“How could it not matter? Soon enough, you’ll be part of the Blue Moon Pack.”

Jalen’s words hung in the air, his tone casual yet cutting as he stood there with Ariella, his chosen mate. He was trying to assert his dominance, to make it clear that I, Sofia, would still have a place in his life—just not the one I deserved. The implication was clear: he wanted me to accept being his chosen mate, to settle for scraps of his attention while Ariella stood proudly as his Luna.

The humiliation burned through me, but I refused to let it show. My eyes narrowed as I met his gaze, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. “Alpha Jalen, it seems you’ve misunderstood. I never agreed to be part of your pack.”

Jalen’s lips curled into a smirk, his Alpha aura pressing down on me, though I stood my ground. “Sofia, you’ve always been different from the other she-wolves. While they mastered the arts of diplomacy and strategy, you were out in the forests, tending to plants. Being part of the Blue Moon Pack, even as a chosen mate, is more than you could hope for.”

His words were meant to sting, to remind me of my place—or lack thereof. But I refused to let him see how much they hurt. My wolf stirred within me, a low growl echoing in my mind, but I silenced her. This wasn’t the time to let my emotions take control.

“Alpha Jalen,” I said, my voice cool and measured, “I’ve spent my life providing for your pack, growing the herbs that saved your life when you were weak. I don’t need your pity or your scraps. If you think tending to plants makes me lesser, then perhaps it’s you who’s misunderstood their value.”

The room fell silent, the tension thick as the other pack members watched the exchange. Jalen’s eyes darkened, his Alpha tone sharpening. “Sofia, you’re overstepping.”

“Am I?” I shot back, refusing to back down. “Or are you just upset because I won’t bow to your pride?”

Ariella stepped forward then, her sweet smile masking the triumph in her eyes. “Sofia, please. Alpha Jalen is just trying to do what’s best for the pack. You shouldn’t take it personally.”

I turned to her, my gaze cold. “Chosen Mate Ariella, if Alpha Jalen thinks this is what’s best for the pack, then perhaps he’s not the Alpha I thought he was.”

The words hung in the air, a challenge neither of them could ignore. Jalen’s jaw tightened, his Alpha aura flaring, but I didn’t flinch. I’d spent too long in the shadows, too long accepting less than I deserved. This was my line in the sand, and I wouldn’t cross it.

As I turned to leave, I could feel their eyes on me, the weight of their judgment pressing down. But for the first time in a long time, I didn’t care. I wasn’t going to let them define my worth. I wasn’t going to let them win.

Jalen always enjoyed looking down on everyone, his Alpha aura radiating dominance as if his word were law.

When I dared to defend myself, his fragile ego couldn’t handle it. He saw it as a challenge to his authority, and I knew he’d retaliate with harsher words. I hated confrontation, hated being made a spectacle, so I swallowed my hurt and prepared to endure it.

But then, soft yet firm voices rose in my defense:

“Who says Sofia isn’t worthy? She’s the pride of the Hughes and Gray packs.”

“Sofia’s kind and genuine. We all care for her.”

“Besides, who says a she-wolf needs to be skilled in everything? Being a talented Healer is already a rare gift.”

Jalen scoffed, his Alpha tone sharp and dismissive as he glared at those who spoke up. “Sofia just got lucky with her lineage, that’s all.”

His smirk was cruel as he continued, “She’s uncultured, lacks character, and has always been jealous of Ariella, thinking she stole something from her. Honestly, she’s like a rogue who somehow ended up in a pack. The Moon Goddess must have made a mistake.”

His words stung, but I refused to let him see it. My wolf, Lila, stirred within me, a low growl of frustration echoing in my mind, but I kept my composure. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of breaking me.

My face paled as I stared at Jalen, shocked that he would use my deepest pain against me. The secret I had guarded so carefully was now laid bare in front of everyone. My claws flexed involuntarily, the sharp tips pressing into my palms as I struggled to contain the surge of anger coursing through me.

I had already sacrificed so much for Jalen. He had no right to stand there and judge me. Slowly, I rose from my seat and walked over to where Jalen and Ariella stood, my expression cold and unyielding as I faced him. The faint scent of rosemary—my wolf’s favorite—drifted between us, a reminder of the bond we once shared.

"Jalen," I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me, "if you’re so concerned with propriety, then I suggest you practice what you preach. Mind your words when speaking to others."

The calm facade on Jalen’s face cracked, his eyes narrowing as a warning flashed in them. But I didn’t give him a chance to interrupt.

"Alpha Jalen," I continued, emphasizing his title with a hint of mockery, "there are two things I need to remind you of."

"First, I have no ties to the Blue Moon Pack, and my relationship with Ariella is nothing more than superficial. Don’t assume I’ll continue to tolerate your disrespect."

"Second, since you seem to dismiss the value of the healing herbs I’ve provided, I’ll no longer supply them to your pack for free."

I made sure to stress the word "free," knowing how much it would wound Jalen’s pride. His eyes darted around the room, gauging the reactions of those around us. Desperate to save face, he turned red and shouted at me, "A few plants? You think anyone cares? I don’t need your handouts!"

I smiled, unfazed. "In that case, I’ll compile a detailed account of the costs for the herbs your pack has received over the years. I’ll send the invoice to you soon, Alpha Jalen. I trust you’ll settle the debt promptly."

The room fell silent, the weight of my words hanging in the air. I turned and walked away, leaving Jalen to stew in his humiliation. My wolf, Nyx, stirred within me, a low growl of satisfaction echoing in my mind. For the first time in years, I felt a sliver of control over my own life.