Upon arriving at the pack’s headquarters, a Delta guard abruptly blocked my path, tossing my personal belongings to the ground before me. Beyond him stood my mate and the Beta of the pack, Dustin, his expression cold, his brows furrowed in silence. Moments later, his sister Bella, a Delta herself, strode over and shoved me harshly.

"Get out of here!" she shouted, her voice sharp and venomous. "My brother’s done with you. You’re just an Omega, dreaming of competing with a high-ranking heiress for my brother’s attention. Look at yourself—what makes you think you’re worthy?"

I didn’t argue; instead, I smiled ruefully. "I guess those major alliances I was negotiating are off the table now. You might regret this decision."

Bella scoffed and spat on the ground dismissively. "Pfft, once my brother mates with the heiress, do you really think he’ll care about your tiny deals?"

As I turned to leave, Dustin finally spoke, his voice icy and detached. "I was just playing with you. Don’t even think about trying to bother me again."

I ignored him and stepped into the elevator, feeling more bewildered than angry. Could there really be another heiress besides me?

---

After successfully securing a crucial alliance with a rival pack, I returned to the headquarters, only to notice the pack members whispering and pointing behind my back. I brushed it off, eager to share the news with Dustin. But as I approached the entrance, two Delta guards blocked my way.

That’s when Dustin casually emerged from behind them, Bella at his side. One of the guards tossed a box at my feet. "Beta Dustin says you’re expelled from the pack."

Stunned, I looked at Dustin. "What’s going on, Beta? What does this mean?"

He stood there, arms crossed, cold and silent, merely glancing at Bella. Without hesitation, Bella pounced, her words dripping with venom.

"Can’t you see? You’ve been expelled. Now get lost!" she yelled. "Oh, and by the way, my brother wanted me to tell you that your mate bond is rejected, starting now!"

This sudden declaration left me speechless. I asked, not entirely convinced, "Bella, are you serious?"

She stepped forward and shoved me again. "Do you think you have the right to call me ‘sister’? You’ve been living off my brother, working in his pack, and still have the nerve to ask for recognition."

"My brother’s been meaning to reject you for a while. Hurry up and leave, and don’t cling to him anymore!"

I turned my gaze to Dustin, who remained unfazed. Before I could speak, he cut me off. "That’s right, just go. We’re done."

Dustin and I had been mates since our youth. After my awakening, I helped him rise to the position of Beta, contributing to the pack’s success. Through all these years, this was the first time he spoke to me so coldly. He had always been the attentive mate, my protector in the pack. What had changed? Was it all just an act?

"Beta Dustin, we’ve been mates for so long. Don’t I deserve an explanation for this?"

"Do I need a reason to reject you? I just don’t feel the bond anymore."

His words stuck in my throat, leaving me speechless. Once I calmed down, I realized there was no point in arguing. He was right—if the bond is gone, any excuse is pointless.

"Fine, give me the keys so I can retrieve my belongings from the pack house."

Bella jumped in again, pointing her finger at me. "What belongings? Everything was provided by the pack! What right do you have to take anything? Try it, and I’ll report you to the Alpha for theft!"

I brushed her finger aside. "So that’s it—you can’t bear to part with my things because they’re valuable, huh?"

"You… you’re talking nonsense! My brother is the Beta; I don’t need to worry about resources. But look at you, acting like you’ve never seen wealth, living off the pack to claim all those items!"

I nearly laughed out loud. Those items were mine, many of them rare gifts from my own pack, worth more than what Dustin’s pack could afford in a year. If they didn’t want to part on good terms, I wouldn’t need to hold back either.

I shook my head in pity. "Fine, consider it a donation. I’ll leave, but those alliances I negotiated will fall through. When your pack’s resources dry up, don’t come crying to me."

Bella spat at me again, her voice dripping with disdain. "Pfft! You’re just an Omega. Do you think threatening him with that will stop the rejection? You actually think you can compete with a high-ranking heiress for my brother? Who do you think you are?"

I paused, absorbing her words. Could this be the explosive secret I’d just stumbled upon?

Dustin, who had been silent for what felt like forever, finally took action, quickly pulling Bella behind him. His towering frame, a clear mark of his Beta status, loomed over her, his muscles tense under the strain of keeping his sister in check.

"Keep quiet!" he hissed, his voice low but laced with the commanding edge of an alpha tone. "We can’t let her find out about this. What if she ruins everything? Idiot!"

When he called her "idiot," I almost felt like applauding him. For years, he let his sister, a Delta in their pack, cause chaos unchecked, and now it seemed like he finally saw reason. But Bella, ever defiant, shook off his hand, her sharp features twisted in disdain.

"What’s there to worry about?" she spat, her voice dripping with arrogance. "Even if she finds out, so what? The heiress is head over heels for you. If she tries anything, the heiress could crush her with just a snap!"

She shot me a look so full of contempt it could’ve cut glass. "Get lost. Once my brother mates with the heiress, who’ll care about your measly contributions?"

From their conversation, I realized Dustin was planning to mate someone else behind my back. But seriously, how many high-ranking heiresses are there in the city? Could this one be a rogue playing a con?

Trying to reason with someone committed to their own downfall is pointless. I pulled out my phone and called several major allied packs, instructing them to sever ties with Dustin’s pack. Not just temporarily, but permanently. The alphas on the other end were so outraged they barely hesitated before agreeing.

Dustin seemed indifferent, his cold demeanor unshaken. As I turned to leave, he casually tossed out a final remark, his voice dripping with condescension.

"All these years, I’ve just been toying with you. Don’t take it seriously. You better not pull any stunts to hang on to me. Don’t come crying when things blow up!"

I let out a couple of cold laughs, turning my back on him as I pressed the elevator button. The air around him carried the faint scent of pine, a reminder of the mate bond that still lingered, though it now felt like a mockery.

As I stepped into the elevator, I overheard Emerson, the Gamma in charge of resources for Dustin’s pack, frantically asking for him. "Beta Cook, when will the payment for our territory be made? The rival pack is breathing down our neck."

Wade, a Delta, also rushed up, sounding panicked. "Beta Cook! Bad news, the high-ranking pack member is demanding a refund. We’re going to lose big!"

Bella’s sharp voice cut through the chaos, her tone grating. "What’s the hurry? Can’t wait to be reborn? My brother’s about to mate with the heiress of the Graham Pack. Why sweat the small stuff?"

Just as the elevator doors closed, I caught Dustin’s voice answering his phone, his usual composure cracking under the strain.

Satisfied with the turn of events, I descended to the ground floor and dialed another number. "Kaleb, I’m not paying for their territory anymore. Start the eviction process right away."

The next day, Dustin caught me at the gym I frequent, his presence imposing even in casual attire. The lack of heartbreak on my face seemed to enrage him. His expression twisted with fury, his dark eyes blazing.

Sarcastically, he sneered, his alpha tone sharp and cutting. "You really can’t live without a mate, huh? Now that you can’t latch onto me, you’re here trying to pick up someone at the gym?"

I glanced at him sharply, my voice calm but firm. "Cut to the chase. No small talk!"

His face flushed with anger, and he struggled to find his words before finally stating his grievance. "You’re not part of my pack anymore. What gives you the right to tell those allied packs to sever ties with us?"

I chuckled, playing innocent. "As you said, I’m not part of your pack anymore. Those alphas trust me and follow my lead. That’s none of your concern, right?"

"Aren’t you set on mating some heiress? If you’re short on resources, go ask your heiress."

Seeing I wouldn’t budge, he stormed off in a huff, his broad shoulders stiff with frustration. As he left, he threw a parting shot over his shoulder: "You better never show up in front of me again!"

Watching him leave, I let my smile fade. Years of emotions—claiming I wasn’t hurt would be a lie, but more than anything, I was perplexed.

Are there really that many high-ranking heiresses in the city? As far as I know, I’m the only one.

Mate stealing is one thing, but pretending to be me crosses the line.

I’m eager to find out who this so-called heiress really is.