Chapter 2

Rowena

The room immediately turned into huge chaos as soon as the old hag came. 

Vivi’s mom, who works as the Alpha’s advisor, screams as she sees the state her daughter’s in. She ran and held Vivi’s head and whispered comforting words while crying and kissing her rapidly. The chaos intensified when servants came to see what the commotion was about, and I could feel their accusing gazes fall on me. 

I lowered my head, not wanting to add another drama by silently retreating, but got stopped as Vivi’s mom stood up and slapped me.

“You..." she trembled before slapping once more. “How dare you beat my daughter?! Who are you to hit my daughter, huh?! Answer me!!” She hollered, this time hitting me with a nearby vase. I felt dizzy as blood started to pour, either from my head or nose.

“Tsk! I should have made him throw you into the woods back then! What was I thinking when I suggested you be a slave instead and—” 

As she began to rant, I’m just silent instead of talking back. Not because of the pain as I’m already accustomed to it, but because of her good deeds in the past.

Back when my parents were still alive, that old hag had always been my parent figure. 

Although my parents love me, they’re always busy with their pack duties, so I spent most of my childhood with her.She takes care of me well, feeds me well, and always makes sure to be my guardian in every school activity, which sometimes makes people mistake me for her daughter. She was even still by my side when Javier took over the pack until one day she harbored sudden resentment after her husband's death. 

Rumor says he died because I told Javier that her husband stole his roses for their 20’s marriage anniversary, which wasn’t true. Why in the hell would I say that when her husband is as sweet as her? Thus, that old man was also a good person, and had zero haters.

Who had the heart to frame him, anyway?

Just as she was about to give me another blow, a sudden cedarwood scent came into my nose. I trembled, knowing that it was Javier’s.

“What is the problem here? Why are you all in my room and—Vivi?" Javier widens his eyes worriedly when seeing his beloved mistress state. I feel my wolf break when he hauls past me as if I'm a ghost and takes over Vivi’s head.

Has he ever touched my head like that? 

“Vivi, what happened? Why did your head swell? Who did this to y—” Javier paused as his eyes met mine. His blue eyes instantly shifted to red ones as he stormed. I cry in fear, trying to run but he already grabs my head and gives me a good punch.

Not caring I’m already wounded and even worse now after he added it.

“You… Why do you always keep making trouble?! Can’t you, for once, be quiet?!! Why do you always seek trouble everywhere?!!” He screamed. I bit my tongue because not only did Javier yank my bleeding head but he also used his Alpha’s power, causing my wolf to cower. I let out another wail as he slapped me before throwing me like a racked doll. 

“That’s it! I can’t take it anymore! This whole mate thing should have ended long ago, I—”

“Javier! No!!” Vivi quickly got up and hugged Javier's back. That malicious woman sure puts an act wherever she can. “Don’t think about divorcing Rowena! It will be a shame if you do that! She had a son!” 

“A son? So what if she had a son? It’s not mine!” He scoffed, making me sink more. Until now, he still doesn’t believe Asher was his son, huh? “That woman is probably opening her legs to everyone! Hah! That cripple is probably one of the boys’! Maybe next time, I should do the paternity test so this bitch won't keep blackmailing me and—” 

Enough! I can’t take it anymore! I understand Javier never loved me but denying our son’s existence? I can’t accept that! And before I knew it, I raised my hand and did something I never dared: slap him. 

Soon, the entire room fell into another silence as he staggered back. Not even Vivi’s mom nor Vivi herself dare to interfere. Not even Beta Rowan, who had just arrived, moved to help his beloved Alpha.

“Y–You… You dare slap me?!” Javier asks incredulously, his dark aura immediately filled the whole room. I never saw this kind of aura except the time when he banished my family, and it’s enough to make me regret my thoughtless action.

“Javier..I…” Before I manage to say something, Javier’s veiny hands have already grabbed my throat. I instinctively fought against it, begging him to let go, but instead, he punched me. He threw me onto the nearby table and jumped to deliver another blow. I scream, feeling how painful it is, especially when he kicks my abdomen.

“That’s it! I can’t do it anymore! This is disgraceful!” He shouted, yanking me away. I just looked at him with half-open eyes, very dizzy and in pain. “Beta Rowan!” 

“Y–yes, Alpha!” Rowan instantly came.

Javier, still not breaking his contact with me, continued. “I want you now to call the lawyer! Tell that I want him to write another legal document because I, Alpha Javier Saxon, rejected Rowena Allen as my mate! I’ve also wanted her to be banished from my pack, so make sure she can’t enter this pack again!” 

“Y–yes, Alpha!” Rowan stated as he ran, and I widened my eyes. No…he can’t be…

“W–wait!” I try to apologize, but it’s already late. The guards had already seized me, and the last thing I saw before being dragged out was Javier’s cold stare into mine.

“Oh, and also make sure that it also goes to her son because I don’t want an outsider child in my pack!” he added, which made me realize. How dire my situation is right now. 

“No…”