CHAPTER 05~

KATRINA

I had barely set foot inside my room when I suddenly heard footsteps thundering down the hall. I didn't need anyone to tell me who it was… I already knew it was Xavier coming. The door swung open violently, and he stormed in, his expression spoke of hatred and anger. And for the first time in days, I didn't look scared at how furious he looked.

"You went to see Alpha King, didn’t you?” He growled, pointing his first finger at me. "You begged him to cancel Bianca’s Luna ceremony, didn’t you?"

I remained silent, watching him. There was an odd satisfaction I felt seeing him grow frustrated with my silence, it was a reaction he has never seen from me before. Perhaps he’s grown too used to my fear, my apologies, my shame. But I’ve none of those left to give him. Not now.

“Are you deaf?” he barked. “You’re not a mindless animal, Katrina. I'm talking to a human being. So I need you to answer my question. Did you beg the Alpha King to cancel Bianca's Luna ceremony with me?”

I looked him squarely in the eye, keeping my cool. “No, I didn’t.” I simply said.

Nothing seemed to ignite his anger than the calmness I played. He took a step closer, "You... Liar!" He snarled. "You said you were going to reject me, but here you are, trying to sabotage my relationship with Bianca behind my back. You’re a hypocrite!”

Liar? Hypocrite?

Those words felt even more painful than losing the entire world. I wouldn't have minded hearing those words from someone else, but hearing it directly from him felt like a dagger had been pierced right through my heart. I couldn't believe all these were happening. And if there was anyone to tell me things would get to this level, I wouldn't believe it.

After all, I just realized how much I never understood this man standing right before me. I always thought I did know him well enough to call him my mate, but now I realize I was wrong. I was so wrong to have even thought about that. The Xavier I knew is gone, completely gone and taken by another woman.

“I don’t know what you think I did,” I replied evenly. “But—”

"Spare me," He cut me off with a sneer. “You’re vicious, Katrina. I can’t believe I ever felt even a flicker of guilt about rejecting you. But now? I can’t wait to see you gone. Tomorrow, I’ll reject you publicly, and I’ll banish you for good! Take it, or leave it.”

With that, he turned and stormed out, leaving the door half open behind him. I felt the emptiness that came with watching him walk out of the room lodge in my chest. I couldn't move. I couldn't even blink. I just stood there, staring at the door like I was still staring at him. I couldn't see anything because of the tears that had clouded my eyes. And what hurt the most was his voice, and those words echoing in my head over and over and over again.

Then the voice of my wolf came, soothing my heart as if she knew just how much damage Xavier's words had caused me. *Katrina… stay strong. Don't let his words get to you. Let him think about what he wants. We’re better off without him. And... he doesn't deserve our loyalty too.*

My throat tightened as the tears kept streaming down my cheeks. Her words were a relief to me, and it calmed me down a bit. She was right in everything she said. Xavier doesn't deserve us. He doesn't deserve my love, my loyalty, or the countless nights I have spent hoping that someday – one day, things would be back to the way they used to be.

I sniffled, gathering myself, trying to hold onto the strength she was giving me. But even at that, I could still feel like a part of me was gone. Completely gone.

The room felt quiet, save for the faint sound of breathing behind me. It was then I realized Therma was still with me.

“Luna,” She whispered, her face obviously telling how concerned she was, “why do they treat you this way? You don’t deserve any of this.”

I managed a faint smile, reaching out to squeeze her hand. “To them, I am nothing now compared to the Alpha daughter of the Blackfang Pack. They’ve discarded me for someone they see as… more valuable.”

Recalling what the future held for me, I let out a small smile. “But tomorrow, it ends. Pack your things, Therma. We’ll leave Blackwood together, no matter what happens.”

Therma looked at me, as if thinking of leaving was the worst choice to take. “But Luna… what about Blackwood’s threats?" She asked, looking even more concerned than seconds ago. "Will you be safe?”

My voice softened a bit, and I tried not to look any weaker. With a nod, I said, “Don’t worry about me. I’m stronger than they realize. I don't fear anyone, and no matter what the Alpha King decides, in one way or another, we’re leaving this place tomorrow.”

****

THE NEXT DAY...

The hall felt suffocating, yet filled with different faces – the elders, pack members, families, all gathered to watch my life be torn apart. They didn’t care about me. Not really. They were just here to witness the event. In their eyes, I was just another pawn in a game they’d been playing long before I’d ever walked into this pack.

And here I was, standing at the center, hoping against hope for something – anything – that would stop this from ending the way it was going to. My heart was heavy with a truth I hadn't prepared to face. Realizing that everything I had built with them, everything I had given them, the sacrifices all meant nothing.

My gaze moved to Xavier, but he couldn’t even look me in the eye. It was easier for him that way, wasn’t it? To pretend I was already gone, as if I’d never been his mate, never been anything more than an obstacle in his path. Beside him was his mother, who had a cold look of satisfaction on her face.

The long silence was broken just as my Beta lawyer began. “What kind of man betrays his mate only to flaunt a mistress in front of her?”

Xavier’s mother scoffed, shooting him a deadly look. “It’s not betrayal. Bianca will be his Luna; she’s his equal. Don’t speak as if we’ve treated Katrina unfairly.” Turning to me, she asked. "Have we mistreated you in any way?"

She knew the answer. They all did. But here she was, making a show of it, twisting the knife in my back with a smile on her face. And I wanted to scream. I wanted to tell her everything – every ounce of pain, every sleepless night I’d spent trying to be good enough, trying to be everything this pack needed me to be. But what good would it do? It wouldn’t change anything, would it? It wouldn’t make them see me.

“Of course, you didn’t mistreat me. You only turned your back on me and fell in love with the Gamma from the more powerful pack after I’d poured my wealth into this pack. I spent a fortune on food, supplies, medical care, I even paid for your hospital bills. Yet now, you cast me out as if I were nothing.”

I could feel their eyes on me, some pitying, some cold and indifferent. To them, I meant nothing. And I hated that. I hated that I had allowed myself to care for these people, to invest in a place that now saw me as nothing more than an inconvenience.

Her eyes narrowed down at me. “Look here.” She pointed at me, “Before you were married, your mother signed a prenup for you. All your prenuptial assets, after you become Luna, are to be managed by the Blackwood Pack. You will be stripped of everything now that you are no longer a Luna. The cost of your food, your clothing and your accommodation with the Blackwoods for this year, we will not be coming to you for that. Count yourself lucky!"

It was then that I realized all this that was happening to me. It wasn't just them living with the facts, they were bullying me all because I was alone and had no one with me?

Somehow I begin to wonder why it has to be me? What wrong have I done to deserve all these? What haven't I done to please these people that after everything, they still consider me as a nobody?

As much as they wanted to make Bianca the Luna, they also craved the wealth I had brought to the Snowpack over the past year. Scoffs. Is that why they had met my mom when she was seriously ill? To ask for my hand in marriage because they knew they were going to gain more than I would?

This was always their plan? I see.

"Katrina, you must do something about this." My wolf echoed in my head, I could tell she was more pissed off than I was. "Do something, or I do it myself."

"No, Wolfie, not now." I told her, trying to calm her down. "We don't have to do anything stupid to get justice. Let me handle this myself."

I looked at Xavier. "I respect you and Bianca for your bravery in the war. But I have to ask, do you really believe it’s fair to strip me of everything I own and leave me with nothing?"

Xavier was silent for a while, avoiding my gaze, "Then we'll split the family fortune fifty-fifty. If you don't like it, you can complain to the Alpha King. Let's see if what I claim is reasonable."

My lawyer, however, wasn't in support of Xavier's claim. "How dare you be so arrogant, Alpha Xavier?! Who are you to make such a decision? How would the Blackwood get to where it is today if it hadn't been using up to the Snow Pack's wealth? Without Katrina's fortune, tell me, how would you be able to afford to fund your armies?"

Xavier laughed bitterly, as if unmoved by my lawyer’s words. "I don't give a damn. If you both disagree with my suggestion, then you can as well go to the Alpha King and sue me for all I care. I don't… fucking… give a damn!"

I shook my head at him. "How bold of you to even think that you can escape it when the Alpha King passes his judgment on you? Tell me, Xavier, what do you think you are?"

His mother stepped in, "That's definitely none of your business, Katrina." Looking at Xavier, she said. "Reject her already, Xavier. Reject her and end this once and for all."

Xavier stepped forward. “I, Xavier Blackwood, reject you, Katrina Snow, as my mate.”

I felt pain inside of me like my heart had been shattered in pieces. He didn't even give me time to prepare, he couldn’t even let me hold onto the memory of us, he just spat the words out like they were mere words. I bit my lips, trying to control myself, trying to hold back the pain no matter how it tore me apart.

“Katrina… I told you, let me handle this.” I ignored my wolf. I knew what type of wolf she was, if I had to give her the slightest chance to take over, a lot would probably happen in a blink of an eye.

I glared at Xavier as he shoved a thick stack of papers toward me. "Accept my rejection! This is an agreement for you to leave the Pack and consent to an equal split of your family fortune, Sign it now and you and I will be done with it! Otherwise, I will have to banish you as a member of my Pack as an Alpha!"

At that moment, I could barely breathe. The betrayal, the coldness... it was all too much. I glanced at the stack of agreement and slowly raised my eyes to Xavier, the man I’d once trusted with my heart. "You want my signature? Make me sign it. Go on, Xavier. Make me give up the last piece of myself you haven’t already taken.”

His face twisted with anger, a dark smile pulling at his lips. “Whatever tricks you've got up your sleeve, I have means to get you to sign them."

I broke the pen with one hand, "I want to know if Alpha Xavier, who is famous on the battlefield, lives up to his name." I challenged him.

He scoffed. “Oh, I’ll make you sign then.”

Without warning, he shifted into his wolf form. A sleek, dark beast lunging toward me with teeth bared. But I was ready. I let my wolf strength unleash, and in a fast motion, I sidestepped his attack, dodging him as fast as I could.

Before he could react, I delivered a swift, powerful kick, sending his wolf form crashing into the wall. A gasp rippled through everyone. Xavier struggled to regain his footing, obviously shocked at my reaction.

“How… how the hell did you just do that?”