Once Rejected: A Slave To My Alpha Stepbrothers

Veil. Six years away from the pack didn't prepare me for this moment. The pack square is crowded, murmurs rippling from every corner. They spill curses at me as I'm forced to stand on the stage, facing the whole Moonbloom pack. That word "traitor" is hurled from every side. Some of them have placards raised in the air with things like; "There's no place for thieves in our land." "She's the reason Alpha Moon died, kill her." "She stole our peace!" "She brought the curse upon our land!!" I gawk at them all, the rage on their faces unmistakable. My stepfather is dead? What happened to him? What curse are they talking about exactly? Despite my efforts, no one provides a clear answer. I don't understand what they're accusing me of, so eager to kill me. My eyes search for Quin. He was being crowned the pack's alpha the night I eloped with Ryder, so he should be here to explain things. Yet there's no sign of him, just the elders. Their mean faces mirror the angry mob as they examine me. Before I can ask any questions, one of the elders speaks, addressing the crowd. "Moonbloom, let us all be calm now that the fugitive has been caught." Hush settles over the pack square as the elder speaks. Regardless, I can feel the anger and eagerness pouring out from the people. "Our prayers have been answered by the goddess; now it is time for us to recover our stolen treasure." The elder looks at me briefly before adding. "If we do not retrieve it as we've hoped, the crowd will decide the fate of the thief." Murmurs rise again, slithering through charged air and blending with rising dread inside me. They pull me forward into the town hall, my hands restrained like a prisoner as we walk in tow with the pack elders. I was expecting a little bit of mockery and anger from my family once I returned, but not the rage of the whole pack, claiming I stole their treasure when I ran. Can't they see that I'm innocent? Nothing really makes sense now, and I hope to get clarifications soon. The double oak doors of the hall groan as the warriors pull them open. The scent of the mahogany chairs slithers through my nose as we enter the hall. They push me down to my knees at the center, the elders taking their respective positions with scowls on their weathered faces. Now that everywhere is quiet, no overlapping voices and curses being hurled at me, I find my voice. "What did I do?" My voice is hoarse, broken. I've witnessed enough horrors these past few days; I can't stomach another. "You can't just arrest me for nothing. I'm innocent." Currently, I don't know if being here is worse than being with Ryder. "You'll be released once you return the treasure you stole from us, Veil." Elder James spits, glowering. I whoosh out a breath in shock, shaking my head. "What treasure are you talking about? I didn't steal anything." I bark, my voice ricocheting off the walls. He sighs, leaning forward in his seat. "Are you trying to deny you didn't steal the Moonstone the night you fled from the pack six years ago?" My face pales at his accusations. Fighting against the nerves wracking through me, I hiss. "I'm innocent. I don't know anything about the moonstone." They cackle in contempt at me. Elder Rayna rises up, glaring hot daggers at me. "Are you aware that your treachery is the reason the pack hasn't progressed in six years? Not to mention Alpha Quin, who has been stuck in his lycan form since the night you stole the moonstone." I pause and look at them in disbelief. Did she just say Quin has been stuck in his lycan form for the past six years? If any wolf or lycan gets stuck in their beast form for long, there are chances they'll go feral, and given the way they whisper about it, the expressions on their faces, it can only mean one thing... Quin has gone feral. How come I never knew about any of this? Great, Ryder cut off the only ties I have to my pack. A giant knot forms in my belly as panic registers. This is more dangerous than I thought. They're already convinced that I stole the moonstone, the only treasure that binds the alpha between our world and the other realm. The alpha heir is supposed to be in his other form during coronations until the ceremony is done, and that night, Quin was in his lycan form. This means the moonstone was stolen during the ceremony, and I eloped during the ceremony. How coincidental! This is a big mess. I shouldn't have returned if I knew this was what happened. Someone stole the moonstone, and they're framing me for it. Given their anger right now, they'll never believe I'm innocent. I should run far away, but it's too late to run. I've been captured, and they're going to kill me; that's one of the rules of the pack: never steal the royal property. If anyone does it, they'll be stoned to death. My body trembles. "I'm telling you the truth, I didn't steal the moonstone. You've got to believe me." I beg because that's the only thing I can do now. I can't let them kill me for a crime I didn't commit. Tears stain my cheeks, my lips wobbling as I gush more words of plea. "I only eloped with my mate, I swear I didn't take the moonstone." "We expected you to deny it, Veil. But the truth is clear, you betrayed our pack, and you shall pay the price." Elder James hits the gavel over the mallet, signaling their final decision. "For your treachery to the pack, Veil Nightsaw, I, hereby sentence you to..." "Objection, elder James." A loud voice echoes in the hall, halting elder James' words. Everyone is tense, and silence descends as the doors of the hall are pushed open. There, the person I least expected will stand up for me, the person I've never set my eyes on for the past six years, strides into the hall. His presence ripples with power and commands attention. He walks like God himself as he roams his eyes around the hall until they settle on me and darken. Rio. My stepbrother and the son of Alpha Moon's second Luna. His large frame towers over me, a strange glint in his eyes. Is he here to help me? Does he know that I'm innocent? "A-alpha...we weren't...expecting you here." James stutters, looking at Rio like a scared cat. "I came as soon as I heard the news." He drawls, walking past me to where James is seated. "I wouldn't like to pass up an opportunity like this." There's a strange depth to his voice as he looks at me intently. I try to keep my body from cowering under his gaze, but it's difficult. Rio's gaze sets my body ablaze, tingles shooting through my veins. "Don't you think sentencing Veil to death saves her from the real punishment of her crimes?" The breath stalls in my lungs immediately upon hearing his words. He isn't here to help me. Rio's here to convict me just like the others. I thought as much. He's always hated me, and there's no way he'll go from being the bane of my existence to my savior. James looks from him to me, asking. "If I may ask, alpha, what do you think serves as a better punishment for her crime?" Rio responds just as quickly. "The full moon is tonight, which means tonight is Alpha Quin's rut. None of the females in the past could serve him during his rut, which has led to the deaths of how many...?" He looks around for answers, and another elder supplies. "Ten." "Great. Ten lives." His eyes roam back to me. "It's only fitting that the woman who left Quin in that position suffer a cruel fate at his hands before death claims her." "Noo...please. Don't do this. I didn't steal the moonstone." I plead, feeling my chest constricting from the cruel fate that awaits me. "As you've said it, alpha, so shall it be." James echoes with resolve, hitting the gavel one last time. "Take her away." He orders the warriors. "Rio," I taste his name on my lips for the first time, and I notice the way he flinches and swallows, pinning his hazel eyes on me. "I didn't do anything, you've got to believe." His expression deadpans, hands crossed over his groin as he watches me being dragged away from the hall. This time, they're taking me to my greatest enemy, Quin. Hot tears pour down, and tremors overwhelm me. They take me to the pack house, where they spend hours preparing me for disaster. At the first appearance of the moon, the warriors led me to the cellar. I descend the stairs to the old cellar with my heart in my throat, blood pounding through me in waves. I nearly bolt, but the guards surrounding me make it impossible. I watch them pry the locks open, metal doors rattling like a curse in the night as they give way. Then they gesture for me to move inside. I do. The scent of iron and salt hangs thick in the air, flooding my nostrils. I can hardly breathe past it. And I see it, the imposing lycan growling with sexual lust in his eyes as he prowls back and forth in the cellar. He's so large I've to crane my head up to his gaze and the minute his cold, beastly eyes connect with mine, my jaw drops open. Quin. He's danger personified. Slimy saliva dribbles from his maw as he snarls into my face, sending chills down my spine. My gaze trails past his face to his chest and pectorals down to his V-line, where I glimpse his impossibly large shaft gleaming red at the tip. Heat flares through my body, hitching my heartbeat. "Oh, goodness!" I scream at the sheer size of it. No, I can't do this. I backtrack a step and then bolt for the door, but the beast beats me to it. His paw-hand encircles my waist, hauling me into his solid chest with possessive force. His silent alpha command floods through me, my knees buckling until they meet the floor. I succumb to his will. To his power, panting hard as his claws rip my dress away from me. A primal growl tears from him at the sight of my bare skin. Before I can brace myself, he claims me, surging into my warmth in one brutal thrust that crushes my breath. "Oh!!" I moan, overwhelmed by the fullness of him, my body shaking uncontrollably. Tbc.