Chapter 3: Rejected

I stood there, stunned. Expel me? For what? I had slaved away for the Pack day after day, and now Princess Elara, seeing me for the first time, wanted to banish me as a Rogue based on a single word?

"Princess, that would require Alpha Kane's approval," Lilith said, bowing and scraping before Elara with a sickeningly obsequious smile that made my stomach turn.

"Fine," Elara replied casually, picking at her nails. "I'll tell Kane to handle this bitch. She annoys me just by existing. But Lilith, teach her a lesson first. See if she dares seduce Kane again!"

"With pleasure!" Lilith cracked her knuckles, smirking as she stepped forward and slapped my face hard, back and forth with vicious swings.

I reeled, completely dazed, stumbling to the ground as my ears rang and my cheeks burned with swelling pain.

These two lunatics!

I struggled to my feet, but Lilith kicked my ankle sharply, sending a jolt of agony through me that forced me back to my knees.

"Princess Elara, you've been tricked by Lilith! She's the one who's been seducing Kane!" I pointed at her, my voice trembling as I spat out the truth.

"You fucking liar!" Lilith snarled, her eyes wild, and she kicked me square in the chest. I collapsed flat on the ground, gasping, unable to rise for what felt like forever.

I coughed violently, a metallic sweetness filling my throat as blood trickled from the corner of my mouth.

"Princess, she's slandering me! I respect you so much—how could I ever covet your fiancé?" Lilith protested, sweating profusely, desperate to defend herself.

"I suppose you're right," Elara said, eyeing Lilith coolly before nodding. "Lilith, give this Omega a proper lesson."

"Yes, Your Highness!" Lilith beamed with smug satisfaction, glaring down at me as she unleashed a barrage of kicks to my chest and stomach.

I had endured beatings and humiliations all my life, but Lilith was my sister. Even if she hated me, why treat me like this?

Blood poured from my mouth in coughs, and Lilith pressed her high-heeled shoe against my throat, pinning me. I closed my eyes in despair.

"One word from Princess Elara, and you die right here," Lilith sneered, posing arrogantly. A little more pressure, and it would be over.

But I wasn't ready to die!

"Liora, get up! Fight back!" my inner wolf, Nova, roared urgently in my mind.

My eyes snapped open, and suddenly, strength surged through my body. I swung my fist wildly, feeling an invisible force burst out, slamming into Lilith's chest and abdomen.

"What the hell?" Lilith cursed, staggering backward, clutching her midsection and doubling over in pain.

I stared at her in shock. What had I just done? She was down, dazed and defeated, just like that?

I didn't understand it, but in that moment, I refused to hold back anymore. I seized the advantage, kicking Lilith to the ground. Rage overtook me, erasing all reason. I straddled her, grabbing her hair and slapping her face repeatedly with all my fury.

If she wouldn't treat me like a sister, I had no mercy left for her.

"This Omega's gone mad!" Elara shrieked, rushing forward to stop me. I looked up at her, my gaze sharp as a blade.

She stumbled back a few steps, her face paling.

I rose from Lilith and advanced on Elara, my aura radiating lethal intent.

"You touch me, and I'll kill you!" Elara warned.

I knew she was a Lycan, a superior werewolf with far greater strength than mine.

But fear had abandoned me. I lunged, grabbing her wrist tightly.

A full fight was about to erupt. Then, someone seized my collar, lifting me off the ground so my feet dangled in the air.

"Let me go!" I protested, twisting to see who it was. Kane.

"Omega, you dare lay a hand on my future Luna?!" Kane's handsome face twisted with fury as he squeezed my neck hard.

"I did nothing wrong! Elara and Lilith attacked me first!" I argued, unwilling to back down.

"She's the Lycan King's sister, a princess. Even if she beats you to death, you deserve it!" Kane spat the cruel words coldly.

Tears slid down my cheeks. She was a princess, I was an Omega—so I deserved to be trampled?

My mate sided completely with her, ignoring my pain entirely?

"Kane, this lunatic nearly killed Lilith and was about to attack me!" Elara whined, batting her lashes at him coquettishly. "If you'd arrived a second later, I would've shifted and fought her to the death."

"She's not worth your effort, darling," Kane said, tossing me to the ground like trash. He pulled Elara into his arms, kissing her forehead tenderly. "Don't worry, I'll punish her severely."

"Guards, lock Liora in the dungeon. Whip her a hundred times a day," Kane ordered indifferently, his eyes on me devoid of any warmth. "If she resists, expel her from the Pack immediately!"

I stared at him in disbelief, my eyes widening.

The dungeon... I'd been there before, a freezing, damp hellhole with lecherous guards. Aurora had thrown me in once, and I'd barely escaped rape multiple times, fighting desperately to protect myself. Kane sending me there was like signing my death warrant.

He turned to leave, arm around a smug Elara, but paused and leaned close to my ear. "One more thing. I, Kane Knight, reject you, Liora Smith, as my mate and Luna."

I froze, as if struck by lightning. Nova whimpered and sobbed in my mind.

Guards rushed over, bowing to Kane and Elara. They hauled me up, and I glared at Kane, my eyes nearly bleeding with intensity.

"Elara and I are holding our engagement ceremony soon. The Lycan King will attend. As for that Omega, let her rot in the dungeon and reflect," Kane sneered.

A few she-wolves gathered nearby, whispering about how handsome King Adrian was, enough to drive anyone wild.

I just stared at Kane as tears streamed down unexpectedly. The guards dragged me away mercilessly, hurling me into the dark, damp dungeon.

I huddled in the cold cell, a fire burning in my chest. Suddenly, I burst into unrestrained sobs. Thinking of my hellish life, how no one loved me—not even my mate—I shattered, more desperate and alone than ever.

The next day, they bound me to the rack, and a guard lashed my scarred body with an iron whip. My skin split open, flesh torn and bloody. But the physical pain paled compared to the ache in my heart.

Tears streaming, I whispered shakily, "I, Liora Smith, accept your rejection, Kane Knight."

As the mate bond snapped, excruciating pain tore through me. My vision blurred, and I felt myself slipping toward death.

Kane POV:

I was preparing for my engagement ceremony with Elara when a sharp pain gripped my heart, like something squeezing it tight. I gasped, sucking in air.

"Kane, our mate accepted the rejection!" my inner wolf, Onyx, howled in my mind, utterly devastated. "Why did you reject her?"

"She killed my father! And I have to marry Elara. Only her status can secure my position as Alpha and strengthen the Pack," I said, clenching my fists, though regret gnawed at me.

"Your father tried to rape her first. She had no choice..." Onyx defended Liora. "I can sense her wolf is incredibly strong. She's perfect for you."

"Enough," I cut him off. "I had to do it."

I knew Liora was stunningly beautiful. Every time I saw her face, I wanted to pull her close and kiss her passionately. I'd made Lilith my lover, but whenever I fucked her, I imagined Liora.

Damn it, I admitted it—I was tempted by her. I returned to my room and summoned Lilith. She was pretty, wild in bed, but she always fell short.

I got straight to it, ripping off her clothes and licking her breasts. She moaned sluttily, rubbing her soaked pussy against my cock. I thrust into her without hesitation. It was tight and hot, but my mind was flooded with thoughts of Liora. Fuck, I wanted to take her!

I pounded Lilith like a madman, making her roll her eyes back and scream in ecstasy. I squeezed her tender breasts hard, growling as I came deep inside her.

Liora was no longer my mate. And tomorrow, Elara and I would hold our engagement ceremony. King Adrian would be there too.