ste

had left me humiliated and defenseless. What could I say? That Martha

'm sorry," I whispere

ndle it? How? By firing her? Celeste, you don't e

, the sound echoing the finality in her t

ce was sharp, cutting away all pretense. "You are a mistake of the Moon Goddess, a flawed

egant room seeming to tilt around me. It was the

an Alpha female, or at least a powerful Beta who can stand by

another document, thicker and more imposing

th as silk. "And a settlement. The moment you sign it, accepting Doria

live a life of luxury in the human world. She s

ce piercing my soul. Even without love, to be formally rejected

ifted my head and met her cold

ill agree. He is only bound by his sense of Alpha duty. By

atened to swallow me whole,

ther, the Alpha King, Alaric Carlisl

e, a deer in the headlights, and merely raised an eyebrow.

didn't even grant me a glance. He walked strai

nt, desperate plea for... some

ld, cruel smirk touched the corner of his mouth

warm and affectionate. They formed a tight circle of power and fami

able, then back to me. "Dinner is ready," she announce

nvitation. It

me. I was trapped. I could only

ards the dining room. Each step

back. He never ask

housand times more painful th

be accepting the Rejection was the only way out. The thought

oat, where an Alpha's mark should be. Tonight, it felt less l

ked into the dining room, my