The Pack of the Rejects

Chapter:10 The Council

Council Hall. Blackwood Territory.

The room was massive. Stone walls. Alpha seats in a circle.

All the Alphas of the region were here. 20 of them.

And in the center: Carter.

He looked calm. Like he didn’t just try to have me killed 2 days ago.

My hands were shaking. The crystal in my pocket. The letter in Ryder’s hand.

"Begin," the Council Elder said.

Ryder stepped forward. "We are here to present evidence against Alpha Carter of Blackwood Pack. Crimes against Omegas. Abuse. Murder."

Murmurs.

Carter laughed. "Evidence? From rogues? From rejects?" He looked at me. "And from a traitor."

All eyes turned to me.

I stepped forward. Hood down.

Luna Grey.

Gasps.

"You," Carter snarled. "You should be dead."

"I should be," I said, voice clear. "But I’m not. Because of you."

I told them everything.

The wedding night rejection.

The 3 years in Rogue Territory.

Mara. The Pit. The warehouse.

Kira. The brand on her neck.

Then Ryder played the crystal.

Carter’s voice filled the hall.

`"The girl is to be rejected publicly. No witnesses. Make it look like her fault."`

Silence.

Then rage.

The Elder slammed his fist. "Alpha Carter. Do you deny this?"

Carter stood. "It’s fake. A trick. They’re lying—"

Ryder threw the letter on the floor. "Signed by you."

Carter lunged for it. Two guards grabbed him.

"It’s over," Elena said quietly from the crowd.

The vote was fast. Guilty.

"Alpha Carter of Blackwood is hereby stripped of his title," the Elder announced. "His pack will be dissolved. He will face trial."

Carter screamed as they dragged him away. "THIS ISN’T OVER!"

But it was.

After, the Alphas came to us.

"Your pack," one said to Ryder. "The Pack of the Rejected. You’ll need territory."

"We have each other," Ryder said. "That’s enough."

He looked at me.

Later, outside the Hall. Moon high.

"It’s done," Ryder said.

I nodded. "It’s done."

We stood in silence.

"About what I said before..." Ryder started. "I’m sorry. For rejecting you. For not protecting you."

I looked at him. The mate bond still pulled. But it didn’t hurt like before.

"Apology accepted," I said. "But I’m not Luna Grey anymore. I’m Ghost. And I have a pack to build."

Ryder smiled. A real one this time. "Then let’s build it."

Behind us, Kira and the others were laughing. Planning. Free.

13 had become a pack.

And I had become what they tried to destroy.

Strong.

---

**6 Months Later**

The Pack of the Rejected had land. A home.

No more hiding.

I stood on the hill overlooking our territory.

My wolf was calm.

Carter was in prison.

Blackwood had a new Alpha.

And me?

I was no one’s Omega.

I was Ghost.

I was Luna.

I was free.

The end. For now.