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Chapter 5

Author: H. Spoonie
I returned to the castle to gather the rest of my belongings.

To my surprise, Derrick and Lilith were both there, seated at a table covered with several sheets of paper filled with dense, handwritten notes.

They were the documents I had prepared yesterday before going to see the Alpha King—detailed records of every pack affair I had handled.

Derrick's expression softened. "You do have some sense. Knowing that Lilith would be taking over as chief steward, you wisely wrote down all the key details in advance.

"But what you did was unacceptable. As a warning, I've already informed your unit that Lilith will be taking command. Go tell them they are to follow her orders from now on.

"And for the next few months, you will pose as Lilith's handmaid, assisting her with pack affairs."

Lilith gasped, feigning concern. "Alpha Derrick, isn't that a bit too much? After all, Talia has contributed so much to the pack. Making her my handmaid seems unfair…"

Derrick scoffed. "She actually threatened me with a bond rejection yesterday. If she won't accept a punishment, then she should just leave the pack altogether."

I watched their little performance with cold indifference before speaking calmly. "I'm not here to negotiate. I'm done with everything.

"That paper was for transitioning my responsibilities. You can find anyone you want to replace me, but I am not responsible for helping them adjust."

Derrick froze, gritting his teeth as he glared at me. "Don't be ungrateful.

"I'm going to be the future Alpha King. If you piss me off, I'll exile you and turn you back into the rogue you were before I took you in."

I chuckled, completely unfazed. "Oh, I forgot to tell you that I'm not your mate anymore. I went to the Alpha King yesterday and had our mate bond forcibly severed.

"Also, I'm no longer part of your pack. The Alpha King has approved my request to establish my own pack. I never planned to return to this place again."

For a moment, Derrick and Lilith were completely speechless.

Then, as the shock settled in, Lilith's expression shifted to one of smug satisfaction, while Derrick's face twisted in anger—far from the relief I had expected.

I went to my room, packed my belongings, and made my way to the exit.

Derrick stood in the doorway and said in a low and icy tone, "Don't come crawling back when you regret this. You're about to start from nothing all over again."

Lilith sneered. "Some people are just shortsighted. Angering the Alpha? You'll have a hard time crawling back when you realize your mistake."

I let out a soft laugh and said in a sharp tone, "Instead of wasting time mocking me, you might want to focus on the problem at hand."

Before they could respond, a group of warriors burst into the room with panic.

"Alpha Derrick! Bad news! The rogue leaders we allied with have just torn up the contract. They've gathered outside the walls and are preparing to attack us!"
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  • Forging a Path Without You   Chapter 5

    I returned to the castle to gather the rest of my belongings.To my surprise, Derrick and Lilith were both there, seated at a table covered with several sheets of paper filled with dense, handwritten notes.They were the documents I had prepared yesterday before going to see the Alpha King—detailed records of every pack affair I had handled.Derrick's expression softened. "You do have some sense. Knowing that Lilith would be taking over as chief steward, you wisely wrote down all the key details in advance."But what you did was unacceptable. As a warning, I've already informed your unit that Lilith will be taking command. Go tell them they are to follow her orders from now on."And for the next few months, you will pose as Lilith's handmaid, assisting her with pack affairs."Lilith gasped, feigning concern. "Alpha Derrick, isn't that a bit too much? After all, Talia has contributed so much to the pack. Making her my handmaid seems unfair…"Derrick scoffed. "She actually threate

  • Forging a Path Without You   Chapter 4

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  • Forging a Path Without You   Chapter 3

    I nodded slightly. "If that's what you think, then let's break the mate bond."Derrick scoffed. "Stop playing hard to get. Put on your mask and get to the trial immediately! Otherwise, don't blame me for exiling you from the pack!"He knew I had been displaced since childhood and that my greatest fear was being cast out, losing my home, and losing him.Before, I might have backed down. But now, I suddenly understood that no matter what I did, the pack would never accept the real me. I had never truly belonged here.And at the root of it all, it was because Derrick refused to acknowledge me.He didn't love me.I turned and walked away without looking back.His furious voice echoed behind me. "Take one more step, and I'll break the mate bond for real!"I let out a soft laugh and kept walking. I returned to the castle we once shared. Derrick never came back that night, and I never closed my eyes.The next morning, he walked in carrying a basket, smiling as if the argument last ni

  • Forging a Path Without You   Chapter 2

    Over the years, the pack had come to believe I was nothing more than a weak omega clinging to Derrick's side under Lilith's deliberate guidance.They had no idea that I was the war god, Shadow, who always wore a mask.Before the pack was established, I had repelled countless invaders with ill intentions.People mocked Derrick for it, calling him a coward who hid behind a woman.He felt humiliated, believing I had stolen his glory. He demanded that I wear a mask while handling affairs, becoming nothing more than his shadow. "This will make it easier for you to manage and command the pack," he had said with a hint of guilt in his voice back then.Back then, I saw him as my mate for life. I followed his wishes, wearing the mask in battle, never revealing my true face.I willingly let him take all the credit and glory and never asked for anything in return.I just never thought that this would become the very excuse they used to humiliate me one day.But since I had already decided

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