Chapter 2 Chapter 2

Sabrina's POV

"Shit!" Derek scrambled off the desk, frantically reaching for his pants. His face flushed crimson, veins bulging at his temples as he bellowed, "Get the hell out, Sabrina! GET OUT!"

Scarlett let out a small, pitiful cry, clutching her blouse to her chest. I'd prepared myself for this moment. I'd rehearsed what I would say, how I would react. But nothing—nothing—could have prepared me for the rage that consumed me when I actually saw them together.

My vision tunneled. My hands clenched into fists so tight my nails bit into my palms.

I pushed past Derek, who was still hopping on one leg trying to get his pants on. "You," I spat at Scarlett, my voice venomous. "You absolute—"

My hand connected with her cheek before I could stop myself. The sharp crack of the slap echoed through the office.

Scarlett crumpled, sobbing loudly as she pressed her hand to her reddening face. "I'm sorry," she wailed. "I'm so sorry, Sabrina!"

"Don't you dare say my name!" I screamed.

"That's ENOUGH!" Derek's roar shook the walls. Heavy footsteps thundered toward me, and suddenly his hand was on my jaw, fingers digging into my skin with crushing force. Pain exploded through my face as he squeezed.

I gasped, my hands flying up to grab his wrist. His eyes—those blue eyes I'd once loved—were ice cold and full of fury. The pressure on my jaw intensified until I was certain he'd leave bruises. Dark purple ones that would bloom by morning.

This was the first time Derek had ever laid hands on me in anger.

My heart shattered into a thousand pieces.

"Derek, no! Please don't hurt her!" Scarlett's voice cut through my shock. She was actually begging for me. This woman—this homewrecker—was pleading on my behalf.

The absurdity made me want to laugh. Or scream. Or both.

Derek's gaze flickered to Scarlett, then back to me. His lip curled in disgust. With a violent shove, he released me.

I stumbled backward, my heel catching on the edge of the rug. I crashed to the floor, my hip taking the brunt of the impact. Pain radiated up my side, but it was nothing compared to the agony in my chest.

"Why?" The word came out broken, barely a whisper. I looked up at him from the floor, tears streaming down my face. "Why are you doing this to me?"

"SHUT UP." His voice was flat.

Then I felt it—the crushing weight of his Alpha power rolling over me in waves. It pressed down on my shoulders, my chest, suffocating me. As a wolfless, I had no defense against it. No way to resist.

"KNEEL!" Derek commanded, his Alpha authority absolute.

My body betrayed me instantly. Against my will, my knees bent. My head bowed. I couldn't look up, couldn't meet his eyes. Shame flooded through me, hot and overwhelming.

He was humiliating me. Right here, in front of her. Making me submit like a disobedient dog.

Is this the same man who used to call me "little dove"? The one who said love conquered all? The one who held me under the full moon and promised to protect me forever?

No. That Derek was gone.

The stranger standing over me now, radiating contempt.

"You're nothing but worthless trash!" he snarled. "Do you know how much you've embarrassed me in front of the other Alphas?!"

"But... but you said..." I struggled to lift my head, fighting against the Alpha command with every ounce of strength I had. Tears blurred everything. "You said you didn't care that I didn't have a wolf! You said love was stronger than anything!"

Derek's face twisted with impatience. "I was young and stupid. I've been patient with you for years, Sabrina. All these years, and you couldn't even give me a child."

My hand instinctively moved to my stomach. Our child was there. Right there. Growing inside me.

But he would never know.

He didn't deserve to know.

"Derek, please don't blame her," Scarlett interjected, her voice small and trembling. She'd managed to wrap herself in Derek's jacket. "She's just upset. She didn't mean—"

"Enough, Scarlett." Derek made a dismissive sound. His eyes never left me as he delivered the final blow. "Your father has already agreed to my union with Scarlett. The rejection ceremony was scheduled for two weeks from now, but since you've discovered us..." He paused, and a cruel smile played at his lips. "We'll do it tonight instead."

The words hit me like a physical blow. My chest constricted, and for a moment I couldn't breathe.

Father knew. My father had betrayed me.

Why? I couldn't understand it. Was it because Scarlett's wolf was silver? Did family bonds and love mean nothing in the face of the cruel hierarchy? Were they all worthless when measured against power and rank?

The betrayal cut deeper than Derek's infidelity. Deeper than anything.

"GET OUT!" Derek's shout snapped me back to the present. "Get out of my sight!"

Somehow, I found the strength to stand. My legs shook beneath me. My whole body trembled. But I forced myself upright.

I looked at Derek—really looked at him—and spoke in a voice devoid of warmth.

"You're going to regret this."

Then I turned and walked out, my steps unsteady.My heart felt like it was being carved out of my chest with a dull blade.

But I kept walking.

That evening, Elder Benedict presided over the rejection ceremony.

The pack's council hall was packed. Everyone came to watch the spectacle, except for my father. I didn't know the reason for his absence—disdain? Guilt?

They made me stand at the front. All eyes were on me, judging me.

Derek stood on the platform. He looked powerful, untouchable.

"Members of the pack," Derek's voice echoed through the hall, "we gather here because as your Alpha, I must make difficult decisions for the good of the pack."

His gaze swept over everyone before finally landing on me. I looked up at him. He looked back as if I were nothing.

"Sabrina Gentry, as Luna, you have failed in your duties. You have not fulfilled your responsibilities. You have not borne an heir for the pack. You have not upheld our dignity at important occasions. Your lack of a wolf makes us appear weak before other packs."

The crowd began to murmur.

"Remove her! We need a new Luna!" someone shouted.

"She doesn't deserve to be our Luna!" another voice cried out.

I looked toward Ethan in the crowd. My brother, my family. He had always supported me growing up.

I instinctively looked at him, and Ethan noticed. His expression became awkward, flustered. He quickly averted his gaze and pushed deeper into the crowd, as if we were strangers.

My heart shattered completely.

"I, Alpha Derek, for the good of this pack, reject you, Sabrina Gentry, as my mate and Luna." Each word pierced my heart like a knife.

Then I heard his wolf speak, its voice surprisingly gentle. "Goodbye, little dove."

It kissed the mark on my neck one last time. The pain of the bond breaking felt like someone tearing my body apart from the inside.

I thought it was all over. But Derek announced to everyone again: "I choose Scarlett Gentry as my new mate and future Luna. Her wolf is a powerful and rare silver wolf. I believe with her assistance, we can resist the attacks from the Ashlands!"

I watched my sister walk toward the position that once belonged to me. Watched the pack show her respect. She looked at me, her eyes full of triumph.

The bus jerked to a stop at a red light, and I snapped awake. I saw my exhausted reflection in the window. I wiped away the tears at the corners of my eyes.

At least it was all over.

I got off at the stop and hurried toward Walmart, clutching tightly the twenty-three dollars in tips I'd earned tonight. Enough for food for Abigail and me today. I needed to save some for tomorrow's bus fare.

A couple on a motorcycle roared past me. The girl sat on the back seat screaming with laughter, her arms wrapped tightly around her boyfriend's waist. Their laughter echoed across the empty parking lot.

The memory hit me suddenly.

"Sabrina! Wait!"

Nineteen-year-old Derek chased after me on his black Harley, screeching to a stop in front of me. The roar of the engine sent a group of squirrels scattering.

He took off his helmet. His golden hair gleamed in the sunlight. Those blue eyes looked at me, full of warmth.

"Why are you running? I just wanted to buy you a coffee."

"I don't have a wolf. We're not compatible, Derek." I took a step back, even though my heart was racing. "We're from different worlds."

It was the truth. He would become Alpha. I was a freak without a wolf. In the pack hierarchy, there was an insurmountable chasm between us.

"Says who?" He jumped off the bike and walked toward me. "Who cares about wolves? None of that matters!"

His hand touched my cheek. "Love conquers all, little dove. Trust me."

Little dove. He called me that because I always wore white and walked so lightly I seemed ready to take flight.

I believed him. God, I really believed him.

I believed love could break through any barrier. I believed we could make the impossible possible.

How naive I was then, how foolish.

The noise of the supermarket pulled me back to reality.

I walked quickly to the discount section. A bag of bagels, three dollars. A carton of eggs, four dollars. A gallon of milk, three dollars. Butter, two-fifty.

I grabbed these items and headed to the checkout. The cashier looked barely eighteen. She smiled at me kindly.

"Twelve-fifty."

I handed her the money. The change would be enough for tomorrow's bus fare.

Today was lucky. I needed to get home before Abigail woke up.