Chapter 2

Bella’s Pov

"I, Bella Brown, reject you, Barnett Morris, as my mate."

Just moments ago, I turned down my hard-earned second chance mate and forever relinquished the chance at happiness.

In the entire world of werewolves, it's always the females who get betrayed and hurt, while males often reject females with an air of superiority. What was originally a fated bond for love becomes a sword that stabs the she-wolf once love sours.

This is entirely unfair when it's the males who are in the wrong.

Barnett wanted to threaten me with our fated bond, to make me compromise and surrender. But I refused. As the Alpha's daughter, I would never allow anyone to trample on my dignity—neither man, nor Alpha, nor my fated mate. This time, it was his turn to taste rejection.

"How dare you!" Barnett shifted into a wolf and roared at me. I, unyielding, shifted as well to confront him.

"Barnett, you hypocrite, you don't deserve to be my mate at all."

"You dare to reject an Alpha."

"So what if you're an Alpha? Alpha blood runs in me too."

Barnett's eyes flared with anger. As a high-ranking Alpha, he had never been rejected by his mate before; no she-wolf had ever dared such a thing. Bella's rejection was a slap to Barnett's face, a severe blow to his pride.

"You will regret your actions today," Barnett threatened.

"I'll be waiting," I replied defiantly. Years of warrior training had instilled in me a refusal to back down. My blood felt like it was on fire, and I couldn't wait to face off with Barnett.

Just then, a chorus of wolf howls echoed.

"Growl"

"Growl"

"Growl"

"Growl"

...

Red wolves, one by one, came rushing from all directions—my kin had arrived!

"Barnett, you made my daughter cry," the largest red wolf approached Barnett step by step, with wolves around him clearing a path. Barnett took several steps back, clearly frightened. I joyfully ran toward my father, Alpha Logan.

"Uncle Logan, you've misunderstand."

"Misunderstand? My guards have already told me everything through our mental link. How dare you deceive me!" The large red wolf gently nuzzled my head.

"As long as Bella is willing to accept Theresa... no... no... as long as she accepts her child, I am still willing to marry her," Barnett shamelessly continued to argue.

Brother Wayland suddenly charged forward, knocking Barnett to the ground. "Barnett, you scoundrel! I misjudged you. How could you have my sister accept a bastard? I'm going to kill you."

Brother Waverly moved behind Barnett, blocking his escape.

Barnett's wolf eyes turned red, and he finally felt fear. "You can't kill me; I'm the heir to the Silver Wind Pack."

"Wayland, let him go."

"Father."

"Father."

"Don't worry, Bella; your father will make him pay." Mother Angelia comforted me gently.

"I know; I love you all." My family and pack had always been my pride. No matter what harm came my way, they would always protect me. But today's events made me realize that I couldn't always be a little girl; I needed to become stronger to protect them in the future.

"I, Alpha Logan, hereby swear that if Barnett Morris dares to set foot in my territory again, I will personally tear him to pieces."

The large red wolf howled at the gleaming moon, and the other red wolves followed suit, declaring this oath under the watchful gaze of the Moon Goddess.

"Alpha Logan, I will report today's events to my father." With those words, Barnett disappeared into the night with Theresa.

***

Nightfall

The men of the Brown family gathered in Alpha Logan's study. Bella's second brother, Waverly Brown, paced restlessly around the room, while the eldest brother, Wayland Brown, sat on the couch, deep in thought, with a furrowed brow.

Bella's father sat at the desk, watching it all.

"Father, why did you let Barnett go today?" Waverly clenched his fists in frustration. "I wanted to give that jerk a beating he'd never forget."

"Waverly, calm down. Father must have had his reasons," Wayland advised.

"I can't accept this. Barnett bullied Bella so much; he can't get away with it that easily," Waverly said bitterly.

"Bella is a strong girl. She rejected Barnett, becoming the first person to defy an Alpha fated mate," Wayland smiled with genuine pride and affection for his sister.

Waverly laughed in agreement, echoing his brother's sentiments. Bella's actions were truly commendable; that despicable Barnett didn't deserve his smart, brave, and kind sister.

"Sit down, Waverly," Alpha Logan said. Deep down, he worried for Bella, even as he took pride in her resistance against Barnett. "Have you both considered what Bella's future might be like?"

At those words, both brothers stopped laughing. They understand that Bella, having lost her second chance, would never find a third fated mate. This meant she would have to choose her mate. However, there was a fundamental difference between fated mates and chosen mates – chosen mates wouldn't share a soul-deep connection. It was easy for a chosen mate to betray each other.

"I, Wayland Brown, solemnly swear to protect Bella forever, to keep her from being bullied, from being homeless, from being alone," Wayland pledged sincerely.

Wayland, as Logan's eldest son, was steady and reliable, was the big brother his siblings could always trust. Barnett had been his friend in the past, and he felt deeply guilty for what Bella had suffered because of that bad friend.

"I, Waverly Brown, also solemnly swear to protect Bella forever, to keep her from being bullied, from being homeless, from being alone," Waverly, the hot-tempered and impulsive wolf, vowed. But to Bella, he was a very dependable brother too, always rushing to her side whenever she needed help. He was willing to be his little sister’s lifelong protector.

Alpha Logan watched his two sons with relief. "Remember your promises today."

"I promise."

"I promise."

After this, Alpha Logan shifted the conversation. "Let's talk about Barnett Morris. Even if we had beaten him today, it would have been a temporary pain. My plan is to give him a lifelong lesson at the upcoming Alpha Conference."

"You mean we'll challenge Barnett at the Alpha Conference," Wayland immediately grasped his father's intention.

Waverly was thrilled with the brilliant idea.

Every year, the kingdom held an Alpha Conference, mainly to give werewolves a chance to find their fated mates. It also featured friendly competitions to showcase the charms of the male wolves.

If they could make Barnett look foolish in front of the entire nation's alphas, he would never hold his head high again.

"Let me do it, Father," Waverly volunteered instantly.

"It should be me," Wayland said, this time not giving in to his younger brother. He wanted to take revenge for his sister himself.

Alpha Logan ultimately decided to let his eldest son handle it. "Only success is allowed, no room for failure."

"Yes, Alpha," Wayland solemnly promised.

Alpha Logan smiled satisfactorily. He had a larger plan in mind, and those who had harmed his beloved daughter wouldn't get off lightly.