The Alpha's Biggest Regret-Claiming the Fake Luna

Chapter 2

"Take Ivy Whitestream to the border Breeding Camp! No visitors allowed until the trial!"

Before Ogg's command fully echoed through the hall, two grey-robed executioners marched toward me.

Cole's cloak was still draped over my shoulders. The makeshift bandage Eli applied was already soaking through, the dark crescent moon mark bleeding through the white fabric.

I stared dead at Ogg. "After the trial bell rings, the rejected mate is under the protection of the Goddess. Which version of the pack laws are you citing, Elder?"

The flesh on Ogg's face twitched. "A lowborn Omega has no right to quote the law."

I gave a hollow laugh. "I spent three years copying texts in the Forbidden Archives. I've restored more lost pages than the lies you've told tonight."

The Elders on the dais paled.

Rayne snapped his head toward me. "The Forbidden Archives?"

Nasha immediately pointed an accusing finger at me. "You finally admit it! Alpha Rayne, she's been planning this. She has no wolf, so she resorted to dark magic. No wonder the bell rang!"

Rayne stalked down the steps, his voice dangerously low. "When did you go into the Archives, Ivy?"

"Three years ago."

"Who let you in?"

"The Temple Keeper."

"Why did you never tell me?"

I pulled Cole's cloak tighter around myself, fighting the agonizing throb in my hand. "You never asked."

Rayne sneered. "Just because I didn't ask, doesn't mean you get to hide things from me."

His words pulled me back to three years ago. The day I was declared wolfless. The pack pups had dumped muddy water into my medicine kit. Rayne had walked right past me, only ordering a servant to mop the floor. Later, he praised Nasha for how beautiful her white wolf looked.

I had stood by the door, holding the medicine I had just brewed for him. That night, the Temple Keeper handed me an oil lamp and sent me into the Archives.

Nobody ever asked where I went at night.

Not Rayne. Not my father. Nasha only interacted with me at dawn—to deliberately knock over my freshly copied medicinal recipes.

I was pulled back to the present by Nasha's voice. She was holding up my mother's necklace for the seven Alphas to see.

"Look closely, everyone! I've always worn this necklace. Sister claims it was her mother's, but my mother placed it in my hands before she died. She said I was the true pride of the Whitestream family."

My nails dug into my palms. "You're lying. I was by her bed when she died. She put it in my hand and told me to wear it when I came of age."

Nasha's eyes brimmed with tears. "Sister, why do you always twist memories? You couldn't handle being wolfless, so you started stealing other people's belongings in your mind. You even claimed Alpha Rayne visited you every day, when he was actually training with me!"

Rayne didn't deny it. He leaned into her lie.

"Your memories have always been unstable, Ivy," he said smoothly.

Dread coiled in my gut. "So you're going to paint me as a madwoman?"

Ogg waved a hand, signaling the executioners to advance. "Not mad. Corrupted by dark magic. Sending her to the Breeding Camp is an act of mercy."

Someone in the crowd chuckled. "A wolfless b***h getting a free pass to the Breeding Camp? She should be grateful she gets to breed with high-ranking warriors."

"The Alpha raised her for eighteen years, and she bites the hand that feeds her."

"That's how Omegas are. Give them a scrap of meat, and they want the throne."

The words battered against me, but I stood my ground.

I couldn't reveal everything I knew about the old laws just yet. Without concrete proof, Ogg would destroy the broken ring and condemn me for stealing forbidden grimoires.

Cole looked down at me, his eyes dark with concern. "Can you walk?"

I gave a stiff nod.

Rayne sneered. "Walk? Who gave her permission to leave?"

Samuel raised a hand. Five of his border lieutenants stepped forward from the back of the crowd, their hands resting on their hilts.

Rayne's face darkened further. "You brought border troops into the royal court?"

Samuel kept his hand on his own blade. "The Mating Ball invited the leaders of the seven packs. Bringing my personal guard is perfectly within protocol."

Ogg barked, "Samuel, are you daring to obstruct the Council of Elders?"

Samuel's gaze was cold. "If the Council dares to seize trial evidence, I dare to stop them."

Eli gently supported my arm. "She can't be moved to the Breeding Camp now. There's an unknown reaction in her blood. Forcing her to move could be fatal."

Nasha covered her mouth and nose, stepping back dramatically. "Is sister's blood that filthy? Alpha Rayne, you used to drink her blood. Could you be corrupted too?"

Rayne's expression twisted into pure disgust as he turned to me. "Ivy, you had better pray you haven't infected me."

I stared right back at him. "When I slit my wrists to brew your medicine, you didn't seem to think it was filthy."

He took a step forward, barely containing his rage. "That was your choice."

"Yes, it was." My voice wavered, but I forced it steady. "I chose to believe you when you said you'd marry me. I chose to believe your apologies after every feral episode were genuine. I chose to believe you when you said Nasha was just a sister to you."

Nasha immediately let out a loud sob. "Sister, stop slandering me and Alpha Rayne! You have no wolf—you don't deserve him! I didn't steal him from you."

Rayne pulled her behind him protectively. "Enough, Ivy." He pointed toward the temple doors behind me. "You want a trial? Fine. But before that, you will submit to a body search by the Elders. If they prove you're corrupted by dark magic, I'll drag you to the Breeding Camp myself."

I didn't blink. "And if the test proves I'm not the one corrupted?"

Rayne let out a dry laugh. "Then I'll get on my knees and apologize to you."

Ogg interjected immediately. "The Alpha does not need to swear an oath to a lowborn Omega."

But Cole caught the opening. "Seven packs are present, and the temple bell is our witness. Rayne, are you afraid to back up your words?"

Rayne looked at me, his contempt bare. "I accept."

Under the bandage, the crescent moon on my palm burned with a fierce heat, making my knees buckle.

Eli tightened his grip on me, his voice a low whisper near my ear. "Don't agree to the search. The Elders will rig it."

Rayne caught the whisper and smiled cruelly. "What's wrong? Losing your nerve?"

I raised my head, about to speak, but Ogg suddenly signaled the executioners.

Heavy iron chains clamped shut around my wrists.

Cole drew his sword half an inch from its scabbard. "Let her go."

Ogg shouted over the murmurs. "Before the trial, the rejected cannot be allowed to flee! Take her away!"

Rayne didn't stop them. He just watched me being dragged toward the side doors by the chains, his face chillingly calm.

"Ivy, don't make me regret feeding you for eighteen years."