Lylah's Rejection

“This is outrageous!” 

Alpha Harris yelled, his voice vibrating through the room breaking the domineering silence that once filled the room. 

A bead of sweat rolled down Lylah's neck. Was I just being rejected? She thought inwardly. The look in Alpha Harris' eyes was filled with utmost disgust and anger. She couldn't tell where it came from. 

“Who let an outcast into the sacred mating ball?” Alpha Harris questioned, however, his questioning was meant with silence. This silence angered him further. 

Lylah took a few steps back as she could no longer feel her legs, it suddenly became numb. 

“Guards! Guards!” Alpha Harris yelled. Three guards trooped in. “Take her and lock her in the dungeon till I decide her fate!” 

The guards walked towards her as their hands enveloped her fragile arms and they dragged her out of the hall. She didn't speak, this wasn't the time to. Lylah remained silent as she was dragged out of the mating ball. She could feel the piercing stares of Victoria from behind her and the devilish smile that crept on her aunt's lips. 

Alpha Harris stormed out of the hall which unfortunately ended the mating ball as the gathering dispersed. 

Lylah was dragged and thrown into a dungeon. The sound of the iron bars locking behind her left a knot forming within her stomach. The dungeon reeked of urine and the smell of rusty metal. How did I end up here? Sharing a space with rats! Speaking of the devil, a rat scurried around the cold floor disappearing into a hole on the wall she hadn't noticed before. 

Outside, two guards stood aside. 

Meanwhile, outside these walls of the dungeon, the council of elders held a meeting within the walls of the expansive meeting hall. Alpha Harris sat on his throne with Beta Malakai standing by his side. In the middle of the meeting hall was a table with stone-made chairs at each end, occupied by elders of the Duskwood Pack. 

“She's just like her father. Mannerless. Intrusive.” Elder Zion said, his hand caressing his white beards that stretched from his jaw to his belly. 

“It is treacherous for someone like her to be present during the mating ball. Her father was a traitor and she has been labeled an outcast, someone of her caliber wasn't meant to live with us in the pack anymore.” Elder Lucian said. 

There was something off about Elder Lucian, he had always been against Lylah's family, he was also a talkative during her father's trial and would do anything to add salt to injury. Lylah's curiosity level about him piqued. Alpha Harris sat there, lost in his thoughts. He watched as the elders engaged in unproductive exchange of words. 

Why did the moon goddess have to make her my mate? She is of a very low rank, I can't be with her. Her father betrayed my father, she's the daughter of a traitor! I'm sure treachery runs through their veins. She must also be a coward, just like her mother who ran away after her husband was executed. She can't be Luna of the Duskwood Pack, she's not capable of such honor. 

“I suggest she should be exiled from the pack, someone like her doesn't deserve to live among us anymore. She has overstayed her welcome.” Elder Mikleus said. 

“Exile? That would make our Alpha and the council of elders look weak. I suggest that the same fate that befell her father should befall her.” Elder Lucian said. A devilish smirk crawled on his face. 

“So are you saying she should be exiled and executed?” Elder Shiz asked. 

“Yes. Let's ask for the opinion of our Alpha.” Elder Lucian said, turning towards Alpha Harris who was still lost in his thoughts. “What do you suggest?”

The hall room was silent as all the elders exchanged awkward glances. Beta Malakai whispered something in Alpha Harris' ear jogging him back to the present. 

“What she did is unacceptable.” Alpha Harris said, gathering his words together. “She needs to be severely punished. She should be….”

“Exiled.” Beta Malakai said, interrupting Alpha Harris. The elders were dazed by Beta Malakai's disrespectful interruptions. “She should be exiled from the pack and to never return back unless she wants to be beheaded.” 

The room fell momentarily silent. 

“Yes. I agree with Malakai. She should be exiled first thing tomorrow. Two guards would escort her outside the borders to ensure she is successfully exiled.” Alpha Harris said. 

“The Alpha has made his judgement, I'll be glad if he bestows the opportunity of picking trustworthy guards to escort her out, on me.” Beta Lucian said. 

Alpha Harris nodded in acknowledgement as he stood up from his throne and with one glance at the elders beneath him, he turned and walked out of the meeting hall.

The elders emptied out of the hall. 

Evening had befall the pack and the sun had set making room for the moon to rise and claim dominance in the evening sky. Beta Malakai sat in his expansive dining room. A luxurious meal was prepared before him, his sister, Malicia and his niece, Victoria. Ever since the death of Malicia’s husband she has been living with her brother, her husband was killed by a group of hunters who had raided their home a few years ago. 

“How could it be that Lylah turned out to be our Alpha's mate?” Victoria said breaking the domineering silence. 

Everyone in the room paused as they exchanged quiet glances. 

“You don't have to worry about that anymore sweetheart. Your uncle, Malakai, knows how to clean up a mess like this.” Malicia said, a devilish smile sitting pretty on her face. Her eyes darted towards Beta Malakai that sat opposite Malicia. 

Malakai sat there, quietly. He lifted a fork, swiftly stabbing the lifeless chicken that laid on his plate. He paused, his gaze darted towards Malicia. 

“It's easier to devour them when they're lifeless and weak but the true work is bringing them to that stage of lifelessness.” Beta Malakai said, the faces of Victoria and Malicia were filled with a puzzled expression as they tried to understand what he meant by those words.

“I don't care whatever you say, all I want is assurance that nobody else would be Luna of our pack except me.” Victoria said, her expression quite terrifying. 

“Take a look outside, it's evening and the moon is sitting pretty in the evening sky. No matter how hot or bright the sun shines, it would always make way for darkness to consume the earth.” Beta Malakai said, he went back to devouring the lifeless chicken on his table. 

Victoria and Malicia remained silent as they ate their meal without talking. Beta Malakai had it all under control. But wh

at was he truly planning? Why is he so confident about the mate bond?