Chapter 3

“What?!” I exclaimed in shock and began rushing down myself.

“Marcy, come on, wait for me!” I heard Martha call out to me from behind as she tried to keep up with me. She didn't know why I was this anxious, I couldn't let my mates fight and kill each other.

Outside was crowded, the entire pack was watching the duel. Once I got there, I struggled to get past the people watching, I could hear their conversations as I walked by. 

“Who do you think is going to win the duel, Alpha Ryker or Evan?”

“Hmm, I stand with Alpha Ryker. He is more experienced in fighting and when it comes to leading the pack, I think he is doing a good job so far”

“I disagree. Evan is a prodigy in combat hence his title as commander in chief to the pack's army. Through his current position, we can all see his leadership skills aren't lacking either. He deserves a chance as alpha, Alpha Ryker can't rule forever”

…

The arguments continued heatedly among the audience, I didn't care about who was alpha or not, all I wanted was to stop my mates from fighting to death. 

At last, I got to the forefront. What I saw involuntarily formed a lump in my throat, I could feel the mate bond twisted in anguish as I watched them.

It was a duel to death. Each move or attack on the opponent was nothing short of fatal. They were strong, they were both bleeding from different parts of their body but none surrendered or stopped. They were really ready to kill their own blood… What deep rooted conflict could have caused them to be like this?

I couldn't bear to watch them fight anymore, I had only just known them yesterday but the bond already made me feel connected to them.

“STOP! ENOUGH!!!” I screamed at the top of my voice as I walked into the fighting circle.

All eyes turned to me and everywhere went deathly silent except for the fighting duo. 

“Has she gone mad? What is she doing?”

“Does she know she just committed a grievous offence by interrupting a duel between alphas?”

“How foolish! Who does she think she is, Luna?” 

…

I expected the reactions from the crowd, I knew I looked crazy but I cared not.

“Stay out of this!” Ryker said with a warning growl while in a temporary lock with Evan.

“I will not. I will not stand and watch my mates tear into each other's hides and worse still… kill themselves” I retorted with a firm tone.

My statement rose a round of confusion among the audience, 

“This omega sure is brazen, she is going to die a useless death of she doesn't shut her mouth”

“Mates? Pfft… yeah right, in her wildest dreams”

“Father and son mates to one measly omega, she sure can dream”

…

Some people bursted out laughing and marveled at the impossibility of my statement.

Alpha Ryker and Evan stopped fighting and turned to look at me, Ryker looked even more livid.

“Go back inside, woman,” Ryker warned again.

“No, I will not go… not until you both stop this duel” I insisted, growling slowly.

There was silence again as everyone waited for what the two men would say next, they were probably expecting guards to take me away to be prosecuted for disrespect.

After what felt like hours which were actually seconds, Alpha Ryker exchanged looks with Evan before saying in a loud voice. 

“The duel has been canceled. Please everyone return to your homes” 

The announcement was of course not met with acceptance. A life and death duel was a fight till one person died so once initiated must be seen through to the end. This was the first duel to be canceled halfway and it was all because of me so that could only mean one thing…

What I said was true, both dueling opponents were my mates.

“No, Father and son mated to one person is unacceptable”

“Agreed. She is an omega too, she can never be our Luna”

“We will not accept this mateship! It's not right” 

 … 

An uproar broke out and everyone began speaking heatedly. Meanwhile, I was relieved that the duel was canceled, I didn't think they would actually listen to me. I knew I was going to be in trouble when Alpha Ryker marched towards me and grabbed my hand roughly. He pulled me with him as he walked into the alpha building, Evan followed behind us.

I could only whimper because his grip was hurting my hand but I dared not to speak. We got into the building in a few minutes and the door was slammed shut.

“You crossed the line today, mate. Who permitted you to tell the pack about our bond? Huh… ANSWER ME!” His loud angry voice made me flinch.

“I…” I stammered, not knowing what to say when faced with the alpha's wrath, I unconsciously looked at Evan for help but he looked away as if to say I was alone in the one.

“Do you know what you have just done? The pack wasn't supposed to know, goddammit!” he continued barking at me.

“Don’t let him talk to us like that, Marcy. He has no right!” Celline suddenly came forward, seemingly angry at Alpha Ryker. Her mood lit up mine like a match and I began feeling angry too. 

“What was I supposed to do? I was left with no choice watching you both fight to death. Have you forgotten that you are both my mates?” I replied to him with a bolder tone.

“First of all, he asked for a fight to prove a point and I never backed down from one. The fight has nothing to do with you, a weak omega like you had no right to interfere… I could get you beheaded for this” 

“Hey, you should also know that I was ready to kick your alpha ass down to hell, I never back down from a fight especially the one I initiated” Evan chipped in. Seemed like he would never let Ryker have the last words. 

“Secondly…” Ryker ignored him and continued, “We are not mates, I do not accept any bond with a mere omega and I'm definitely not sharing a mate with my son. So get over your head because I reject this mate bond” he spat out looking me dead in the eyes.

Celline anger crackled inside me and I retorted, “I am not an omega so don't call me one again, omegas don't shift but I did before your eyes yesterday. My name is Marceline and we are mates whether you accept it or not” 

Alpha Ryker growled in warning and replied “Watch how you speak to me, I am still your alpha. I don't care about who or what you are, I refuse to accept the bond and that is final. Go cling to my son and stay out of my way”

“There he goes again about being the alpha, my due position. Anyway, I am not interested in the mate bond either. Omegas disgust me and sharing a bond with my father and rival is just plain nasty. I reject the bond as well”

Facing two rejections simultaneously evaporated my anger in seconds and I felt my heart hurt from heartbreak. They both rejected me like I was some trash to them…

“No, Marcy. We are definitely not trash…” Celline said in a sad but still angry voice.

I was about to reply to her when the door suddenly opened and the two people I would never wish to see ever again walked in.

My rapist uncle Levi and his wicked wife, Rena…

That was when all hell broke loose within me, Celline went crazy.