Taylor's POV

By the time I reached the pack's border, the guards stared but didn't stop me. They had heard what happened. Of course they did. News travels faster than the wind in a pack full of gossiping wolves. Their eyes said what their mouths didn't, shame, pity, and disgust.

I walked past them, head held high, pretending their stares didn't burn. But inside, I was breaking. Every step toward my family's house felt heavier than the last. My heart whispered one thing over and over again, he didn't even hesitate.

When I finally reached home, I stopped at the front door. My hands trembled as I pushed it open. The warm scent of wood smoke and my mother's cooking filled the air, but it didn't comfort me this time. It only reminded me of what I had lost belonging.

The door creaked, and immediately, my mother turned. Her eyes widened the moment she saw me with my torn dress, my swollen eyes, and the mark that never came from my supposed mate.

"Taylor..." she whispered, almost like she didn't believe it was me. "What have you done?"

I swallowed hard, trying to speak, but my throat ached.

My father entered from the sitting room; his face was hardened with the weight of leadership. He

wasn't an Alpha, but he was respected, strong, proud, loyal to the pack's laws. The kind of man who valued honour above all else.

When his eyes landed on me, they darkened.

"You've embarrassed this family," he said in a low voice.

I opened my mouth to speak, but my mother raised her hand sharply. "Don't, Taylor. Just don't."

"Mom...."

"What did we warn you?" she cut me off. Her voice trembled, not from fear, but from fury barely

contained. "We told you he would destroy you. We told you not to beg for his love. But you never listen, do you?"

"I didn't beg!" I shouted back, but my voice cracked. "I only wanted him to see me, to see that I was worth it!"

My father slammed his fist against the wall, making me flinch. "You think worth comes from chasing an Alpha who never wanted you?"

Tears filled my eyes. "I loved him!"

"Love?" He scoffed, stepping closer. "Love doesn't make you weak, Taylor. What you did was weakness. You've brought shame upon us all. The pack will talk. They already are."

I clenched my fists. "I didn't ask to be rejected! I didn't ask for this pain!"

My mother's eyes softened for a moment, but her voice stayed firm. "But you walked into it, my child. You chose him when we told you not to. You thought love would change an Alpha's heart. You thought you could rise above your rank with emotion alone. And now look."

She gestured toward me, the broken girl standing in the doorway. "You've fallen lower than you ever imagined."

I couldn't hold the tears anymore. They spilled down my cheeks as I sank to the floor. "I tried, Mom... I really tried..."

My mother's face turned away as if she couldn't bear to look at me. My father took a deep breath and said coldly, "You will not stay under this roof for now."

My head snapped up. "What?"

"You need to understand the consequences of your choices," he said. "You brought this on yourself. The pack sees you as a disgrace. Until you can prove yourself worthy again, you will live outside the main quarters. The old cabin near the southern woods. Alone."

My heart dropped. "You're... sending me away?"

"This isn't punishment," he said, though his tone was as hard as stone. "It's correction. You must learn to survive without the comfort you took for granted. You must learn what it means to be strong on your own."

My mother turned, her eyes red. "We love you, Taylor. But sometimes love means letting you face your pain."

I felt my legs weaken. "Please, don't do this. Not now. I've already lost everything..."

My father didn't answer. He just pointed toward the door.

The silence between us was louder than any words could be. I picked up a small bag from the table, one I had used for training, and walked back out.

Outside, the wind was cruel. I could still hear the faint laughter of wolves nearby, their whispers carried through the air.

"Did you hear? Alpha Lupus rejected her."

"The Omega who thought she could be Luna."

"How pathetic."

I clenched my teeth, fighting back tears. Let them talk. One day, they'll all see.

The old cabin my father mentioned was far from the main pack house, deep within the southern woods. It was cold, half-broken, and smelled of dust and old memories. I set my bag down and sat on the wooden floor, hugging my knees.

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of birds and the cold wind blowing through cracks in the wall. My body ached from sleeping on the hard floor, but I refused to cry again. I was done crying.

I stepped outside. The forest looked peaceful, hiding the chaos inside me. My wolf, Lira, stirred in my mind.

We can't stay broken, she whispered softly. We must rise again.

"I know," I whispered back. "But it hurts too much."

Pain builds strength, she said. And we will need it.

I closed my eyes, letting her words settle. Lira was right. I had let Alpha Lupus break me once it wouldn't happen again.

Over the next few days, I worked quietly. I cleaned the cabin, gathered wood, hunted small animals, and trained in the clearing. I could still feel the emptiness of his rejection that invisible wound that wouldn't heal. But I also felt something new beginning to grow inside me. Determination.

By the fifth day, I was stronger. My muscles ached from training, but my heart felt lighter. I refused to let my father's words or the pack's whispers define me.

Still, part of me missed my mother. I didn't expect her. She carried a basket of food and a small blanket.

"Mom..."

She smiled sadly. "You look stronger already."

"I'm trying."

She placed the basket down and sighed. "Your father is proud, though he won't admit it. He believes this will make you wiser. You must understand, Taylor in this world, love is not enough. Power keeps you alive. Control earns respect."

I looked away. "Then I'll earn both. My way."

She smiled faintly. "That's the daughter I raised."

Before she left, she turned and said quietly, "Remember this the moon doesn't shine because it wants to. It shines because it has to. So will you."

Her words stayed with me long after she was gone.

I sensed a presence the scent was really familiar yet distant. I turned sharply, with my claws half-

formed, ready to defend myself.

"Easy, it's just me."

It was Daniel. Lupus's beta.

I froze, unsure what to feel.

"What are you doing here?" I asked coldly.

He looked tired, as if the weight of two loyalties pressed on his shoulders. "Checking on you. You've been gone for weeks."

I scoffed. "And the Alpha sent you, right?"

"No," he said. "He doesn't even know I'm here."

I turned away. "Then you shouldn't be either."

"Taylor..." His voice softened. "He hasn't been the same since that night. You might not believe me, but rejecting you shook him."

I let out a bitter laugh. "You expect me to believe that? He called me useless, Daniel. He said I wasn't worth being his Luna."

Daniel's eyes darkened. "I know. But there's more going on than you think. Things inside the pack... politics, pressure. He's not acting alone."

I frowned. "What are you saying?"

He hesitated. "Just... be careful. You're not safe here anymore. Not from everyone."

Before I could question him, he disappeared into the woods, leaving only the sound of rustling leaves behind.

Lupus's POV

The morning after Taylor's scent disappeared completely from the pack grounds, the air inside the Alpha Chambers was heavy. The kind of silence that came before a storm.

I stood before the large window overlooking the training fields, hands clenched behind my back. Every sound irritated me, the footsteps of warriors outside, the chatter of omegas cleaning the hallways, even the soft breathing of Angela still sleeping on the bed.

No matter how hard I tried to shake it off, I couldn't. The image of Taylor walking out, proud, defiant, refusing to show pain and it haunted me.

My wolf, Kain, paced restlessly in my mind.

You shouldn't have rejected her that way, he growled.

I ignored him.

You can't silence me, Alpha. You hurt our mate.

"She was never meant to be my Luna," I muttered under my breath.

And yet, you can't stop thinking about her, Kain snarled back.

Before I could argue with my wolf, the door burst open.

"Lupus Kai!"

The sound of my father's voice filled the room very deep, sharp, and full of anger. My mother followed behind him, her expression a mix of heartbreak and disappointment.

Angela stirred on the bed, half-awake, wrapping the sheets around herself. My father's eyes flicked toward her briefly, then back at me, full of disgust.

"Do you have any idea what you've done?" he demanded.

I turned slowly, keeping my tone cold. "You're in my chambers, Father. You don't raise your voice to an Alpha."

He took a step closer, unfazed. "I will when that Alpha is my son, and he's acting like a fool."

My jaw tightened. "Choose your words carefully."

"I chose them the moment you humiliated that girl," he shot back. "Taylor Swift, the one who stood by you even when you were nothing but a young, reckless wolf trying to prove himself. You rejected her in front of the entire pack. What kind of leader does that?"

My mother's voice trembled, but she spoke anyway. "You didn't just hurt her, Lupus. You broke the

bond that was destined for you. Do you have any idea what that means? The Moon Goddess doesn't take rejection lightly."

I scoffed. "The Moon Goddess doesn't rule my heart. I do."

My father's eyes darkened. "No. You're ruled by pride. And by her." He pointed toward Angela, who was now sitting upright, her eyes glinting with irritation.

Angela smiled sweetly, though the venom in her voice was clear. "With all due respect, Elder Kai, maybe you should stop meddling in your son's choices. He's the Alpha now. He doesn't need your approval or anyone else's."

My mother's head snapped toward her. "You will speak only when spoken to, child."

Angela stood up slowly, wrapping herself in a silk robe. "Funny. You talk to me like I'm an outsider, but I'm the Luna now. You should be showing me respect."

"Luna?" My mother laughed bitterly. "You? The pack doesn't even recognize you. You think lying beside my son makes you his equal?"

Angela's smile faded, her eyes narrowing.

I stepped forward, my patience gone. "Enough."

But my father wasn't done. He turned his rage back to me. "You let this woman manipulate you, Lupus! You think strength is found in arrogance, but true power lies in wisdom. You've lost both."

"Watch your tongue," I warned.

He crossed his arms. "Or what? You'll reject us too?"

Angela smirked behind me, whispering softly, "He might, if you keep pushing him."

My mother took a step closer, her eyes wet. "Son, listen to me. The people are whispering. They're beginning to question you. You can't lead through fear alone. Taylor may have been an omega, but she had a pure heart. The pack respected her. They loved her."

Her words struck a nerve. I didn't show it, but something in my chest tightened.

"She was weak," I said flatly. "An Alpha doesn't need weakness beside him."

My mother shook her head. "No, Lupus. You're the weak one for not seeing her strength."

The room went silent. Even Angela froze for a second. My father exhaled slowly, his disappointment like a heavy cloud.

"I raised you to be a leader," he said. "But you've become something else entirely. Power without empathy is destruction. You'll lose everything if you continue this path."

I clenched my fists. Every word from him felt like fire against my pride.

"You think you can stand in my pack and insult your Alpha?" I said, my voice rising. "I earned this title through blood and battle, not your approval!"

My father's eyes flashed. "You might wear the title, but you've forgotten what it means."

Something inside me snapped. My wolf growled low, urging dominance. The air in the room shifted, thick with tension.

I stepped closer to him, the Alpha aura radiating off me like heat. "You forget your place, Father. I'm not that boy you used to lecture. You speak to me now as your Alpha, not your son."

My mother gasped in shock softly. "Lupus, stop this"

But I was too far gone. The fury in me drowned out everything else.

Angela stepped closer, her voice soft and poisonous. "They're undermining you, my love. Right here, in your own chamber. The pack will see this as weakness if you let it slide."

I turned to her, breathing hard. "What are you suggesting?"

She met my eyes, calm and deliberate. "You can't have a pack that doubts you. Not even your family. If they question your authority now, others will follow. You must remind them who leads."

My mother's face went pale. "Don't listen to her."

Angela's voice cut through like a blade. "Show them what happens when anyone disrespects their Alpha."

For a moment, I hesitated. They were my parents. The ones who taught me everything I knew about loyalty, honor, and duty. But all I could see now was their disappointment, the same disappointment that made me feel like a child again.

And I hated it.

I raised my voice, calling through the pack bond. "Guards!"

Two warriors entered immediately, heads bowed.

My father's eyes widened. "Lupus, don't do this."

"You've questioned my leadership publicly," I said, my tone cold. "That's an act of insubordination, even from elders."

My mother's voice trembled. "We are your parents, not your enemies."

"Right now," I said slowly, "you're both standing in my way."

Angela smiled faintly, folding her arms as the guards waited for my command.

"Escort the former Alphas to the holding quarters," I ordered. "Until further notice, they are not to leave or speak to any member of the council."

The guards hesitated, glancing between us. My father's voice thundered. "You dare imprison your own blood?"

"Alpha's orders," I replied, my voice cold and final.

They moved forward. My mother didn't struggle, she just looked at me, eyes full of tears that hurt more than any words could.

"Lupus," she whispered, "one day, you'll understand what you've done."

My father pulled against the guards' grip. "You may silence us, but you can't silence truth. And when it returns to you, it will break you."

Their words followed them out as the doors closed behind them, leaving the room heavy with silence.

I stood there, breathing hard, feeling the Alpha power surge through me. Angela wrapped her arms around me from behind, her voice soft and reassuring.

"You did the right thing," she whispered. "No one will dare challenge you now."

But even as she spoke, my wolf growled deep inside me.

You've gone too far.

I ignored him, pushing the guilt down. "They had no right," I muttered.

They had every right. They raised you.

"Enough," I snapped aloud, but the voice in my head didn't stop. Taylor wouldn't have let this happen. She would have calmed you.

I closed my eyes, fists trembling. "She's gone."

And so is the part of you that was still good, my wolf whispered back.

Angela turned me around, placing her hands on my chest. "Don't think about them. You're the Alpha, and I'm your Luna. Together, we'll rule this pack without mercy."

I looked down at her, the woman I had chosen, or maybe the one who had chosen me. Her green eyes gleamed with satisfaction, and for a brief second, I wondered if I had become the kind of man my father feared I would be.

But I buried the thought just as quickly. Doubt was weakness.

"I am the Alpha," I said firmly. "No one questions me, not even blood."

She smiled, tilting her head. "That's my king."

She leaned up and kissed me, her lips soft but cold. The kind of kiss that tasted more like power than love.

When she pulled away, I turned back to the window. Outside, the pack continued with their duties, unaware that their Alpha had just caged his own parents.

I should have felt victorious. Instead, I felt nothing.

Lupus's POV

The sun rose red this morning. Not warm. Not welcoming. Just... accusing. I haven't slept. My eyes burn, and my wolf prowls under my skin like a caged animal. I stand on my balcony, staring down at the training yard. Warriors sparring. Laughing. Breathing freely. They don't know their former Alpha and Luna-my parents-are locked in stone rooms beneath their feet. Angela slides her arms around me from behind, her voice honey-sweet.

"You're up early."

"I didn't sleep."

She hums, pleased. "Leadership changes you. You'll adjust." She doesn't understand. Or maybe she does-and likes it. Because this is the first morning I wake up and realize my own body doesn't feel like mine anymore. My wolf is restless. He keeps whispering her name. Taylor.

I try not to think it. But it's like holding back the tide with my bare hands. By midday the whispers start-echoes carried through the pack bond even without linking. Where are the elders?

Why is the Alpha acting strange? Why does Angela sit beside him like she rules too? I walk into the training yard and every back straightens. They bow. They obey. But their eyes don't shine with trust.

Respect is still there-but fear has joined it. "Alpha," a young warrior says, voice cracking. Then-too bold or too frightened to stop- "Is it true something happened to the elders?"

Angela answers before I can. "The elders are resting. And it isn't your place to question your

Alpha." But the words ring hollow, and I feel it. My wolf snarls-not at the warrior... but at me.

You did this. I clench my jaw hard enough to crack a tooth. Night falls thick and heavy.

I'm just about to turn in when a howl splits the silence. Raw. Terrified. Familiar.

My mother. I'm shifting before thought catches up-bones snapping, fur exploding from skin. My paws hit the dirt and I tear across the grounds. I don't even remember getting to the holding halls-just stone doors, guards frozen, and the scent of my bloodline choking the air. I force the door open.

My mother is on the floor, shaking, fists full of dirt like she's trying to crawl through it to reach

me. My father kneels beside her, eyes blazing and broken all at once.

"Is this who you are now?" he asks quietly. "A wolf who cages his own parents?" His words hit harder than claws ever could.

"You don't understand," I grit out.

"No," he says. "We understand perfectly."

My mother whispers, "Lupus... please. I can feel you fading. You're losing yourself."

My head snaps up. "No one is fading." But my wolf whimpers, tail tucked.

My father rises slowly, shackles clinking. "You rejected your mate," he says. "But you can't reject the Moon's choice. She still bleeds through you. And you are tearing apart everything tied to her."

Taylor's name detonates inside my chest. I stagger back, breath strangling me. I turn and run before I start breaking bars-or myself. The cliffs are quiet. Only the river below-Taylor's favorite place-singing like it always did. I remember how she said the water sounded like the Goddess humming. I told her she was dramatic. Now I'd give anything to hear her talk nonsense again.

"I don't need her," I say out loud. My voice comes out thin. Even I don't believe it.

My wolf presses against me. Go to her. Fix it. Fix us. My knees nearly buckle. Leaves rustle behind me I don't turn. I know that scent. Angela.

"I was wondering where you disappeared to," she says softly.

"You followed me," I say.

"I follow you everywhere," she replies. "Someone has to keep you from falling."

I stiffen. "I don't fall." Her smile is soft and sharp all at once.

"No. But you're starting to look over the edge." She steps closer, fingertips tracing my jaw like she's moulding me out of clay. "Let the past die. Taylor is gone. The elders will be forgotten. Soon, the pack will fear you enough to never question you again."

Fear. Not loyalty. Not love. My wolf recoils hard. Angela's touch suddenly feels like chains.

And the truth hits me like a blade to the gut: Taylor wasn't my weakness. She was the one thing holding me together. Angela looks into my eyes and I finally understand- She doesn't want to share power. She wants to own it. Own me. And for the first time since I became Alpha... I am afraid. Not of enemies. Of myself. And of what happens if I don't turn back now.