CHAPTER 04~

KATRINA

Xavier’s mother lay on her chaise, her hand pressed dramatically to her forehead, as if my action had somehow wounded her in the deepest possible way.

“How dare you disobey and hurt your Alpha for an omega!” She yelled, casting an awful glance my way before letting out a deep, dramatic sigh and slumping back. Her eyes were halfway closed before her legs buckled slightly. “Oh! The nerve of this… this girl!” She cursed.

“Get Pack Doctor Ashton over here!” Xavier ordered sharply, barely glancing at me as he summoned the only physician in the pack who would bend to Blackwood’s authority and reputation.

Doctor Ashton was known to serve only those of highest status and reputation. Anyone order than the royals, he had no business with them. Xavier calling for his attention was, however, as much about his influence as it was about his mother’s health.

But I stepped in calmly. My voice was low, almost soft. “Mother, it would be best if you got some rest.” I looked directly at her, feeling no pity for the faked fatigue. “After all, Doctor Ashton has nearly completed the treatment he prescribed. He won’t be coming back again.”

Xavier turned to me, his voice lowered into something dangerous. “Katrina, how dare you stop the doctor from treating my mother?!” He yelled, and his face twisted. “You miscreant bitch!”

Unbothered by his anger, I faced him with a steady gaze. “Alpha Xavier,” I paused, letting silence hang between us for a while. “It was Doctor Ashton himself who resigned. He felt treating people with certain… distasteful ethics would stain his professional reputation.” I said while making a disgust expression.

Xavier’s mother gasped, clutching her chest again as if my words had struck a physical blow. I turned away, ignoring her acts. Before Xavier could respond, I leaned down to help Therma, who had been patiently sitting beside me, and guided her toward the exit. But Bianca, who had been watching with hatred in her eyes, suddenly blocked our way with her arms crossed.

Her eyes glinted with anger, practically radiating as she took advantage of the moment. “You vicious woman,” she snarled in disgust. “You are unworthy of being Luna, unworthy of standing by the Alpha’s side." She took a step closer, still having the evil look in her eyes. “Snow Pack is no more, just like you should be. You deserve to wander as a rogue, begging for scraps.”

I met her gaze with the same cold look in my eyes, not letting my expression take over me despite how eager my wolf wanted to take over just to have her dead in the next second. I knew within myself that any further step she took closer to me would cause the same incident that had just happened to repeat itself.

“That depends, Bianca,” I said, almost reluctantly, “on whether you or your Alpha have the strength to make that happen." I shifted my gaze to Xavier, lifting my chin. “I welcome rejection whenever you’re ready.”

A deep silence followed, and I could see the challenge hit him like a blow, I'm very certain he didn't see that coming. I had openly provoked him, and it was evident on his face.

Taking advantage of the moment, Xavier’s mother straightened, seizing the opportunity. “Reject her, Xavier,” she urged him, “send her away, and make sure not a penny of your dowry or any of our assets will go with her.” She cast a smug glance at Bianca, who flashed a satisfied smile.

“Tomorrow,” I said, ignoring them both. I returned my gaze on Xavier, not giving in to his expression, “I’ll bring my Pack lawyer to discuss the agreement. If rejection is what you want, Alpha, I’ll gladly accept it.”

A low, threatening growl rumbled from Xavier’s throat. “You should know, Katrina, that if you’re expelled from this pack, you’ll leave with nothing. Not a single thing.”

I allowed a smirk to tug at the corner of my lips. What was he expecting, that I'll cry or plead for mercy? Or feel like being expelled means that my entire world has come to an end? No fucking way!

“Then let’s see if you can take it from me,” I replied, turning my back on all of them, and guiding Therma with me as we made our way out.

Once in the car, she looked at me, with worry clearly written in her face. “Luna,” she called, her voice barely a whisper, “if you’re banished from the pack, you’ll be branded a rogue. You’ll have no status, no protection. The other packs...”

I placed a reassuring hand over hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Don’t worry, Therma. Don't worry about me. Xavier’s threats means nothing to me. His family’s tricks, well," I shrugged my shoulders. "they’re nothing compared to the real monsters I’ve faced before.” I could tell she wasn't quite convinced by my response, but it was better we left it that way.

The journey to Alpha King Cassian’s pack felt longer than usual. Soon we got to the Alpha King's territory after what felt like eternity. When we finally arrived, I was met by Roya, the Beta of the Alpha King’s Pack. His expression was something I couldn't explain, but somehow I was curious to know.

“Katrina,” he called, worriedly. “I know why you're here. But you should know that the Blackwood pack won the war. The Alpha King… he won’t intervene on your behalf.”

But I didn’t come here to plead for anyone’s mercy, nor did I intend to leave until I’d spoken to Alpha Cassian myself. While I waited outside the grand entrance, my mind drifted back to the past as I stood there, recalling the days when Cassian would visit my pack, before he was the Alpha King. He’d been my brother’s closest friend, practically family, I'd say. But not until that fateful day they had a heated argument before my brother went off to war.

Since then, Cassian has changed. The warmth I once knew in him had turned to stone after he’d taken the throne, and the man he became was a stranger with a crown and a title that demanded my respect. And I was no longer the girl who once thought his visits were the highlight of her days.

Three hours passed before Cassian finally arrived. Then, I was ordered to enter. I approached him slowly, feeling his cold gaze follow my every step until I finally stopped and knelt before him on one knee, bowing my head in a gesture of a warrior’s respect.

“Your Majesty,” I greeted, fixing my gaze to the ground.

"How may I help you?" He asked.

I began, “I know Blackwood has claimed their war honors already. But the anniversary of my father and brother’s death is near, and I wish to use my family’s honor to ask one thing.”

"What is this favor?" He asked again.

"If His Majesty doesn't mind taking back the Luna Duet." I requested.

Cassian’s eyes narrowed slightly, though his expression remained as cold as stone. “Luna Katrina, this matter has been settled, I cannot change it. You must let it go.”

I lifted my gaze to meet his. “Then I ask for your permission to end the bond between myself and Xavier, to allow us to reject each other and sever this mate bond for good.”

He blinked, the shock momentarily breaking his composure. “You didn't just come to plead with me to take back Luna Duet, but to ask for an end to the mate bond with Xavier?”

I nodded slowly. "Yes, Your Majesty."

Then his expression softened for the briefest of moments, but then the hardness returned again. “Katrina,” he said slowly, “are you certain you understand what Xavier’s rejection would mean for you?”

I took a deep breath, nodding my head affirmatively. “Yes, I do. But I am nearly the last of Snow Pack, and I won’t let my family’s name be tarnished. Nor will I live as an invisible voice in Blackwood ever again.”

His eyes searched my face, as if trying to glimpse the girl he once knew. “Katrina,” he called again, his voice unusually gentle. “You realize that Xavier is still your mate? Severing the bond may affect you in ways you aren’t prepared for.”

I held my head high, keeping my voice steady. “Since he has decided to leave me, I choose to do the same. All I ask is your permission to cut my ties with Blackwood, so that I may reestablish Snow Pack.” I said, having no regrets to my words.

He let out a sigh, folding his arms as he studied me, as though seeing me not as an old friend’s sister but as the only remnant of a world he’d long since left behind. He finally nodded, though his expression remained impossible to decipher.

"You should return to Blackwood for now," he said firmly. "I need to think about it. I will have someone come to Blackwood tomorrow to announce the final verdict."

I bowed my head respectfully and rose, leaving without another word. But as the grand doors closed behind me, I couldn't help but think... "Will he eventually agree to endorse my rejection or not?”