Chapter 4

ZAREK'S POV

Dinner had been a quiet affair for years in our family; I was used to it, and so was Axel.

But as I walked into the dining room, Lunnette scent me like a sledgehammer to the back of my head. I stood at the doorway, gripping the frame stiffly, trying to free my fingers so it didn't crush through the wood. 

"Aren't you going in?" my brother asked. I took in a deep breath that almost made it seem worse and stalked into the dining room. 

Once we were all seated, I looked to her and stilled. She looked beautiful, her pale blonde hair looking almost white; she seemed a little too pale with a slight flush to her cheeks. She looked up at me, and I looked away immediately. 

"I've decided to take Lunnette as my mate." My father mumbled. For the second time, I think, I sat there, stunned and frozen in disbelief as his voice echoed in the room, in my ears, but though I could hear him,it seemed to take me time to grasp what he was saying.

My eyes locked on my father asI gripped the edge of the chair, feeling my claws dig into the wood; it cracked beneath the pressure.

I glanced across the room at her, where she sat by my father’s side with her eyes downcast, as if she couldn't bear to meet my gaze. 

My wolf was screaming, thrashing inside me with a fury I had never felt before. 

'My mate! My mate.'

But she wasn't really she. Not anymore.

I had rejected her. I rejected her.

It didn’t matter that I had done it in a moment of anger or fear. We hadstill said the words. 

But the bond wasn't severed; my wolf whined.

"You can’t be serious," I spat, my voice barely recognizable as my own. My body shook, rage curling through every nerve, twisting through my veins like wildfire.

"You’re taking her? The omega?" The word came out in a hostile manner.

"She’s—"

"Not yours anymore, Zarek," my father cut in, his eyes hard. 

"You and Axel made your decision when you rejected her."

"Father," I roared,my voice rougher than I intended. Lunnette flinched.

“Zarek, sit down." 

"You can’t be serious. What the hell do you see in this whore?" I roared, flinching even as I said the words. He glared at me, and immediately, his pheromones filled the room. With the oppressive scent of another alpha, my wolf snapped in rage. 

"Sit the hell down. This is my decision. You’ve made your choice, and now I’ve made mine. It’s time to move on.”

Move on? The words hit me like a slap, and my wolf wasn't making it easier, howling like a banshee.

He didn’t care about rejection. He only knew one truth—the omega Lunnette was ours.

"I won’t let this happen," I growled, stepping forward, my wolf dangerously close to the surface.

"She’s my—" I growled

"She’s not yours anymore," my father cut in, his tone colder than I’ve ever heard.

"You rejected her, Zarek. Both of you made that clear." He finished glaring, and Axel and I 

"Do you think you can take her from me?" The words flew out before I could stop them. I shouldn't have said that. I was challenging my father and my alpha over a woman, an omega that didn't matter, but I felt too out of control.

My claws extended, sharp and deadly, my wolf straining against my control,like a storm was brewing inside me.

I wanted to lash out. I needed to. But I shouldn't, not when he was already being so lenient with me.

This wasn’t right. 

My father didn’t flinch. He didn’t even blink. His calm was infuriating. 

"She’s not yours, Zarek. You let her go. You rejected her. That means she’s free to choose."

"No!" I snarled, standing up so fast the chair behind me crashed to the floor. My heart pounded, and my blood roared in my ears. I surged forward, rage taking over. I needed to tear something apart—him, the walls, anything—to stop the fire burning inside me. 

Someone screamed hoarsely, but I wasn't sure who it was, and I was not really sure I cared. My wolf wanted to rip through flesh, to claim her, to right this wrong.

"Zarek!" A voice called, hazy and out of reach 

"Don't, brother," Axel’s voice cuts through the murderous haze, his hand clamping down on my shoulder, yanking me back before I could reach my father. 

I spun around, chest heaving, only to meet my brother’s gaze—Axel. 

He pulled me away with a force that matched mine, his expression calm but firm.

"Let me go!" I struggled against him, my claws still out, my fangs bared. I was moments away from shifting. 

"Don’t do this," he muttered, low enough that only I can hear.

"Not here. Not like this."

"This is wrong, and you know it," I hissed to my brother. 

My father’s expression didn't change, but there was something dangerous in his eyes now as he leaned into his chair.

“What’s wrong is you thinking you can interfere in my decisions." I snarled at him and Axel pulled me back. 

"Don't," he hissed in my ear. 

“Let go of me,” I snapped as Axel tuggedon my arm again, harder this time, and I stumbled back a step, my frustration turning on him, but he wasalready pulling me toward the door.

The pack housedoor slammed behind us as he shoved me outside, and I stumbled, nearly falling to my knees as the cool night air hit my burning skin.

"Calm down, Zarek," Axel muttered. His voice was low and steady. 

"Don't fucking tell me to calm down," I hissed, pacing in front of him.

My muscles are twitching like a tightly wound spring coiled, ready to snap.

Axel growled in annoyance.

"Calm the hell down?" 

"HHow the hell are you calm?" I asked my brother. I was usually the level-headed one, the calm one, the logical one, who never took things too far, so how the hell was I the one with guns blazing? 

Axel crossed his arms, his gaze following me as I paced back and forth. 

"He’s right, Zarek," Axel finally said, his voice even. 

"We rejected her. She’s free to choose, and so is he." 

A snarl tore from my throat, as I hissed 

"Don’t you dare say that to me."