Gasps fill the silent room and all eyes stare at me. I am the runt with a silver tiara still atop of her head and the moonstone attached to the silver chain around her body.
“You filthy bitch!” An angry roar sounds from where my father sat on the throne. I know it is only a matter of minutes before he is in front of me. Turning, I brace myself just in time to feel his foot connect with my body, sending me sprawling to the floor. I can already tell I have a few broken ribs from the kick. Geminie quickly steps between us, snarling at my father. Ariven hands their child to Amberle before joining his mate in standing between my father andme.
“You are a runt, a filthy runt!” He screams, not daring to walk forward towards an angry Goddess who harnesses powers that could kill, and her overprotective mate ready to kill for his loved one blocking his way.
“That is no way to treat your daughter!” Ariven states, anger radiating in his voice.
“Who are you to tell me how to treat that bitch!” Father roars back.
“A father of a daughter myself. Daughters should be cherished, not beaten,” Ariven roars back. I slowly climb to my feet and join the two, snarling at my father as he goes to take a step towards Ariven threateningly.
“Your Majesty, wait!” A shout in the crowd has the man before me stopping in his track. Annoyance and irritation at the person who prevented him from attacking me again. My ears are focused for that voice, my heart beating faster as something inside my mind begs me to find the owner. The delectable scent from earlier is stronger as the person that shouted draws closer.
“What is it, Narin?” My father demands, striding off of the dais and towards the future Beta.
“Crystalline. She is my mate.” He answers, a look of disgust as if he has eaten something foul filling his handsome face. I want to make him smile. to have him look at me with love and not disgust in those green eyes of his, and I realize this is the mate bond making me want him.
“I’m sorry, Crystalline. But you’re weak and a runt, and the pack can’t have you ruling.” He continues, turning his gaze towards me. I flinch at the hatred he shows, not understanding how he could look at his mate… at me like that. Wolves from Silver Crystal Crescent and Blood Moon circle the dais, blocking Alexander and Narin from reachingme with Amberle, Dominic and the three children joining us.
“Don’t do what you plan to do, Narin.” Amberle growls while Geminie is helped into a simple black dress, different from the blue ballgown she wore earlier.
“Amberle is right. You will regret this.” The Future Moon Goddess states.
“Why shouldn’t I? I don’t need a runt for a mate.” He chuckles out as a response. Angry, I shift into my skin form to feel a presence behind me and a shirt placed over my head. Taking in Matrix’s scent, I quickly pull on the shirt and turn to glare at my mate.
“Do you plan to reject me, Narin? Is that what the two Alphas are warning you against?” I ask, seeing him smirk.
“What else is there that they can warn me about, Crystalline.” A statement and not a question is his response. Angry, I take a deep breath and reach for my necklace to help ground me and calm my emotions before I say anything I may regret.
“Because we are mates, soulmates, Narin. We are meant to rule together.” The crowd watches on with silence, their heads moving back and forth. The King and his men on one side, the Princess and two strong she-wolves on the other. My heart feels like it is breaking as the guests get to enjoy the drama unfolding, and I silently wish to gouge their eyes out.
“You are weak and worthless, Crystalline. I don’t need a weak mate!” He snaps back, the anger radiating him forcing me to recoil in shock.
“Have you forgotten the many times I sent you to the infirmary just sparring in skin? Or the times I kicked your ass with my bare human fists while you were in wolf form?” I shout, fighting back the tears threatening to spill. A hand is placed on my shoulder, comforting me as I deal with my idiot of a mate.
“You’re just spreading lies!” Narin shrieks, shaking as if I am spouting nonsense. Fine, if he wants to play this game then so can I. With eyes glowing, I direct my voice and allow the Royal command to leave my lips.
“Narin, by the power of the Royal Blood, I order you to tell the truth of whether or not I am weak!” His body goes rigid, his eyes blank as my command takes over. I wince, the mate bond throbbing with pain from commanding my mate, forcing me to take a deep breath.
“Due to training with the Princess, I have been sent to the hospital wing ten times both in human and wolf form.” His voice is robotic and I smile, allowing the command to release my mate and watch as his rigid body drops to the floor. I can command the truth from him at a cost to the mate bond, but I cannot stop him from rejecting me. Murmurs amongst the crowd sound about the harsh treatment from my father and the rejection that is soon to follow.
“Damn it, Crystalline. I am so tired of you, the runt and outcast of the pack and the unloved daughter of the King!” Narin exclaims in anger as soon as he regains control of his body. I roll my eyes at his outburst, feeling Matrix move closer to me, his body just inches from mine. If only he had been my mate, we wouldn’t be going through this situation.
“I, Narin Malkaric and future Beta of the Royal Pack reject you Princess Crystalline Thorn as my soulmate and break any bond that ties us together.” He shouts in rage, standing protectively in front of my father while glaring at me. My heart shatters as a stabbing pain rips through me. My mate just rejected me in front of all to see.
“And I, Alpha King Alexander Thorn reject you, Crystalline Thorn from the Royal Pack turning you Rogue. You are no longer my child nor my heir.” I screamed as soon as my father’s words are uttered, the pain of the pack linkbeing ripped from my body, severed like a head on the guillotine is so unbearable, worse than the rejection, that I wish death would take me right now. Strong arms wrapping around me keep me upright and from falling on my face.
“Matrix, leave that Rogue alone!” Alexander orders but I feel familiar arms tighten around me.
“No! My loyalty lies with Princess Crystalline!” Matrix retorts, his anger radiating in his words.
“Are you stupid? You’ll lose everything, a pack, your family, even your Theta status!” Narin’s voice pierces through the air. The chest that keeps me steady rumbles with laughter as I am scooped into the arms of my best friend, his hand keeping my face hidden in his chest.
“I’d rather become a rogue and train with Crystalline. As one of the few royals left, she will come back and take the throne. You never deserved to be King, Alexander. You’re nothing but a sterile man whore.” Sterile. Alexander is sterile. I try to keep this information while breathing through the stabbing pain, trying to keep myself conscious while blackness fades in and out. The pain of being rejected then turned Rogue forcibly is one that can kill any wolf, weak or strong.
“Let them leave. Tonight is a night of Alliance with the Future Moon Goddess.” His voice is muffled by the throbbing headache that threatens to knock me unconscious, but Alexander is being merciful for now.
“Like I’d continue an alliance with you!” A female voice scoffs.