Rejected by the Alpha

Chapter 11 - An improper incident

Edward leaned against the doorframe looking at me in the way a cat watched a mouse before toying with it and devouring it. I didn't like the way he looked at me and I didn't like learning that I was in his room.

Of course that witch would try something like this, Moonlight said in my mind highlighting what was now obvious. Natalia had sent me to Edward, a bully brute of a man, as though I was a gift wrapped in a bow or perhaps in the way you would give live bait to a caged animal.

I squared my shoulders and reminded myself that I wasn't the young girl he used to bully and I could handle myself now. "You know of my punishment Edward. Natalia asked me to wax these floors. If you don't want them done, you'll need to speak with her."

"Is that so? Well, don't let me stop you," he replied casually walking behind me. I looked at him and he gestured for me to continue.

As soon as I went to bend once again however I felt two hands grab either side of my hips. I was then forcefully pulled flush against him. I was disgusted to feel his hard length. I jerked forward abruptly broke away from him. I was knocked off balance by the action and nearly fell but I regained my footing and turned to face him. "Touch me again and I'll break your hand," I told him.

"Oh come on runt," he said stalking towards me as I slowly stepped backwards. "I know you want it. Poor little rejected runt. Has anyone even touched you since you left this pack?" My back hit the wall and I felt my breathing hitch as I stared down at him. He reached forward to try and grab me between my legs but before he could I grabbed his wrist and twisted.... Hard.

" Argh f**k, " he shouted, "you broke my hand you little b***h!"

"I warned you," I reminded him. "And don't call me b***h, I want everyone to know that it was the runt that did this to you."

I heard commotion outside as people responded to his cries. What I said had angered him and he grabbed me by my neck. I spat at him, determined to show him that I wasn't scared of him, that he disgusted me and that my skin crawled at the thought of him.

Natalia, her cronies and a number of guards came through the door. There were one or two maids who peeked in past the guards shoulders to see what was happening. I was sure this would be the next topic of gossip in the kitchen and cleaning bays.

I watched as Natalia showed fake concern and as Edward accused me of attacking him without cause. The Guards were insistent that we wait for Archer to arrive. It wasn't common for Archer to preside as it was over disagreements. This was uncommon because I had not challenged Edward which is the usual way werewolves would resolve disagreements - by challenging one another to a fight which would be witnessed. In our case, there had been an injury outside of a challenge and unwitnessed. I had also thus far refused to say anything else other than, "I had my reasons and I provided warning".

When Archer did arrive, he looked pissed.

He had a white shirt on that was struggling to contain the muscle that was underneath. His shirt cuffs were undone and the sleeves pulled up to his elbows. His reading glasses were clipped onto the V in his shirt resting on his top shirt button. This was quite an unusual look for Archer and it suggested that we had caught him in the middle of stressful pack business. The first thing he did was send away everyone apart from me, Edward and Natalia. The guards stood just behind the doors to the room in case they were needed.

"Someone tell me what the f**k happened here and make it brief because I do not have time to play daddy alpha to a pack of pups who can't play nice with one another," Archer announced.

Edward of course jumped into his narrative telling him about how I had attacked him unprovoked. Archer simply listened before turning his attention to me. "And what's your account Lena?" He asked appearing calm. I looked into his emerald green eyes wondering if he would believe me if I told the truth. There are so many times where women are not taken seriously in these types of situations. Given that I was in his room and wearing this stupid tunic there could be allegations that either I wanted it or that I confused him in some way and he believed I wanted it. I had no witnesses and Natalia would back whatever narrative made me look worse. I could refuse to play their game and accept a punishment or I could speak the truth. There has been times recently where Archer has surprised me and I wondered if this could be one of them.

There had been a long pause and I could tell some of the others had began to be impatient but Archer continued to wait patiently.

"He touched me," I told him eventually and noticed the frown that flashed across his face. "I told him if he did it again I would break his hand. And he tried to again so... I broke his hand."

Edward scoffed. "She's lying," he accused.

"Where?" Archer asked, still not taking his attention off of me.

"what?" I asked.

"Where did he touch you?" he asked and I told him. I even told him that I could feel he was aroused.

Edward again scoffed at my report. "Come on," he said. "She's in my room wearing that... I'm only a man at the end of the day but that is not how it happened." I closed my eyes as Edward said this. Here it was. The part I had expected. This is where they accuse me and call me a slut.

"Perhaps she's trying to divide us Archer," Natalia said, her voice cutting through. "Seduce him and then accuse him of being inappropriate with her. I have always suspected her to be a slut."

"Natalia," I began but I was not able to say another word as she slapped me hard across my face knocking me to the ground and causing my lip to bleed.

"Natalia!" Archer called in a scolding manner. He bent to help me to my feet.

"She disrespected me," Natalia replied, "She knows she is to call me Luna and she has been doing it all week and then as soon as we're in front of you, she tries this! It just shows how manipulative she is."

Archer sighed and rubbed his face in frustration. "Alright," he said finally. I felt like I was holding my breath as I waited for him to pass judgement.