry bitch.”
Seraphine was stunned by the revelations. She knew most packs had rotten secrets, but she never imagined anything this deep. The level of depravity in front of her was staggering.
“Bella, why are you doing this? Is it because you are in love with my mate?” Cleopatra’s voice cracked, her eyes wild. “How can anyone blame me? I see the way he looked at Jasmine. He loves her. Yes, I have the bond, but I never had his heart. He only wanted me because he knew I would not be able to lead the pack, and he would automatically become Alpha.”
Kael’s fingers curled into fists, knuckles turning white. He could not believe he had chosen such a vile woman over Jasmine. Yes, Jasmine had her flaws, but she would never do something like this.
Aside from looking for love in the wrong places, she had never hurt anyone. Her actions had also been driven by Olivia. Jasmine had changed a lot since then. She had grown past the lust and become a better leader.
Seraphine had taught her how to be a good person, and Liah had shown her a side of herself she never knew existed.
Before he could answer, Damon spoke for him, his voice cutting through the tension.
“Yeah, he loved Jasmine, and we all know that. But when he got bonded to you, he accepted you. And you think it is because he wants to be Alpha? Girl, you must be so full of yourself. Your Alpha rank and whole pack cannot compare to the rank of a beta at the Grimroot pack.”
“Besides, there are better packs that need Alphas. Why would he leave the pack he has always belonged to and travel a thousand miles for you? He chose the bond over his heart. Honestly, I hated him for choosing you, and instead of making him happy, you decided to be this shameless and still try to pin the blame on him.”
Cleopatra felt the shame burn across her skin. Did she really think she could win against anyone at the Grimroot pack? Even if Kael had done something wrong, Voren would protect him publicly and deal with him in private. She had no allies here. No one to fight for her.
“Please, Kael,” Cleopatra turned back to pleading, her voice broken and desperate.
But Kael’s cold voice silenced her. “I, Kael Vaughn, reject you, Cleopatra Shawn, as my fated mate.”
“No!” Cleopatra cried as pain shot through her heart, sharp and devastating. The pain left Kael’s chest the moment the words left his mouth because he carried no guilt. He had done nothing wrong. “I will never accept your rejection. I love you, Beta Kael.”
Kael shrugged, feeling light, as if chains had been lifted from his shoulders. Even though he could still feel her pain through the unbroken bond, all he felt was relief.
“Accept the rejection, or die with the pain.”
“No,” Cleopatra refused, her voice hardening with defiance. “If I don’t accept it, you will never be with Jasmine.”
Author’s Note
In one of tomorrow’s Chapters, the reason for this pairing will be revealed. Thank you for your amazing support.