CHAPTER 3: THE FALL

The car had barely come to a stop when Dylan ripped open the door, he pulled me out forcefully. I stumbled and almost fell down, but his grip held me tight, dragging me towards the pack house. 

“Dylan, please stop!” I beg,  trying to pull free, but he was relentless , he pulled me harder and his face was a picture of  rage.

We get to the pack house, he yanks it open without a single warning and storms inside the house. Pack members were in and scattered out of his way as he continued to pull me through the hall. I feel like I was some criminal that was caught in the act, and this was so embarrassing for me.

“Dylan, please. Stop, you are hurting me,” I plead in a whisper, shame and terror filled me inside. My mind ran several miles trying to make sense of everything, and thinking of a way to stop this, but i can’t come up with anything. 

Dylan didn’t stop until he got to my father’s office, he barged in and slammed the door so hard it hit the wall with a force. My father’s startled eyes met mine and Dylan’s rage filled eyes. 

“What is going on here?” He questions immediately standing from his desk. 

Dylan pushed me forward, I felt hurt but happy he finally let go of my arm which had begun to hurt really badly. He looks at me with disgust, and as I stumble, I fell on my knees, my cheeks burning with fear and embarrassment as I meet my father’s furious face. 

“You should ask your daughter,” Dylan said, his voice masked with dangerous venom. “Ask her the shameful act she has committed and how she has disgraced both our packs.”

I want to speak for myself but no words came out. I looked down, my eyes stinging with tears, my throat tight from fear, and I suddenly wish I could disappear.

“What is he saying, Phoenix? What is this about?” My father demanded, his voice sent cold shivers down my spine.

Dylan cut in, giving me no chance to answer. “Your daughter is a whore, that is what this is about!” He spat out loud enough for the rest of the pack members in the hallway to hear. “She gave herself cheaply to a rogue, one she met in the club, she dragged him to a hotel and slept with him. I caught her in the act and she couldn’t even deny it!”

“Is he saying the truth?” My father’s icy voice hit my ears very hard, his eyes could bore holes in my body. “Did you really do what he is saying, Phoenix?”

“I don’t know…” I stammer, I have nothing to defend myself. 

“See what I told you?” Dylan’s voice filled the room. “She has nothing to say, she can’t deny it but it’s the truth. I caught her red-handed, and she had no decency to apologise, instead she kept saying she doesn’t know.”

“Phoenix,” my father spoke but this time, his voice was dangerously low. “Tell me he is lying, Tell me you didn’t betray us, your own pack, like this.”

“I don’t remember…please I’m telling the truth” I manage to say but my voice come out really weak and pathetic. The words seem feeble and useless.

“What do you mean you don’t remember?” Dylan said in a disgusting tone. “How convenient of you to say that. You don’t remember throwing yourself at him, or even climbing all over him? You don’t remember disgracing us and ruining everything?

I feel the other pack members stare at me, possibly in disgust and judgement as they gather outside the room, whispering about the situation among themselves. My face burn with embarrassment and shame and I wish the floor would make me sink inside and vanish.

“Dylan, are you sure of what you are saying? You are saying my daughter did everything you just mentioned, willingly?”

“I’m sure she was more than willing to do it,” Dylan sneered. “According to the man, your daughter was all over him and couldn’t get enough. She did that right in the middle of the alliance talks, even days before our mating ceremony. She is a disgrace to us.”

The pack members outside suddenly started Murmuring, their voices masked with shock and disgust. Every word hit me like a knife and it twisted and cut even deeper until I couldn’t breathe. 

“Is any of this true, Phoenix? Did you do everything Dylan just said?” My father’s cold voice rang out through the noise. 

My throat tighten as I look up at him, I can’t  speak even if I try. All I canmanage to say is a weak and broken, “I don’t remember...”

“That’s so pathetic,” Dylan muttered. 

My head is pounding and the room spinner as I try to find my voice to convince them. “I’m telling the truth…” my voice croaked out. “I really don’t know what happened. I would never….” I whisper.

“That’s enough!” My father’s voice rang throughout the room, silencing everyone. His face hard, jaw tight as he stared at me in disappointment. “Do you honestly realise the consequences of your actions? Do you know how you’ve disgraced this family?”

“Please…I didn’t_” my voice holding no strength as I allow the tears to finally spill over. “I will not intentionally hurt the pack.”

“But you did it.” Dylan’s cold voice cut in. “You’ve ruined our chances of coming together as a pack. And now, everyone knows exactly what you are, a whore.”

“If this is true…” my father with a furious face and cold voice began to speak. “If any of this is true, Phoenix, then you are no longer my daughter. You are also no longer a member of this pack.”

The words cut through me. “No! No Dad…please believe me. I’ll never betray you, I won't betray the pack either…”

“Enough!” My father Shouted. “You have brought us shame and now you must face the consequences.”

Dylan crossed his arms actively enjoying the drama, satisfaction was written all over his face. “Throw her out now,” he said. 

“Phoenix, you are hereby disowned and stripped out of your place as a member of this pack. You are no longer a part of us.” 

The room spin as those words hit me, I was desperate for help but no one was offering one. The pack stare at me with disgust, They have taken Dylan’s words and now, I'm left to judge. 

Dylan came forward, dragged my hands. “It’s time to show the pack how traitors are treated” he spat out in excitement.

My father have declared judgement on me, no one believes me and the worst thing is, I have no explanation. If I cannot defend myself why should anyone believe me? 

But I continue to beg, i can’t lose everything i know because of a foolish mistake but Dylan didn’t let go. He pulls me and throw me out. “Go back to the rogue you desire and never come back”

The cold morning air hit me as I stumble outside. The last thing in my memory is my father’s hard and unforgiving stare, and then every other thing went blank.