CHAPTER 3: BANISHMENT

/-Alora-/

The shock on his face was almost priceless as he held the urn. Allison was just as shocked as he was but I imagined it wasn't because my daughter was dead but because her lies were about to be exposed.

“Is… is this a joke?” Tyrone stuttered. It was the first time I had ever seen any form of emotion in his eyes. “You… you're messing with me right?”

“Messing with you?” I scoffed. “Your daughter has been dead for two days, you bastard!” I screamed at him.

“Why didn't you tell me?” he demanded but I shot him a thick glare.

“Don't you dare raise your voice at me? How would you know when all you cared about was a stupid dog? I'm sure Allison would have some logical explanations as to how my dead daughter slaughtered her dog!” I hissed, grabbing the bottle of whiskey.

I couldn't stand being in the same room with him anymore. I just wanted to leave this suffocating place before I lost my mind.

I went out into the garden which was Lila's favourite place to play. I didn't know how long I stayed there but the memories came flooding in with the shots of whiskey.

“I thought you would be gone by now.”

Her words startled me.

Allison walked to my side with a smug expression.

“I mean, your daughter is dead, and your husband prefers sharing my bed, so there is no reason for you to stay,” she continued.

She was baiting me, but the pent-up anger in me was beginning to tip over and my rage was becoming harder to control by the second.

“If it makes you feel better, he is grieving. But I assure you it is just a brief moment of weakness that will be forgotten when our baby is born,” Allison said.

“Baby?” My voice was weak and almost inaudible.

“What? You didn't know? What do you think he was doing all those nights he stayed away? Playing chess?” She stepped closer. “We are going to have a child together and I will take my rightful place as his Luna.”

I didn't have any intention of fighting the Luna position with her anymore. It felt like a crucial part of me died along with my dead daughter, but the thought of her having a baby just when I lost one infuriated me.

“I mean, if I had known your daughter was dead, I wouldn't have gone through the trouble of killing my beautiful pet,” she drawled.

“You lying whore!” I screamed, attacking her before I even realized it. I should have known it was what she wanted but at that moment, I was so angry.

And I took out all that anger on her. Punching and hitting her in every way I could. Her screams were a form of consolation to me until I was pulled off her.

“Alora! What has gotten into you?” Tyrone snapped. “Have you lost your mind?”

“Yes, Tyrone!” I screamed at him. “I have lost my mind. This is why you killed our daughter, isn't it? So your little bastard child will have it easy?”

“That's enough! You can't blame anyone for Lila's death. It was an accident! That doesn't give you the right to attack Allison!” He lowered his voice, his guilt overpowering the anger.

“Well, I hope to try, goddess, that you both burn in hell!” I flared up, stomping away from them. 

On arrival at my room, I began to pack my things. I couldn't waste any second here, or else I would lose my sanity.

I couldn't even return to my pack because my marriage with Tyrone merged our packs. We were part of the reason the SilverClaw pack was as huge and powerful as it was and I didn't plan to leave without them.

Tyrone never wanted our union so I would free him completely of that burden.

He came into the room shortly.

“Allison is in a very critical condition. The doctors say she might lose the baby!” He started.

He was looking for a fight but I wasn't going to give him that. I was tired of fighting, tired of hurting, tired of his excesses. I have already learned my lessons the hard way.

“I'm leaving, whether you accept my rejection or not,” I stated. “And I am taking everything I own with me, including my pack!”

“You don't mean that…” he trailed.

“Unfortunately, I do,” I said coldly. “You never wanted me in this union in the first place, so I am going to free you of that burden.”

“You will do no such thing! These people have already been together for a long time. They have intermarried! Do you know how many families your decision will tear apart? Don't be rash, Alora. Do not let your grief get the better of you!” He growled.

“I also lost a daughter and Becky of you, I am on the verge of losing another child! Haven't you done enough damage already?”

I looked at him in disbelief. The nerve of him to try to turn the tables against me.

“Lila was my daughter! Mine! You were never a father to her! It is because of you she was torn to pieces by wild animals!” I retorted, tears streaming down my cheeks. “I am going to leave with my people. As for those who have intermarried, they decide to stay or leave with their families, not yours!”

“You are forcing my hand, Alora. I am trying to be considerate because of our daughter!” He seethed.

“Spare me that! You never did anything for her when she was alive so don't pretend to care for her now, she is dead!” I fired.

He was taken aback by my words.

“Very well then, since you want it this way, I will have to arrest you for the attempted murder of a royal blood!” He said coldly.

“What?” I staggered back.

“You heard me, Alora. I do not wish to humiliate you. You either leave quietly, or I banish you and trust me, the people wouldn't question my decision,” he said.

It was clear to me now. This was no longer the man I had fallen in love with.

“So I get banished for beating up your pregnant mistress but you get away unscathed after sending our daughter to the forest to be devoured by animals?” I scoffed with a bitter laugh. “It's fine, I will leave.”

I grabbed my already packed bag.

“But he rest assured that I will never forgive you for this. I will come back for you and that sleeky little whore of yours!”

That was how I came about wandering in the very forest where my daughter was brutally torn apart.

Night soon fell and I was barely halfway through the forest. I didn't even know if there was anything out there for me.

I had no idea where I was going and my stomach began to grumble. I haven't eaten anything in days. It was just alcohol.

Now I wished my impulsive self had thought to grab some food.

It didn't take long for me to hear the snapping of twigs and rustling of bushes. Someone was coming.

There was hardly anything to use as a defense, but I grabbed a random stick just in case.

I didn't know what I was expecting but it was certainly not the giant-sized wolf before me.

Its head was bigger than a regular wolf and it was twice our size.

When those fierce amber orbs met mine, my blood ran cold. I didn't need a soothsayer to tell me to run and just as expected, it chased me.

I barely had the chance to shift before it slammed into me. I hit the ground with a thud and let out a groan.

I let out my claws and slashed it across the face as it got closer to me. A sharp groan escaped it and it smacked me across the face, causing me to fall unconscious in a matter of seconds.

When I opened my eyes, I found myself in a cage with chains on my wrists.

My head was banging with a migraine from the hit last night.

“The trespasser is awake, Your Highness,” someone informed, and I forced my eyes open.

I was surrounded by able-bodied men eying me like I was some sort of criminal.

I pushed myself off the floor and struggled to stand.

“Who are you?” I demanded. “Why am I in chains?”

“Because you trespassed and violently attacked our Alpha!”

What?