Her Rejection's Revenge

CHAPTER SEVEN: THE UNWORTHY LUNA

“I think it’s something to be considered if even her parents are doubting her,” Braxton announced in a voice devoid of emotion, but which had the impact of my broken heart smashing into smithereens. I wanted to crawl on the floor, begging for them to stop, for all of them to stop whatever they were doing to me right now.

Things that I was still having trouble figuring out, but which was destroying me completely.

“Brax!” I wanted to shout but I couldn’t find my voice. It seemed stuck at the base of my throat somewhere. I stood watching in horror as my worst nightmare was materializing right in front of me. I wanted it to stop. “Stop. Please, stop!” I wanted to cry but something close to a whine came from me.

He looked at fleetingly like one would glance at a long-time pet, one with pity accompanied by a mixture of tolerance. I swallowed past the lump lodged at the base of my throat, the feeling of premonition deepening.

Then, he turned to my father. “Mr. Settlemire. Joseph, may I call you Joseph?” he asked the rhetorical question before going on. “What do you feel about all this? Do you really think we should question Zelda’s loyalty?”

My mouth dropped open at the accusations being thrown my way. How was it possible that a lack of response from me would question the essence of my existence? Ever since the day I was born, I had pledged my allegiance to the pack. Surely, anyone with the slightest brain would know that?

The head of my father remained bent as he murmured. “The decision is yours, Alpha. We will accept whatever you deem fit.”

I breathed in a sigh of relief, life seeping inside me at the clever escape route my father offered me. While I understood Braxton’s need to do his duty by questioning my loyalty due to unfortunate circumstances, I was hundred percent certain that he wouldn’t ditch me. Despite our differences, we were very much in love. He would never let me down.

With glazed eyes, I stared back at him knowing that I couldn’t hide the relief and expectation shining in my eyes. I sent a small prayer to the Moon Goddess for choosing me as his mate. Several times in the past, I had questioned the reason why we would be chosen as mates when we had so little in common. Everything which happened had a reason why and now I understood why I was chosen to be his. He was going to save me.

He gave a succinct nod. “Alright then. I think that the rest of you is right. Zelda Settlemire is unfit for the future Luna. We were all witness to the fact that she was incapable of saving my father’s life.”

The air sucked out of my lungs as I staggered in disbelief. That wasn’t happening to me, right? I was in some sort of sordid nightmare. Yeah, that would be a better explanation. Otherwise, how to explain that only a few hours ago, I was the one feeling magnanimous because I had forgiven my cheating boyfriend and accepted him back even if he hadn’t expressed the slightest remorse about the betrayal.

Now, I was the one on trial, placed in doubt by my very own best friend who’d encouraged me all the way to my ascension to the throne.

“However…,” the Alpha went on as I was too terrified to utter a single word in my defense. “I have limited experience as an Alpha and I’m afraid that I have vested interest in the decision as Zelda has been my girlfriend for the past three years. I am tempted to be partial to the judgement.” He knelt in front of his father, who had recuperated from the earlier attack.

“Father, I would like your insight on this very difficult situation for us. Zelda has been an exemplary pack member for many years. I don’t want to be unfair to her. But I do feel that giving her the position of Luna is going to be detrimental for our pack. You always taught me that the pack comes first.”

My blurry eyes collided with those of the rogue who was still on his knees as he awaited his trial. How come all the attention had shifted from him to me? But he was looking at me with a masked expression, that of compassion mingled with concern, and I shook off the feeling as I listened to my fate.

Alpha Finn patted Braxton on the back. “You’re right, son. I taught you well, and I couldn’t be prouder. Everybody in this room is aware of how much you love Zelda, yet you are not shaking in front of your duty. I commend that – it is the indication of a great start.”

There was a unanimous murmur of agreement which resonated in the hall which caused my heart to constrict in pain. The members were quick to condemn me when I was opposed to the Alpha. He was much stronger and had more power than me. Even I was afraid to speak out to fight my case.

I was just standing like an i***t waiting for Alpha Finn to be fair to me. That man had never failed us, and in that crazy moment, all my hopes were on him. Surely, he wouldn’t let me down.

“Unfortunately…,” Alpha Finn continued in his grave voice making my head snap up in his direction. “… I agree with the fact that Zelda isn’t suitable to be the future Luna. It’s not even about not being able to save my life today. We’ve all witnessed her poor performances on the training grounds.”

“I’ve had my doubts about her from the beginning,” Luna Lisa hastened to add her own opinion. That woman had never liked me and was only making the best of the opportunity handed to her in gold platter.

“Yeah, you’re right my Luna,” my traitorous mother intervened. “She has always been a huge disappointment for us, and we apologize for this. If Alpha Braxton and Alpha Finn sees her unfit for being the next Luna, we won’t oppose your decision.”

“What?” I finally spluttered in my defense, sending a pleading look in her direction. “I think it’s unfair to judge me based on such an unexpected moment. Nobody moved in the room at the attack. Of course I was scared. I had no idea what was going to happen.”

Brax sighed. “I agree that nobody had the reflex to jump in. Well, nobody except Beatrice. But how many times I told you that you’re the future Luna and you have to behave differently than others. What if we were amidst a battle, and you were unable to help others depending on you?”

I gulped down my comeback at his rational reasoning. Was I really that inadequate as the future Luna? If so many people shared the same opinion, then maybe thee was really something wrong with me. However, I could still feel the s***h of hurt that Bee’s betrayal had brought me.

“I would train more,” I found myself being swamped by desperation. I was clinging to the last threads of what I had so hard that I felt powerless against the events unfolding in front of me. “I’d do anything to make sure that I can be worthy of the position.”

“You had so many years to make yourself worthy,” Bee exclaimed loudly. “For three years, you’ve been basking in your own maudlin self-pity because you were too selfish to prepare for the future. There are so many who’d been slacking in hard work to make a good warrior.”

I frowned down at her, not appreciating her condescending tone. “There’s not only one way to help the community. I mean physical defense is one thing, but we’re in the middle of the city. I thought that an impromptu attack was never going to happen. But I have trained in other ways that I could help the pack. I am training to be a nurse and would offer my services to them for free.”

Bee scoffed in derision. “You couldn’t even qualify for the doctors’ registration,” she spat venomously making me gasp in outrage.

“That’s not true!” I hastened to deny, then took a hesitant step back as I realized what my best friend was doing. “Braxton didn’t want me to become a doctor, so I didn’t send the application at the last minute.”

Braxton snarled at me in sheer disbelief, making me jump in my skin. “What the hell are you talking about? Why would I prevent you from becoming a doctor to help our community?” His frown was so genuine that I started to doubt myself for a moment.

Zel, are you insane? Becoming a doctor would take years!!

I can do it, Brax. I will do it to help the people. If I am not strong enough to fight for them, let me use my brains to help them. I know I can learn new ways to keep their wolves form healthy so that we can get stronger.

There is no question of you here, he’d exploded in a fit of rage. This is about me. About my ascension to the throne which you get to be part of thanks to me. Do you really think I can handle you being focused on your education while I do this alone? All by myself?

I remembered about to protest when he grabbed my hand in desperation, his eyes beseeching.

Zel, what did we decide about us? That we would do this together, remember? How do you think we would be able to do this if you’re not hundred percent behind my back as support?

Being my pathetic self, I’d sighed in resignation giving him a nod, but promising myself that I would find other ways to achieve my objectives.

“Why are you doing this, Zel?” Bee’s voice resonated in my head to break me from the reverie. “Why ae you trying to pin this on Alpha Braxton? I was there when he begged you to consider the doctor’s programme. You were not interested, and with great difficulty, he managed to convince you to step in for the nursing course.”

With a shake of disbelief, he turned towards the other members of the hall. “I don’t understand why she’s doing this. Why she’s trying to make the Alpha look so bad?”

I was finally able to see through her game. That had been the disloyal b*tch’s intention all along. She had been trying to make me turn on Braxton, say bad things about him, so that eventually I would become the villain.

What I could not understand was why she would do such a thing. She’d always professed of despising Braxton for his philandering ways and his cocky attitude. In fact, Bee had been almost similar in her advice as my sister Zendaya. She’d been encouraging me to grow out of my cocoon and challenge Braxton.

So, my dimwitted head couldn’t figure out what was going on. I was smart, but only in academics. I had no idea how betrayal and treachery worked.

“I know, Beatrice,” Braxton said in a pacifying voice. “I understand. Zelda is finding herself in a difficult situation and is trying to get out of it. She’s acting out of human instinct.” To me, he added. “It’s okay Zel. I understand what you’re trying to do. I agree that you’ve always wanted to be the future Luna, and this must be very hard for you.” He raised his hand towards me trying to placate me.

I took a few steps back. Was I losing my mind? They were both trying to pain a picture different from what I remember.

“I…I…,” I stammered incoherently, tears welding in my eyes as I was left without words. This was clearly a mutiny, and I was outnumbered. There was nothing I could say in my defense that would make me look better in that moment.

I was defeated. I looked in the rogue’s eyes again and caught pity there making me crawl in my own skin in shame. A rogue was showing mercy on me while my own people couldn’t care less. Was this a conspiracy?

Then, it clicked. This was a set-up, and I finally understood who was behind this.