Aubree’s parents were alarmed, their scents spiking with fear as they grabbed a broom, their Omega instincts making them cower even as they tried to assert dominance.

"Apologize, it’s just a rank, not the end of the pack," her mother, Selah, hissed, her voice trembling.

Aubree chuckled lazily, as if she’d just heard a joke, though the bitterness in her scent betrayed her calm exterior.

"Hahaha..."

Matthew Simmons, her former mate and a Gamma in the Silver Moon Pack, grew impatient. His aura flared, hot and suffocating, as he grabbed her hair, his claws pricking her scalp.

"What’s so funny, Delta?" he snarled, his alpha tone laced with venom.

"You think I’m just going to sit here quietly, always at your beck and call?" Aubree shot back, her voice steady despite the pain.

"Believe me, with just one word from me, you’ll never find a mate in this pack," Matthew growled, his dominance pressing down on her.

"It seems you’ve misunderstood something," Aubree said, her voice calm but firm as she finally stopped laughing. "When did I ever say I wanted to stay mated to you?"

She stood tall, her Delta pride refusing to let her cower. "From today, we have nothing to do with each other. From now on, we go our separate ways and never meet again."

Matthew’s jaw dropped, his dominance wavering for a moment as he stared at her in disbelief.

After a moment, his anger exploded, his scent turning acrid. "You... you dare reject me? Do you know how many she-wolves would line up to be my mate?"

"If you really declare the bond broken today, there will be a line of suitors at our door tomorrow!"

"Oh, I get it," he sneered, his voice dripping with condescension. "You’re mad because I used your resources to train Paloma, right?"

He seemed to understand suddenly, his smirk widening. "Just a few thousand credits, and you’re making such a fuss. Being my mate is a privilege, and you want compensation too?"

"Fine," he snapped, his tone dismissive. "I’ll have her write you an IOU, and she’ll pay you back once she’s promoted."

While packing her few belongings, Matthew did indeed show up with an IOU, and trailing behind him was Paloma Boyd, her scent sharp with aggression and her claws glinting in the dim light.

Paloma kicked Aubree’s suitcase away, the force sending it skidding across the floor. She slapped the IOU in Aubree’s face, the paper cutting her cheek.

"I’m a rogue trying to earn my place in the pack," Paloma snarled, her voice dripping with disdain. "Busy with training, and I still have to deal with your nonsense? Never met someone so petty."

"The debt is acknowledged, happy now?"

Matthew gently patted Paloma’s back, his adoration for her evident in his scent and the way his dominance softened around her.

"There, Paloma, we’re civilized wolves, no need to stoop to her level," he said, his voice warm.

He shot Aubree a sideways glance, his dominance flaring again. "The IOU is in your hands, so stop whining. Your parents have already agreed to Johan Allen’s offer on your behalf."

"Once you’re demoted, take some time to clean yourself up; we don’t welcome weaklings in the pack."

Aubree crouched on the floor, covering her bleeding cheek, her heart sinking as the scent of her own blood filled the air.

The paper landed squarely in her palm.

The note read a debt of four hundred credits to Paloma Boyd, to be repaid within three years.

Aubree looked up at them, her Delta pride refusing to let her break.

Matthew sneered, his dominance pressing down on her. "Even though she used your two thousand credits, as her future sister-in-law, you should have given her some resources for training. Usually, a year’s training costs two thousand four hundred, so you owe her four hundred."

"This is your personal debt; make sure to pay it back within three years."

Aubree had seen thick-skinned wolves before, but never like this.

Even if she had never planned to keep the so-called mate gift, she had never imagined they’d stoop so low.

Just as she was about to tear the IOU to shreds, her parents returned, holding a small pouch of credits, their scents smug as they smiled about Johan Allen’s generosity in immediately paying up once they mentioned the demotion.

Seeing Matthew, they quickly fawned over him, their Omega instincts making them submissive.

"We’ve done what you asked," her father said, his voice trembling with deference.

"We’ll hold onto these credits for now."

"Rest assured, Johan Allen assured us Aubree won’t be going back to her position."

Matthew watched their exchange, a smug grin spreading across his face as he wrapped an arm around Paloma’s waist. "Well done," he chuckled, his tone dripping with satisfaction. "I’m in a good mood today. How about I make us some fish chowder? Ever tried fish fresh from the local lake?"

Paloma caught the hint, casting a mocking glance Aubree’s way, her expression laced with venomous sarcasm. "Aubree, who are you kidding? Acting all high and mighty, but didn’t you still let your parents agree to your demotion for him? You’re still head over heels for Matthew." Her words were sharp, laced with jealousy and disdain.

Moments later, Paloma threw her bag to the ground in frustration, the sound making Matthew stop laughing. He reached out to calm her, but Paloma ignored him and stormed over to Aubree, yanking her hair and shoving her to the ground. Her grip tightened around Aubree’s throat, her voice low and menacing. "Don’t think Matthew belongs to you. He was only with you for a while. In the end, I’ll come out on top. Don’t get too full of yourself."

Lying on the ground, Aubree trembled, her eyes darting to her parents as they eagerly counted the severance money in their hands, oblivious to her struggle. Matthew, likely worried Paloma might actually lose control, made a half-hearted attempt to intervene, only to step back and let it happen.

When the brick hit Aubree’s face for the third time, tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks. Desperately, she shoved Paloma away with a surge of strength and snatched the money back from her parents’ grip. They jumped in shock as the bills scattered, cursing loudly.

"You wretched girl, what are you doing? That money isn’t just yours! Hand it over to us!" they shouted, their voices filled with greed and indignation.

With all her strength, Aubree pushed them to the ground, her voice shaking but firm. "This is my money, earned from my rank as a Delta! Give it back! You’re all heartless! I won’t be demoted! Don’t even think about it!"

She would never give up her position in the pack. Aubree stuffed the money back into her pocket, clutching it tightly, and ran toward the pack’s headquarters, determination driving every step. Her wolf stirred within her, a low growl of defiance echoing in her mind. She would not let them take this from her. Not again.